Reroute through Chama, NM skipping closed Carson and Santa Fe forests 4. Bikepacking & TouringRides and RoutesTips and SkillsBikes and PartsGear and Reviews, Hiking & BackpackingTrails and TripsGear and ClothingTips and AdviceTrip Planning Workbook, Adventure TravelExplore by RegionCamping and OutdoorsMindful Travel. If you leave some necessity for your trip at home, don't worry, you will be able to replace it easily here. You will want the cusion of a larger tyre. 14 great midwest bike trails. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. Thanks in advance for spreading the word! Headband and neck gaiter: Buff and/or bandana. Read more: Review of my Salsa Fargo After 4500 Bikepacking Miles and Cutthroat vs. Fargo. Tire Selection for the Continental Divide Trail Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. Both of these tires really impressed us with their long-lasting tread and resilient sidewalls. Mine was threadbare by the time I finished, and I sometimes got sunburnt through it. Tent(s): Because I rode solo for the first five weeks and then was joined by my husband for the last four weeks, we used two different tents. The Avid BB7 brakes took a lot of fiddling to keep adjusted. We feel this tire provides a great combination of traction and rolling speed and has a huge bandwidth in terms of conditions. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. Bike shoes: Pearl Izumi X-Alp Canyon are my favorite bikepacking shoes, and very comfy for walking and hike-a-bike. Bikepacking Pace Guide: How many miles per day? My husband carried the body and I carried the fly. Despite its do-it-all intentions, it has a relatively aggressive tread design with tall, stout side knobs and similarly tall and aggressive tread in the center and intermediate zones that inspire confidence in corners and on the brakes. Vittoria's 4C Graphene rubber provides a tacky feel, and longitudinal siping on all the tread knobs further enhance their grip and traction in all conditions we encountered while testing. An avid racer, Benson competes in endurance gravel and XC races throughout northern California. I had come for this, in part, after a year of isolation that left me craving the community of a well-traveled route. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Tires: Continental CrossKing ProTection 292.3 tubeless. Note about reception: Dont expect to have connectivity on all (or even most) of the GDMBR. That said, I do use the eTrex for racing and more rugged routes; see my eTrex review for more detail. No matter how much we like to escape the real world when we bikepack, electronics are essential parts of our navigation and safety systems these days. Matt RC has logged over 5000 miles of touring on a Pugsley. The Maxx Terra compound on the Minion DHF is an excellent balance of grip, rolling resistance, and longevity. Only in a few places, where the 2-track became too sandy to ride, did we wonder if it was wise to be following the hiking route, not the wide dirt road route of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Great Divide Mountain Bike Route - Riding Canada to Mexico It also provides heaps of braking traction, providing some of the best control you could ask for. Find the balance. Taller knobs with wide spacing can penetrate deeper into loose surfaces, and braking edges that face perpendicular to the direction of travel will most help slow your roll when it's super loose. Pedals: Funn Mamba Single-Sided SPD. George Rose / Contributor // Getty Images. In our latest YouTube video, we talk about what factors to consider and reveal a few of our favorite tires for long, mixed-terrain routes. Held electronics, toiletries, first aid, other miscellaneous items. Sawyer Fast Fill adapter kit, allows you to gravity filter directly from the Sawyer into a hydration bladder. In general, the GDMBR is perfect for a standard 3-season backcountry layering setup. The rear tire is responsible for the brunt of pedaling and braking traction. I had to replace mine halfway through the GDMBR. The tread design also contributes to controlled and predictable braking performance that outshines other models in its category. Benson is a competitive gravel and mountain bike racer, highly experienced tester/reviewer, and published author. Passport: My husband brought mine with him when we met in Jackson, and we both carried ours (carefully) for the rest of the trip. In our latest video, Neil sheds some light on the essential considerations that will help you make an educated decision. This versatile model performs well in all but the loosest of conditions. Companions: Solo until Jackson, WY (about 1600 miles), then joined by my husband for the final 1100 miles. RIDING THE GREAT DIVIDE - Dirt Bike Magazine Now its your turn. The Maxxis Aggressor is a great rear tire with a versatile tread pattern that gives it broad appeal and functionality across a wide range of conditions. What kind of bike maintenance is needed on the GDMBR? This rings true whether you are churning out miles on pavement, grinding gravel backroads, racing your local cyclocross course, or blasting dirt . There's no way around it; mountain bike tires are pricey. Despite its somewhat aggressive appearance, the Specialized Ground Control is a very fast-rolling tire. This post will give you my gear list, including what worked well and what I would change in hindsight. Yeah I'm thinking about doing it too. Down tube: Water bottle cage and tool pouch. I hope youre able to get out there eventually. It is North America's premier long-distance mountain bike route. This tire uses Specialized's T7 rubber compound that prioritizes rolling speed and longevity over all-out grip, and the medium height center tread with moderate spacing helps further reduce rolling resistance. The Maxxis Ardent is another fast and efficient tire that will appeal most to the XC crowd. That said, we feel it is an excellent option for aggressive cross-country and light trail riding for riders seeking a lightweight and fast-rolling tire for their down-country rig. The Michelin Wild AM2 and Force AM2 feature Gum-X rubber compounds and the Gravity Shield casing. Custom, handbuilt 27.5", 29", Plus and Fat wheels. Biking the Great Divide (A Woman's Point of View) The Vigilante's aggressive tread design comes with