Steve's Waypoint

I would not be able to do this race without the support of my family. Lore, my wife, has not merely been patient, she keeps inspiring me with her wisdom. Getting to this point has been entertaining (lots of stories). The June 08 issue of Bike Magazine, Bring Out The Dread: The Ten Toughest MTB Races In The World, lists Tour Divide first in a review of the top ten toughest races on the planet. Those who've attempted to race the Divide know it to be the toughest multi-day racing out there, and I know one of the biggest challenges for me will be home-sickness.




Go Big Brown (and brown bike)! Kathy at UPS was terrificly helpful in getting the bike shipped to Banff yesterday.



Geoff's Bike and Ski in Iowa City is about as good as a local bicycle shop gets.

CLOTHES
Socks x 2
Cycling shorts, bibs x 2
Short sleeve jersey x 2
Cycling shoes (SIDI)
Helmet
Spec sunglasses
Fingerless gloves
Shoes
Wallet
Watch
Leg warmers
Rain pants and jacket
Glove, warm
OrGoretex mitts
Burley shoe covers

EQUIPMENT/MISC.
Old Man Mountain rack
Arkel bar bag
Cateye
Tail light
Chain lube
Cycling computer x2
bottles x 2
Glasses Mirror
ACA maps & book
Phone numbers
Credit card
Cash
Elph camera
Camelbak bladder
SPOT Tracker

SPARES/TOOLS
Pump
Tire boots x3
Tubes x 3 , 26”
tire levers x 2
Patch kit, glue-less & glue
Avid replacement disk pads
Multi-tool
Zip ties
9 Speed Speed Link
Small amount duct tape
Spare batteries for LED lights and SPOT
Cable - Brake
Cable - Gear
Spokes x 3
Cleat bolts (2)
Extra rack clamp
Second rear skewer
Lighter
Shock replacement piece
Shock pump
Extra Old Man Mountain rear skewer

TOILET KIT
Wipes
Sunscreen
Butt’r
Lanospeptic
toothbrush/toothpaste
Contacts

CAMPING
Atom-Sleeping-Bag-40-Degree-Down.html
Sleeping pad: 19 oz.
Small GG compression sack for sleeping bag, vest, and raingear
Large Compression sack for rear rack
Chlorine dioxide water treatment
Elte Tablytes
First-aid kit
Headlamp
36-inch lash-straps
Bibler Bivy 20oz

Note:
At some point trying to insure success in the race with electronic technology is a matter of diminishing returns, since only so much can be provided for – training. Equipment and navigation, no matter how good, will always have hick-ups. The time-trial is the challenge. Carrying the reassurance of a cell phone (that won’t work in most places), a satellite phone (its cost), a gps (with battery run-time issues) may have critical diminishing returns (more time fiddling than riding). The SPOT will keep track of me and has the 911 feature (just in case the grizzly escapes). So, no phone or gps.