What are the best tires for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Tour Divide race, and other long, mixed-terrain bikepacking routes? Paired with a DIY lid made from metallic bubble wrap to keep food warmer while rehydrating. $61.38. My style tends toward moderately lightweight (I ran a bikepacking bag setup, no rack) but not too minimalist (I like hot meals, warm layers, and reading at camp). If youre on the fence about bringing something, leave it with a friend and ask them to mail it to you on the road if requested. Many bike brands spec the DHR II as a front and rear tire on complete builds. Haha yes, in many ways time (and motivation) are the most important things on the list! 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. If youre particular about brands or types youll definitely want to bring them with you and/or mail them in resupply boxes. It is one of the best cornering tires our testers have ever used. My hands get cold easily and when I need to ride in cold temps these are essential. We usually rode together and often filled up with potable water from campgrounds or stores, so we werent stopping to filter as often as we do on backpacking trips. Related: How We Tested Mountain Bike Tires. Read more: Specialized Ground Control Grid T7 review. 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. Bike: Salsa Fargo with steel fork. Headlight: NiteRider Lumina 900 Boost with helmet mount: Rarely (never?) Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams. A narrow tunnel of light from my handlebar illuminates the white snow. This is why 29er wheels roll better than 26 wheels. Date Submitted: 09/30/2019 08:43 PM. Helmet brim: Da Brim Classic. Figuring out which tires will perform well and hold up for the duration can be tricky, especially given all the options on the market. Companions: Solo until Jackson, WY (about 1600 miles), then joined by my husband for the final 1100 miles. These are mostly country roads that traverse Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management land. Braking traction is another highlight, and the large knobs with open spacing grab well on most surfaces when it comes time to slow things down. The tread consists of lots of moderate-height lugs in the center and intermediate zone, with a fairly substantial row of shoulder knobs. In hot and sunny New Mexico I loved it, but as I rode north I often found that the sunniest places were also the windiest. Totally worth the weight. The platforms on these pedals are big and stable, and there were times where I rode them unclipped for days. 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. I wear them for warmth and wind protection in addition to rain. Bigger than the Salsa pouch and similar in size to a Revelate pouch. Due to the Mazza's tread design, it has a bit more rolling resistance than tires with a less aggressive tread. But on this trip it finally developed a slow leak I couldnt find. The majority of our testing took place in dryer California conditions. (Update: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Womens Review). The Route covers 5 states: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana and is a . 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. 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. Let us know in the conversation below if you have a tire that youd recommend for a long mixed terrain route like the GDMBR. 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. This tire has super tall and aggressive shoulder lugs that bite into nearly any trail surface. Chlorine dioxide: I carried a small number of Potable Aqua tablets as a temporary backup in case my filter failed. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. This post covers my experience bikepacking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in Montana.. Essential Bike Repair Skills You Can Learn at Home. Thanks! Once I picked up the bear spray this was redundant. And Im glad Im not the only one who brings whatever I want to bring regardless of what others think! Figuring out which tires will perform well. Swan Valley logging detour removed -- route goes back to original GDMBR 2. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. 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. Help sustain this resource by joining the Bikepacking Collective: https://bikepacking.com/join/?utm_source=youtubeOutline: Intro - 0:00Support Bikepacking.com - 0:42Tire CharacteristicsWidth - 1:22Casing - 2:35Tread Pattern - 4:09Reliability - 5:53Tire OptionsWTB Nano - 6:30WTB Ranger - 7:40Maxxis Crossmark - 7:56Maxxis Ikon - 8:57Maxxis Ardent Race - 9:22Teravail Sparwood - 9:45Teravail Rutland - 10:26Vittoria Mezcal - 11:04Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge - 11:53Mentioned Links:29er Wheel Diameter History: (http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/p/beginnings-of-modern-29er-history.html)Tubeless Tire Repair and Install: (https://bikepacking.com/plan/tubeless-tire-repair-guide/)Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge Review: (https://bikepacking.com/gear/rene-herse-fleecer-ridge-review/)Eastern Divide: (https://bikepacking.com/plan/introducing-the-eastern-divide-trail/)Bikepacking Routes Page: (https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-routes/)Do you enjoy our videos, routes, and articles? T he Great Divide route, for the uninitiated, has been mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association, a bicycle group based in Missoula, Montana. 