Swan Valley logging detour removed -- route goes back to original GDMBR 2. To give context to the Great Divide gear list that follows, here are the basics of my experience on the GDMBR. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Examining a worn-out DHF nearing the end of its lifespan. Sometimes my posts contain affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. If youre lucky, simply change your chain and brake pads halfway through, replenish your chain lube supply a few times, top up your sealant once or twice, and youll be all set. Hello! If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. The height, shape, and orientation of the knobs all play a role in how they bite into the trail surface as you apply the brakes. Spoon: Toaks Long titanium: Simple, lightweight, long enough to eat out of any container. I think mid-May is typical but it varies year to year, especially these days. Use the postal service. On my bike I feel free. Running shorts: small and lightweight, for sleeping on warm nights or wearing on rest days. Ive traveled over 17,000 miles by bike and still cant stop planning my next ride (and helping you plan yours). A multitude of mountain bike tires can easily be mounted onto a rim with just your bare hands. The Maxxis Minion DHF is our top recommendation for a burly and aggressive front tire. Learn more or say hi. Wet, loose, loam, this tire rips into the soil. I would suggest trying the smaller Sporty version if youre on the fence. This is one of our favorites as a front tire for aggressive trail riding because of its incredible traction in corners and its durability. 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. Whether it be EXO (Maxxis), Tough (WTB), or ProTection (Continental), a robust casing helps to add abrasion and puncture resistance, as well as support to the sidewalls of a tire. I discuss my repair kit in more detail here: Tools and Spares List for Bikepacking. Crisscrossing the Continental Divide from alberta through the Canadian and American Rockies to its southern terminus at the mexican border, brian kesselman completed the 2784 mile route solo and self-supported with 161,563 feet of climbing, averaging 92.8 miles a day over 30 days. Semi-slick tires have lower profile treads in the center to decrease rolling resistance with sturdy side knobs for confident cornering. Next, we identified the main areas of concern when evaluating a mountain bike tire. An avid racer, Benson competes in endurance gravel and XC races throughout northern California. Paracord and carabinerfor hanging or otherwise securing the Ursack. No ads. Now its your turn. There is a LOT of climbing on the GDMBR and youll feel every extra pound. Carry at least a small amount of soap and shampoo so you can properly enjoy these showers. It sacrifices some rolling speed in exchange for boatloads of braking traction and cornering prowess. . Load: Fairly typical long-distance bikepacking setup. 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. The recent proliferation of plus bikes, which feature 3.0" wide tires, are a boon to bicycle adventurers in Baja California. He comments: For off-pavement touring, the Endomorphs make for an extremely comfortable ride. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. No rack, but bikepacking bags stuffed to the gills. We found performance to be right there with the Minion DHF and the Wild Enduro Front. Some tires are easier to install than others. One of these days Ill have to try that kind of setup. Alternate routes are indicated in orange on the GDT map, and include: Mount Rowe to Sage Pass - moderately difficult cross-country ridge walk, literally on the Great Divide without any water sources (other than residual snow). Average star voting: 4 ( 74471 reviews) Summary: At nearly 4,300 km long, The Great Divide Mountain Bike race route is the world's longest, most challenging off-road mountain biking trail. The 2.3 width was a good balance for me, but you could certainly go narrower or wider depending on your priorities. We were thoroughly impressed by the tread life of the Vittoria Mazza. We selected tires in the 2.3 to 2.6-inch width range. