Seat bag: Revelate Viscacha 14L. Sports sandals: Not strictly essential since my bike shoes work for walking, but I like to bring these for camp shoes, town days, public showers, and a backup in case something happens to my bike shoes. Some of the more burly casings are more difficult to work with. 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 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 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. Mountain bike tires are expensive. Run panniers if you want, or run a lightweight racing kit, but whatever you choose, do it intentionally. 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. Dates: June 22 August 26, 2021 (65 days, including 9 non-riding days for rest, visiting, and exploration). 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. Make sure to backflush it regularly to keep flow rate high, and sleep with it in cold weather to protect it from freezing. The Avid BB7 brakes took a lot of fiddling to keep adjusted. 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). We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. The Ardent has a low-profile tread design that prioritizes rolling speed. Never used, sent it home when my husband arrived (his phone would serve as our backup). I had come for this, in part, after a year of isolation that left me craving the community of a well-traveled route. We selected tires in the 2.3 to 2.6-inch width range. 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. They are bulletproof but heavy. Likewise, the Michelin Force AM2 is a fast-rolling tire, but it has aggressive shoulder lugs that help it corner better than other fast-rollers. Despite its cornering and braking chops, the tread design still rolls fairly quickly and efficiently. Great Divide Bikepacking Route: Essential Q&A. Pedals and Shoes for Bikepacking Is clipless worth it? Bike: Salsa Fargo with steel fork. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 review, Specialized Ground Control Grid T7 review, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, EXO sidewall protection, excellent cornering grip, good on front or rear, dual compound increases longevity, Great cornering and braking traction, fair price, long tread life, supportive sidewalls, work in a wide range of conditions, Fair price (for trail casing), offered in multiple casings for different uses, good braking traction, Great cornering grip, good braking traction, aggressive tread pattern, super damp ride quality, available in 2.6 and 2.3-inch widths, Reasonable price (for trail casing), excellent cornering traction, offered in multiple casings for different uses, Not the best for hardpack, high rolling resistance, requires good technique, Tread may be too aggressive for some riders/locations, a little heavy, Challenging set up process, heavy for "trail" casing, Difficult installation process, heavy-ish for a "trail" tire, One of the most popular tires ever, and for good reason, An aggressive tire with excellent cornering traction, braking bite, and above-average durability, A durable rear tire suited for aggressive trail riding in a range of conditions, Specialized's classic aggressive trail riding tire with a new rubber compound, enhanced grip, and same great value, A durable front tire for aggressive trail riding that carves corners with the best of 'em. I hope this post has helped you fine-tune your GDMBR gear list. This little guy makes it so much more pleasant. 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. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is one of America's best big adventures, traversing thousands of miles of remote dirt roads and high-altitude trails through the Rocky Mountains. We were thoroughly impressed by the tread life of the Vittoria Mazza. 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). In Canada, or anywhere in the mountains really, nights can dip below freezing even in the summer. Thanks for the detail. Before the rubber hits the dirt, you'll be laying out some coin for said rubber make the most of it. . I hope that will be especially helpful to my fellow northbound riders, since there are fewer resources out there written from our perspective. 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. The cushcore tire for the great Divide mountain bikeroute is designed for tubeless tire systems. Hi there, Im Alissa. Those concerns aside, we feel this is a great, well-rounded rear tire for aggressive trail riding. We found the T7 rubber to be long-lasting with even wear, and the Grid Trail casing stood up to our abuse during testing. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. Pedaling forces are applied through the rear tire while the front tire is pushed along, guiding the bike along its journey. The Maxxis Dissector is another of our favorite rear tires. (1) It can be argued that tires may be the most important (and most affordable) upgrades you can put on your bike. Garmin eTrex22x: My backup navigation device while riding solo. 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. Sign up here for occasional emails full of inspiration and information about bikepacking and bicycle touring. Fast-rolling and semi-slick tires get their speed from small, low-profile tread blocks. 