In much of Canada, Montana, and Colorado its easy to find surface water multiple times per day. Given this tire's impressive rolling speed and moderate height/relatively tightly packed tread knobs, it can't compete with more aggressive tires in loose conditions. The Maxxis Assegai is a gravity-oriented tire from Maxxis that was designed in collaboration with World Cup DH racing legend Greg Minaar. 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. We also particularly like the 2-knob, alternating paddle tread running down the center of the WTB Vigilante. I dont bother with meds like Advil, Tylenol, etc, as theyre probably not going to make a difference in a serious situation, and theyre easy to buy along the way. I / we carried a stove for the entire trip and enjoyed hot meals at camp, but its not mandatory. It inspires high levels of confidence and is most at home when leaned into a turn aggressively with a substantial row of large side knobs that grip through corners. There are many bike shops along the GDMBR, and theyre generally great at getting thru-riders rolling again as quickly as possible. Flexible flask: Vapur 10oz, used to carry olive oil, or sometimes a bit of whiskey as a special treat. 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. 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. That said, this tire is meant to be pointed down the hill, and it rewards the rider with outrageous levels of grip. It should also be noted that this tire also delivers pretty solid cornering abilities given its impressive rolling speed. Excited to try bikepacking but need help getting started? Tail light: Red blinky tail light for visibility on high-traffic roads. While we really loved most aspects of the performance of the Butcher Grid Trail T9, it isn't the fastest rolling tire. 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. Flint hills trail state park. Sandals and sometimes stove strapped to the outside. This tire relies on its aggressive tread pattern to do most of the work, with well-supported shoulder lugs and a supportive yet supple Gravity Shield casing. Outside of larger towns its often convenience store and diner food, in other words, not the healthiest. Ascent to Tornado Pass. The capacity of a regular Ursack was fine for my southern solo section and the more populated areas of the north. Waterproof glove covers:MLD eVENT rain mittens, to cover gloves in case of both cold and wet weather. If you leave some necessity for your trip at home, don't worry, you will be able to replace it easily here. (1) It can be argued that tires may be the most important (and most affordable) upgrades you can put on your bike. Frame bag: Salsa EXP. Some of the more burly casings are more difficult to work with. In general, the size, shape, and orientation of the center tread play the biggest role in how well a tire slows and stops your forward momentum. Comfy and as stylish as baggy bike shorts can be. 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. Look for tires that are as durable as possible. Hello! Spare derailleur hanger not used (but has been needed in the past), A few zip ties and extra electrical tape used the electrical tape to patch my handlebar tape. My husband carried the body and I carried the fly. https://w. Wider tires have more air volume and provide more damping and traction. These worked great! Power bank: 10,000 mAh Ainope, lightweight and quick-charging. How can we improve GearLab? Fuel canisters were easy enough to find at gear stores, hardware stores, hiker boxes, etc. I recommend around 3 liters of capacity for most of the route. Thanks for the detail. While neither of these tires is light, they're both impressive when the going gets radical. These tires put a fight to get seated, but once mounted we never had further issues. Club Ride Savvy shorts are my absolute favorite. New off-highway route north of Hartsel, CO 3. The front tire is primarily responsible for cornering and needs to respond appropriately to your input in order to remain on your intended line. Semi-slick and inverted tread tires are not recommended. We also found it to be a touch heavy when compared to similarly aggressive tires of the same size. Most of the trail is comprised of gravel and dirt roads that are best done with something that can accommodate a 2.25in wide tire or larger. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. 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!). I estimate my fully loaded Fargo weighed around 55 lbs without much food or water. This beefy model is one of the most popular tires of all time and is considered a benchmark against which all other tires are compared. Shoe covers: Not used, even though my feet did sometimes get cold in the rain. 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)! In some areas you might rarely fill it all, carrying only 1-2 liters at a time. Long sleeve midlayer:Icebreaker Merino 260 Half Zip. Traillinks. Figuring out which tires will perform well and hold up for the duration can be tricky, especially given all the options on the market. Wet, loose, loam, this tire rips into the soil. Pillow: Sea to Summit 8 Liter Dry Sack stuffed with odds and ends and wrapped with a Buff. I rarely have problems with tire rub if I pack properly. Bears on the Great Divide Trail. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. GearLab is reader-supported. As tires continue to trend wider, so too are the tires in our test. Thanks! On a long ride like the GDMBR there will be times you cannot clip in due to mud, snow, shoe issues, and all kinds of other fun surprises. Despite its square profile, it rolls easily into corners and hooks up and grips in all conditions thanks to the tall row of burly side knobs. The Trail Boss works great as a rear tire with great cornering performance and fairly low rolling resistance. A closely packed row of taller shoulder lugs provides good cornering traction and a predictable feel until things get super loose. While testing, we always felt confident that they would hook and grab hold when it came time to slow things down. Again, many tires are designed to be lightweight and compromise durability. Bike: Salsa Fargo with steel fork. I love this thing and always clip it on when riding in traffic. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. I appreciate good quality gear but dont have money to burn, so most of my gear is carefully chosen and well-used. The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you wont want to miss! I usually kill a pair (scratched or lost) on every long trip and these are cheap enough that it doesnt matter. Bluetooth mini-keyboard: As you can probably tell, I like to write! We tested the Butcher Grid Trail T9 in both 2.3" and 2.6" widths, and while the tread pattern hasn't really changed, this feels like an entirely new tire. 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. Our test tire weighed in at a lighter-than-advertised 950 grams, and if you want even more peace of mind, it's available in Maxxis's heavier casing options as well. To receive USPS packages at any post office, use General Delivery. I suspect this can even be used to patch bike tubes in a pinch, but Ive never tried it. You must be so excited for your trip. Those who want a relatively fast-rolling rear tire that maintains good cornering abilities might consider the Specialized Eliminator T7. Related: How We Tested Mountain Bike Tires. 