Pre Prologue

Behind every great man there is a woman rolling her eyes!Jim Carrey

What is this man on? You may well ask! Bear with me, (with the emphasis on the word bear here), and if you read on all will become apparent!

Pre Prologue – Stardate 03 03 14

It’s beginning to look like this journal/blog is going to be similar to two recent space missions:

Rosetta – sent to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and…

New Horizons – sent to the dwarf planet Pluto and thereafter on to explore Kuiper Belt Object 2014MU691

I say this because both missions required intense planning and involved traversing extraordinarily long distances in order to reach their respective goals. The space analogy is also appropriate because, immediately prior to final implementation of their projected tasks, and after the planning and initiation phases, both spacecraft were put into hibernation, with periodic wake up calls to ensure all systems were working and that progress was on track.

It certainly appeared that that is exactly what was going to happen here!

It all started early 2014, when I was beginning to seriously consider just what exactly I was going to do when I retired. Jackie was worried about me lolling around the house and to be honest so was I. She came up with the brilliant idea of me doing expedition medicine – I didn’t know how successful that would prove in practice but was fully prepared to give it a whirl.

However, while thinking about retirement I had also started looking seriously at buying a proper (for which read World) Touring Bike; known colloquially as a WTB. Incidentally a WTB does not have to be used for world touring it is simply capable thereof.

If I got this all singing, all dancing, once-in-a-lifetime dream machine I wanted to ensure that I bought the correct set up and that the bike fitted. So I had a whole load of questions regarding steel vs titanium frames, Rholoff hubs, optimal gear ratios, front wheel dynamos, belt drives etc etc.

In this context weight minimisation is important; hence a titanium option sprang to mind and, aware of the costs involved in achieving the said weight reduction, the prospect of purchasing this dream machine with the approaching retirement lump sum sprang to mind.

This led to the Van Nicholas web site and pictures of cyclists traversing the Hindu Kusch and high Patagonian plains. Naturally all the wide vista shots, with no vegetation or civilisation, were taken in perfect weather conditions and presumably with no adverse winds!

Further research identified a bespoke bike shop, specialising in their own tandem and touring bike builds. As they also acted as a retail outlet for Van Nicholas and Co-Motion WTBs, and incidentally offered a measuring service, and furthermore discounted the cost from any new bike purchased I went over, looked at their offerings and had a load of questions answered.

I discovered that, to my minimalist mind, Co-Motion steel touring bikes weigh a surprising large amount, and so it began to appear that a belt driven Rholoff hub WTB was likely to be the net outcome.

However it was while I was actively considering the actual purchase that I came across the concept of bikepacking – off road touring with a mountain bike. Basically it’s a synthesis of mountain marathoning and touring on a bike. Result – sounds great – count me in.

From here it was but a short (probably inevitable) step to noticing, on several bikepacking sites, some almost reverential references to ‘The Divide’. Never heard of it! What this all about then?

So I click on the relevant site (thanks Google) and result – Nirvana. It’s only what some people consider the apogee of bikepacking that’s all, it’s only the (cue drum roll and clash of cymbals):

Great Divide Mountain Bike Ride (also known as the Tour Divide or simply the TD)

The site details a course of some 2770+ miles (not kilometres – we’re talking North America here)

Gulp

With the route running down the spine of the Rockies, following the hydrographical border between the Pacific and Arctic/Atlantic drainage basins, with water draining west to the Pacific and east to the Arctic/Atlantic.

Sounds Interesting

Apparently an assortment of bears (grizzly and black), rattlesnakes, route changes due to forest fires, impassable mud tracks and serious deserts are thrown in to liven things up en route.

Sounds really interesting

The article highlights sections of up to 4 days with no available food resupply and on occasions up to 150 miles between water sources. Incidentally the water that is available is invariably contaminated with Guardia Lambdia.

Sounds really really interesting

Oh and by the way there is some 200,000’ of climb.