60 DAY Free Returns & Shipping / Orders All Over The US Need Help? I chatted with every cyclist I met and . Do you all think that would be too small? Toiletries are pretty easy to find throughout the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Each manufacturer has its own technology and name for how they choose to protect a tire with its casing. There are hundreds of post offices along the GDMBR. They inflated and seated easily, but it required two tire levers just to pull the tire into position. The trail isn't signposted . 10. panchocampbell (Jul 15, 2019 at 8:29) after a zombie apocalypse these people would be the actual survivers !!! 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. 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. 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. 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. Bigger than the Salsa pouch and similar in size to a Revelate pouch. Buying through them may provide me with a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep this site running and growing. Got feedback? Then they went to work, laying out a fantastic touring route for mountain bikers. I love this thing and always clip it on when riding in traffic. Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not. The T9 rubber is the grippiest that Specialized uses, and while it isn't exactly super soft, it's been designed to rebound slowly to reduce deflection and enhance grip. Backflush syringe for Sawyer filter. A tire's performance is the corners is one of its most important attributes. When things get loose and steep, the Aggressor can't match the DHR II's more aggressive tread. Helmet brim: Da Brim Classic. 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. I use the Blackburn Central 50 which is sadly discontinued, but Planet Bike Superflash is good too. One of these days Ill have to try that kind of setup. But its always a good idea and offers an extra layer of safety if things ever go sideways. Hello! The even tread pattern of those tires also feels more predictable on firm ground as the transition across the tread is smooth the whole way through. When backpacking we dont find it worth the weight, but on this bikepacking trip we absolutely did. RockBros front pouch: held snacks and other small items. The 2.3 width was a good balance for me, but you could certainly go narrower or wider depending on your priorities. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. The Maxxis Assegai is a gravity-oriented tire from Maxxis that was designed in collaboration with World Cup DH racing legend Greg Minaar. You may prefer another option if you often find yourself riding in loose or wet conditions. We feel this tire provides a great combination of traction and rolling speed and has a huge bandwidth in terms of conditions. The flip-up cover was essential for protecting the spout from mud, and it was one of few 1 liter bottles I found thats skinny enough to fit in a standard water bottle cage (with extra strap for support). But if you want more cushion in the tire area, the bike can accommodate up to . Ian Stowe recently joined our tire test team and brings a wealth of experience from working in the cycling industry and as a lifelong rider. Now its your turn. Power bank: 10,000 mAh Ainope, lightweight and quick-charging. Once I picked up the bear spray this was redundant. Front fork: Assortment of RockBros dry bags (2L and 5L) and Voile straps. Pat owns a bike shop in South Lake Tahoe and is passionate about rough and rocky trails. Manufacturers use different rubber compounds and casing constructions, so some tires are more durable than others. The Maxxis Ardent is another fast and efficient tire that will appeal most to the XC crowd. Pretty well. Braking traction is a crucial element of any mountain bike tire and one that varies dramatically between the different models and tread designs. 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. 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. As a rear tire, it has excellent pedal and braking traction but has a relatively high level of rolling resistance. There are several outdoor sports stores for camping supplies and clothing, and Glacier . We researched nearly every tire on the market before purchasing the 28 models in this review. 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. Top tube bag: Moosetreks Gas Tank. Great Divide Mountain Bike Route - Riding Canada to Mexico Great Divide Route Trip Summary & Epilogue Riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route was an amazing experience, and we hope that sharing our journey here will inspire, inform and prepare others to embark on a similar adventure! 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. As a northbound rider who had already been through New Mexico, I didn't find it particularly challenging. 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. Ascent to Tornado Pass. To give context to the Great Divide gear list that follows, here are the basics of my experience on the GDMBR. We're dealing with a product category here that is prone to specialization, so if you're looking for something other than an all-arounder, make sure to read up on our award winners for tires that do specific jobs well. 