Tour Divide (2013) Bike Setup/Review (Gear Packing List/Training), Part 4

Always Climbing UP UP UP!!!

25 days….what???? No worries, I’m ready to rock. I feel like my training through the winter has been spot on and that has pushed me into spring with solid growth. I actually took a complete week off 2 weeks ago, because I felt like I was ahead and peaking. I’m getting down to my fighting weight and super lean at the moment, constantly eating. The Tour is dynamically interesting in the fact that it is so long and that you really become conditioned as you race it. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t train or prepare for the course. Of course you need to come in with fitness and endurance that you have developed through the winter and spring. However, there is no way to actually train for the Tour in Tour like conditions for the length of time the Tour demands. You will actually race into Tour shape as you begin your journey south. Then you will start to tear down towards the end and it really becomes a psychological thriller taking place in your mind. All of that being said, I feel like I will tow the start line in great shape: fitness/conditioning, endurance and psychologically. I have my strategy in mind of how I will race this time with the focus on speed. That plan is flexible as it must be when taking on an epic like the Tour.

All day long!!!

I have 3 weeks roughly to finish up my prep and complete the dialing in process of gear and such. I have another over nighter training session planned along with a few centuries here and there. Mostly though I will maintain my 15-20 hours/wk  in the saddle. I have my plane ticket to Calgary and need to make my hotel reservations this week. It is all coming together. Price Point has loaded me up with the best and I feel confident in my bike and gear to once again get me to the Mexican border in Antelope Wells. I have compiled a list below along with a picture of my gear selection for this 2013 edition of the Tour Divide. I will have a light setup, which has its pros and cons. I’m relying on the pros. One day at a time is the key to a successful Tour. In a few weeks, I will post the tracking website and how you can communicate with me out there. Stay tuned and thanks for all of your support. It will be key when I’m out there in the hurt locker.

If you have ever wondered what it takes, gear wise, to tackle an event like the Tour. Take a look below at what I will use to make my way along the Continental Divide in self-support mode.

1-Shimano Unzen Pack w/3l bladder

2-Map Case

3-Patagonia Shorts

4-Pearl Izumi Rain Jacket

5-Gaiters

6-NRS thick layer long sleeve shirt

7-Gore Heavy Cold/Rain Gloves

8-Marmot Minimalist Pants

9-Smartwool Balacalava

10-Rocky Goretex Socks

11-Smartwool Knee Warmers

12-Glove Liners

13-Pearl Izumi Divide Riding Gloves

14-Smartwool Socks-Tall

15-Louis Garneau Socks-Short

16-WBR Jersey and Bibs

17-Pearl Izumi Beanie

18-Pearl Izumi Baselayer-sleeveless

19-Mountain Hardwear Bivy Shelter

20-Mountain Hardwear Sleeping Bag

21-Thermorest Sleeping Pad

22-Tire Tube-2nd one is mounted on the bike frame

23-Helmet Cap

24-Sidi Cycling Shoes

25-Giro Atmos Helmet

26-Garmin GPS

27-Pearl Izumi Sun Sleeves/Arm Warmers

28-Bandanna

29-Pearl Izumi Baselayer-long sleeve

30-Socks

31-7 Maps

32-Avid Brake Pads-2pr.

33-Chain Brush and Rag

34-Water Bottles-2

35-Wipes

36-Endurolytes

37-First Aid Kit-Advil, Band Aids,Tape,Gauze,Alcohol Pads,Antibiotic Ointment, Water Purification Tablets

38-Toothbrush and Toothpaste

39-Chamois Cream

40-Sunblock

41-Ipod-Earphones and Charging Cord

42-Lip Balm

43-Fenix Bike Light

44-Petzl Tikka Head Light

45-Bike Lock

46-Smart Phone and Charging Cord

47-ID Anklet

48-Crank Brothers Multi Tool

49-Rear Red Tail Light

50-Tire Levers

51-Crank Brothers Tire Pump

52-Oakley Sunglasses

53-Cassette Tool

54-Bear Bell

55-3 Bye Kyle Straps

56-Whistle

57-2 SRAM 10 Spd. Chain Links

58-Hangar

59-3 Squirt Chain Lube

60-Tire Patch Kit

61-Knife

62-Pass Port, ID, $, Insurance Card

63-SPOT

*On the bike mounted, I have zip-ties and duct tape inserted in the support bars of my sleeping setup.

*Batteries-Lithium AA.AAA,CR123

*I will use 6 bags (1 Seat Bag by Custom Rob, 2 feed bags by Revelate Designs, 1 Jerry Can by Revelate Designs, 1 Handlebar Harness by Revelate Designs and 1 Fuel Tank by Revelate Designs)mounted on the bike to carry all of this equipment, plus my hydration pack.

*I will have a waterproof bag, Sea to Summit, in the seat bag, handlebar harness and hydration pack to keep my gear dry.

