Tour Divide: Trials & Travails
Here’s another slideshow from the Tour Divide mountain bike race, this one entitled “Trials & Travails.” There were many!
There’s still a lot of Tour Divide stuff I intend to post, but it may take a while due to an overwhelming amount of work I need to take care of. So the postings will probably come in a trickle.
![[Day 2] It rained the night before, so the morning was a mudfest. After the mud hardened on the front derailleur, shifting it was difficult. (14 Jun 2008) [Day 2] It rained the night before, so the morning was a mudfest. After the mud hardened on the front derailleur, shifting it was difficult.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails.jpg)
![[Day 3] The first night in Montana had over two miles of snow. Hike-a-bike time. (15 Jun 2008) [Day 3] The first night in Montana had over two miles of snow. Hike-a-bike time.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-1.jpg)
![[Day 4] In Montana, there were giant mudholes for miles. (16 Jun 2008) [Day 4] In Montana, there were giant mudholes for miles.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-2.jpg)
![[Days 4 & 5] In northern Montana, there were also downed trees that I had to dismount for about 100 times. (16 Jun 2008) [Days 4 & 5] In northern Montana, there were also downed trees that I had to dismount for about 100 times.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-3.jpg)
![[Day 5] Some of the downed tree piles were ridiculous. I had to throw my bike over this one, and then climb over it like it was a rock climbing wall. (17 Jun 2008) [Day 5] Some of the downed tree piles were ridiculous. I had to throw my bike over this one, and then climb over it like it was a rock climbing wall.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/images/t/td08_travails-5.jpg)
![[Days 3, 4, 5, 13, 16] Snow collected on the tires causing additional resistance, but at least it was much better than mud! (15 Jun 2008) [Days 3, 4, 5, 13, 16] Snow collected on the tires causing additional resistance, but at least it was much better than mud!](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-6.jpg)
![[Day 5] Death trap -- traversing a crazy, highly exposed section of snow piled up at a 45 degree angle without an ice axe for at least half a mile. (17 Jun 2008) [Day 5] Death trap -- traversing a crazy, highly exposed section of snow piled up at a 45 degree angle without an ice axe for at least half a mile.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-7.jpg)
![[Day 5] About a mile later I saw this perfectly laid out Go-Lite jacket and water bottle on the trail. I left a note wondering if it was an emergency kit left by Matthew Lee? Turns out racer Mike Dion lost these items here! (17 Jun 2008) [Day 5] About a mile later I saw this perfectly laid out Go-Lite jacket and water bottle on the trail. I left a note wondering if it was an emergency kit left by Matthew Lee? Turns out racer Mike Dion lost these items here!](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-8.jpg)
![[Day 5] Camping in grizzly bear territory inspired paranoia about what to do with food, how to fend of bears, etc. I resorted to a "mark your spot" strategy someone in Grant, MT advised me about. (17 Jun 2008) [Day 5] Camping in grizzly bear territory inspired paranoia about what to do with food, how to fend of bears, etc. I resorted to a "mark your spot" strategy someone in Grant, MT advised me about.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-9.jpg)
![[Almost everyday] Lots of puddles to ride through. [Almost everyday] Lots of puddles to ride through.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-10.jpg)
![[Day 7] Lava Mountain: one of the most challenging and techical sections on the entire Continental Divide Mountain Bike Route. I also got lost in the forest. (19 Jun 2008) [Day 7] Lava Mountain: one of the most challenging and techical sections on the entire Continental Divide Mountain Bike Route. I also got lost in the forest.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-11.jpg)
![[Day 7] On Lava Mountain, even two motorcyclists on BMW dual sport bikes made no more forward progress than I did in 3 hours. (19 Jun 2008) [Day 7] On Lava Mountain, even two motorcyclists on BMW dual sport bikes made no more forward progress than I did in 3 hours.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-12.jpg)
![[Day 9] For the most part, I refused to allow hotel and established campground locations dictate my schedule -- meaning that I often had to stealth camp. (21 Jun 2008) [Day 9] For the most part, I refused to allow hotel and established campground locations dictate my schedule -- meaning that I often had to stealth camp.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-13.jpg)
![[Day 10] This tunnel in Idaho had collapsed and I had to hike around it. That was "interesting." (22 Jun 2008) [Day 10] This tunnel in Idaho had collapsed and I had to hike around it. That was "interesting."](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-14.jpg)
![[Day 11] Entering Wyoming and the Tetons, I encountered snow again. Worse: mud and chainsuck. Worst: vicious mosquitoes that didn't care if I was wearing full-length clothing and 98% DEET! (23 Jun 2008) [Day 11] Entering Wyoming and the Tetons, I encountered snow again. Worse: mud and chainsuck. Worst: vicious mosquitoes that didn't care if I was wearing full-length clothing and 98% DEET!](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-15.jpg)
![[Day 12] Deep snow and super-sticky mud resulting in constant mud-jamming. It took >2.5 hours to go 4.5 miles. (24 Jun 2008) [Day 12] Deep snow and super-sticky mud resulting in constant mud-jamming. It took >2.5 hours to go 4.5 miles.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-16.jpg)
