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. Mosquitos are also a consideration on the Divide; youll want fully zippable bug netting. The Eliminator has a semi-aggressive center rolling for speed, but it still has good braking bite and cornering traction. I mostly used it on rest days for taking notes and answering messages, and found it totally worth the weight. This is the burliest of my rain jacket options and I chose it for the GDMBR a long trip in big mountains because its impenetrable and relatively breathable. Fuel canisters were easy enough to find at gear stores, hardware stores, hiker boxes, etc. With rear tires, you'll find huge variances in traction, depending on the type of terrain and the surface conditions. The cushcore tire for the great Divide mountain bikeroute is designed for tubeless tire systems. Ive traveled over 17,000 miles by bike and still cant stop planning my next ride (and helping you plan yours). Gloves: Pearl Izumi lobster gloves. Carrying about two days of food is pretty common. We are in the pre planning phase of our Great Divide trip, your writing is very motivating. Review of my Salsa Fargo After 4500 Bikepacking Miles. tires fitted to 50mm wide rims. That said, it's no worse than most similar tires, and a trade-off for its otherwise excellent traction and super smooth feel. Again, many tires are designed to be lightweight and compromise durability. Tires are trending wider and so are our test models. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is a 3,083.8 mi (4,962.9 km), off-road bicycle touring route between Jasper, Alberta, Canada and Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA. Additionally, it is safe to assume that they might sometimes take a cost-effective approach to stock specifications. Similarly, the Specialized Eliminator and WTB Trail Boss provide balanced traction across a wide range of surfaces and conditions. No sponsored content. Celebrating its 20th year, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route stretches the length of the United States, and was researched and mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association to provide a non-paved cycle touring route for those who are so inclined. . If you're not yet aware, the famous Tour Divide bikepacking race covers almost the same route as the GDMBR, but most racers aim to finish in under a month (or for the fastest folks, half that time!). When conditions get really loose, it is easy to break this tire into a skid, drift through corners , spin out while climbing. Land between the lakes canal loop mountain bike trail, Calvert City, Kentucky. This time around, we tested the TCS Light SG2 casing, dramatically reducing its weight while still providing a robust feel thanks to the Slash Guard (SG2) insert. Headlight: NiteRider Lumina 900 Boost with helmet mount: Rarely (never?) We'd highly recommend it as a front tire for aggressive trail riders who are looking to try something different. The Vigilante's aggressive tread design comes with a slight penalty in the rolling resistance department. While the medium-height tread is efficient and capable for most situations, there are better options for braking traction when the terrain gets super loose. Extra bottles: I carried two 1L Platypus SoftBottles for extra capacity. We researched nearly every tire on the market before buying 28 models for side-by-side testing. They didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped and they made me real nervous on descents. The Minion DHR II was originally designed for use as a rear tire, and paired with a Minion DHF up front, we think it's the ultimate combo in loose conditions for aggressive trail riders. Essential Bike Repair Skills You Can Learn at Home. The trail isn't signposted . NOBO start date depends on snowpack in the San Juans and how long it takes you to get there. That said, selection is limited until you reach a larger town with a full grocery or drug store. 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. Try a plastic bag between two pairs of socks as a lightweight alternative. Youll also want the ability to add another 3 4 liters occasionally, probably only a handful of times. Heres a quick list of what I carried on the GDMBR, which I would categorize as a standard type of trip in that post. 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. What are the best tires for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Tour Divide race, and other long, mixed-terrain bikepacking routes? These days there is no bicycle shop, just full-time adventure whether it's living on my bicycle for a month in an exotic place, or doing weekend adventures in the Southwest . Heres the stuff that carried all the other stuff. 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. 1 liter bottle: I carried this bottle in a cage under my down tube as extra capacity and to have a container for electrolyte drink separate from my pure water. We rode the 2.4" Trail casing, endurance compound tire and it was truly an inspiration on the front wheel; holding like a rail through corners, and delivering superb braking performance in a range of conditions. The 9 Best Mountain Bike Tires | Tested by GearLab 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. A narrow tunnel of light from my handlebar illuminates the white snow. The tread consists of lots of moderate-height lugs in the center and intermediate zone, with a fairly substantial row of shoulder knobs. A 27.5+ hardtail with tubeless wheels and durable tires is recommended for the Baja Divide. There are hundreds of post offices along the GDMBR. But on the GDMBR we often