Lazarus wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:21 pm Now you have said that the angry orange one and his gun totting, god fearing, science, and fact, hating peddlars of race hate wont let you in.
So sad.


Never wanted to go much either. Would rather see a culture totally alien to ours and that rules out the USA.

I agree with you on cultures alien to ours being more interesting. From that point of view, SRMR feels more appealing. Or, even better, going on a long bikepacking trip in Asia/Africa.

But as a race, it's hard to not be attracted by Tour Divide. Mostly because of the scale of it.
Ive been in thunderstorms before but I bet they were nothing compared to the weather on the Divide

Well they all seem to be crossing the border easily enough.

Robin Gemperle is miles ahead - be interesting to see how long that lasts!

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:56 pm Well they all seem to be crossing the border easily enough.

That's good news

Valerio wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:45 pm Days of no real views dont seem that enticing tbh.

People....
Meeting other racers is always great.
I dont know if id enjoy meeting the locals, unfortunately im not a fan of US culture and its products.

I had a milkshake thrown at me from a pick up in New Mexico but apart from that everyone was friendly and welcoming. Having a complete stranger call out your name as you ride past them somewhere in the middle of nowhere never loses it's novelty.

2700 miles of riding in the UK would have far more conflict.

Valerio wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:45 pm Days of no real views dont seem that enticing tbh.

People....
Meeting other racers is always great.
I dont know if id enjoy meeting the locals, unfortunately im not a fan of US culture and its products.

Every day out there was stunning. The locals were welcoming and interesting, politically and culturally. Not that you're likely to get into much politics after arriving by bike at a cowboy bar in Idaho .. but you know what I mean. They're fine with your lycra if you don't tell them they vote stupid. You have to take as you find it, I think. So you get out of it what you bring to it and are open to, like any road trip.

Alien cultures.. I'd say the Midwest is as interesting as Asia, and both are similarly different to UK life. They're poles apart oc, Asia just seems more obviously different. I appreciated the differences in the US more in many ways because there was no language barrier. Overheard conversations, being able to talk freely with people, and so on.

I had a milkshake thrown at me from a pick up in New Mexico

Lucky you, I was dreaming of milkshakes and ice cream from Colorado onwards

On the regret thing: those are very salient points. I'd say commit before other commitments pile up and make it harder to do. Making the time and money now might be difficult, but it will get even harder when you put mortgage and children in the mix, some point down the line (if that isn't the case already, I don't know). I say that as a slightly regretful parent with a house and a pile of commitments, and some unfulfilled dreams of touring places on my bike!

When I first saw Ride the Divide in ~2009, I wanted to do it, but I had zero money and an MPhil to complete. But at some point between then and now I could/should have made opportunity work but I didn't. I now have to rely on doing it when I'm probably in my 50s, assuming I'm healthy and fit for 2700miles, and the world hasn't fallen in on itself more than it has already!

In case anyone wants to know the ‘numbers’ behind the bikes, drops or straights, rigid vs bouncy etc

https://www.cyclingabout.com/fastest-to ... tups-2025/

faustus wrote: ↑Sun Jun 15, 2025 7:23 am On the regret thing: those are very salient points. I'd say commit before other commitments pile up and make it harder to do. Making the time and money now might be difficult, but it will get even harder when you put mortgage and children in the mix, some point down the line (if that isn't the case already, I don't know). I say that as a slightly regretful parent with a house and a pile of commitments, and some unfulfilled dreams of touring places on my bike!

This!

I have a basic time timeline for events in my life
-pre Mini-Voodoo birth
-post mini-voodoo birth

It gets easier as they get older though, right.

Voodoo child (slight return?)

I don't think there will be kids in the picture for me anytime soon, but there's already a mortgage and a wife...and both need attention.

I definitely feel like now would be easier to take on something like that than in the future. Who knows how life will be. And no doubt weather and landscapes will change, for the worse (not that me flying to Canada and back will help with that).

3 weeks of riding, alone, might still not be for me....but then, there's only one way to find out.

I had a bit of a life event at 53, causing me to have a serious think about the future and that resulted in me taking a year off work and doing the TD in 2022.

I will say that it was fantastic- epic scenery, some absolute high moments, weather to test the resolve, great people, and some moments where I questioned my life choices, but i never thought i wouldn't finish. Looking back it was about 1 week too long for me. The last week was great but I was just looking forward to finishing, and both body and mind were tired.

Am I glad I did it? Yes!!
Would i do it again? No, but only because I wouldn't want to spoil the memory of the first time.

Looking at the pace at the front this year there are some seriously rapid riders, I can't believe that 3 days in and they are past Lincoln!

gecko76 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 15, 2025 6:03 pm It gets easier as they get older though, right.

Voodoo child (slight return?)

Not sure if you’re asking or convincing yourself

Short version is, yes it does and it gets more rewarding the more they give back. Mine is now 11 and her independence has shot up. Ride frequency is roughly the same before mini-voodoo but the rides are closer to home and not as long as previously (I’m also fortunate to have a wife who’s passion is running, so we do play tag team for going out and I don’t spend my free time in the pub or socialising, so never had a battle).


In answer to the other question, Despite my dad bringing me up in Hendrix, the voodoo was after the bikes (when they sold through independent dealers)