Sound great definitely count me in – when do we start?

It’s surprising how, under the right circumstances, just how fast one’s aged brain is able to identify, assimilate and furthermore extensively analyse potential problems associated with participating in such an undertaking before effortlessly formulating the necessary answers viz:

Problem	Solution
WTBs not ideal	29” front suspension mountain bikes (MB) optimal
Weight issue	Van Nicholas titanium MB also cheaper than WTB!
Kit	Photos showed a wide assortment of front rolls, saddle tank, seat & frame bags a whole new world to explore here then!
Time needed	Obvious Y days – why bother asking
Incidentally	Y= 2770 miles X kilometres (sorry miles) a day
Time available	Less than Y above – ignore as irrelevant!!!
Transport to & from	Again a minor issue – not even worth considering
Navigation	Washouts and fires necessitate route changes
Consequently good navigation skills required	Maps available so that’s OK then!

So sorted really all but one other (truly minor) hurdle which is…

Permission (aka Jackie)

Conversation along the following lines required:

I’ve just been looking at bike sites on the internet

‘And?!’

I’ve come to the conclusion that I shouldn’t get a titanium touring bike. Too expensive, I’m not up to it fitness wise anyway and it would mean too much time away on tour etc etc

‘Don’t be daft of course we can afford it and you are fit enough’

Well a titanium MB would be significantly cheaper than a similar World Touring Bike and thinking about it; it would of course be of use if I ever tried to do the Divide

‘Sounds Good …

I didn’t know you were looking at MBs

What’s the Divide’

Oh it’s a bit of a ride in the US – interested in doing it with me?

‘No but you could have ago on your own if you wanted.

Just exactly what is it?’

Well now you ask and if you are sure you wouldn’t mind me having a go…

As I said it’s remarkable how the mind sorts out solutions to potential problems when under pressure!!

To cut a long story short that’s essentially how it went and all power to Jackie she has been very supportive and not put any objections in the way at anytime along this journey for which I am truly grateful (note apposite quote at the start).

The only stipulation she gave was that she wanted to know where I was while on this jaunt. I planned to solve that by carrying a, virtually obligatory, SPOT GPS tracking device.

I didn’t dwell on the fact that if it my ‘SPOT’ didn’t move it would also graphically demonstrate I was stranded in the middle of nowhere for some reason (unknown) with no means of communication!!

I now only needed to put this plan into action. Accordingly the following occurred in quick succession:

• Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) Website identified
• ACA promotional video absorbed
• ACA maps purchased
• ACA ‘Cycling the Great Divide’ book purchased
• Potential flight to Calgary identified, with plans to cycle to start in Banff (I forgot to say the Divide ride actually starts in Canada not the USA)
• Possible exit strategy from the New Mexican/Mexico border via Tucson or Phoenix formulated
• Distances of 3,100 miles (Tuscon) or 3300 miles (Phoenix) identified
• Therefore, after postulated a daily mileage of between 80 and100 miles the trip duration was looking at lasting between 33 and 42 days, with a time slot identified for late July – late September 2016.

The above plan being accommodated by me taking premature retirement early in September 2016, and by the serendipitous use of accumulated holidays and Bank Holidays starting in late July; with a possible return to work, on a part time basis (to be clarified with management and colleagues) in early October.

This represented a slightly later start than generally recommended on the various web sites (principally due to weather in New Mexico) but needs must.

Oct 2014

Visit to the Van Nicholas (VN) bike retailer above for a bike fit and subsequent ordering of a VN ZION Titanium Mountain bike (MB).

‘Should be ready just after Christmas……’

Update 30 04 15 (Yes April 6 months after October and 4 months after Christmas)

All going swimmingly at present…

Relevant maps photo shopped from the web.

Plans for bike wheels to be built, probably include an integral dynamo.