showered at RV parks and campgrounds that didnt offer this. Chamois shorts (2 pair): very personal choice, but Louis Garneau Carbon 2 shorts work well for me. They inflated and seated easily, but it required two tire levers just to pull the tire into position. This lightweight model tips the scales at just 867 grams in a 29" x 2.35" size, contributing to their zippy feel. The Salsa Fargo Apex 1 is a burly steel frame gravel bike. TCS Light SG2 casing is much lighter than the Tough casing. In general, the GDMBR is perfect for a standard 3-season backcountry layering setup. Nano, Dry X 2.1, Small Block 8, in that order. The 8 Best Tires For Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (2022 reviews) Bikepacking.com: Best Tires for the Great Divide The Aggressor is impressively versatile and works across a huge range of conditions. I tried to rinse and dry one pair while wearing the other, switching each day. In the market for the best new tires for your mountain bike? Tires with decent-sized knobbies are recommended. Beyond those concerns, we feel the Mazza is an outstanding tire that rivals the best of the best. These worked great! It sacrifices some rolling speed in exchange for boatloads of braking traction and cornering prowess. An avid racer, Benson competes in endurance gravel and XC races throughout northern California. This burly and mean front tire can stand up to aggressive movements, committed riding, and all types of terrain. As my wheels rolled along its roads, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) offered constant reminders that I was not alone. Yup, I carried a Kindle! Continental has several new models in their lineup, with the Kryptotal intended as the all-arounder for aggressive riding in mixed terrain and conditions. I just find these more trouble than theyre worth. Despite its somewhat aggressive appearance, the Specialized Ground Control is a very fast-rolling tire. Hydration bladder with hose: Platypus 3 Liter Hoser, carried in my frame bag as my primary water container. 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. Guys use them for long expeditions across Africa, for faster racing with better access to stores, a lighter/better rolling tyre would be better. The GDMBR route is not that remote and I dont think this is necessarily mandatory, especially for those riding in groups. Satellite Messenger: Garmin InReach Mini, for communication and emergencies in areas without phone service. Likewise, the Michelin Wild Enduro Front is a top performer in the corners. If youre not yet aware, the famous Tour Divide bikepacking race covers almost the same route as the GDMBR, but most racers aim to finish in under a month (or for the fastest folks, half that time!). Power bank: 10,000 mAh Ainope, lightweight and quick-charging. Pavement and panniers or singletrack and seat bag, I love it all. 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 We mounted tires to 30mm internal diameter wheels. The bike has a Sram Eagle X01 ASX drivetrain, Sram Force brake lever shifters with Sram guide dual piston brakes. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Hello! Chlorine dioxide: I carried a small number of Potable Aqua tablets as a temporary backup in case my filter failed. Let us know! I likethese from REIandthese from Woolly Clothing. There's no way around it; mountain bike tires are pricey. Ive lost count of how many times Ive needed to pitch my tent on a hard surface: in the parking lot, on someones patio, inside an abandoned building, the list goes on Stakes are fine for short predictable trips in the backcountry, but sooner or later youll be stuck with unstake-able ground. Some first aid items I do find useful for urgent situations: Tums, Imodium, New Skin Liquid Bandage (great for keeping small cuts and scrapes from getting infected when youre out in the dirt all day), a few gauze pads, Celox clotting powder (never needed, but seems useful in case of crash). If the mission of the day is to climb up a ridiculously loose fire road with golf ball-sized rocks loosely embedded in the surface and soil that is so loose you're leaving a wake in the sand behind you, something knobby like the Minion DHR II will "get 'er done.". The Kryptotal Fr impressed our testers and proved that Continental is back at the top of the game with their new generation of tires. Other rear tire options will roll noticeably faster than the DHR II, but that's a trade-off you'll need to consider for a tire with the cornering grip and braking traction it provides. I recommend the REI Stormbolt GTX as a more affordable 3 layer GORE-TEX jacket, or even the affordable Marmot PreCip for smaller budgets. That seems crazy wide for the tire, ya? Partial inclusion of GDMBR dirt route from Cuba to Grants 5. Tires are a great way to improve the performance of your ride, but to have the best bike gear setup, you may need a few more items. So much great information, I keep going back to your links. Some cities even have beer boats, if that . (2) Schwalbe Johnny Watts 27.5 Tire. Continental's new tires can compete with the best in the business. TCS Light SG2 casing reduces weight and still feels tough, Tighter fit in the rim during installation. Down jacket:Arcteryx Cerium LT. We researched nearly every tire on the market before purchasing the 28 models in this review. While other tires may handle specific conditions better, the Aggressor rarely leaves us wanting more. Bike computer: CatEye Velo 7, simple and cheap, handy for checking distance covered without using smartphone battery. This tire rewards good technique with predictable and confidence-inspiring cornering traction. Touring the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route vs. Racing the Tour Divide Cloth face maskfor town, this being 2021 and all. It's hardly a coincidence that many of the best front tires look similar. 