Fitted out for the Tour

Tour Divide (2013) Bike Setup/Review (Gear Setup/Training Ride), Part 3

Lake MooMaw

It blows my mind that the Tour is only 50 days out…crazy. It has crept up like a ninja, but I have been training well and feeling the results in my efforts. This past weekend I traveled to the Mountain Lake Resort in Virginia and launched alongside fellow Tour Divide racer, Chris Tompkins, on a simulated Tour experience. We rode for 2 days and spent one night out in some of the most rugged terrain alongside the Virginia/West Virginia state line (east side of the Allegheny Mountain Loop).

Buffalo in Virginia

We covered 235 miles and 22,000 feet of climbing in 20 hours of riding. The course and experience with Chris was both adventurous and very similar to the Tour Divide course. The Sette Razzo SC XX performed flawlessly and I was very impressed and solidified on my choice for this years Tour bike.

Fitted out for the Tour

This training session was an opportunity for me to try out my full set up that I will be using during the Tour Divide. I assembled my bike with all of the bags, lights and props needed. I was able to test out my sleeping gear. That leads me to an interesting adventure that is very Tour Divide. After riding along a rugged mountain ridge for 20 miles at 4000 feet elevation, the cold began to creep in and warmth became the order of business. We descended down off the ridge and intersected a highway and lo and behold there was a house that seemed vacant. As you do, we set up camp on the front porch of this house and I figured we had a great story that would back up our reason for commandeering this porch.

My nook

It dropped down to the low 20s that night and no one ever showed up at the house.

Porch of Joy

We woke to the sun rising and packed up while our water began to thaw. I would like to personally thank whoever owns that house for placing it where you did and you can use my porch anytime. I must say the porch was quite nice as it kept us off the frozen ground.

The bags, equipment and gear that I have chosen to use for the Tour this year performed and served well on this training ride. A couple of highlights:

Prototype

my prototype sleeping brace system worked great (keeps the system off the cables and from bouncing up and down), the feed bags on the handlebars are very useful and handy (snacks, drinks, sunblock, chap-stick), the seat bag carries all of my extra clothing, first aid and spare parts, the top tube bags carry food, batteries, chargers, tools, lube and phone (things that you need quick access to), my GPS was mounted on a head-cap mount and I have since replaced it with another one that is more durable and less flimsy with one made by Purely Custom. Between the GPS and handle bar mounted sleep system I have room to mount my tire pump and stuff my rain jacket.

Keep it Simple

The idea is to set your ride up to be very efficient, which means easy access to the things that you need regularly or in a pinch. During the Tour, you get so tired and the simplest task can seem like such a huge undertaking. Setting your bike up right to begin with can make a big difference and increase the odds that you will apply that sunblock and lube that chain, trust me. The only way to know how to set up your bike for something like the Tour is to get out and train with it loaded on an overnight, multi-day experience.

Markley and Chris

Chris was a trooper out there and we rocked a hard course and I was very pleased with my bike and setup. I will continue to train around 20 hours/week through May as I have since Mid-March. I have a few more tweaks here and there on the setup, but for the most part I’m pleased with it. I have a few more odds and ends things to get like rain pants, maps, etc. The anticipation is building and I thrive on it. It should be an adrenaline filled approach to the line in Banff and then the suffering will begin in full force. I welcome it with open arms. I will do one more review of my equipment in 3-4 weeks that will outline all of the individual pieces (clothing, tools, lights, sleeping bag, etc) that I’m using during the race across the continental divide.

Oh yeah, I ate that buffalo!

To that lady that threw a french fry at me, I will only say that I will let karma run its course.

Cherry Blossoms

Cheers

Tour Divide (2013) Bike Setup/Review (Sette Razzo SC XX – Performance Review), Part 2

As mentioned previously, I have selected the Sette Razzo Carbon 29er as my steed this summer. I have been out riding it and getting a feel for it. I want to highlight it here. This bike performs on all levels. Impressed is an understatement. This is my first 29er as I have always ridden a 26 inch set up. I can be a bit reluctant to switch with the tides until I feel like the change has been tested and trued. I have been ripping it up on the Razzo. After a 100 miles of dirt-gravel roads, road and single-track trails, I feel like I have had enough riding on it to give a performance review. The Razzo climbs, tracks, rolls and handles so well that I could kick myself in the you know what for having delayed my transition. I couldn’t believe how fast and responsive it was on varied terrains, it performed. I was launching off of rollers and grabbing bank turns like I was on rails. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sending my 26 inch bikes to the scrap pile. I will still use them regularly and race them a lot in my lap based racing. The Razzo frame is incredibly strong and balances the right mixture of being stiff and flexible when expected and needed for a cross-country rig. The layout (design) is well thought out. When looking at the frame, you will immediately notice the bling factor. Upon closer inspection, the internal cable routing is something that I really like. No doubt this frame has a strong presence. After making the fit adjustments, I was riding without any transitional adaptation from the 26 inch setup. I thought that I would have to adjust and modify my riding style to the 29er platform. That wasn’t the case in any way, I jumped on it and rode it like I had always been on it. The response of this bike is incredible. The SC XX model comes equipped with the top-level components and they are flawless in their performance (efficient, effective, responsive, reliable). I will be racing the Tour Divide on this bike with confidence and ease of mind that I’m on a machine that is reliable and capable. Let me tell you, when I’m out there in the Great Basin of Wyoming or the Gila National Forest in New Mexico I will have confidence in my steed and can focus on pedaling. Below, I have listed the component’s layout on my setup. I have only made a few modifications in order to suit my needs for the Tour Divide. My next review will cover the fully equipped Tour ready setup that I will use. This will include the bags and packs I will use to carry all of my equipment to live, eat and survive the WILD WILD WEST. My training is coming along well. I just finished up with a training block of 300 miles and 30,000 ft. of climbing in the last 5 days. My first race is in 3 weeks, 24 hours on the Ridge. I’m using that specifically for training time in the saddle and leg conditioning. My endurance and fitness seem to be in a solid place at this point in the year. Up, up, up! 

