Transcribed calls

So, I'll be transcribing all the calls.  Here's the first one:

http://tourdivide.org/blog2009/trevor_calls_sparwood

I spoke with the Tour Divide People

I emailed them the following:

As for turning on the SPOT, Is it complicated to do? Can you send me instructions so that if he does call, I can tell him?  Can u also please write a post in td Race Updates, asking people who receive phone calls from the riders to tell Trevor to turn on his SPOT while they are all still together in the early stages of the race?

This is our conversation:

Kevin: We don't have any way to communicate with the racers and there is a strict rule that the blog cannot used in any manner to relay support or anything of the support to the racers

11:17 me: even if it's a matter of safety, and it's not really support?

 Kevin: That will disqualify a racer

 me: if he doesn't know,then he can't be officially in the race without a tracker

 Kevin: It's also not really a safety thing, they just are not being tracked on the leaderboard

  He is officially in the race

  There is actually no rule saying you have to carry a SPOT

 me: oh

11:18 Kevin: It's completely optional

 me: how will u know if he crosses the finish line?

 Kevin: It's racer-reported

  Honor system

ok phew- we found him

http://mtbcast.com/wordpress/?page_id=576

So we know he's fine, but his satellite is not on (the SPOT).  I guess there are two mechanisms, one that he can use to call in (it's only one way), and one that follows him.

Still waiting

This is very frustrating, but in the meantime, here is a still from the start video that you can watch here:

http://mtbcast.com/wordpress/

So at least we know he started:)

Trevor! Turn on your SPOT

Everyone is wondering why Trevor is the ONLY person in the whole race that we can't follow on the leaderboard. I emailed the tech people at tourdivide.org and they said that he likely forgot to turn it on. When he calls, soon, I hope, I will tell him and then we can all enjoy watching the little arrows on the Google Map. I guess when you spend so much time planning and preparing for the race, the last minute satellite access might slip your mind.

How to follow the race

Everyone keeps asking how they can follow the race this year. Well its easy. With great sponsors from SPOT and MTBcast.com you can literally follow our every move.

If you go to the tourdivide.org website you can follow the race via the SPOT and google maps. Simply go to the menu on the right hand side of the page and click on the tab that says leaderboard. That will bring you to the SPOT leaderboard where all the racers will be seen as blue dots. Then just scroll over each dot to see who it is. You can also check out the blog portion of the site where you can read updates during the race.

The other way to follow the race is through the MTBcast.com website where you can actually here my voice as I call in at certain checkpoints along the way. On the right hand of the site you will see the 2009 Tour Divide Racer Audio list. From there scroll down the racer list until you see my name (at the bottom). Click on my name and it will bring you directly to my audio posts.

You will also be able to follow links from there to the SPOT Topofusion maps. On those maps (similiar to the leaderboard) you simply scroll over the points to find the name. If you go there now you can see riders who are going the opposite direction from the Mexican boarder headed north. Go David!

See you on the map!

5 snowy days left

Its getting near the start and everything is falling into place. My past 8 months have been spent grunting in a spectrum of weather conditions from +30 degrees Celsius to -30 degrees Celsius. From stinging rain to sun burnt nose to numb, frozen appendages; I have pretty much been through it all. Now it all seems to be worth it, culminating all of my experiences and focusing them towards achieving one goal: to ride from Banff to Mexico. Its not going to be easy. I am going to have to empty my mind of any ill thoughts and and fill my soul with determination. I am ready.
I arrived in the foothills of Alberta this week to visit with friends and family in my hometown of High River. It has been a nice way to ease into race mode with the support of those are near and dear to my heart (although I do wish my girlfriend was here to see me off). I'm eating lots and getting well rested. The bike seems to be more than ready, just need to slap on the new tires and a computer, and she will be all set. The bags aren't totally packed yet, still subtracting and rearranging items to get it just right. Also waiting for a few things to arrive in the mail. Nothing like cutting it close.
The best part about being here has been watching the snow fall. Yes that's right this weekend a few inches of snow fell in the foothills and the weather channel said up to 10 inches fell around Banff. It kind of dampens the spirits a bit, and makes me wish I hadn't left the long johns at home. Oh well, that's all a part of the race. Taking obstacles as they come and finding a way to get around them.
More exciting news is a reroute of the race in the BC section around Sparwood. Originally the route went from Sparwood and followed highway 3 down to Fernie. Now it trades the 65 miles of asphalt for 105 miles of pure off road bliss through the Flathead Valley, referred to as the "Serengeti of North America". The decision to make the reroute is cutting it close but will be worth the spectacular scenery that we will be experiencing.
Tomorrow I am headed up to the wild Peter Lougheed Park up in the Rockies for some prerace training and camping; to work out any kinks with gear and bike. Looking forward be back in the saddle and that much closer to the Banff starting line. I can't wait to meet all the crazy riders who are attempting the race. The field is up to 39 people now, including Matthew Lee, winner of more than a few previous Tour Divides and GDMBR's. It will be great to ride amongst such driven riders.