Messages

31

Routes / GD south of Cuba

« on: November 07, 2010, 02:34:08 pm »

Hi,
Planning for GD next summer. I spoke to someone who did it this summer and said there was a part of the route in New Mexico south of Cuba which was closed because of a private land owner.
Is there any further information about this on the ACA site anywhere or can someone give advice.
Thanks.

32

Routes / Re: Gt Divide ground conditions

« on: October 25, 2010, 02:12:27 pm »

Thanks,
I'm accumulating allsorts of useful bits and pieces here.
I'm starting to think dates for time off work and air tickets now.
Early start, early finish suits my window best and sounds like it could be good to avoid mud too.
I'll keep watching here, clocks go back here next week so there'll be some long evenings to fill.
Nice to think of a long hot summer, fingers crossed.

33

Routes / Re: Gt Divide N to S open from?

« on: October 25, 2010, 02:03:51 pm »

Hi Maudollini,
Thanks,
That was just the sort of helpful feedback I have been looking for, I'll mull it all over and gather my questions together. That off-route advice sounds good, I'm hoping for some wilderness experience, however I once had a long sleepless night after seeing a bear peering at me just before night fall. It was only a black one but I'd not seen any in the previous 6 weeks of touring, I'd begun to ignore all the bear care rules but that taught me.

 In 1993 I road toured from California up to Vancouver to Banff to Montana & ended in Colorado, I'd intended seeing Jasper then but the weather in June turned bad so I headed South instead. I met an American biker who had been going north for Alaska just with a sleeping bag, no rain jacket and he had turned back trying to stay dry using black bin bags. He headed south with me and another guy we met and yep, I learn't that lesson about being careful about who you are with.
It was cold, raining and late in the day and the customs guys wanted to look through all my stuff, down the frame tubes, between the pages of my diaries and allsorts, all in the open too.
But I was clean and so was the other guy unless he had a really good hiding place.
So, I'll be back on here sooner or later.
Thanks again,
Phil

34

Routes / Gt Divide ground conditions

« on: October 08, 2010, 02:12:47 pm »

Being English I often come across wet muddy conditions and ride much of the year with mudguards.
A long ride under a wet spray from the back wheel would lessen my enjoyment of a tour.
I'm expecting dust on the Divide in summer but I saw some photographs of bikes which had completed the Gt Divide race. They looked quite muddy.
I'll be going much slower in fact I'm intending 1 in 3 days off for distractions and I could just wait for wet days to pass.
Can riders who have completed the route inform how many wet days there were please?
Are there places where mudguards would be worth taking?

35

Routes / Re: Gt Divide N to S open from?

« on: September 30, 2010, 09:53:42 am »

Oh well thanks for that, I'm learning bit by bit, I thought maybe one of the band members was a mountain biker and I was missing a relevent link.

36

Routes / Re: Gt Divide N to S open from?

« on: September 30, 2010, 01:55:42 am »

What is this DVD publicity doing here?

37

Routes / Gt Divide N to S open from?

« on: September 29, 2010, 03:03:13 am »

Hello,
I'm hoping to do Gt Divide next summer starting from Banff and I have lots of questions. I could be laid back and just go but forwarned is forarmed
I'd like to start mid-late June and finish early Sept.
Can anybody advise what the state of the tracks will be, I'm wondering about whether snow on the higher levels and when it usually clears. Any advice on other hazards and highlights not to miss?
Also I'm coming from England and considering the logistics.
I thought I might fly to Edmonton and ride accross to Jasper and down to Banff by road to get into the routine before starting the offroad route. Route advice anyone? Alternatives?
It looks like Tucson might be a reasonable return airport.
How tough are the procedures for entry to USA. As a British passport holder I have acquired a visa waiver but it does say that it does not guarantee entry. What kind of assurances are they looking for?
I'm intending to be independant to follow my own schedule and whims but also would like to ride some of the time with other adventure cyclist's. How many people are doing the ride and when do most set off.
Cheers
Phil.