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. Mine was threadbare by the time I finished, and I sometimes got sunburnt through it. 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. 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". We put the best mountain bike tires from Maxxis, Specialized, Vittoria, Michelin, WTB, and others to the test. 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. It also allows . We ended up sharing one and it worked fine. There's no way around it; mountain bike tires are pricey. Its burly enough to handle occasional rough stuff, efficient enough for pavement, and perfect for the large chunk of gravel and dirt road in between. You can lean as hard as you want into this tire, and the casing is supportive. Some options for elevating your bachelor party bar hopping experience: Look up beer bikes in your city, which are enormous multi-person bikes pedaled by everyone in the party and led by a tour guide who'll direct you guys to some of the best bars in the city while enjoying some brews along the way. The DHR II has great braking traction, and it works very well for climbing in loose conditions. It was originally called the Great Divide Race and followed a slightly shorter course along the original Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, starting in Roosville, Montana, at the Canadian border. I would check out the WTB Prowlers 2.1 SL 29er tires. Its important to note that my Great Divide gear list is based on a touring pace ride that took over two months. This tire rewards good technique with predictable and confidence-inspiring cornering traction. Panties: 2 pair for sleeping and town days. 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. My solo tent: Big Sky Soul 1P. 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. Wider than standard rims, ranging from 35-50mm, support these mid-fat tires even when used at the low riding pressures required to tackle soft sand and other loose terrain. (Update: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Womens Review). You must be so excited for your trip. Specialized recently updated their ever-popular Butcher tire with an all-new T9 rubber compound. This doesnt have to be fancy. Never needed, but good to have. The Eliminator is a well-rounded rear tire at a reasonable price. That seems crazy wide for the tire, ya? There are some sections with sharp rocks. Use the postal service. 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. If I ever get nervous, having it nearby helps me sleep. More here. George Rose / Contributor // Getty Images. Mood: Leisurely but efficient. This aggressive tire has a row of well-supported side knobs and a predictable locked-in feel when on edge. This lightweight model tips the scales at just 867 grams in a 29" x 2.35" size, contributing to their zippy feel. My husband carried the body and I carried the fly. It has a distinctive locked-in feel, though it may take a little getting used to for some riders. MSRP $98.00. Bike computer: CatEye Velo 7, simple and cheap, handy for checking distance covered without using smartphone battery. Best For Trail Riding: Cushcore Tire For Great Divide Mountain Bike Route Buy on Amazon Compared with other tires in this category, the Cushcore Tire For Great Divide Mountain Bike Route has a convenient design. Light and very sturdy. Horizontal knobs with edges that run perpendicular to the direction of travel are often employed to enhance braking traction. It also provides heaps of braking traction, providing some of the best control you could ask for. 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. Stuffable backpack: Not technically a bike bag, but this little backpack is a must-have for long bike trips. there are a lot of toilets along the route, but that doesnt guarantee youll find one when you need it. Gravity filter bag: CNOC Vecto 3L (28mm thread), used as dirty bag in a gravity filter system and for extra water capacity as needed. This post covers my experience bikepacking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in Montana.. For more help with your Great Divide food strategy, see my bikepacking food guide. Ive used these for years and think they have an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. The Maxxis Minion DHF is our top recommendation for a burly and aggressive front tire. The Maxxis Aggressor, Dissector, and WTB Trail Boss offer more traction while still maintaining impressive rolling speed. 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. 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. Still think lightweight racks ie Tailfin beat Saddle Packs by themselves by a street mile. You can see the deterioration of the shoulder knobs. It's also still moderately heavy, but that's the price you pay for the performance it offers. No rack, but bikepacking bags stuffed to the gills. I suspect this can even be used to patch bike tubes in a pinch, but Ive never tried it. 