Tour Divide 2016

[GregMay]

Comme ca

Gizmos by Greg.May, on Flickr

[ianfitz]

Have you mounted one KCNC smart bar to the other?

Nope, one mounts the light - Plug3 and it's internals. The other raises up the eTrex which is now glued to it's bracket and has the back Dremmeled to get to the quarter turn screw for the battery compartment.

Greg, I had a KCNC mount like that. I found it very thin - easy to over tighten the bolts and crush the tube, plus I think it was damaged by vibration, meaning a repeated cycle of tightening and crushed wobbly tube. I have a carbon tubed one now that I'm actually not using 'cos I only needed it with straight bars, but from the use its had is much tougher.

[johnnystorm]

Mines squashed too, but I went otb and it landed on the exposure six pack mounted on it...

[Bearbonesnorm]

Do you really need the flower pot ... I'm guessing you won't end up using it.

[johnnystorm]

I'm thinking of the prospect of a longer ride and growing food on the way. The windmill is an additional dynamo to power my fairy lights.

[GregMay]

Have you mounted one KCNC smart bar to the other?

Nope, one mounts the light - Plug3 and it's internals. The other raises up the eTrex which is now glued to it's bracket and has the back Dremmeled to get to the quarter turn screw for the battery compartment.

Greg, I had a KCNC mount like that. I found it very thin - easy to over tighten the bolts and crush the tube, plus I think it was damaged by vibration, meaning a repeated cycle of tightening and crushed wobbly tube. I have a carbon tubed one now that I'm actually not using 'cos I only needed it with straight bars, but from the use its had is much tougher.

After 5,600km with them this year...I'm pretty confident they work for what I'm using them for.

EDIT: De-snarking comment - i agree they are a bit flimsy, but I'd already come to that conclusion and not overtightened them. Also, they are being used to store things internally, so they serve a second purpose. I took some time to bulk out the one with the Revo with some internal bracing too.

[ianfitz]

Have you mounted one KCNC smart bar to the other?

Nope, one mounts the light - Plug3 and it's internals. The other raises up the eTrex which is now glued to it's bracket and has the back Dremmeled to get to the quarter turn screw for the battery compartment.

Greg, I had a KCNC mount like that. I found it very thin - easy to over tighten the bolts and crush the tube, plus I think it was damaged by vibration, meaning a repeated cycle of tightening and crushed wobbly tube. I have a carbon tubed one now that I'm actually not using 'cos I only needed it with straight bars, but from the use its had is much tougher.

After 5,600km with them this year...I'm pretty confident they work for what I'm using them for.

EDIT: De-snarking comment - i agree they are a bit flimsy, but I'd already come to that conclusion and not overtightened them. Also, they are being used to store things internally, so they serve a second purpose. I took some time to bulk out the one with the Revo with some internal bracing too.

You do seem to have thought about your build 'a bit' so I figured you would have tested it. I think I was a bit cack-handed/over keen with mine...

[GregMay]

You do seem to have thought about your build 'a bit' so I figured you would have tested it. I think I was a bit cack-handed/over keen with mine...

You're talking to the king of the cack handed. Beware my vaguely exciting skills of destruction.

[GregMay]

Looks like the race tracker is up: http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide16

[johnnystorm]

Looks like the race tracker is up: http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide16

A couple of names have appeared...

[GregMay]

Might ping my SPOT tonight to see if it shows up.

[GregMay]

Bike back from servicing from Keep Pedalling. Throwing bags on to take photos of setup and kit list. The usual is in place.

Simple Really by Greg.May, on Flickr

[mountainbaker]

Best of luck guys, knowing that you're all about to embark on the divide is making me very nostalgic for it, and now thinking about racing again next year.

Try not to do what I did on day 1, ride through a nasty bear sh¡t, flick it up all over your leg without noticing, feel something on your leg, wipe if off with your glove. That glove smelt pretty bad for the next couple of weeks

[Scattamah]

...and now thinking about racing again next year...

Gets under yer skin, eh? :)

For those that are racing this year, I hope you like your washboard with a side of gravel and your vistas vast. You're about to get that by the bucketload. Don't let the bears freak you out.

Greetz

S.

[voodoo_simon]

Try not to do what I did on day 1, ride through a nasty bear sh¡t, flick it up all over your leg without noticing, feel something on your leg, wipe if off with your glove. That glove smelt pretty bad for the next couple of weeks

Where you in the woods?

[johnnystorm]

Got my sleep kit organised:

[GregMay]

Don't let the bears freak you out.

But all i wantz is a snuggle mr. Bear!

[GregMay]

You asked for a kit list - you get what you deserve:

http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=2998

[whitestone]

You asked for a kit list - you get what you deserve:

http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=2998

An interesting list. As you say a lot is about knowing how you handle particular weather/environment and looking after yourself and your bike. I'm fine with cold and heat but not humidity. Anyway back to spot watching, I mean work.

[Scattamah]

Batteries are heavy. I'd say go with 1 spare set of AAA's for SPOT and 1 spare set of AA's for Etrex. Resupply on route as required. Same with your brake pads unless they're really tricky to source. Even in the mire of 2014, I needed to change brake pads just the once in Steamboat @ Orange Peel. If they're Shimano pads, and you're towards the front, you should be fine.

Greetz

S.

[GregMay]

Batteries are heavy. I'd say go with 1 spare set of AAA's for SPOT and 1 spare set of AA's for Etrex. Resupply on route as required. Same with your brake pads unless they're really tricky to source. Even in the mire of 2014, I needed to change brake pads just the once in Steamboat @ Orange Peel. If they're Shimano pads, and you're towards the front, you should be fine.

Greetz

S.

Batteries are a juggle point for me at the moment - they are quite heavy I agree. Pads, I'm taking spares, as I run BB7s and they tend to shred if it gets muddy, even with sintered pads.

EDIT: Cache battery is now not the big one BTW, much smaller one that I tested at the weekend, mainly used to charge the camera and Exposure Support cell for the eTrex - my Joystick does not like acting as a battery, despite having SmartPort on - not fussed though.

[johnnystorm]

I'm taking a set of AAAs in my Spot and hoping to run it off the dynamo. My spare blinky light and head torch use AAAs too so they're spares in effect. I'm taking a pair of AAs to go in my Dakota. Lithium batteries seem loads lighter. I'm taking a load of brake pads as they weigh nowt and take up no space and I've suffered from running short before.

I think the peace of mind will outweigh the extra ballast!

[GregMay]

Lithium batteries seem loads lighter.

7.5g for an AAA - 15.6g for an AA

*hangs head in shame*

[atk]

You asked for a kit list - you get what you deserve:

http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=2998

Still surprised the Joystick won't charge from the Plug

On the electrics... is there any issue with the plug mounted in that orientation, water/grit sitting in the port?

[GregMay]

You asked for a kit list - you get what you deserve:

http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=2998

Still surprised the Joystick won't charge from the Plug

On the electrics... is there any issue with the plug mounted in that orientation, water/grit sitting in the port?

I'm not 100% convinced the Plug gives out a constant 5v that the Exposure kit likes -even on the road - but it gives enough to charge the cache battery.

Had no issue with grit/water ingress - supposed to be ok with it...and has been so far, but still, in heavy rain, it'll have its cover on.