Any thoughts on what would be the earliest you could start? March 22 T editors of M com U, 2021. You will want the cusion of a larger tyre. I think mid-May is typical but it varies year to year, especially these days. Two shallow tire tracks heading uphill into the darkness remind me that Josh and Ben had recently pushed their bikes through this same slush. 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. 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. Down jacket:Arcteryx Cerium LT. Saddle: Brooks B17 Short Carved. I likethese from REIandthese from Woolly Clothing. 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. The rear tire is responsible for the brunt of pedaling and braking traction. 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. You can likely buy these from bike shops along the way, though you might not get your first pick of brand or type. The Specialized Eliminator T7 is a semi-aggressive rear tire that we feel is a great, affordable option for trail riders. Again, many tires are designed to be lightweight and compromise durability. 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. We put the best mountain bike tires from Maxxis, Specialized, Vittoria, Michelin, WTB, and others to the test. MSRP $98.00. Pavement and panniers or singletrack and seat bag, I love it all. This post covers my experience bikepacking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in Montana.. If you ride aggressive terrain and loose conditions, the WTB Vigilante is another great option to consider. Wall charger: Anker PowerPort, fast charging with two USB ports, and 3 USB cables of various lengths and types. Wanted to see if anyone had recommendations on some good tires? The alternative would be to use a sturdy rear rack and small panniers or dry sacks, which I saw pretty often on the Divide. Those who want a relatively fast-rolling rear tire that maintains good cornering abilities might consider the Specialized Eliminator T7. 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. There are many bike shops along the GDMBR, and theyre generally great at getting thru-riders rolling again as quickly as possible. The rigid fork would theoretically have some braze ons which would give you more places to bolt stuff, either more water or fork bags or something along those lines. Load: Fairly typical long-distance bikepacking setup. 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. Guys use them for long expeditions across Africa, for faster racing with better access to stores, a lighter/better rolling tyre would be better. 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". Carry at least a small amount of soap and shampoo so you can properly enjoy these showers. High-viz windbreaker vest: extra warmth and/or peace of mind in traffic. Heres what I suggest carrying in order to leave no trace: Spend your town time resting and eating instead of wondering what youre forgetting. Disposable ear plugsfor noisy campgrounds or motels. At night I would remove it from the dry sack (allowing it to expand, making room for all the snacks Id been carrying in my other bags) and tie it to a tree far from camp. This rings true whether you are churning out miles on pavement, grinding gravel backroads, racing your local cyclocross course, or blasting dirt . Material on GearLab is copyrighted. So much great information, I keep going back to your links. 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 only time I stretched its capacity was a 4 day section in New Mexico, otherwise there was plenty of opportunity to recharge on the GDMBR. Similarly, we found the new Michelin Wild AM2 to rip through the bends. . Bike computer: CatEye Velo 7, simple and cheap, handy for checking distance covered without using smartphone battery. The tread consists of lots of moderate-height lugs in the center and intermediate zone, with a fairly substantial row of shoulder knobs. These worked great! 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. Waterproof glove covers:MLD eVENT rain mittens, to cover gloves in case of both cold and wet weather. The front tire is primarily responsible for cornering and needs to respond appropriately to your input in order to remain on your intended line. The center knobs sort of link up to form a center ridge, particularly after some wear. That said, it's no worse than most similar tires, and a trade-off for its otherwise excellent traction and super smooth feel. 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. Power bank: 10,000 mAh Ainope, lightweight and quick-charging. As a general rule, the more aggressive the tread design, the better the tire will perform in loose conditions. Once I picked up the bear spray this was redundant. Reroute for fire closure in Gila Mountains (FS150) As with front tire braking traction, rear tire braking traction is also dependent on the size, shape, and orientation of the tread knobs. My husband carried the body and I carried the fly. The Kryptotal Fr impressed our testers and proved that Continental is back at the top of the game with their new generation of tires. This tire performs as well as the best cornering tires we've tested. The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you wont want to miss! We like to be in control and we assume you do too. The Michelin Wild Enduro Rear sure ain't light. This is a very popular filter and it works well. Extra bottles: I carried two 1L Platypus SoftBottles for extra capacity. Despite its cornering and braking chops, the tread design still rolls fairly quickly and efficiently. One look at the Wild Enduro Front, and you can see why. Free shipping for many products! Benson's mountain bike roots trace back to New England in the early 1990s, and he has seen and experienced the evolution of mountain bike tires. Going from the center tread onto the side knobs, the rider may notice a "dead" zone about halfway through the lean while passing over the channel between the tread knobs on the crown of the tire on the way to the big side knobs. Swan Valley logging detour removed -- route goes back to original GDMBR 2. Stove: Jetboil MicroMo. When buying a complete bike, it comes with whatever tires the manufacturer chooses. We feel this tire provides a great combination of traction and rolling speed and has a huge bandwidth in terms of conditions. 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. Bikepacking Pace Guide: How many miles per day? Specialized's Grid Trail casing feels supportive enough while remaining supple and surprisingly resistant to punctures or tears. Obligatory disclaimer: I dont use my earbud in areas with high risk of encountering bears, or on roads where traffic demands attention. Fuel canisters were easy enough to find at gear stores, hardware stores, hiker boxes, etc. Headband and neck gaiter: Buff and/or bandana. It also provides heaps of braking traction, providing some of the best control you could ask for. I would check out the WTB Prowlers 2.1 SL 29er tires. That said, it works well and stays attached nicely, and really does help with sun exposure (which youll get a lot of on the Great Divide). T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon all cover slightly different areas, and all have large dead zones in rural parts of the US. The trail isn't signposted . To give context to the Great Divide gear list that follows, here are the basics of my experience on the GDMBR. Similarly, the WTB Trail Boss rolls relatively quickly, but its stout row of shoulder knobs hook up and rails through the bends. Do you all think that would be too small? 