The Tour Divide -- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2023
- The Tour Divide is a 2700+ mile nonstop race the length of the Rockies, from Canada to Mexico. When the clock starts, you start riding, and it's a test of self-sufficiency, fitness, plus mental and physical toughness.
The race didn't go perfectly well for me. I'm not sure it goes perfectly for anyone, given the number of crazy circumstances and elements riders encounter.
To see the full bike setup and packing list, please visit: www.iamtedking.com/blog/td-pa...
Bike:
@CannondaleBicycles71 Scalpel HT
@SRAM Eagle drivetrain, 38t front ring, 10-50 rear
@zippspeed Cockpit, bars and stem
@ReneHerseCycles Fleecer Ridge 700x55 tires
@velocioapparel cycling kit
@SunGod Airas sunglasses
@moosepacks frame bag and stem bag - Sport
This is the way a trip report should be. Some trail eye views. Some big bags under your eyes by day 3. The greasy burger, the crappy weather. The filthy bike. Nice change to the oft-romantic version of long distance racing. Good route planning to hit so many hotels. Smart to put your health number one. No bike race is worth losing it.
Rhabdo is no joke...you are lucky you didn't end up in renal failure. I'm glad that you made the difficult but appropriate decision to backtrack and, perhaps, save your life. As a physician, I've seen a few who weren't quite as lucky.
Not "perhaps". Going back did save his life. Doing another 50 miles could have made it worse, to the point of kidney failure.
Ted, I learned more from this video about ultra-distance riding than I have from watching 100 success stories. It was raw. It was real. And I truly appreciate your willingness to share this experience with us. Glad you are OK, and I look forward to seeing your next adventure.
This is hero level stuff, Ted. Not because of the epic nature of doing the ride itself, but being open and honest enough to know when its time to call it. Always tough, but your health (rhabdo is no joke) and family are what is most important. The adventures will be there for next time! Keep at it. Cheers.
Great video. The cow bells would drive me nuts.
Seeing a grizzly would also not be the best. Ha!
you took the right decision and lived to fight another day. great video.
ciao from Venice (Italy)
Your final monologue - so honest, heartfelt, introspective, beautiful - is important for all of us to hear. Another amazing video - Thank you!
I completed the Tour Divide this year and also noticed my face got extremely puffy as if I was stung by bees. I think my entire immune system just went nuts on me from the stress I was putting my body through. The good news was after Lima my body seemed to find an equilibrium. The swelling in my face went down and the pain in my legs went away. I had a whole host of other problems with my body, but it seemed to accept the effort I was putting in.
I haven't done the TD, but I went thru BUD/S (SEAL training) and after hell week everyone's body swells up to the point where you can't wear shoes for a week. I think its a typical physiological response to extreme physical exertion and no/little sleep.
This is one of the more honest inside looks at the Tour Divide that I've seen. You captured the epic-ness of this event.
You mean epic-mess of this event………
Thank you, sir, so very much for sharing your start section and riding the Tour Divide, you did great, and yes you also made a wise decision take care of your health in order to recover and take very good care of your most important health need and not take any risks!
The Tour Divide is still there waiting for your ride in future, if you wish to ride it again all the way to the Mexico border, and when being perfectly healthy and then being able to enjoy every minute of it, the most important is that you are safe and healthy! May you be most richly blessed and enjoy your time to be spending time with your loved ones and spend time with your friends!
I hope you are all well now and doing good in every aspect!
You made such a honest and very fine video footage of your adventure starting from Canada!
Stay blessed every minute you, and your whole family and loved ones! Best regards from Sweden! 🙏👍💖
Thank you for showing ALL sides to riding a bike! Taken care and see you on the flip side! 🚴🏻💪❤️
THis long distance stuff is gnarly!!
Firstly , thank you for putting the effort in to film your ride. Secondly , thank you for sharing it with us mere mortals. Thirdly , Ted King lives to ride another day.
