Working working working on cue sheets

The last two weeks have been spent working on JP’s cue sheets, aka very detailed written directions of the 2,745 mile route.  Our schedules:  morning I teach, JP rides.  Afternoons we work together on cue sheets.  Evenings I teach, JP rides.  Not much else getting done around here!

Yes, he will have a GPS unit loaded with the route.  BUT, it has never worked properly and finally after multiple calls and emails to tech support, the Garmin folks had us return it for a replacement.  The new one arrived on Thursday and now JP is figuring it out.

Given that, we’ve placed a big emphasis on written directions of the route. 

When we downloaded it from the TD organizers, it started as 24 pages, single-spaced, 9 (yes, 9!) point font.  We’ve spent hours going through and editing out things to make it quickly readable.  It will be mounted on his bike under the handlebars (see photo) in a rig that he designed.  Pages are printed on waterproof paper from REI.

  

Sample edits: 

- remove (km) since he’ll be using miles

- add abbreviations:  National Forest=NF, cattle guard=CG, railroad=RR, etc.

- BOLD and CAP directional commands like LEFT/RIGHT

- notes about water sources along route in blue, towns with services are in green, etc.

- delete cues that are unnecessary, like “beautiful mountains to your left”

Original:  161.3(259.6)–Cross French Creek. Water source and possible primitive camping.

New:  161.3  X French Creek. Water, possible camp.

Original:  *162.0(260.7)–Bear right downhill at saddle, as FR 214 goes left. Start the long dive, keeping your speed in check as you descend through pinon and juniper-covered hillsides. There are some dangerous, sharp corners ahead.

New:  *162.0 Bear RIGHT downhill at saddle, not left on FR 214. Descend.

Original:  *167.7(269.9)–Radium, at end of long, steep descent. Turn left at stop sign to cross RR tracks, then ride over the Colorado River.

New:  *167.7   Radium. Left at Stop, X RR, over CO River.

Friday night, race organizers announced that some of the mountain passes are closed because of extreme snow, so they issued some alternate routes.  It's meant more work on cue sheets (spent 6 hours on it yesterday) but I'm happy that he gets to avoid some poor travel conditions.  Carrying a bike and gear through miles of deep snow = not my idea of a good time.

Lesson learned:  Getting ready for the Tour Divide is more than just riding a bike!