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. We were thoroughly impressed by the tread life of the Vittoria Mazza. Running shorts: small and lightweight, for sleeping on warm nights or wearing on rest days. Nearly 70% of the route is on public lands - 18 National Forests, 6 National Parks and Monuments, and 4 areas with Bureau of Land . Ive gone through a few and find the Cerium to be a good balance of packability and warmth. Matt RC has logged over 5000 miles of touring on a Pugsley. When things get loose and steep, the Aggressor can't match the DHR II's more aggressive tread. 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 Maxxis Minion DHF features a pronounced transitional zone and scored among the highest for cornering. 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. Hi there, Im Alissa. 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. 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. That and the fact that the route comes back through Whitefish makes Glacier Cyclery the logical US staging headquarters for Great Divide riders. 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 . Minor complaints: I could have used an even lower low gear for all those climbs (running the stock Fargo gearing of 38/24t in front and 10 speed 11-36t in back). What are the best tires for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Tour Divide race, and other long, mixed-terrain bikepacking routes? But it delivers excellent pedaling traction. The Assegai is the best cornering tire we've ever tested. Likewise, the Michelin Wild Enduro Front is a top performer in the corners. Once the clock starts, the rider embarks on a solo, unsupported journey to get to the finish line. A multitude of mountain bike tires can easily be mounted onto a rim with just your bare hands. Carrying about two days of food is pretty common. Baggy bike shorts: I wear these over my padded shorts, just personal preference. Essential Bike Repair Skills You Can Learn at Home. We researched nearly every tire on the market before buying 28 models for side-by-side testing. Still think lightweight racks ie Tailfin beat Saddle Packs by themselves by a street mile. 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. Water is often (not always) relatively clear, but should always be filtered. Unfortunately, this has an adverse effect on braking traction on anything but firm conditions. 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. 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. It's also still moderately heavy, but that's the price you pay for the performance it offers. I had mixed feelings about this. These are mostly country roads that traverse Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management land. I used mostly the same clothing system that I use for backpacking, with a few cycling-specific modifications. Often, the more durable and supportive a casing is, the heavier the tire becomes. The 26" size used to be the industry standard, over the last two decades, 27.5 . Heres a quick list of what I carried on the GDMBR, which I would categorize as a standard type of trip in that post. Cup: Snow Peak titanium mug. 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. Aggressive riders who frequent loose, chunky, and rowdy terrain are the best candidates for this beefy and durable tire. Pedals and Shoes for Bikepacking: Is clipless worth it? 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. The Michelin Wild AM2 and Force AM2 feature Gum-X rubber compounds and the Gravity Shield casing. Glacier Cyclery in Whitefish (406-862-6446) can handle any bike needs or outfit you with rental gear. Monday November 14, 2022. A few areas, in particular parts of New Mexico and Wyomings Great Basin, are much drier. The Vittoria Martello delivers excellent cornering abilities along with killer rolling speed. It's hardly a coincidence that many of the best front tires look similar. 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. In the far north as temperatures dropped I also slept in my down jacket. Bear spray: picked up at Brush Mountain Lodge for the northern section (theres a box where southbounders leave their bear spray and northbounders pick it up). 27. overmyhead (Jul 15, 2019 . 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. This tire has a large and stout row of side knobs, like those found on the Minion DHF, to dive into corners and hold a line on off-camber sections. If you spend more nights in town (we camped as often as possible) and arent too fussy about eating cold food, you can get by without a stove. Ascent to Tornado Pass. 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. 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. While testing, we always felt confident that they would hook and grab hold when it came time to slow things down. 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. 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 is a 1X12 / 10-52 and the front chagrin is a 32T. We resupplied a few specific or hard-to-find items our favorite sunscreen, Dr. Bronners soap, chamois cream via several mail drops throughout the route. Solo riders especially (and their loved ones) will likely appreciate the peace of mind. I estimate my fully loaded Fargo weighed around 55 lbs without much food or water. Interesting, the new Racing Ralph's perform very well. Benson is a competitive gravel and mountain bike racer, highly experienced tester/reviewer, and published author. A narrow tunnel of light from my handlebar illuminates the white snow. Our joint tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3. We did our best to use consistent testing trails that offered a variety of features and soil types. Never needed, but good to have. 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. The most important thing you can do is get tires that suit your riding style, terrain, and conditions. For sure, were out there to enjoy ourselves and we all have our favorite ways of doing that. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. I only recommend and link to products I know and love. Continental's new tires can compete with the best in the business. These tires put a fight to get seated, but once mounted we never had further issues. 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. Good, predictable performance as a rear tire, The casing may be too supple for some riders. The Eliminator is a well-rounded rear tire at a reasonable price. That said, this tire is meant to be pointed down the hill, and it rewards the rider with outrageous levels of grip. The Surly Krampus, released in 2012, established the plus bike genre with its massive 29 x 3.0in.

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