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. The cushcore tire for the great Divide mountain bikeroute is designed for tubeless tire systems. One of these days Ill have to try that kind of setup. Your experienced riding buddy in digital form: 140 mobile-friendly pages packed with how to's, problem solving tips, and hard-earned wisdom from the trail and road. 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. Ive pushed myself hard on enough prior trips and wanted time for more relaxation and type 1 fun this time around. 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. The medium profile center tread allows for exceptional pedaling efficiency and low rolling resistance, all while offering adequate bite for climbing and braking traction. The Maxxis Assegai is a gravity-oriented tire from Maxxis that was designed in collaboration with World Cup DH racing legend Greg Minaar. Glacier Cyclery in Whitefish (406-862-6446) can handle any bike needs or outfit you with rental gear. I love reading at camp or on rest days. Note that ordering items from Amazon or other online retailers can be harder since they often use UPS. Yup, I carried a Kindle! I hope that will be especially helpful to my fellow northbound riders, since there are fewer resources out there written from our perspective. Bandanafor wiping out dishes and other miscellaneous needs. With rear tires, you'll find huge variances in traction, depending on the type of terrain and the surface conditions. The Maxxis Minion DHF is our top recommendation for a burly and aggressive front tire. I think the Fargo is a perfect bike for the GDMBR, at least unless you can afford a Cutthroat. MSRP $66.00. I had come for this, in part, after a year of isolation that left me craving the community of a well-traveled route. These tires put a fight to get seated, but once mounted we never had further issues. 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. When things get loose and steep, the Aggressor can't match the DHR II's more aggressive tread. A select few of the tires, mostly the Schwalbes and the Continentals, required the use of a powerful compressor to finally seat the bead on the rim's flanges. No sponsored content. 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. Down tube: Water bottle cage and tool pouch. 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. While the rubber doesn't have the tackiest feel, its dampening properties give it an especially smooth, glued-to-the-ground ride quality. RumbleRoller Beastie massage ball: I struggle with tight IT bands and this little guy was 100% worth the weight and space. 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. How can we improve GearLab? Water filters for Bikepacking and Touring, How to Keep Electronics Charged While Bikepacking, Bikepacking Bikes and Bags for Small and Short People. The Kryptotal Fr impressed our testers and proved that Continental is back at the top of the game with their new generation of tires. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. No ads. Gravity filter bag: CNOC Vecto 3L (28mm thread), used as dirty bag in a gravity filter system and for extra water capacity as needed. I carried my meals inside an Ursack inside a 5L dry sack on my front fork. In our latest YouTube video, we talk about what factors to consider and reveal a few of our favorite tires for long, mixed-terrain routes. 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. 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. 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. Through the years, they've mapped routes down the West Coast and several routes across the U.S. for road bicyclists. The Maxxis Minion DHR II is an aggressive rear tire with terrific cornering grip and excellent braking traction. In hindsight I wish we had each carried our own Ursack. The Mazza mixes it up with the best of 'em. Frame bag: Salsa EXP. 