The stock build alone is excellent for immediately hitting a trail such as The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Both of these tires really impressed us with their long-lasting tread and resilient sidewalls. There are hundreds of post offices along the GDMBR. A couple of the toughest tires we've ever installed are the Continental Kryptotal models. The Ardent has a low-profile tread design that prioritizes rolling speed. As tires continue to trend wider, so too are the tires in our test. There are several outdoor sports stores for camping supplies and clothing, and Glacier . Those who want a relatively fast-rolling rear tire that maintains good cornering abilities might consider the Specialized Eliminator T7. Held electronics, toiletries, first aid, other miscellaneous items. Racers usually prioritize speed and a lightweight kit at the expense of some comfort, so keep this in mind if you're looking at other gear lists. The result is a well-damped ride quality that feels very well connected to the trail surface. I eventually grew annoyed by the feeling of wind pulling on my helmet and mailed the brim home from Jackson. RockBros front pouch: held snacks and other small items. This is why 29er wheels roll better than 26 wheels. Bike/La Bici - Requirements for Baja Divide Tour - Baja Divide Held sunscreen, lights, snacks, other small items. In hindsight I wish we had each carried our own Ursack. With rear tires, you'll find huge variances in traction, depending on the type of terrain and the surface conditions. Best Bike Trails in America by State - Health 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. Squared-off edges and siping on tread knobs also help to grip and bite under pedaling forces. Rarely used given the high fire danger lately, but occasionally useful for campgrounds and in case of emergency. The Maxxis Aggressor provided us with excellent pedaling traction on a huge range of surfaces and conditions. More info: Pedals and Shoes for Bikepacking: Is clipless worth it? Heavier tires with thicker sidewalls can be a little tougher with less pliable casings, while lighter and more flexible tires are slightly easier to handle. If we were forced to pick one rear tire to ride for an entire year, knowing we'd be experiencing a huge range of conditions, trail types, and weather, we'd choose the Maxxis Aggressor. Related: How We Tested Mountain Bike Tires. I'll be departing on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route this August and I'll be riding a Niner M.C.R. Wireless earbuds: Not everyone will agree, but when I spend months riding my bike I like to use some of that time for learning and exploring in other dimensions too. The Best Bikepacking Bikes Treeline Review 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. We researched nearly every tire on the market before purchasing the 28 models in this review. Find the balance. Pedaling forces are applied through the rear tire while the front tire is pushed along, guiding the bike along its journey. Some of the more burly casings are more difficult to work with. Bike computer: CatEye Velo 7, simple and cheap, handy for checking distance covered without using smartphone battery. SAVE 7 %. A narrow tunnel of light from my handlebar illuminates the white snow. The Maxxis Dissector is another of our favorite rear tires. Obligatory disclaimer: I dont use my earbud in areas with high risk of encountering bears, or on roads where traffic demands attention. Kindle E-Reader. The tread design also contributes to controlled and predictable braking performance that outshines other models in its category. The Racers of the Longest Off-Road Cycling Race in the United States Even the legendary Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which often crests above 10,000ft in its 2,700 miles, fits this category.Our selection of routes spans the whole spectrum, from short two-dayers in the desert, to properly long technical mountain routes, and woodsy adventures in . Excited to try bikepacking but need help getting started? Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The 10 Best Bike Saddles of 2023 (So Far) 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. 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. Practical Advice for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Mountain bike tires are available in three diameter options - 26", 27.5"(also referred to as "650b" typically in the road and gravel bike context), and 29". The Michelin Wild AM2 and Force AM2 feature Gum-X rubber compounds and the Gravity Shield casing. I / we carried a stove for the entire trip and enjoyed hot meals at camp, but its not mandatory. My smartphone is easier to use and I wasnt usually short on battery during this trip, which is the primary reason I sometimes use the eTrex. Braking traction is hugely important in a tire. https://w. This versatile model performs well in all but the loosest of conditions. Bike shoes: Pearl Izumi X-Alp Canyon are my favorite bikepacking shoes, and very comfy for walking and hike-a-bike. Unfortunately, this has an adverse effect on braking traction on anything but firm conditions. Manufacturers use different rubber compounds and casing constructions, so some tires are more durable than others. It should also be noted that this tire also delivers pretty solid cornering abilities given its impressive rolling speed. The 9 Best Mountain Bike Tires | Tested by GearLab (1) It can be argued that tires may be the most important (and most affordable) upgrades you can put on your bike. 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. These worked great! Never had to use it for anything else. 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. Mile for mile, the Colorado Trail is one of the most beautiful trails I've ever ridden. If you want a light and fast rolling tire that still hooks up, the Ground Control is our recommendation. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. We feel this tire provides a great combination of traction and rolling speed and has a huge bandwidth in terms of conditions. The side knobs molded to rock faces just as well as they clawed for traction in the rubble. Note on sharing a filter: When my husband joined in Jackson we considered each carrying our own filter. Like most cross-country tires, they are very fast rolling, but unlike a typical XC tire, they provide better cornering and braking traction than you might expect. 