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. This saddle has worked well for me in the past, but it caused issues on this trip and Ive since retired it. This native New Englander is particularly obsessed with tire choice and is constantly on the hunt for the elusive perfect tire. I love reading at camp or on rest days. How fast a tire wears out can be subjective and a function of how much, how hard, where, and what conditions you ride in. Again, many tires are designed to be lightweight and compromise durability. Bright glints of light near my eyes sparkle - the headlamp reflecting against the sleet. The WTB Trail Boss provides excellent cornering traction in the rear of the bike. New off-highway route north of Hartsel, CO 3. A narrow tunnel of light from my handlebar illuminates the white snow. Mostly worn for sleeping. It pairs nicely as a rear tire with the Specialized Butcher in the front. Related: How to Choose Mountain Bike Tires. And of course, if youre unlucky, anything can happen My husband somehow snapped his inner chainring in Montana and finished the ride on a haphazard 110 conversion! It has a distinctive locked-in feel, though it may take a little getting used to for some riders. I cant remember if they had any 29" tyres, and I doubt if you can accurately scale the performance from 26 to 29 inches, but its worth a look. Sign up here for occasional emails full of inspiration and information about bikepacking and bicycle touring. As my wheels rolled along its roads, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) offered constant reminders that I was not alone. there's been a few Kahns on Ebay recently. Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances. For help with other aspects of your Great Divide prep, see these other posts: These general bikepacking posts might also be helpful: Or, visit the bikepacking resources center for many more bikepacking guides and stories. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. This includes tires, and a resurgence in semi-slick tire designs has occurred in recent years. 9. Passport: My husband brought mine with him when we met in Jackson, and we both carried ours (carefully) for the rest of the trip. The GDMBR is an epic journey, and I think youll be really glad you decided to take it on. I used one set for the entire 2700 miles and they still had life left to spare at the end. When things get loose and steep, the Aggressor can't match the DHR II's more aggressive tread. -Sandy tracks require 3.0" tires for flotation, while wide tires also provide natural suspension and necessary traction on . The Assegai is the best cornering tire we've ever tested. If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing so more people can benefit from it: Great resource thanks! This versatile model performs well in all but the loosest of conditions. But if you want more cushion in the tire area, the bike can accommodate up to . Related: Essential Bike Repair Skills You Can Learn at Home. While traveling across North America you bike 2,774 miles on a route that is 88% dirt and 12% paved roads. We did our best to use consistent testing trails that offered a variety of features and soil types. Through the years, they've mapped routes down the West Coast and several routes across the U.S. for road bicyclists. Note on sharing a filter: When my husband joined in Jackson we considered each carrying our own filter. Both of these tires really impressed us with their long-lasting tread and resilient sidewalls. There are affiliate links in this post. Let us know in the conversation below if you have a tire that youd recommend for a long mixed terrain route like the GDMBR. Even though the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route runs from Banff Canada all the way down to Mexico, the Colorado section is one that every bikepacker should have on their to do list. The side knobs are stout enough to rail corners but not so burly that they resist flicking the bike's rear end into corners and breaking traction when the mood hits. This rings true whether you are churning out miles on pavement, grinding gravel backroads, racing your local cyclocross course, or blasting dirt . For anyone curious, it does actually work with the Da Brim. To receive USPS packages at any post office, use General Delivery. I hope this post has helped you fine-tune your GDMBR gear list. Aggressive riders who frequent loose, chunky, and rowdy terrain are the best candidates for this beefy and durable tire. Backflush syringe for Sawyer filter. Last year, I had to ride with a slashed nano from Banff to Steamboat- its a sweet tyre but dont expect any shops to carry 29" tyres at all. Wallet(I use a small ziplock bag) with ID, credit cards, health insurance, etc, plus cash in $1, $5, and $10 (useful for campground fees, laundromats, and donations to trail angels). Bowl: Sea to Summit collapsible mug. