June 13, 2021
Sunday dry run success
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There is a genuine, albeit amateur, ultra-endurance bicycle race along the Continental Divide, titled the “TOUR DIVIDE” (http://tourdivide.org/), which runs for 2,745 miles from Banff, AB CA to Antelope Well, NM USA. The record winner is Mike Hall, who in 2013 completed the divide in 14 ½ days. This year’s racers departed a shortened race three days ago, and with a sense of awe, inspiration, and humility we follow this year’s racers. Not being blessed with Olympian genes, we set out on Sunday 6/13/2021 for a mini dry run 30-mile loop around town to test out our packed bikes and see what items fall off the bike as we pedal. Another learning opportunity accomplished. Morning started out beautiful, bikes packed to the gills, and slowly pedaled down the local dirt roads to our serene park destination to mimic camping. In full disclosure, Sunday’s weather, leisurely pace and pretend camp is nicer than what we expect from the normal grueling days along the divide.
We did okay. Need more straps to prevent bike stuff from giggling as we pedal over rocks. We can set up tents on manicured grass under a shady tree by an inland lake. We can boil water on an alcohol stove and eat packaged spicy Hummus with a box of Lorna Dunes for lunch. We can wave at the passers by that smile at us like we’re lunatics on bikes. It was a successful event. We arrived home safe. At the same time the Tour Divide racers are three days and over 500 miles into their journey. In another couple of weeks I hope to see them coming at us as they travel Southbound and we travel Northbound. Live feed of the racers: https://bikepacking.com/event/tour-divide-2021/
We leave in one week.
Today's ride: 32 miles (51 km)
Total: 88 miles (142 km)
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