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. For this reason, many front tires feature tread designs with large side knobs that aid in maintaining cornering grip. The tread design of the Trail Boss seems optimized to work in dry conditions, and the tighter spacing of the knobs seems a bit more prone to packing up with sticky mud. Likewise, while the Grid casing feels fairly tough for an XC-ish tire, it's a little under-gunned for super rough and chunky trails. The feel of this tire may take a little getting used to for some, but once you experience the sensation of it locking into a turn, you'll have a hard time going back to anything else. Has a good low-light mode and red night-vision setting for camp. Tights:Columbia OmniHeat. It has a distinctive locked-in feel, though it may take a little getting used to for some riders. 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. The rear tire is responsible for the brunt of pedaling and braking traction. Stuffable backpack: Not technically a bike bag, but this little backpack is a must-have for long bike trips. Any thoughts on what would be the earliest you could start? The Mazza mixes it up with the best of 'em. I used mostly the same clothing system that I use for backpacking, with a few cycling-specific modifications. This tire isn't the fastest-rolling, but that's a tradeoff that we expect most aggressive trail riders are willing to accept. 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?. 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. This little guy makes it so much more pleasant. You need to be logged in to use these features. Sunglasses: Im currently liking these affordableCastKing Hiwasseepolarized sunglasses. 70 % of the of the GDMBR is on quiet gravel roads with very little traffic. 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 bikepacking route is mostly singletrack, except where it detours around wilderness areas. I roll up the hand portion around my wrist when wearing bike gloves. Other than what might be chalked up to a singular incident of difficult installation, we have little to complain about with this burly front tread. The tread design also contributes to controlled and predictable braking performance that outshines other models in its category. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Look for a model that has thick rubber on the sidewall and the tread. (Offline caching requires a small monthly fee, totally worth it in my opinion.). Hello! The trail isn't signposted . The biggest issue: with the dry bags on the front fork, the load is very front-heavy. Passport: My husband brought mine with him when we met in Jackson, and we both carried ours (carefully) for the rest of the trip. I especially liked the flexibility of the big 5L dry bags on the front fork, which could expand or contract a lot to hold varying amounts of food or even, in one long dry stretch, water. This doesnt have to be fancy. Here we get to the meat of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route packing list: clothing! Saddle: Brooks B17 Short Carved. Once the clock starts, the rider embarks on a solo, unsupported journey to get to the finish line. 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 used one set for the entire 2700 miles and they still had life left to spare at the end. Read more: Specialized Ground Control Grid T7 review. . More aggressive treads and softer rubber compounds have a tendency to roll more slowly. But its always a good idea to have a headlight in case youre stuck riding in dusk or dark for some unforeseen reason. This rings true whether you are churning out miles on pavement, grinding gravel backroads, racing your local cyclocross course, or blasting dirt . http://twentynineinches.com/2008/06/04/wtb-'08-29er-tiresprowler-sl-29er-update-ii/. Bike shoes: Pearl Izumi X-Alp Canyon are my favorite bikepacking shoes, and very comfy for walking and hike-a-bike. Stove: Jetboil MicroMo. Water availability varies along the Great Divide. Headband and neck gaiter: Buff and/or bandana. 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. Here are all the electronics I carried on the GDMBR: Smartphone: Primary navigation device using the RideWithGPS app, with maps cached offline. We'd highly recommend it as a front tire for aggressive trail riders who are looking to try something different. T-shirt:Icebreaker Merino Tech-Lite Tee. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. 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 . Satellite Messenger: Garmin InReach Mini, for communication and emergencies in areas without phone service. Water filters for Bikepacking and Touring, How to Keep Electronics Charged While Bikepacking, Bikepacking Bikes and Bags for Small and Short People. Theres more where this came from! I said this at the beginning but it bears repeating: theres no single right way to pack for the Great Divide. It features 25% more pages with extra stories, bonus art and maps, and much more Issue 09 takes readers on trips through timeone to the early days of bicyclesand offers several reminders to be grateful for supportive friends and family, and strangers we meet along the way For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives weve long been eager to share With the Tour Divide kicking off tomorrow, folks might be wondering how riders choose the best tires for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, a long and intense ride that tests all bike components, especially the ones grinding along day after day. One of the astonishing things is that routes can be utterly wild yet almost 100 percent rideable on a gravel bike. I love riding solo but a month is enough, and Ive been wanting to share a long ride with him for years. Finally, this route goes in wild terrain, and a bear encounter is possible. 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. We put the best mountain bike tires from Maxxis, Specialized, Vittoria, Michelin, WTB, and others to the test. History. The Specialized Ground Control Grid T7 is a tire that bridges the gap between cross-country and trail riding, call it down-country if you like. 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. One of these days Ill have to try that kind of setup. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. This DH tire has more tread in the transitional zone, softer rubber, and an even more robust casing that makes it unflappable. You will want the cusion of a larger tyre. That said, it's no worse than most similar tires, and a trade-off for its otherwise excellent traction and super smooth feel. 10. panchocampbell (Jul 15, 2019 at 8:29) after a zombie apocalypse these people would be the actual survivers !!! Great Divide Bikepacking Route: Essential Q&A. I think the Fargo is a perfect bike for the GDMBR, at least unless you can afford a Cutthroat. The larger tire will absorb some of the rough stuff and give you some more traction. Examining a worn-out DHF nearing the end of its lifespan. Let me leave you with two final tips that I believe will be helpful to almost everyone: Pack light-ish.
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