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 . Often, the more durable and supportive a casing is, the heavier the tire becomes. As my wheels rolled along its roads, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) offered constant reminders that I was not alone. Running shorts: small and lightweight, for sleeping on warm nights or wearing on rest days. Guys use them for long expeditions across Africa, for faster racing with better access to stores, a lighter/better rolling tyre would be better. Ive been using this pad for 7 years and love its combination of light weight and relative comfort for side sleeping. Some rolling resistance data has been posted in the "Wheels" forum lately. As tires continue to trend wider, so too are the tires in our test. $61.38. 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. I've got some long term plans for the GDR, and want to check out these two tires beforehand: I use the Marathons for training. Flexible flask: Vapur 10oz, used to carry olive oil, or sometimes a bit of whiskey as a special treat. Beyond those concerns, we feel the Mazza is an outstanding tire that rivals the best of the best. The Salsa Fargo Apex 1 is a burly steel frame gravel bike. While the rubber doesn't have the tackiest feel, its dampening properties give it an especially smooth, glued-to-the-ground ride quality. 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. 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. The Kryptotal Fr impressed our testers and proved that Continental is back at the top of the game with their new generation of tires. there's been a few Kahns on Ebay recently. Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances. Read more: Continental Kryptotal Front 2.4. The center tread has a well-designed pattern of medium-height knobs with sharp, unramped front edges that provide ample bite and traction with surprisingly low rolling resistance. 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. For the more aggressive rider, the Maxxis Minion DHR II is our favorite option. Interesting, the new Racing Ralph's perform very well. We also particularly like the 2-knob, alternating paddle tread running down the center of the WTB Vigilante. The Maxxis Minion DHF features a pronounced transitional zone and scored among the highest for cornering. We did our best to use consistent testing trails that offered a variety of features and soil types. Thus its important to carry a fairly comprehensive repair kit. The Mazza mixes it up with the best of 'em. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. Similarly, the Specialized Eliminator and WTB Trail Boss provide balanced traction across a wide range of surfaces and conditions. 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. 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! I hope youre able to get out there eventually. Saddle: Brooks B17 Short Carved. Held clothes, food, and sleeping pad. Likewise, braking is controlled and confidence-inspiring, and should you choose to run it on the rear, it hooks up very while climbing. Passport: My husband brought mine with him when we met in Jackson, and we both carried ours (carefully) for the rest of the trip. Wider tires have more air volume and provide more damping and traction. T he Great Divide route, for the uninitiated, has been mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association, a bicycle group based in Missoula, Montana. The WTB Vigilante also earns an honorable mention in the cornering metric. The Colorado Trail Bikepacking Route is a 539-mile mountain bike route that crosses many major mountain ranges across the state. If riding southbound and crossing the international border at the beginning, I would probably mail it home after crossing. Bright glints of light near my eyes sparkle - the headlamp reflecting against the sleet. Regarding 700x45..I recently trained on some of the panaracers that size, fully loaded for a couple of months. The Vigilante's aggressive tread design comes with a slight penalty in the rolling resistance department. Water availability varies along the Great Divide. The Vittoria Martello delivers excellent cornering abilities along with killer rolling speed. The DHF's more aggressive sibling, the Assegai has even more grip in the corners. Youll probably have service in towns, but dont count on it out in the national forests. The Copper Spur is functional, roomy, pretty lightweight, and mostly freestanding (except the vestibules). 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. I wouldnt have minded magically reducing my bike weight by about 5 pounds. The Surly Krampus, released in 2012, established the plus bike genre with its massive 29 x 3.0in. Traillinks. The sections are arranged in the direction I rode, which is northbound (also referred to as NOBO). Let us know in the conversation below if you have a tire that youd recommend for a long mixed terrain route like the GDMBR. 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. 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. For highly skilled riders that can push the pace while maintaining some semblance of control, these tires are a fast option. Find the balance. The aggressive tread of the Minion DHF might feel a bit overkill on super buff and hardpack dirt, but that's not the arena this beast was designed to fight in. Custom, handbuilt 27.5", 29", Plus and Fat wheels. The WTB Trail Boss provides excellent cornering traction in the rear of the bike.
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best tires for great divide mountain bike route
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