This was really a special watch. So well done. Thanks for sharing the highs and lows.
Glad you enjoyed it! Lots of work to make it. Happy it’s sharing good vibes!
I’m 57 my Tour Divide days are over I’m glad you got medical attention, you saved you. Better luck next year.
Thanks for the recap @TedKing I followed your dot during the event and already knew the outcome. I am hoping you are doing better.
This one got to me. I remember experiencing those emotions when I biked across the US. This vid is a very real and accurate portrait of going on a trip like that. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Glad you made healthy choices and got well. Looks like 2024 is going to be fun. Thanks for the channel and for being real. Best.
Glad you'll be ok. There's always another day or not. You had accomplished alot in your bicycle life. Take care and see you on your other adventures. ❤
Always pro Ted. That is some rugged country. Now I’m gonna watch “200 on 100” again. 🙌🏼🌟
What a great feeling to have family back home and to be able to carry that love and their strenghts with you. Congrats on a big effort and glad you are recovered and healthy.
Ted, Warriors status with your fitness, planning, commentating and more importantly..decisions. Very tight. Thanks for sharing.
"recognize the priorities" ! 🙌🙌
Big up Ted !
Ted, you are an inspiration! Thank you for sharing. I scratched on the TD in 2017 (I have not been able to return yet). This video brought tears to my eyes.
I was rooting for you and was disappointed to see the DNF but your health and the well being of your family should always come first. Tough decision but no question that it was the right one. Looking forward to your next adventure!
Rhabdo is no joke. You went to the edge and slid over. Digesting your muscles is no fun! Glad you are doing better and appreciate you sharing your story.
Ted, timestamp 20:22 - I was the talkative dude after the start at the Sugarcane 200 (I can’t beLIEVE you let Dylan beat you! . I recall telling you about Northwestern Montana before we had that weird misdirected hillclimb up to the paved Lake Okeechobee trail, with you telling me of Vermont. 🤘🏼all hail #frankthewelder 🚲😃
Sucks that we're RhabBros, but so glad you had people in your corner to help you identify it and get through it. I spent 6 days in the hospital on fluids with Rhabdo almost exactly 1 year ago. My arms are still not back to normal. Live to fight another day!
I was waiting for this one, great video! Good call, when your health is in jeopardy it’s always the right decision 🤙🏼
Ted, I watched all the way to the end. You made the correct decision, and you know it was the best thing to do, I’m just saying it again in an attempt to remove any shred of doubt you may have. It’s a hard ride and a major undertaking.
Ted, I listen to your podcast weekly (or whenever you find the time to post). I watched your progress as the GDMBR started and wondered what happened. You are a true class act, an amazing ambassador for the sport and an inspiration to people everywhere. Thank you so much for this vlog. Your open, honest and vulnerable self has brought you up to an even higher level of human (if that's even possible) Cheers, bro.
Good on ya! Take care
The REAL Divide. This video beautifully captures the raw humanity that makes this race so compelling. It's a vivid reminder of how swiftly life can shift, especially on the Divide. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Glad to see you'll be okay. These events are brutal....and far tougher than we sometimes realise.
I think Ric off GMBN also ended up in hospital during a 24 hour desert MTB earlier in the year. I think you were also in that race.
Ted. Epic story. Be kind to yourself. I know you will. Peace and respect!
It’s 6am, I’m eating breakfast and watching this. I don’t have enough time to watch all of it now, but I will come back. Thanks for putting this together. At 5:52 it’s Joe Nation!! (He came 3rd)
Appreciate the recap Ted. Sorry it did not go to plan, but smart decision with everything you had going on. Onward and upward!
The level of openness and honesty of this report is just as spectacular as the views from the trail. Thanks for sharing this!
Would really love to try this route someday, although with a full nights sleep in between every day.
Ted, great perspective and vulnerability. We all enjoyed the journey with you. There is no perfect script.
