For more information on the Tour Divide visit our TD Resource page. »
After completing the bikepacking triple crown, I decided to make this Tour Divide Planning Guide (GDMBR). The triple crown taught me a lot and I want to share that knowledge with others. The process of planning a trip of this kind can be time consuming and stressful.
I can’t empathize how important planning is and how greatly it can effect the outcome of your race/tour. The more work you do before hand and information you have available to you during the race, the better off you’ll be. Bottom line, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
I’ve taken everything I learned on and off the Tour Divide (CTR and AZT), and put it into this 7 Step Planning Guide to racing/touring the Tour Divide (GDMBR). Hopefully anyone planning a race/tour of the route can get almost all the information they need from this post, accompanying posts, and external links provided below.
I might have done most of the leg work for you, but that shouldn’t stop you from doing your own deeper research to better your chances and improve the outcome of your trip even further. I am human and might have missed something. If I did let me know and I’ll add it or make a correction. Thanks!
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RACING PROS:
TOURING PROS:
RACING CONS:
TOURING CONS:
Race or Tour? GDMBR, Tour Divide, or Tour Divide Max? You have many options. Make sure which ever you choose, it’s your choice. For most of us this is a once in a lifetime event.
The first 3 steps are fairly easy to check off your list. Steps 4-7 take more thought and work. Put some time into them and don’t simply pass over them. As mentioned earlier, this is where you do your homework.
A well put together resupply and itinerary are key items, that can effect both the success and ease of your race/tour of the Divide. Chances are you won’t follow your itinerary once on the route but it still serves as a reminder of what your goal was/is. On the other hand you’ll reference your resupply list multiple times a day. This is where you want to put the most detail into.
Checkout my post, Tour Divide Resupply Planner, where I give you everything you need to plan your own resupply/itinerary.
Gear is another key item you need to really research before you hit the trail. Depending on your pace you’ll be spending anywhere from two weeks or more on the Divide. During that time you’ll run into every type of weather you can image. Combine the weather with countless hours in the saddle and you’re going to want to have the right gear, gear that is reliable, tested and offers comfort.
I put a whole page together that covers the gear I used during my Tour Divide, (and on the Colorado Trail and Arizona Trail). I show pros/cons, tips, things that didn’t work and did, and what I would do differently next time.
Everyone does some sort of training when doing a race/tour of this length. You have to consider both physical and mental training, when you considering doing the TD. Like the old adage says, “It’s 90% mental and 10% physical”.
We all train differently, so I won’t pretend to tell you how you should. Rather, I’ll give you some tips and tell you some of the things that made the TD hard for me.
Testing your set up is key. Don’t think you can just slap your gear in your bags, check their tightness and go. Get out there and ride your bike loaded. Learn how it handles, listen for what rattles, see what rubs, and most of all, what doesn’t work.
An untested set up will result in unneeded stress during your race/tour. Take the time to eliminate this by doing a Shakedown Ride. It will also get you used to a loaded bike.
Consider the following when testing your set up:
Being that I’m also a Triple Crown thru-hiker I’m used to quality planning tools. After finishing the Bikepacking Triple Crown I realized bikepacking didn’t have quality planning tools available. The Project’s Planning Aids and Resources are our answer to this.
After 100’s of hours of research, 1000’s of keystrokes, more emails and phone calls than I can recall the One of Seven Project’s Tour Divide Planning Aids are done. They’re the ultimate planning resources for the Tour Divide. They contain everything you need to plan and execute your ride/ride of the Tour Divide and most of the GDMBR. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in these then it’s probably in our Tour Divide Resources.
New for 2023 –
New for 2023 –
TOUR DIVIDE
$25.00 + tax, Purchase SOBO here.
Metric SOBO version only available as part of our Small or Big Bundles. See Below.
Metric NOBO version only available as part of our Small Bundle. See Below.
Example of Data Sheet
Example of Town List
DATA SHEET and TOWN LIST DIFFERENCES
The Data Sheet has the most info. It gives the distance, elevation +/-, average grade, maximum and minimum elevations, pavement sections, references ACA maps, bike shops, resupply options, and has key notes between two POI. Example: A and B, then B to C, and so on.
The Town List gives cumulative distances between POI. Example: A to B, A to C, A to D. The next section would be B to C, B to D, B to E, and so on. The Town List has distance, elevation +/-, resupply options, bike shops and key notes.
The Town List helps with not having to do the math to figure out how far away things are if they’re not the next POI.
New for 2023 – Due to low sales of this item by itself, I have decided to make it only available through the purchase of the Big Bundle.
Quickly find the total mileage between any two POI along the route.
New for 2023 – Due to low sales of this item by itself, I have decided to make it only available through the purchase of the Big Bundle.
Quickly find the total elevation gain between any two POI along the route.
***ALL versions of the Mileage and Elevation Gain Charts can ONLY be purchased as part of the Big Bundle***
One package including our two most popular planning aids:
One package with all our planning aids:
Formerly the Tour Divide Classic planning aid, the NEW GDMBR / ACA Route planning aid covers the entire ACA route from Jasper, AB to Antelope Wells, NM. This is not the Tour Divide route.
GDMBR planning aids have all the same data categories as the Tour Divide planning aids.
Formerly the Tour Divide Classic planning aid, the NEW GDMBR / ACA Route planning aid covers the entire ACA route from Antelope Wells, NM to Jasper, AB. This is not the Tour Divide route.
GDMBR planning aids have all the same data categories as the Tour Divide planning aids.
Everything you need to plan a bikepacking trip on the Tour Divide.
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Craig Fowler2020-03-06 13:25:442022-02-14 13:32:28Gear Review - If I Rode The Tour Divide Again
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Craig Fowler2019-06-09 22:32:502023-05-26 12:48:42Tour Divide Transportation Guide
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Craig Fowler2019-06-08 20:25:412023-05-26 12:50:00Tour Divide Resupply Guide
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Craig Fowler2019-05-27 15:12:412020-11-12 12:53:43Tour Divide Rider Survey Results
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