Grand depart tomorrow, 'Rigs of..' and good intro to this year's race over on bikepacking.com. Thought it was about time there was a dedicated thread on here for it. Anybody dotwatching? Any boners racing it? General discussion on the event, this year's course, social media controversy, whether they will all be detained by ICE at the US border...

Lael Wilcox is going for a race record (rather than her FKT), Alexandera Houchin is SSing again I think. Still drawn by the event and the ride, even though I'd never want to race the route, and wouldn't be keen on travelling to the US under this administration.

Take it away...

Alex Houchin is running gears!
Will be dot watching no doubt...

Looking forward to more of Eddie Clarke's photgraphy along the route. I've been watching 'Yellowstone' recently, it's a good series but I watch it for the landscapes of Montana as much as anything else.

Dotwatching, not much these days. If only there was a dot-gopro type of device so I could see what the riders see. That would have my full attention for the next 2-3 weeks.

Don't forget MTBcast for those call-ins http://mtbcast.com/site2/

Richard Brash
Age 50 / Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire (UK)


Boner?
I know a Rich from Berko? Go Rich!

Crikey were Tailfin handing out racks to entrants? They're clearly doing well.
In fact, bikepacking in 2025 uses rear racks based on that photo gallery.

jameso wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:13 pm
Crikey were Tailfin handing out racks to entrants? They're clearly doing well.

I was thinking the same with Vittoria tyres

Looking forward to seeing Restrap’s new rack though and hopefully it will be a sensible price too when they release it

I dream to do it one day and will follow closely.

I think I need to give myself a deadline, start saving money and annual leave, or it will never happen.

Interesting how some riders have gone back a second time and opted for a full suss.
Regarding gear, I find it so hard these days to get insights on kit from riders at events as more and more people are sponsored/supported.

Reading the blurb, and looks like there are still more flats than drop bars...so not entirely a gravel bike race yet!
Dot watching TV would be ace!
Also watched Yellowstone and prequel 1883 for much the same reasons. Also, iPlayer has a great Ray Mears series 'How the West Was Won' from 2014. All about landscapes and survival and first nation people, all done in his thoughtful style. It covers some of the mountains and plains of/near the route.
Spotted someone with the same bike as me (Titus el Viajero).
Also interested in the Restrap rack, Definitely more rear racks and pannier/rear cargo bags about. Makes sense if you're touring rather than racing...

Alan Parkinson is a vet of the 2015 HT and a very cheery guy so will keep an eye on him

I think I need to give myself a deadline, start saving money and annual leave, or it will never happen.

BMX rules .. if you call it you gotta do it. Just say the words / send the letter of intent
Next year?

prequel 1883

I thought that was excellent.

jameso wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 3:31 pm

I think I need to give myself a deadline, start saving money and annual leave, or it will never happen.

BMX rules .. if you call it you gotta do it. Just say the words / send the letter of intent
Next year?

I'd love to but I just dont think I can afford the time and expenses.
Now if I had a sponsor....maybe

prequel 1883

I though that was excellent.
[/quote]

Agree, my favourite of the saga!

Time and expenses-wise, getting a month off off in one go is the hardest part. The rest, it's probably about a 'nice but nowhere near top end' bike's worth of costs. Since the best bike to use is one you've already done a lot of miles on, so, just saved you the new bike costs to put towards it : )

faustus wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 3:34 pm

prequel 1883

I though that was excellent.

Agree, my favourite of the saga!
[/quote]

Hmmm not sure about the sickly snuffing it under the tree scene, apart from that pretty good

Valerio wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 3:34 pm

jameso wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 3:31 pm

I think I need to give myself a deadline, start saving money and annual leave, or it will never happen.

BMX rules .. if you call it you gotta do it. Just say the words / send the letter of intent
Next year?

I'd love to but I just dont think I can afford the time and expenses.
Now if I had a sponsor....maybe

I'm self employed, I definitely couldn't afford it or the time off which is of course unpaid but I decided to do it anyway.