I appreciate that!
We’ve spent so many days shuttling the kids on that flowy section after the suspension bridge! Love it.
Sat here in the South of England, home comforts - I’m a great admirer of you and the way you apply yourself in life, even more so now because you recognise what’s important. Thankyou Ted King
You’re a classy guy Ted!❤️🙏
Rhabdo is brutal. Thanks for setting a real example for us all, pros and regular people, about how and when to listen to our bodies and make the call to stop
I'm glad you stopped man... always next year!
Chapeau great video thanks for posting onwards an up and rubber side down.
Ted, you are THE MAN!!!!!!
thx for this honest and amazing documentation. Rhabdo is super dangerous, so glad you made the right choices. As a doc, we can all want things like the summit we dreamed about and the drive/passion we know worked in the past...it takes real courage to NOT. Kudos Ted. Hope your future challenges and fun are inspired.
Glad you’re alive. Good seeing your at SBT GRVL.
Right call mate, come back another day. Great effort mate
Like so many others have mentioned, I'm glad that you received treatment and can get back home. I'm sure it will be great to visit with your family and play with the kids. Take the time to take care of yourself, recover and enjoy Life. Vermont is a beautiful state, so enjoy it with your family and once again, you made the right decision. Thank You for sharing your story and reminding all of us that family is always the most important, and always there to help out. Take Care!!
Thank you for sharing. I’m so happy you made a good decision in a tough spot. The race will be there again. Take care.
wonderful real world stuff, thank you
Great recap of a phenomenal experience Ted. Really did a good job capturing the true nature of the highs and lows. Happy to have made your acquaintance and to have been able to lend a small hand here and there! (Also glad you never needed the bear spray!) . Give me a shout when you come back to check out our riding!
21:00 I said out loud "good for you" when you said no alarm lol, that's a well-deserved alarm skip lets be real. I think rest needs to be emphasized a bit more in ultra endurance. Great video man, I really enjoyed it a lot.
I am thankful you weren't feeling well near a town and not far into the backcountry with no way out. Your diagnosis was a serious one. Most importantly your Ok and you got to come home to your family.
Thanks for the content Ted!
There's always another time to attempt your goals, being fit and healthy. It might not feel like it at the time, the racer in you wants to carry on, but the father, son, friend, partner in you made the right decision. Chapeau. 🏴🚴♀️👍🏴
I remember dot watching this - after coming home from Emporia with one more DK/Unbound story under my belt, and thinking Ted's going to tear this one up after that mudfest. The bags under your eyes were troubling on IG, but I didn't really get all the details until just now watching the video. Man, my heart goes out to you and your family - that must have been a really scary time for everyone. I might catch a glimpse or two of you in Emporia at the end of the month (definitely want an Untapped maple creemee, or two), and I will be cheering for you all day 💪
Thank you for the great report. We are not going to sacrifice our health for everything. Maybe later, much stronger. 👍
I appreciate it
Thanks for sharing the good and the bad. Great video compilation and story. Ride on bro!
This guy is amazing, I don't know how anyone does it this way as a race. Over 100 miles every day that's a lot of hurt on the body. I'd like to do this route one day just 50 miles a day at my own pace probably on an ebike to boot lol.
This video showed me you are a bigger man than I thought you were.
Thanks for taking the time to film and publish this video Ted
Impressive effort Ted!! Thanks for letting us tag along on your epic adventure and showing us the good, the bad and the ugly side of this Tour Divide. Glad you made the right decision and are back home with family to recover!!
Godspeed, Ted. We grow more from experiences like yours than we do from most successes.
I know you hated to pull out but I'm glad that you made the wise decision to do so and that you are now well and rested. Enjoy your time with your family. Praying for you and yours! God Bless! 🙏
You rule Ted! This was great and what a strong effort.
Thank you for being so openly honest. Refreshing to see this, and that you are willing to share this adventure with us. Heartbreaking you had to quit the race, but health and family come first. Wishing you all the best!