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.". You may prefer another option if you often find yourself riding in loose or wet conditions. Carry at least a small amount of soap and shampoo so you can properly enjoy these showers. Headlamp,Petzl Actik Core: I like that this headlamp is USB-rechargeable but can also take AAAs in a pinch. Manufacturers use different rubber compounds and casing constructions, so some tires are more durable than others. The Assegai is the best cornering tire we've ever tested. The Vittoria Agarro and Michelin Force AM2 have a similar tread design to the Ardent and are great options for those looking to minimize rolling resistance. But you might be a few hundred miles from one when something goes wrong! Front tires often feature directional tread patterns to improve rolling resistance, although a front tire does not support as much weight as a rear tire and consequently doesn't suffer as much drag. It has a distinctive locked-in feel, though it may take a little getting used to for some riders. Im Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. Some miscellaneous items that dont fit in other categories: First aid kit, lightweight and customized. Fast-rolling and semi-slick tires get their speed from small, low-profile tread blocks. 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. The truth of the matter is, trail riding is the most common style of riding that most people participate in. 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. Welcome to part 4 in my series of GDMBR summaries by state. I hope youre able to get out there eventually. I just find these more trouble than theyre worth. Beyond those concerns, we feel the Mazza is an outstanding tire that rivals the best of the best. If I ever get nervous, having it nearby helps me sleep. Despite its cornering and braking chops, the tread design still rolls fairly quickly and efficiently. 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. This type of traction, cornering performance, and durability come at a slight weight penalty, and the tacky rubber and tall tread knobs also result in some serious rolling resistance. Cup: Snow Peak titanium mug. Taller knobs with wide spacing can penetrate deeper into loose surfaces, and braking edges that face perpendicular to the direction of travel will most help slow your roll when it's super loose. What are the best tires for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Tour Divide race, and other long, mixed-terrain bikepacking routes? For other models, you may find it necessary to use a tire lever or two. Ive traveled over 17,000 miles by bike and still cant stop planning my next ride (and helping you plan yours). We found the T7 rubber to be long-lasting with even wear, and the Grid Trail casing stood up to our abuse during testing. 70 % of the of the GDMBR is on quiet gravel roads with very little traffic. Tires like the Schwalbe Magic Mary, Michelin Wild Enduro Rear, WTB Vigilante, and Maxxis Assegai slay corners, but they also roll much slower than most of the competition. We like to be in control and we assume you do too. Definitely touring, not racing. Those concerns aside, we feel this is a great, well-rounded rear tire for aggressive trail riding. At the same time, the sharp edges of the tread knobs bite well into firm to moderately loose, dry conditions while pedaling and braking. Related: How to Keep Electronics Charged While Bikepacking. We also found it to be a touch heavy when compared to similarly aggressive tires of the same size. That and the fact that the route comes back through Whitefish makes Glacier Cyclery the logical US staging headquarters for Great Divide riders. I expect this one to last at least another 7 years. Those wide paddle-shaped lugs in the center tread of the DHR II dig in effectively, especially in loose conditions. The fastest men can complete the route in under 14 days, while most people who tour it take six to ten weeks. 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!). Shoe covers: Not used, even though my feet did sometimes get cold in the rain. Semi-slick tires have a pared-down center tread to reduce their rolling resistance, framed in by larger side knobs to maintain strong cornering performance. Crisscrossing the Continental Divide from alberta through the Canadian and American Rockies to its southern terminus at the mexican border, brian kesselman completed the 2784 mile route solo and self-supported with 161,563 feet of climbing, averaging 92.8 miles a day over 30 days. If you leave some necessity for your trip at home, don't worry, you will be able to replace it easily here. Then they went to work, laying out a fantastic touring route for mountain bikers. Once the clock starts, the rider embarks on a solo, unsupported journey to get to the finish line. Similarly, the Specialized Eliminator and WTB Trail Boss provide balanced traction across a wide range of surfaces and conditions. A couple of the toughest tires we've ever installed are the Continental Kryptotal models. Front fork: Assortment of RockBros dry bags (2L and 5L) and Voile straps. This post describes the GDMBR gear list that worked for me, but if you know your preferences are different, you do you! Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. An avid racer, Benson competes in endurance gravel and XC races throughout northern California. 14 great midwest bike trails. It's possible your local shop might even curse getting these inflated.