Back to Tour Divide 2021 Preparation

So for about three months, Ray and I have taken a bit of a hiatus from posting on this blog…or even thinking or training about/for the Tour Divide.  After almost 8 solid months of training specifically for this event, we needed not only a physical break (specifically from LONG, DRY, HOT, ROUGH rides), but a mental break of prepping for a 2750 mile race.

While COVID took, and continues to take, a toll on many of our lives, the impact on our race is pretty small in the grand scheme of things.  We have both remained healthy and happy.

Ray took on the goal of completing the Leadville 100K FT. Challenge.  He did so by easily completing the event in much less time than was allotted, but also rode for 57 days in a row.  He also has gotten back into his running, as well as maintaining his cycling regimen.

I took almost 11 weeks completely off the bike.  That said, I completed 5 multi-day backpacking trips, and have taken to hiking our local “A” Mountain (Tortugas Mountain) every morning at 0600. 

That said, the Tour Divide was never far from thoughts, and we have continued to plan and maintain fitness in preparation for starting our TD specific training.

Now that the weather has FINALLY started to cool off a bit, we are also looking at several multi-day backpacking and bikepacking trips.  Additionally, the nicer weather has allowed us to start our long gravel rides, as we begin the long process of training for a successful TD 2021 attempt.

Here are some photos of what summer has seen, and we look forward to more consistent updates as we prepare for June 11th, 2021 and the start of our Tour Divide.