a slight penalty in the rolling resistance department. It has a wide temperature range without feeling clammy, and critically the half zip fits over a bike helmet for quicker layer changes on the go. Mosquitos are also a consideration on the Divide; youll want fully zippable bug netting. The Best Tires For The Great Divide? (video) - BIKEPACKING.com The alternative would be to use a sturdy rear rack and small panniers or dry sacks, which I saw pretty often on the Divide. Help sustain this resource by joining the Bikepacking Collective: https://bikepacking.com/join/?utm_source=youtube-------------Hosted by Neil BeltchenkoSpecial thanks to Mike Dion / RTD10.com for the photo of Matthew LeeMusic by Ben Weaver (https://benweaver.net)More at https://bikepacking.com Paracord and carabinerfor hanging or otherwise securing the Ursack. Trails were often loose, blown out, and rocky. Wet, loose, loam, this tire rips into the soil. The capacity of a regular Ursack was fine for my southern solo section and the more populated areas of the north. Aside from testing the top-ranked mountain bikes on the market, our testers have also reviewed components from dropper seatposts to pedals (both clipless mountain bike pedals and flat pedal styles) and accessories like mountain bike helmets and the best men's mountain bike shoes and best women's mountain bike shoes. Continental has several new models in their lineup, with the Kryptotal intended as the all-arounder for aggressive riding in mixed terrain and conditions. Starting from the south early in the summer is the best bet to avoid flies as much as possible. Braking traction is another highlight, and the large knobs with open spacing grab well on most surfaces when it comes time to slow things down. But its always a good idea and offers an extra layer of safety if things ever go sideways. I heard the trails aren't that technical but I'm sure theres plenty of nasty stuff along the way. The larger tire will absorb some of the rough stuff and give you some more traction. Congratulations! I only recommend and link to products I know and love. The Tour Divide is a 2,750 mile (4,425 km) self-supported mountain bike race based on Adventure Cycling Association's Great Divide Mountain Bike Route that travels through the Rockies from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico on the Mexican border. If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. Front fork: Assortment of RockBros dry bags (2L and 5L) and Voile straps. More here. I use Jabra Elite wireless earbuds (technically only one earbud; I always leave one ear open) to enjoy audiobooks, podcasts, and music on all my long adventures. That said, the Maxxis Aggressor, Maxxis Dissector, WTB Trail Boss, and Specialized Eliminator T7 offer decent braking bite given their rolling speed. A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Similarly, we found the new Michelin Wild AM2 to rip through the bends. One of the fastest-rolling tires in the test was the Specialized Ground Control. Never had to use it for anything else. Afternoon thunderstorms are common throughout the Rockies and temperatures can drop quite low, so a good rain setup and warm layers are critical. Ive pushed myself hard on enough prior trips and wanted time for more relaxation and type 1 fun this time around. Related: How to Keep Electronics Charged While Bikepacking. The Vittoria Martello delivers excellent cornering abilities along with killer rolling speed. We put the best mountain bike tires from Maxxis, Specialized, Vittoria, Michelin, WTB, and others to the test. I think mid-May is typical but it varies year to year, especially these days. Ive gone through a few and find the Cerium to be a good balance of packability and warmth. Saddle: Brooks B17 Short Carved. You can lean as hard as you want into this tire, and the casing is supportive. (2) Schwalbe Johnny Watts 27.5 Tire. It's also one of the least expensive tires we tested, and we feel it is an excellent value. . Ive traveled over 17,000 miles by bike and still cant stop planning my next ride (and helping you plan yours). Read more: Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 review. We found the Aggressor works best on hardpack, rock, and loam. Nano, Dry X 2.1, Small Block 8, in that order. Its important to note that my Great Divide gear list is based on a touring pace ride that took over two months. No sponsored content. Long sleeve midlayer:Icebreaker Merino 260 Half Zip. This lightweight model tips the scales at just 867 grams in a 29" x 2.35" size, contributing to their zippy feel. On my bike I feel free. 10 of the best USA bikepacking routes - Bike Perfect The stiff carcass on the Michelin Wild Enduro Front and Wild Enduro Rear were both tough to pull onto the rim. Mostly worn for sleeping. Practical Advice for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. The tread consists of lots of moderate-height lugs in the center and intermediate zone, with a fairly substantial row of shoulder knobs. While we really loved most aspects of the performance of the Butcher Grid Trail T9, it isn't the fastest rolling tire. The Butcher T9 offers impressive performance at a reasonable price. Baggy bike shorts: I wear these over my padded shorts, just personal preference. Semi-slick and inverted tread tires are not recommended. It was never cold enough on the Divide that I needed to ride in this (though I sometimes do in other places), but it was essential for camp and occasionally sleeping on cold nights. Club Ride Savvy shorts are my absolute favorite. I've been writing and sharing stories of my bicycle travel adventures since 2011 through Swallow Bicycle Works which is where you will find a whole slew of fun things to read, look at, and be inspired by pre-2017. Totally worth the weight. This post covers my experience bikepacking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in Montana.. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for GREAT DIVIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTE #1: ROOSVILLE, MONTANA - By Adventure Cycling at the best online prices at eBay! GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. For the safety of your food and the bears, I recommend this bear-resistant bag that will help protect your food when a proper bear hang isnt possible.