Frame	Sette Razzo SC UD Carbon Tube To Tube Construction
Size(s)	17″
Fork	White Brothers Rock Solid Carbon Rigid
Shifters	Sram XX Triggers 2×10 Speed
Front Derailleur	Sram XX Top Swing Top Pull
Rear Derailleur	Sram XX Medium Cage 10 Speed
Shifter Cable/Housing	Jagwire
Brake Levers	Avid XX
Front Brake	Avid XX 160mm CleanSweep-X Rotor
Rear Brake	Avid XX 160mm CleanSweep-X Rotor
Crankset	Sram XX 39-26t Q156 175mm
Bottom Bracket	C Bear-Ceramic Bearings
Cassette	Sram XX XG-1099 11-36t 10 Speed
Chain	KMC X10SL Ti Nitrate 10 Speed
Headset	FSA Sealed Tapered
Handlebar	Easton EC70 XC Wide Flat 685mm
Grips/Tape	ESI
Stem	Easton EA90 (15 & 17″ 80mm,19″ 90mm, 21″ 100mm)
Saddle	Fizik Tundra 2 With Kuim Rails
Seatpost	Easton EC70 31.6 x 400mm
Wheelset	Easton EA90 XC QR15
Front Tire	Stan’s The Crow 29×2.0
Rear Tire	Stan’s The Crow 29×2.0

*Pedals- Shimano M980 XTR SPD

**Photos courtesy of Nick Boutboul

Price Point Upgrades

My team at Price Point has redecorated and their new site is more user friendly. The site has a great social interface that many of you will find useful and informative. Check it out! They just did an article on me about the upcoming Tour Divide that is located on their LINKS page.You can have a chance to win free swag if you take a picture of a Price Point sticker in use and send it in to them.

 

 

Tour Divide (2013) Bike Setup/Review, Part 1

After deciding to undertake the Tour Divide again this year, I knew that I would need a trusted steed to mount and hold on to for 2700 miles of  ’Wild West Epic’. I looked no further than the bikes that I have been riding for the last 4 years, Sette. I have ridden the Sette Bikes all over creation and back again. For this years edition of the Tour Divide, I decided to go with a 29er in order to take advantage of its strengths. The strengths most specifically are the 29ers ability to roll faster and smoother. The Sette Razzo SC XX 10 will be my steed. It comes loaded with the SRAM XX 10 speed drive train, smooth and crisp. Avid XX disc brakes will rein the Razzo in when I get ahead of myself. I want to highlight the carbon frame design and aesthetics. The frame design is strong and will be just what I need on a long undulating course such as the Tour. One of the most impressive features of the Razzo is the internal cable routing, even the rear brake line. No catching cables on snags and such. This allows less grit and moisture from reaching the cables and extending the cables life. The carbon composition will dampen the vibrations from all of the rocky and wash-boarded terrain, while providing me with a lightweight bike. This will allow me to carry more weight in regards to supplies, etc. I plan to have a <35lb bike loaded (without food and water). This bike is amazing all around and the aesthetics are amazing. It looks so good, you almost hate to get it dirty. Sette knocked it out of the park with the design, finish and build. I have made a few modifications for my needs: ESI Grips, XTR Pedals and White Brothers Rock Solid Carbon Rigid Fork. After making these changes the bike comes in at 19.5 lbs, awesome. That is with pedals, water cages and tubes in the tires. It will be tubeless mounted soon, which will drop the weight a few more ounces. One thing I recommend and that I did is to place a protective layer on the underside of the bike frame. With carbon you want to avoid getting chips and dings from debris flying off the tires, again prolonging the life of your bike. I plan to do a performance review soon and again later when I lace up the bike with all of the Tour Divide gear (bags, accessories, etc). The Sette Razzo comes in several options, one for sure will suit your needs. Price Point carries all of them, check them out.