I heard that all the bears were carrying Dave spray this year.

BigdummySteve wrote: ↑Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:26 pm Have a great ride Dave, apparently swearing at bears works a treat

Actually it kind of does. Best is to swear/sing/shout all the time, so the animals of the bush now you're there and have time and space to move. Tried and tested in Spitzbergen (mind polarbears actually have us on their menu - unlike brown (grizzlies) or black bears), eastern Tibet, Canada and Alaska. I'm still alive, so it must have worked.

Try not to sleep with your food, toothpaste, sunscreen etc. when in bear country (Canada, Montana ...), less stressful surprises for both sides. Especially the bears, they always loose at human encounters.

ScotRoutes wrote: ↑Thu Jun 13, 2019 10:53 pm I heard that all the bears were carrying Dave spray this year.

$53 fucking dollars for bear spray and it’s added 325g to my “bicycle”

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 12:55 am $53 fucking dollars for bear spray and it’s added 325g to my “bicycle”

Also works on people playing country and western music

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 12:55 am $53 fucking dollars for bear spray and it’s added 325g to my “bicycle”

Things get cheaper once you leave the tourist nest of Banff...

added 325g to my “bicycle”

Best to keep it on your person rather than on the bike. That way if you're off the bike for some reason (going to the loo/stopping to admire the scenery) you will still have it on you rather than having to go back to the bike before trying to get it out.

I believe its the 14th.. does that mean someones gonna shoot a shotgun into the air anytime soon and the riders are gonna be off??
Or have a misunderstood the timings situation!

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:28 am I believe its the 14th.. does that mean someones gonna shoot a shotgun into the air anytime soon and the riders are gonna be off??
Or have a misunderstood the timings situation!

Trackleaders shows the time to the start - http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide19, 8am local (Banff) time. A guy known as Crazy Larry sets them off.

Believe that equates to 3pm start (UK time)

NewRetroTom wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:26 am

added 325g to my “bicycle”

Best to keep it on your person rather than on the bike. That way if you're off the bike for some reason (going to the loo/stopping to admire the scenery) you will still have it on you rather than having to go back to the bike before trying to get it out.

Chuckles at the thought of having to fumble for bear spray whilst taking a dump, setting it off without checking wind direction and not being able to sit down on the bike or anything else for weeks....

and at the idea of Dave loudly swearing along the TD to save the weight of a bear bell, the Tourette Divide

The bear bell is a tourist rip off. It's nowhere near loud enough to be heard from a distance or above the noise of a waterfall/turbulent river

How can you tell if some sub standard is from a bear..
.
.
If it contains a bell, it’s from a bear

Blimey, do bears substandard in the woods

tobasco wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 1:23 pm Blimey, do bears substandard in the woods

I thought that was Popes...?!

This is quite cool, but you'll need to be quick before they all head off

https://www.banfflakelouise.com/king-ed ... K3QqnTnERY

Webcam in Banff

And they're off!

Good luck to all - hope you have an interesting ride!

for those of you not on facebook:


Steven Moatt
12 hrs
have had a disaster and not even left Banff. I have lost an envelope with over one thousand US dollars in it which was going to take me through to the Mexican boarder. I know it's a long shot but can you keep eyes and ears open. Feeling deflated but still in the game.
4343
51 comments
8 shares

People are chipping in incase anybody here wants to.

Steven Moatt Jeffrey Skinner my PayPal acc is skmoatt@tiscali.co.uk
Happy to make bespoke bike bags in exchange.

Ouch, that is rubbish. I really don't understand why people carry so much cash though. When I left Banff I think I had about CA$100 and US$100 plus a couple of credit and debit cards.

Looking at the spreadsheet with the start list (presumably from the letters of intent) there are two with a target schedule of 14 days; 6 for 15 days and 8 for 16 days. Plus Lael Wilcox's "as fast as I can" and Josh Kato didn't note a target time. If all these match their target then it could be interesting.

I've no idea how this compares to previous editions.

Trackleaders has Josh Kato target days at 14

Saw a pic at the start - Looks like Dave had his orange bearbones shirt on. Flying the flag

(via FB group)

dlovett wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:39 pm for those of you not on facebook:


Steven Moatt
12 hrs
have had a disaster and not even left Banff. I have lost an envelope with over one thousand US dollars in it which was going to take me through to the Mexican boarder. I know it's a long shot but can you keep eyes and ears open. Feeling deflated but still in the game.
4343
51 comments
8 shares

People are chipping in incase anybody here wants to.

Steven Moatt Jeffrey Skinner my PayPal acc is skmoatt@tiscali.co.uk
Happy to make bespoke bike bags in exchange.

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17686 ... ur-divide/

Sounds like a top banana from Dorset who's taking on the TD to raise cash for Madagascans/Madagascars poor. Seems a worthy enough cause for me to throw in a few quid!

Regards the mention of "why people carry such cash"... All I can say is that "when one is stressed the IQ halves" (as taught me by a very smart and happy man called Andrew Sutton - far Right with biggest smile...


All 3 my some of my favourite uni lecturers of old: lovely they were and allowed me to follow my passion (of riding bikes )

Yeah Steven Moat is a really nice guy. Have fired a few quid his way to help ease his worries

All I can say is that "when one is stressed the IQ halves"

ha ha thats spot on!

Dave is ahead of the tea boy!