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. The JetBoil is so efficient that I / we only needed three canisters total for the whole GDMBR. I think mid-May is typical but it varies year to year, especially these days. Therefore, it is quite common to see riders opt for more aggressive tread designs for the front where their cornering grip and braking traction is a benefit, with less detriment to rolling resistance. Tire Recommendations for GDMBR | Mountain Bike Reviews Forum More often than not, the emphasis of trail riding is on the downhill, and the uphill is a necessary, and often just as enjoyable, part of the total experience. Seat bag: Revelate Viscacha 14L. Building a Bike for the Baja Divide - Adventure Cycling Association In much of Canada, Montana, and Colorado its easy to find surface water multiple times per day. No ads. For anyone curious, it does actually work with the Da Brim. Fill it with food on your way from the grocery store to the motel, or fill it with water bottles to get you through a rare long dry stretch. How to Avoid Hand Numbness and Weakness While Cycling, My Bikepacking Gear List System, from Ultralight to Ultra Prepared, 7 Utah Bikepacking Routes for Every Style and Experience Level, Salsa EXP Anything Cradle + dry bag: held sleeping bag. Regarding 700x45..I recently trained on some of the panaracers that size, fully loaded for a couple of months. Frame bag: Salsa EXP. If riding southbound and crossing the international border at the beginning, I would probably mail it home after crossing. Lower profile tread designs like those of the Maxxis Ardent, Vittoria Agarro, and Michelin Force AM2 grip very well on hardpack and slabby rock, though they tend to falter when the surface conditions are super loose. Haha yes, in many ways time (and motivation) are the most important things on the list! The fastest men can complete the route in under 14 days, while most people who tour it take six to ten weeks. Solo riders especially (and their loved ones) will likely appreciate the peace of mind. 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. I used mostly the same clothing system that I use for backpacking, with a few cycling-specific modifications. When buying a complete bike, it comes with whatever tires the manufacturer chooses. Both of these tires really impressed us with their long-lasting tread and resilient sidewalls. Bikepacking The Great Divide: A Guide on What to Pack A closely packed row of taller shoulder lugs provides good cornering traction and a predictable feel until things get super loose. (Update: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Womens Review). Great Divide Bikepacking Route: Essential Q&A. Lots of lengthwise siping on all of the knobs allow them to really conform to the trail surface, and it holds well on firm surfaces, off-camber terrain, and rock slabs. I think youll like them, but you can unsubscribe at any time. The Maxxis Minion DHF is our top recommendation for a burly and aggressive front tire. Location: Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. He comments: For off-pavement touring, the Endomorphs make for an extremely comfortable ride. High-viz windbreaker vest: extra warmth and/or peace of mind in traffic. Bikepacking.com: Best Tires for the Great Divide By Jan Heine Tires With the 2021 Tour Divide happening this year - on a shortened course, since the Canadian border is still closed - Neil Beltchenko from bikepacking.com looked at what he considers the best tire for this challenging 2,745-mile (4,418 km) course. That's why we put each tire through rigorous testing of heavy use before examining the wear on the tread and casing to assess durability. It worked great for the GDMBR: super quick to set up, good in the rain, and freestanding so it can be pitched on pavement, rock, or anywhere else. GREAT DIVIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTE #1: ROOSVILLE, MONTANA - eBay The stock build alone is excellent for immediately hitting a trail such as The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Sandals and sometimes stove strapped to the outside. Tights:Columbia OmniHeat. The tread design also contributes to controlled and predictable braking performance that outshines other models in its category. I would check out the WTB Prowlers 2.1 SL 29er tires. Semi-slick tires have lower profile treads in the center to decrease rolling resistance with sturdy side knobs for confident cornering. Saddle: Brooks B17 Short Carved. Thanks for reading! We loved the Mazza as a front tire where it excels in the corners with a stout row of well-supported side knobs that grip well in a huge range of conditions. If you want a light and fast rolling tire that still hooks up, the Ground Control is our recommendation. 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. I replaced it halfway through with the womens version which is slightly warmer and shorter perfect for me. In conclusion, when shopping for a bike for the Great Divide Trail, you should consider the type of bike, the size, the components and suspension, the drivetrain, and the tires. All trademarks property of their respective owners Before the rubber hits the dirt, you'll be laying out some coin for said rubber make the most of it. I eventually grew annoyed by the feeling of wind pulling on my helmet and mailed the brim home from Jackson.
best tires for great divide mountain bike route