With 2,700 miles (90% of which were off-road), 200,000 feet of climbing and the mandate that each racer ride completely self-supported, the Tour Divide Canada-to-Mexico mountain bike race had been described as “the toughest bicycle event in the world.” A friend of mine — one who had done numerous 100-mile runs on foot — even suggested it was “impossible.” But to me, it sounded like an adventure of a lifetime, a challenge unrivaled by anything else I have ever done. Guess what? It was!
At the pre-race meeting of the 2008 Tour Divide, the 17 racers (including myself) were briefly introduced to Anthony Camino and Hunter Weeks who — along with racer Mike Dion — were going to produce a documentary about the Canada-to-Mexico mountain bike race. Twenty-two months of hard work later, the 1.5-hour movie entitied Ride the Divide premiered at the Vail Film Festival. And I’d say it was worth the wait! Continue reading »
One year and seven months after the event, I’ve finished transcribing notes from the ’08 Tour Divide, the epic self-supported MTB race from Canada to Mexico I finished sixth place in. This includes notes I scribbled daily inside a notebook inside my ultra-light one-person tent under the glow of a blue pen-light, usually at night after at least 15 hours of riding. They also include cleaned-up versions of the transcripts that Sherry (wife of one of the racers) took from my race call-ins. Continue reading »
Now that I’m housebound here in rain-soaked Northern California, I can resume posting about the Tour Divide, the 2,700-mile Canada-Mexico adventure of a lifetime I finished five months ago. I even brought the notepad I was scribbling on in my one-person tent under the glow of a one-LED finger light each night just so I could transcribe its daily notes while I’m on vacation.
In July and August, I mainly posted about “look at how ridiculous/difficult/nutso this race was,” so this time I thought I’d begin posting about how scenic the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is. Here are scenery photos from the Tour Divide. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever done. Continue reading »
On Day 8, when I encountered Mike Dion taking a breather under the only tree in southern Montana for miles, I couldn’t help withhold my excitement.
“You’re the first person [from the Tour Divide] I’ve seen in a week,” I exclaimed. We chatted and rode together for about 10 minutes before I took off, only to see him one more time later in the evening in Lima. If I had known he would be the last Tour Divide racer I’d see for the rest of the race, I might have stayed back just to talk with him longer. Continue reading »
I suppose I can’t say I hadn’t been warned — even if it was at the last minute.
“You will get numb hands,” advised the other racers in the Tour Divide. Not “might,” but “will.” Continue reading »
I already had a reputation for breaking bicycle parts — and that was on the road. So before the Tour Divide, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to break during a 2,700-mile mountain bike race that was >85% off-road.
Turns out, a lot! Continue reading »
 "Felix's blue dot on the official online leaderboard on Day 4 of the Tour Divide. (Courtesy of Tori)")
. Think I can repair it though... "My poor bike, now with a hole in the seatstay where a rack eyelet pulled out (a result of overstressing that side after losing a rack screw). Think I can repair it though...")