![[Day 13] I kept losing plastic spoons, so had to resort to using this 16mm cone wrench to eat on a number of occasions. (25 Jun 2008) [Day 13] I kept losing plastic spoons, so had to resort to using this 16mm cone wrench to eat on a number of occasions.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-18.jpg)
![[Day 14] The Great Divide Basin was so desolate, there wasn't even a single tree. Terrible place to be suffering from hyponatremia for 10 hours on my birthday. (26 Jun 2008) [Day 14] The Great Divide Basin was so desolate, there wasn't even a single tree. Terrible place to be suffering from hyponatremia for 10 hours on my birthday.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-18a.jpg)
![[Day 17] Had to ford a knee-deep river. This is John Nobile (the ultimate winner of the concurrent Great Divide Race) fording it right after me. (29 Jun 2008) [Day 17] Had to ford a knee-deep river. This is John Nobile (the ultimate winner of the concurrent Great Divide Race) fording it right after me.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-19.jpg)
![[Day 20] Indiana Pass (elevation 11,900 feet) was super long and steep, with freezing rain at the summit. Came down with hypothermia and had to bail for the night at 6:00 p.m. (02 Jul 2008) [Day 20] Indiana Pass (elevation 11,900 feet) was super long and steep, with freezing rain at the summit. Came down with hypothermia and had to bail for the night at 6:00 p.m.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-20.jpg)
![[Day 21] Bovine blockages. (03 Jul 2008) [Day 21] Bovine blockages.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-21.jpg)
![[Day 21, 22] Cyclometer broke and I was forced 28 miles off-course to find a new one. (03 Jul 2008) [Day 21, 22] Cyclometer broke and I was forced 28 miles off-course to find a new one.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-23.jpg)
![[Day 22] This steep half-mile section of scree in Northern NM was unrideable. (04 Jul 2008) [Day 22] This steep half-mile section of scree in Northern NM was unrideable.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-24.jpg)
![[Day 22, 23] The double-track in Northern NM was extremely rutted, but actually kind of fun! (04 Jul 2008) [Day 22, 23] The double-track in Northern NM was extremely rutted, but actually kind of fun!](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-26.jpg)
![[Day 23] A 5.5-hour climb in Northern NM was extremely jarring with lava rocks. [Day 23] A 5.5-hour climb in Northern NM was extremely jarring with lava rocks.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-27.jpg)
![[Day 23] The lava rocks were so jarring that one of the rack eyelets pulled out of the frame (this is because I had lost the screw for the other side). I used tie-wraps on both sides for the remainder of the race. (05 Jul 2008) [Day 23] The lava rocks were so jarring that one of the rack eyelets pulled out of the frame (this is because I had lost the screw for the other side). I used tie-wraps on both sides for the remainder of the race.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-28.jpg)
![[Day 25] I arrived in Pie Town at Monday at noon, yet both restaurants were closed. Extremely disappointing. (07 Jul 2008) [Day 25] I arrived in Pie Town at Monday at noon, yet both restaurants were closed. Extremely disappointing.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-30.jpg)
![[Day 25] 40 miles and 6 hours later, I arrived at this intersection expecting some sort of grocery store, but there was only this church! Had to resort to begging for food after that. (07 Jul 2008) [Day 25] 40 miles and 6 hours later, I arrived at this intersection expecting some sort of grocery store, but there was only this church! Had to resort to begging for food after that.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-31.jpg)
![[Day 26] My ninth flat with no more good spare tubes, no CO2 cartridges, a half-functional pump, and just one patch. Resorted to inflate-ride-inflate-ride strategy. (08 Jul 2008) [Day 26] My ninth flat with no more good spare tubes, no CO2 cartridges, a half-functional pump, and just one patch. Resorted to inflate-ride-inflate-ride strategy.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-32.jpg)
![[Day 26] To compound matters, a monsoon came through and would not... stop... raining. (08 Jul 2008) [Day 26] To compound matters, a monsoon came through and would not... stop... raining.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-33.jpg)
![[Day 27] I was careful to hike over extremely muddy sections instead of riding, but mud-jamming still occurred. Sometimes it took 3 minutes to go 10 feet. Ridiculous. (09 Jul 2008) [Day 27] I was careful to hike over extremely muddy sections instead of riding, but mud-jamming still occurred. Sometimes it took 3 minutes to go 10 feet. Ridiculous.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-34.jpg)
![[Day 27.5] I was so ready to be done, but the monsoons (with fog) wouldn't stop. The low point was thinking I was lost when I wasn't, and needless backtracking 3.5 miles. (10 Jul 2008) [Day 27.5] I was so ready to be done, but the monsoons (with fog) wouldn't stop. The low point was thinking I was lost when I wasn't, and needless backtracking 3.5 miles.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-36.jpg)
![[After the race] Inspection of my helmet showed severe damage, probably occurring during my 3rd or 4th crash. But at least my skull is still intact. (27 Jul 2008) [After the race] Inspection of my helmet showed severe damage, probably occurring during my 3rd or 4th crash. But at least my skull is still intact.](https://felixwong.com/gallery/mobile/t/td08_travails-37.jpg)