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the world), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format. The Assegai hooks up in corners no matter the conditions. Front tires are responsible for more of the steering and cornering duties, and they do a fair amount of the braking work as well. The Eliminator is a well-rounded rear tire at a reasonable price. Does anyone have a recommendation on minimum tire width? Cup: Snow Peak titanium mug. Gear Aid Tenacious gear repair tape, handy for patching tent, sleeping pad, bike bags, water bladder, etc. Depending on your setup, some people will need multiple sets of new brake pads and maybe new tires. For this reason, the tires with the lowest profile center treads and the semi-slicks garnered top honors in rolling resistance or lack thereof. I recommend the REI Stormbolt GTX as a more affordable 3 layer GORE-TEX jacket, or even the affordable Marmot PreCip for smaller budgets. Author: www.bikeforums.net. Racers usually prioritize speed and a lightweight kit at the expense of some comfort, so keep this in mind if youre looking at other gear lists. We found the T7 rubber to be long-lasting with even wear, and the Grid Trail casing stood up to our abuse during testing. These worked great! When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. In hindsight I wish we had each carried our own Ursack. T-shirt:Icebreaker Merino Tech-Lite Tee. I think a racing type tire with low profile knobs would be fine, but most of those have sort of scary thin sidewalls for loaded touring. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is a continuous long distance bicycle touring route from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA (at the Mexico border). The 2,700-mile Western Wildlands Route (WWR, formerly known as the Wild West Route) offers bikepackers a non-technical riding experience through the vast expanses of wild and public lands in the Intermountain West. I would check out the WTB Prowlers 2.1 SL 29er tires. This post covers my experience bikepacking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in Montana.. It's moderately heavy at 1,123-grams in the 29" x 2.6" we tested, and the aggressive tread, open spacing, and grippy rubber put up a bit of rolling resistance. Mosquitos are also a consideration on the Divide; youll want fully zippable bug netting. Beyond those concerns, we feel the Mazza is an outstanding tire that rivals the best of the best. By Jeremy Benson, Pat Donahue, Ian Stowe. If youve packed something youre not using, mail it home. One look at the Wild Enduro Front, and you can see why. This scenic trail runs from the USA/Mexico border into Canada and covers 2,767 miles of spectacular remote wilderness. Some rolling resistance data has been posted in the "Wheels" forum lately. Gravity filter bag: CNOC Vecto 3L (28mm thread), used as dirty bag in a gravity filter system and for extra water capacity as needed. Garmin eTrex22x: My backup navigation device while riding solo. Heaven and Hell on Wheels. When buying a complete bike, it comes with whatever tires the manufacturer chooses. Paired with a DIY lid made from metallic bubble wrap to keep food warmer while rehydrating. A relatively square profile, squared-off edges, side knobs, and sidewalls all contribute to the overall quality and performance of this tire. The best of both worlds! You can also use certain water compatible water bottles, but the syringe is light and works well. Once I picked up the bear spray this was redundant. A 27.5+ hardtail with tubeless wheels and durable tires is recommended for the Baja Divide. Review of my Salsa Fargo After 4500 Bikepacking Miles. I hope youre able to get out there eventually. We also found the Grid Trail casing to be a bit squirmy under hard cornering forces, and that we had to get the pressure exactly right to not burp it. Help sustain this resource by joining the Bikepacking Collective: https://bikepacking.com/join/?utm_source=youtubeOutline: Intro - 0:00Support Bikepacking.com - 0:42Tire CharacteristicsWidth - 1:22Casing - 2:35Tread Pattern - 4:09Reliability - 5:53Tire OptionsWTB Nano - 6:30WTB Ranger - 7:40Maxxis Crossmark - 7:56Maxxis Ikon - 8:57Maxxis Ardent Race - 9:22Teravail Sparwood - 9:45Teravail Rutland - 10:26Vittoria Mezcal - 11:04Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge - 11:53Mentioned Links:29er Wheel Diameter History: (http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/p/beginnings-of-modern-29er-history.html)Tubeless Tire Repair and Install: (https://bikepacking.com/plan/tubeless-tire-repair-guide/)Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge Review: (https://bikepacking.com/gear/rene-herse-fleecer-ridge-review/)Eastern Divide: (https://bikepacking.com/plan/introducing-the-eastern-divide-trail/)Bikepacking Routes Page: (https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-routes/)Do you enjoy our videos, routes, and articles? The Trail Boss works great as a rear tire with great cornering performance and fairly low rolling resistance. So youre about to get into the nitty gritty details of planning your dream trip on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. George Rose / Contributor // Getty Images. Hi there, Im Alissa. i can't attest to their load handling stregnth,as i just got my 1st 29er last week.i'm kinda a big fat n beefy tire kinda guy,so when i saw the nanorapters,i. If braking power is high on your list of priorities, running some of the tires we primarily tested as front tires on the rear wheel is a great option as well. These are made for hiking, not biking, but I use them for both. SAVE 7 %. