RR: Tour Divide '19

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Originally Posted by buttahflake

Damn dude, I got a little choked up reading that. Will there be another attempt?

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Yeah, that was a tough call to make even though it was an obvious decision. I highly doubt I'll go back for another full attempt, logistical nightmare and not cheap!! Never say never though. If I can get a handle on the saddle sore issues, that would be a good enough reason to possibly go back. In the meantime, I do plan on a return to Salida next June, Justin is also going to join me, so we can both finish what we started. It's still about 930 miles to Antelope Wells from there.

Well, here it is, the final post of the series. Makes me sad, I wish I had another week to blab about. I guess that will have to wait until next year.

TD '19: Gear List & Final Thoughts
Attachment 293564
Rolling out of Canmore, AB to the start of the Divide on June 14th.

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Originally Posted by schillingsworth

Well, here it is, the final post of the series. Makes me sad, I wish I had another week to blab about. I guess that will have to wait until next year.

TD '19: Gear List & Final Thoughts
Attachment 293564
Rolling out of Canmore, AB to the start of the Divide on June 14th.

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Not sure if you posted it somewhere on your blog, the physical toll was clearly huge, how much weight did you lose over the course of the ride? How long did it take to recover??

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Originally Posted by Gcooker

Not sure if you posted it somewhere on your blog, the physical toll was clearly huge, how much weight did you lose over the course of the ride? How long did it take to recover??

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I dropped 13 lbs. Pretty much ate everything in sight for about two weeks upon returning home. I'm still recovering. Lost all my fitness because I couldn't walk/sit on the bike for a week after I got home. Then, it was too hot to really do anything, so my motivation was low. Then, last week I had a recurrence of MRSA in my right thigh, off the bike again for two weeks now. Beyond frustrating as I was just starting to feel back to normal and stacking bigger rides.

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Originally Posted by schillingsworth

I dropped 13 lbs. Pretty much ate everything in sight for about two weeks upon returning home. I'm still recovering. Lost all my fitness because I couldn't walk/sit on the bike for a week after I got home. Then, it was too hot to really do anything, so my motivation was low. Then, last week I had a recurrence of MRSA in my right thigh, off the bike again for two weeks now. Beyond frustrating as I was just starting to feel back to normal and stacking bigger rides.

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Damn dude that's nuts. Great read , well done and thanks for spending the time to put it all together.

Thought I'd give a quick update since my last post a couple months back. The MRSA had come back and the Doc ordered me off the bike until it was healed. Finished up my 6th round of antibiotics and after 6 weeks of essentially sitting around, I declared my leg healed. I had to get out of the house!! I've been back riding for a little over a month and just today tallied my longest ride since my final day on the Divide back on July 3rd. Today's ride was 30 miles and I felt great. Perhaps it was the cool desert temps, hero dirt and new tires, IDK. In the 4 1/2 months since being home I've ridden and grand total of 400 miles. I'm slowly regaining my fitness, but I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been a struggle. The Divide and the effects of MRSA really took a toll, much more than I thought initially. I'm simply thrilled to be back out on the trails. Maybe I'll even get in some skiing this year...

Glad to hear you are finally recovered. Thanks for the write up and inspiration!


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I'm just catching up on this. Thank you for sharing, and just wow. I'm glad you are doing better. And as much as losing fitness sucks, getting it back is part of the fun, too.

glad you are feeling like you are turning a corner! MRSA sounds terrifying.

Amazing thread that I’m just catching up on...thanks for sharing and glad you’re healing up!


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For some context, any mileage I get to ride is great, but for the way this year started: Jan. 1 - July 3: 3,623 miles and 459 since. I'm so ready to spend a full day...or more...on the bike right now. I feel great physically and my headspace is good after coming to terms with how this year was unfolding.

Anyway, if you haven't seen the new Tour Divide movie 'I Just Want to Ride' chronicling this year's TD, check it out on Pearl Izumi's YouTube Channel
I was at the final screening a couple weeks ago in Tucson and it was amazing to experience it in a group setting and listen to both Lael & Chris Seistrup tell tales from their rides. Enjoy!

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Originally Posted by schillingsworth

For some context, any mileage I get to ride is great, but for the way this year started: Jan. 1 - July 3: 3,623 miles and 459 since. I'm so ready to spend a full day...or more...on the bike right now. I feel great physically and my headspace is good after coming to terms with how this year was unfolding.

Anyway, if you haven't seen the new Tour Divide movie 'I Just Want to Ride' chronicling this year's TD, check it out on Pearl Izumi's YouTube Channel
I was at the final screening a couple weeks ago in Tucson and it was amazing to experience it in a group setting and listen to both Lael & Chris Seistrup tell tales from their rides. Enjoy!

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Didn't see this thread until a few weeks back (been off the site for a long while). Anyhoo, I remember following you and others IRT as a dot watcher. I'm glad you're healed up. Thanks for the inspiration and all of the posts. I have much to learn ( and save) for a TD attemp in 2021. Cheers man, what a journey. Happy thanksgiving from Steamboat, CO.

Thought I'd revive this old thread as I finally made it over to New Mexico this year and finished the deal. Hard to believe it took 5 years to finish it, but life has a funny way of mucking up ride plans!! In a nutshell: 2020 was a wash, 2021 my buddy, Justin, who I met during the race, tweaked his knee while training. So, I went back to Colorado and rode the section he completed in 2019: Salida to Del Norte. Justin and I made a pact to finish the route together. In 2022, we were all set to wrap it up, but two weeks prior to departure, New Mexico shut down all the their Nat'l Forests. Gah!! We opted to finish Colorado on that ride, which was only 80 miles or so, but included Indiana Pass - the high point of the entire Tour Divide. Then last year, my wife had a health scare and I stayed home. Finally, 2024, the stars aligned and Justin and I reached Antelope Wells doing a 'fast-tour' approach. So, there you have it. Now for some blog posts and a lot more pics!!


2021: Salida to Del Norte over 2 days.
Attachment 496154

2022: Del Norte to Cumbres Pass
Attachment 496155
Climbing in the rain somewhere near Platoro, CO.

Now for the rest, all of New Mexico from June 2024.
TD '24: Day 1 - Cumbres Pass to Cañon Plaza
Attachment 496156
Entering New Mexico!!

TD '24: Day 2 - Cañon Plaza to Polvadera Mesa
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Bodes General Store in Abiquiu.

TD '24: Day 3 - Polvadera Mesa to Cuba
Attachment 496158
45º and rain to finish the climb on Polvadera Mesa for breakfast.

TD '24: Day 4 - Cuba to Grants
Attachment 496159
Navajo Reservation resupply.

TD '24: Day 5 - Grants to Davila Ranch
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Getting pie in Pie Town!!

TD '24: Day 6 - Davila Ranch to Beaverhead Work Center
Attachment 496161
Entering an active burn area south of Pie Town.

TD '24: Day 7 - Beaverhead Work Center to Silver City
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Enjoying the cloud cover through the Gila Nat'l Forest.

TD '24: Day 8 - Silver City to Hachita
Attachment 496163
Home for the night in Hachita.

TD '24: Day 9 - Hachita to Antelope Wells!!
Attachment 496164
The now infamous Antelope Wells sign

Attachment 496165
Since the border was open, we were able to get photos at the actual border

Attachment 496166
And just like that, the Tour Divide route was finally complete.

Attachment 496167
Personally, this marked me as a career Triple Crown finisher: AZTR750 (2016), CTR (2017) and now the Tour Divide route (19, 21, 22, 24)

Attachment 496168
I have a hobby of collecting license plates, collection now complete

Thanks for following along!!