Like the bells. Good idea
Daaamn that was a pleasure to watch! You have got to do more of those. Silk Road next year?
Thanks for sharing. Glad you are ok again. Greets from Austria.
Glad you decided to get checked out you have given us all so much amazing content. Hope get well and spend time with your awesome family
Your health and family are everything. Well done, Ted!
Sounds like you made the correct call. Chin up! Live to fight another day!
Amazing Effort. Glad you knew what your priorities are! I remember seeing you at my 2nd BWR (I did the wafer, 60 year old dude with a pacemaker). You inspire me to push harder!
That was a hell of a ride, you made the smart decision. There is always next time. Great race report and thanks for the honesty as always! Feel better soon, though I'm sure time at home with family already has you on the right path.
Great message you given me, thanks for your experience.
My heart sank at “… back to Butte.” Smart decision, still so hard to let go. Ride on
WOW. Pushed beyond the limit...so emotional and beautiful video. Thank you. Rest up. Enjoy life!
Thank you - epic all around.
Impressive honesty & making the effort to film while undertaking such a gruelling effort. Putting the human into being 👏🏼
Incredible story. I’m sorry you weren’t able to make it but I’m glad your well. Your very positive
Since I knew you by some of your other adventures, I was following closely as I could, with the DOT, CZcams and Instagram reports. I trust all is well as you lived to see another day!! Keep on riding. :)
Thank you for the incredible and vulnerable look into your Tour Divide attempt. Im sure the documentation aspect was... tiring to say the least some days... but I appreciate all the insight into a race that I can guarantee ill never be able to consider competing in haha. You're the peoples champ Ted and I think i can speak for everyone when i say we appreciate you and always cheer for you! Thank you for letting us live vicariously through your dope channel. Chapaeu and health is wealth!!
Ha, yes, it took a lot of effort to think of all the filming. I appreciate it.
I followed your insta and the podcasts but this is so much more raw. Thanks for sharing.
ThanksTed for creating such an honest and powerful video! Hope your July and August rocks and glad you got to experience montana in June! It was such a great month out here. Cheers biking brother!
Fantastic video and what a scenery, my god. Thank you for sharing 🤟
This is the most impressive trip report I have seen so far on YT. It once again demonstrates how challenging ultra rides are, and more importantly what the right priorities are. Scratching was the only option
I appreciate that!
Heal up brp. I appreciate your candid authenticity. Enjoy your surprise 1.5 weeks of rest.
Thank you so much for sharing. I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been to make that decision but I am glad that you stuck by it! Sounds like the docs are too. My husband used to always say: “Live to ride another day.” I hope you enjoyed your week and a half of freedom at home:)
It’s all good, we’re still pulling for you no matter what event you ride in!
Superb video, thank you!
All I can say is wow and damn! I can't even fathom attempting such a ride. Glad you are OK and hopefully you had a great time back home with family.
Wow! You're human. I never knew that until now. Welcome.
Huge respect, Ted. You tell it as it is. , all the emotional highs and lows that one of the hardest bikepacking race brings with it. It must test the human body to it's limits. So glad you're ok. Rhabdo is a very serious illness , must have been very scary feeling so ill and not knowing what was wrong, miles from your family and friends.
All the best for your next biking adventure😊😊😊
A very good message to everyone. Be man enough to seek & take good advice. Thanks for this, Ted. Another day and it might’ve been a far worse story. It was very cool seeing Lael in the mix.
Wonderful vid/ story/ post TK - bravo
Kudos on the buzz cut. It is much safer when dealing with heat, easier to check for ticks, easier/faster to clean and stay comfortable.
Great video. I love the realness.
Was really bummed that you had to drop out. But i'm grateful you managed to record all of this. Thank you for continuing to be an inspiration!
Great effort and insights Ted, thanks for sharing your Tour Divide story with us.