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is a long journey through varied terrain and you WILL be camping at least some of the time, so a solid 3-season shelter and sleep system is a must. In the far north as temperatures dropped I also slept in my down jacket. Helmet mirror: Bike Peddler Take a Look visor mirror. . Bandanafor wiping out dishes and other miscellaneous needs. We also found it to be a touch heavy when compared to similarly aggressive tires of the same size. I expect this one to last at least another 7 years. We found it provides excellent cornering traction across the spectrum of lean angles in all but the loosest of conditions. Headband and neck gaiter: Buff and/or bandana. 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. The Maxxis Minion DHR II has an aggressive tread pattern with wide paddle-shaped lugs that offer great braking traction on most surfaces, including soft and blown-out corners. 14 great midwest bike trails. While testing, we always felt confident that they would hook and grab hold when it came time to slow things down. Excited to try bikepacking but need help getting started? This burly and mean front tire can stand up to aggressive movements, committed riding, and all types of terrain. These tires put a fight to get seated, but once mounted we never had further issues. Read more: Continental Kryptotal Front 2.4. I have limited tire-to-bag clearance on my small 29er frame but this system is pretty dialed. Related: How to Keep Electronics Charged While Bikepacking. When it comes to big adventures, deciding to take the plunge is often half the battle. Make sure to backflush it regularly to keep flow rate high, and sleep with it in cold weather to protect it from freezing. Gaia GPS is a popular alternative to RideWithGPS. Having said all that, we still feel the Aggressor is the most versatile rear tire. The Route covers 5 states: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana and is a . One of the fastest-rolling tires in the test was the Specialized Ground Control. Shoe covers: Not used, even though my feet did sometimes get cold in the rain. The Copper Spur is functional, roomy, pretty lightweight, and mostly freestanding (except the vestibules). 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. I saw everything out there, from How on earth are you surviving with so little? to How on earth are you hefting all that gear up these climbs?. Rawlins to Pinedale (Great Basin) The Great Basin (the area starting north of Rawlins and ending south of Atlantic City) is often spoken about with reverence as the most remote and dry section of the entire Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. 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. The Vigilante's aggressive tread design comes with a slight penalty in the rolling resistance department. More here. Club Ride Savvy shorts are my absolute favorite. A relatively squared-off profile and a stout row of shoulder knobs give it excellent cornering manners, while the moderately spaced center and intermediate tread do a fine job of providing traction when braking and climbing in most conditions. There are countless options to choose from, and we know that finding the right tires for the conditions, terrain, and your riding style can be a challenge. The capacity of a regular Ursack was fine for my southern solo section and the more populated areas of the north. 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 Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. Throughout our rigorous field testing, we rode each tire as much as possible while focusing on important performance metrics in an effort to help you find the tires that best meet your needs and budget. The Schwalbe Marathon XR's look good in terms of durability, protection and rolling resistance, but at only 2.00" wide them seem a little narrow. Specialized's Butcher T9 is at the top of the heap in the corners as well. We usually rode together and often filled up with potable water from campgrounds or stores, so we werent stopping to filter as often as we do on backpacking trips. Find the balance. Pat Donahue also contributed to this review. A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. We chose metrics like cornering abilities, braking traction, pedal traction, rolling resistance, and ease of installation. Saddle: Brooks B17 Short Carved. Try a plastic bag between two pairs of socks as a lightweight alternative. Bike computer: CatEye Velo 7, simple and cheap, handy for checking distance covered without using smartphone battery. I think youll like them, but you can unsubscribe at any time. The Vittoria Martello delivers excellent cornering abilities along with killer rolling speed. Similarly, we found the new Michelin Wild AM2 to rip through the bends. The cushcore tire for the great Divide mountain bikeroute is designed for tubeless tire systems. 