It took months to recover catching up with work and reearning money.

I would love to go again and it might be next year.

You should do it as soon as possible

Chris Ellison is back for a 3rd time as well. Alan Parkinson is back also after crashing on the way to Banff last year and breaking a bone - so a DNS.
Should be a good dot watching year!!

Really looing forward to this year's race. There are some really strong riders and they'll drive the pace on. The snow doesn't appear to be too bad this year apparently.

Money can be earned, time is finite. You'll spend less time regretting the things you did rather than those you did not.

If you're contemplating it, do it. Just ask an employer. If they are not willing to let you go, ask yourself why you choose to work for them. Perhaps you shouldn't.

If you're self employed.... work for the year ahead, and save, then take the time off.

I regret nothing about the 18 months of saving, training and preparing that it took to go to the TDR.

Not trying to talk myself out of it, but is it really as insanely good as people describe it?

It's difficult enough to put together a good 300km route, 1000km+ routes can be a bit meh in places....arent there days on TD where the scenery is just the same for an eternity?
(which I guess it's part of the challenge)

Valerio wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 12:17 pm Not trying to talk myself out of it, but is it really as insanely good as people describe it?

It's difficult enough to put together a good 300km route, 1000km+ routes can be a bit meh in places....arent there days on TD where the scenery is just the same for an eternity?
(which I guess it's part of the challenge)

Can’t answer any of those questions but maybe watch this tonight with a beer or three

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKLnQgHtJQE

Valerio wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 12:17 pm Not trying to talk myself out of it, but is it really as insanely good as people describe it?

It's difficult enough to put together a good 300km route, 1000km+ routes can be a bit meh in places....arent there days on TD where the scenery is just the same for an eternity?
(which I guess it's part of the challenge)

Everything in the States is stretched out and done to excess. Many years ago I had a climbing trip to upstate New York and then New Hampshire just as "peak fall foliage" season started. I hitched between the two - glorious yellow, orange and red leaved trees are fine for the first hour or so - after 300 miles of them it all gets a bit "meh". They were still stunning but you've basically overdosed on them.

I pretty much agree with Greg's comments about regretting things you didn't do - I spent most of the 1980s and 90s doing only as much work as was needed to finance climbing trips. Want a six week sojourn in the Alps? Go ahead and save up then enjoy yourself. The above trip to the States was one: we were only meant to have two weeks off at once - I somehow had an injury for the second fortnight

These days I wouldn't want to do the Tour Divide because of the heat - age doesn't help and I had mild heat stroke a few years ago. I even struggled in the heat last month and that was only mid 20s.

Valerio wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 12:17 pm Not trying to talk myself out of it, but is it really as insanely good as people describe it?

It's difficult enough to put together a good 300km route, 1000km+ routes can be a bit meh in places....arent there days on TD where the scenery is just the same for an eternity?
(which I guess it's part of the challenge)

I remember speaking to Jenn after she'd finished it, saying that yshe became numb to the amazing scenery after a while.

I remember we had days of no real views when we constantly seemed to be riding on forestry roads.

It's a varied route though. I'd go back and do it again, except for there are some many other things to do first.

I’m maybe an outlier as I didn’t think it was that amazing. Only place that blew me away was near the end dropping into a plain after Pie Town before Beaverhead station.

So many passes you get to the top with trees obscuring everything. For me it was the people and challenge that made it. Still want to go back for some reason.

Valerio wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 12:17 pm Not trying to talk myself out of it, but is it really as insanely good as people describe it?

It's difficult enough to put together a good 300km route, 1000km+ routes can be a bit meh in places....arent there days on TD where the scenery is just the same for an eternity?
(which I guess it's part of the challenge)

Yes it is, for a variety of reasons other than just the scenery. It's nearly been ten years since I rode it and I still think about it every day.

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.

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.