Tour Divide 2013 - The Bike
Well here it is. 90 percent complete:
A few changes from the previous post. I went with the White Bros. carbon rigid fork instead of the Shimano Pro since apparently Shimano was out of stock and I heard they weren't planning on making more. Great snow and mud clearance up front! I am very happy with the weight I dropped from the fork and wheels and hopefully the addition of the carbon bars and seat post from Easton with shave some weight and add a little comfort. I added some Ergon cork grips with bar ends so I should have some comfortable hand positions and I will be adding bar tape to my aerobars as well.
I have learnt so much. I am in a much different mindset than I was last year at this time. Last year I endlessly studied other riders gear lists, spent hours searching for the perfect gear choices. I wanted to have the right stuff. For my lack of knowledge I think I did alright. Again, in my ignorance and 6 months of cycling experience I didn't know what I didn't know, and that took me a long way. Or to Butte, you can decide if that's a long way.
I think this year though I began to understand that there is no perfect setup that suits every rider. Every kit is so very different. So many different components, clothing options, accessories,wheel types and so on. The goal is to get something that works for you. I am trying to cut my weight back this year, on my bike and my body. So far between the 2, I am down almost 5 pounds on each.
Each rider has a different threshold of their comfort, pain, and budget. In order to keep my kit small, I am going without many items from last year, and trying to stay to these principles:
Do I need it to survive?
I used to be a spelunker and when you are travelling underground and sometimes over night, I needed
3 of everything. 3 lights and 3 battery backups. If your first one runs out then you need to get back in case the other one breaks. I use that theory a lot when planning for this trip. I am going to be using the Blackburn Scorch on my helmet and bars and I carry a small mag light for setting up camp or for emergency. I had to use this to ride last year when I accidentally left my headlight on in my bag and it ran out of power when I needed it.
Water storage is huge so I am making room for extra emergency water storage. I will need different amounts on different sections
I take two cycle computers and a GPSas well as my spot tracker. To many this is over kill. I went without after busting two computers on the first two days. I do not want to be lost again. I am swapping out my Garmin 605 for the AA convenience of the Garmin etrek 30. That was a rough couple days last year.
Does it have more than one use?
Several item fit this category.
Bandanna. used for filtering water, carrying food, and a dust shield
Duct Tape. and zip ties. Plastic bags. Enough said.
My wool arm bands. Doubled as socks on a couple cold nights when I only had wet socks.
TT bars. Glove holder and sock dryer. also great for tying gear to. Also good for riding with
Can I live without it, or can I get it on route?
Clothing option needs to be really thought out since this can fill your gear quickly. This is where I try not to double up. I had one extra pair of riding shorts with me. base layer and dry set for sleeping. Rain gear, down jacket. Dry and warm. But you will be cold and wet.
Sunscreen, butt cream, and such I can get on route and don't need the size of what I took last year. First Aid Kit will be scaled down as well. Towns are usually a day away.
I am watching my bulk as well. Found a smaller warmer sleeping bag, and still considering a bivy though I have to sell my one man tent first. Adding a small wind vest and replacing my rain gear which was much too bulky last year.
The more space I save the more food and water I can add when I need it.
This year the Tour is a part of me. It is not an impossible thing, but rather an excepted reality. The race has become a metaphor for a lot of things in life. It keeps me moving. It helps me align my priorities and determine what is truly important. It is motivating, awe inspiring, rewarding and beautiful. It is soul crushing, defeating, exhausting and a gross and nasty place. I realise that even though I am by myself I am not alone. No one can do this alone. Help and support are needed to get to the start line and knowing you have the support of friends and family will pull you to the end. 