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. This isn't much of a surprise given its cross-country pedigree. I hope that will be especially helpful to my fellow northbound riders, since there are fewer resources out there written from our perspective. (1) It can be argued that tires may be the most important (and most affordable) upgrades you can put on your bike. I love riding solo but a month is enough, and Ive been wanting to share a long ride with him for years. Wider tires have more air volume and provide more damping and traction. Held electronics, toiletries, first aid, other miscellaneous items. Held sunscreen, lights, snacks, other small items. The warmer months also bring bicyclists traversing the scenic Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which this year runs nearly 2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers) from northern Montana to southern New Mexico. The Maxxis Minion DHF, Vittoria Mazza, and Continental Kryptotal Fr use deep, open tread designs with tall knobs that dig well into just about any soil type. I would never claim my way is best for everyone, but I do think its a solid setup that wont steer anyone too far wrong. The Maxxis Ardent, Michelin Force AM2, Specialized Ground Control, and Vittoria Martello perform better in these cases with smaller knobs that don't give the rider a feeling of riding high off the ground. It also provides heaps of braking traction, providing some of the best control you could ask for. Ive been using this pad for 7 years and love its combination of light weight and relative comfort for side sleeping. Bluetooth mini-keyboard: As you can probably tell, I like to write! Seat tube length: 508mm (center to top) Seat tube angle: 73 Top tube: 615mm (effective) Chainstays: 435mm Bottom bracket drop: 60mm Fork Offset: 43mm Wheelbase: 1093mm Standover height: 812mm Specifications Frame: 4130 chromoly steel, three bottle mounts, rack and fender mounts Fork: 4130 chromoly steel, rack and fender mounts, triple mounts Some cities even have beer boats, if that . We now have several models in the 2.5" and 2.6" widths that are becoming much more common in the current mountain bike tire market. Stretching 2,745 miles from Banff, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, it loosely follows the Continental Divide through the Rocky Mountains on a series of dirt and paved roads. I wouldnt use this setup for prolonged technical riding, but it worked fine for gravel. The medium profile center tread allows for exceptional pedaling efficiency and low rolling resistance, all while offering adequate bite for climbing and braking traction. For the majority of these tires, we were able to install and seat the bead on our rims without the use of a high-powered compressor. Spare brake pads used and replaced several times! With a relatively squared-off profile, an aggressive open tread design, and the tacky High Grip rubber, the Vigilante eats up the corners and excels in loose conditions from dust to loam. Rain is a certainty, and snow and hail cant be ruled out. In terms of front tire braking traction, the more aggressive, the better, and tires like the Michelin Wild Enduro, Maxxis Assegai, WTB Convict, and the Schwalbe Magic Mary have got your back when you want to shut it down. . Vittoria may not have the same level of brand recognition as some other manufacturers, but we feel that it is liable to change if they keep making amazing tires like this. With rear tires, you'll find huge variances in traction, depending on the type of terrain and the surface conditions. Tent strapped to front of dry bag using Voile straps, Presta-Schrader valve adapter not used, but potentially essential in case of a broken pump, Chain lube and rag used often and replenished along the way, Spare tube (1 per rider) and patch kit not used, Tubeless plug kit, tiny tube of superglue not used, Extra sealant, between 2-4 oz per rider used and replenished along the way, Small section of chain and several quick links not used, but I did buy and install an entire new chain in Jackson, Blue threadlocker for loose bolts not used, Spare cleat and bolts (at least one set per rider) I used one of the bolts to replace a lost one, and replaced my cleats when I replaced my shoes halfway through, Spare brake and shift cable (one of each for two riders) not used.
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