Problem re bike transport and what to do with non cycling clothes identified. The solution seems to be to travel with padded cardboard; discard this and excess clothes in Canada, buy new non cycling gear and source similar cardboard box in Tucson/Phoenix at the end.

Only slight problem Van Nicholas had still not delivered the bike, apparently ‘problems with parts’

It takes less time to build a car!!

Update 21 05 15

Bike duly arrived and picked up.

Jackie surprised by size due to 26” wheels – as was I.

Minor problem small frame only accommodates one regulation sized water bottle. This will need addressing.

First rides and attempts at bedding in

First impressions: the bike is big and the seat is uncomfortable+++

Binding brakes around Duffield – these sorted themselves spontaneously.

Went on a trip to Cannock Chase MTB park – had a blast.

Front and rear bike packs were purchased as ‘birthday’ presents. I rapidly identified a potential problem with the Apidura handlebar bag – the bike cabling was catching on a piece of plastic on the bag. Other than taking off the plastic and thereby potentially damaging the bag there did not seem to be a ready solution to this one. Working on the principle that problems often go away if you ignore them I elected to wait and see how things panned out!!

Multiple bikepacking websites visited and the Welsh Ride Thing (WRT), an iconic bikepacking event identified and entered.

Lots of internet trawling regarding GPS tracking devices undertaken; It seems to centre about Delorme tracker vs SPOT device. I was still undecided due to account activation costs, annual subscription charges, purchase prices etc etc.

01 08 15 DISASTER

Three bikes

Emma’s/Jackie’s Forme

My poorly repaired Orbea Orca

My Prized VN Zion

All stolen from the garage.

The insurance settlement was surprisingly generous. My reading of the claim was that we would get a max of £1000 per bike and as 2 of the bikes came out less than £1000 I was expecting the claim to realise £2250 (£1000, £500 & £750) – less of course the excess on each bike. It therefore came as a very pleasant surprise to have the following a conversation with the insurers:

Insurers: I am afraid that we won’t be able to meet the claim in full

Me: Yes I realise that

Insurers: I say that because your bikes come in at just over £3000 and we can only pay the £3000 and that’s with replacement bikes from our store.

Me: Oh well OK then

Insurers: However as we cannot replace your custom Titanium bike from our store we will give you the £2250.

Me: Oh well OK then (cue smiley face)

Net result we got:

• A Cannodale as a replacement for Jackie’s bike, which she didn’t really like anyway and used very little (now used full time by Emma) and
• A Specialise Roubaix carbon fibre disc brake road bike.
• This replaced the Orca which was suffering from a terminal external frame gear cable housing problem and was the subject of a dispute with the Spanish maker Orbea,
• The complete replacement cost of my VN Ti Zion MB

Things further improved when Orbea independently sent me a nearly complete frame set as a replacement for the (now stolen) substandard original!!

I subsequently bought a rubidium encrusted chain/anchor security system with the aim of locating the bikes in a false cupboard, with an additional 140dB rape alarm attachment, in the reinforced garage. Take that you buggers!!

10 09 15

Source for new bike identified at the LBS (Local Bike Shop) ‘Love Velo’ in Darley Abbey who also accepted the thrown in replacement Orbea frame as part payment.

The initial ‘who is this guy – all the gear no idea’ response rapidly changed once we had had several detailed chats about possible set ups and I had established that perhaps I did know a little about the subject and was seemingly pretty set on the whole idea.

After careful consideration was given to the following tweaks to the set up:

• Smaller configuration with 650b (27.5”) wheels. Better suited to my height and also lighter than the VN Zion
• Electric shifters. I considered, and indeed, tried this suggestion but ultimately rejected them due to battery weight and charging considerations. I also thought they posed too much of a risk if something went wrong
• Alpfine intergral hub. Rather heavy so also rejected
• SON front axle dynamo. Good idea but rather heavy and some negative reports on the web
• Rigid front fork to be used in conjunction with tubeless tyres. This system needs less maintenance and weighs less than standard shock forks and recent TD photos show increasing use of this set up
• Dual 26-36 front chain ring with 11 – 40 rear cassette combination. Chosen to optimise climbing ease over speed on the flat. Issues re bag size on rear and frame bag size remained to be sorted.