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 In some areas you might rarely fill it all, carrying only 1-2 liters at a time. It was originally only available in the DH casing which was super heavy, but now its versatility has been expanded to the rest of the market with the lighter options. Heres the stuff that carried all the other stuff. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. Ways to expand your water capacity: buy disposable bottles; carry collapsible bottles or bladders, fill up the dirty bag from your water filter, and carry a small stuffable backpack to hold it all. 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. I discuss my repair kit in more detail here: Tools and Spares List for Bikepacking. 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. The sections are arranged in the direction I rode, which is northbound (also referred to as NOBO). Mood: Leisurely but efficient. These are made for hiking, not biking, but I use them for both. The Maxxis Minion DHR II is an aggressive rear tire with terrific cornering grip and excellent braking traction. I wouldnt use this setup for prolonged technical riding, but it worked fine for gravel. When things get a little damp, the somewhat open tread design sheds mud quite well to ensure a clean braking surface. The Best Tires For The Great Divide? - YouTube With a tread design that looks strikingly similar to the Minion DHF, the Vittoria Mazza also boasts impressive cornering traction. The most important thing you can do is get tires that suit your riding style, terrain, and conditions. Gear Aid Tenacious gear repair tape, handy for patching tent, sleeping pad, bike bags, water bladder, etc. Note about reception: Dont expect to have connectivity on all (or even most) of the GDMBR. Sign up here for occasional emails full of inspiration and information about bikepacking and bicycle touring. Lets start with the most important part of a Great Divide bike route gear list: the bike, obviously! I had mixed feelings about this. How did this all work? High-viz windbreaker vest: extra warmth and/or peace of mind in traffic. Aggressive riders who frequent loose, chunky, and rowdy terrain are the best candidates for this beefy and durable tire. There are better choices than the Minion DHF if you ride firm ground almost exclusively due to the fact that the knobs are on the aggressive side with a fair amount of spacing between them. there are a lot of toilets along the route, but that doesnt guarantee youll find one when you need it. Standard AA and AAA batteries are easy to find at convenience stores, so you only need to carry one spare set at a time. Ascent to Tornado Pass. One of these days Ill have to try that kind of setup. Those concerns aside, we feel this is a great, well-rounded rear tire for aggressive trail riding. Heres a list of my GDMBR gear related to food and cooking: Ursack Major bear-resistant food bag: You will be camping in bear territory on the GDMBR, and properly hanging food is a lot harder than it sounds. Location: Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. For more detail, seeHow to Use Your Garmin InReach Mini. I was thinking about doing it on a Surly Long Haul Trucker - the frame can handle a 45C Tire. I hope this post has helped you fine-tune your GDMBR gear list. Small knife: Kershaw Scallion, useful for cooking on trail and in town. The front tire is primarily responsible for cornering and needs to respond appropriately to your input in order to remain on your intended line. A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. When backpacking we dont find it worth the weight, but on this bikepacking trip we absolutely did. On my bike I feel free. This DH tire has more tread in the transitional zone, softer rubber, and an even more robust casing that makes it unflappable. The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. I love it (see my review here) but its pricey. It's also still moderately heavy, but that's the price you pay for the performance it offers. Wider tires have more air volume and provide more damping and traction. Definitely touring, not racing. Down tube: Water bottle cage and tool pouch. And 68-year . The tall center tread lugs with open spacing provide excellent braking traction, while the substantial row of shoulder knobs grip very well through corners. I suggest packing the same toilet kit you would for a wilderness backpacking trip. Stove: Jetboil MicroMo. Held clothes, food, and sleeping pad. I roll up the hand portion around my wrist when wearing bike gloves. When you consider all the towns, campgrounds, pit toilets, etc. Spare t-shirt, another Merino Tech-Lite Tee for backup and town days. You must be so excited for your trip. The handlebars are Salsa Cowchipper 50cm drop bars for best grip and handling. The race was conceived in 2004 by cyclist Mike Curiak. 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. The larger tire will absorb some of the rough stuff and give you some more traction. What kind of temperatures are we talking about? We also found it to be a touch heavy when compared to similarly aggressive tires of the same size. It is exciting but slightly frightening to look through it and realize I have just about everything needed to embark on an adventure like this, apart from time (for now)! Spare batteries as needed for your devices. 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. . Read more: Review of my Salsa Fargo After 4500 Bikepacking Miles and Cutthroat vs. Fargo. The Route | Tour Divide 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. 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. Hello! The 8 Best Tires For Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (2022 reviews) I think the Fargo is a perfect bike for the GDMBR, at least unless you can afford a Cutthroat. Very compact and handy. In general, the GDMBR is perfect for a standard 3-season backcountry layering setup. Rain is a certainty, and snow and hail cant be ruled out. The Great Continental Divide Adventure Route is a motorized route that follows closely along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Continental's new tires can compete with the best in the business. need to know - Great Divide Route I used these less than expected on the GDMBR, but it was a relatively warm summer and my leisurely pace meant I rarely rode in the chilliest hours of the day.