2016 GDMBR/TD start deferred to 2017

The issue as to whether there really was sufficient time available to accommodate this adventure remained unresolved. After discussion with the financial advisor re pensions, plans were made to delay the trip to 2017, while at the same time advancing the retirement date from September to the end of May.

This would allow me to be present for 2nd Friday in June, the traditional date of the Tour Divide Grand Depart, and furthermore it afforded a more realistic timeframe to perfect my set up and look at doing some more preparatory tours in the UK… more internet research required!!

In addition I rather liked the fact that, with this new projected start date, I could look on the trip as a joint retirement / 60th birthday present to myself. After all that had transpired hitherto I took this to be a good sign.

18 02 16 New Bike Arrives

First impressions:

• Runs through mud no problems
• Probably needs mud guards!!
• Brakes initially grinding now resolved
• 2.4” tyres surprisingly mobile but slower than my road bike obviously
• Springy with only 15psi (vs 100 on road bike)
• Handlebars need shortening,
• Seat too far back
• Stem slightly too long.
• Front wheel a little out of true.

However I do feel more at home with this bike than the Van Nicholas – (not just cognitive dissonance) – and all the above will be correctable after a few miles under the belt.

I loaded up the handlebar and seat bags and cycled to and from Nottingham with no problems. Currently awaiting a sprung seat post.

All I need to do now is to sort out:

• Frame bag
• Download GBMBR maps
• GPS navigation system likely to be an Etrex 30x
• Register Intent for 2017
• Finalise logistics getting there and back
• Practice / get fit
• Look into possible purchase of SPOT

Oh and work full time on two jobs….

Highland Trail 550: 29th May – 6th June 2016

Internet trawling on bikepacker sites unearthed the mighty ‘Highland Trail 550’ (HT 550) oddly a 550 mile off road trip round the highlands!
You would never have guessed would you?

Sounded pretty tough as only 1/3 of blogs, write ups and videos document successful completions!

Of interest it has its own Trackleaders SPOT following facility which is identical to the Tour Divide and seemed to be an ideal shake down / gear practicality assessment run. As the rather selective HT 550 Grand Depart was fully booked / allocated – seems pretty hard core, I elected to go the day after as an ITT (Independent Time Trialist).

While looking to buy / hire a SPOT I identified a cheap SPOT hire facility in Glasgow and registered with Trackleaders. This proved useful in several ways because it allowed me to go through the rather convoluted registration process which serendipitously also revealed that, if you express an intent to cycle and turn up at the Grand Depart, you can hire a Trackleaders SPOT device without having to buy one or activate an annual account – result!

The plan is to try and complete this ride inside 9 days – basically because that’s all the time I have!! Booked time off work.

Highland Trail 550 post attempt resume

Well shall we just say that was an experience – see the Highland 550 write for full details. In summary – bloody hard. I only completed some 280k but everything (excepting my lungs, guts and heart) worked fine. Lovely weather, condensation problems with tent – insurmountable I suspect.

Initially I was a little downhearted by the (seemingly short) distances I had managed to achieve for the effort involved. However analysis of the distances covered by the elite and standard riders in both events demonstrated very graphically that 1 mile of the Tour Divide = 1k of the HT 550 – confirming the tough nature of the HT 550.
Therefore the distances I had achieved per day on the HT 550, with admittedly relatively little training, augured well for the Tour Divide.

SPOT tracker worked well, food issues, what to take and whether I could consume enough proved an area which needs further work.

Cycling up Helvellyn en route back home proved very enjoyable.

Tour de France (TdF) trip: 1st – 17th July 2016

For Christmas I was given a present of a week’s cycling with a company following the TdF (I have still to receive the money from the family for this present by the way). I must admit I was rather apprehensive that the group would be populated by BMI < 15 cycling superstars, unlike yours truly. Sports Tours picked people up at the start from Toulouse airport but I elected instead to cycle there (and back) from Caen. They then took us (18 people) into Andorra following the TdF - very enjoyable. The weather throughout was excellent. In fact I reckon I only saw 1 day’s rain over about 6 weeks. Overall I got some 1850k and 21,000’ of climb in on this trip. Cycling against the wind both there and back was a bugger though!! Two mechanicals – broken chain (repaired with spare chain link) and broken fork (managed to limp along without a repair till I got back). Some good hills en route, especially in Andorra.

Overall, time constrains necessitated me doing some 150k+ days on the to/from legs between Caen and Toulouse either side of the TdF element.

Just over 800k over 4½ days, not super fast but I was definitely cranking out the miles (kilometres).

Due to the effort involved and the sunny days both weight loss and prominent tan lines were apparent on my return!!

Alice called me a Zebra.

Subsequently a suitable customised frame bag was sourced, measured, ordered and delivered from Alpit. This proved well made and was used on the following:

Trip to Hope Cove: 26th August – 3rd September 2016

The annual trip to Hope Cove for the Hope Cove Lifeboat Carnival and general boozy do with the Boddies and Grostates et al.

En route I slept in my, now usual bush, on a roundabout in the middle of the Fosse Way.

This was a further chance to get some more miles in on the Divide bike – no name yet (wait for it….). I left after Nuffield outpatients and did some 435k in 47hrs with 5300m (18,000’)of climb.

The seat is not very comfy when cycling on tarmac, despite now having a suspension seatpost. Memo to self – need to trial yet another new seat.

Good weather continued with no need for wet weather gear; is this a good omen?? I was concerned that my current wet weather set up might not be up to the job so ordered a light weight ‘breathable’ (yer right) waterproof top from Alpkit which I saw offered in their sale.

Subsequently full on work, medicolegal, OPD and operative (stomach pull ups, glossolaryngectomies, total thyroidectomies etc.) meant that there was little time to cycle, other than occasionally to work.

This was a problem which continually needed addressing. I did however enter the Dark & White Peak MTB cycling series and did 3 of the 4 events. These proved very enjoyable, even if one event had the time limit reduced from 3 to 2 hours as the weather was absolutely atrocious.

Following my trip to Hope Cove I bit the bullet and, on 20th Sept 2016, accompanied by Jackie, went to the travel company STA in Nottingham and booked flights for 5th June 2017, leaving Heathrow with British Airways for Calgary with a planned return date from Tucson (on American Airlines code share flight with BA) scheduled for 20th July 2017. Remember this code share reference………!

I reasoned that by flying to Calgary on the 5th I would enable me to overcome jet lag and build the bike before cycling to Banff on the 7th.

Furthermore I thought staying at the YWCA on the 7th & 8th would be ideal as it would allow me to trial the bike over a reasonable distance in North America and afford the opportunity to rectify any pre start problems. While at the same time letting me absorb the pre race craic before the day of the Grand Depart the 9th. In addition the Tour Divide starts right outside the YWCA front door!!

While I think the quote about every good man and the rolling eyed woman at the start is correct, on reflection perhaps the spacecraft analogy should not be taken too far.

I say this because the Rosetta mission ended when the craft was deliberately crashed into Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and, having reached it’s destination, the New Horizons spacecraft was designed to carry on unchecked with no plans to return home. Furthermore the New Horizons probe was designed to send back information at only 1kb per second and the total time to download all the data was expected to be many months.

Hopefully I won’t either crash into the gates at the custom post in Antelope Wells (as per the Rosetta mission) or continue unimpeded into Mexico never to return (as per the New Horizons spacecraft). How long the post ride journal will take to complete remains to be seen.

Time will tell…