best tires for great divide mountain bike route

Trails were often loose, blown out, and rocky. 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. Backflush syringe for Sawyer filter. I've found the Geax Saguaro can't be beat. 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. 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. 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. While riding, tires make the only intentional contact with the trail and play a major role in your bike's ride quality, handling, and overall performance. You will want the cusion of a larger tyre. Socks: 2 pair of Smartwool PhD hiking socks, plus 1 pair of thicker Darn Tough socks for sleeping. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. If you're an aggressive trail rider looking for a tough and grippy tire, we think the Vigilante is an excellent option to consider. Resources and inspiration to support your wildest dreams: Affiliate Disclosure: This site participates in affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates. Comfy and as stylish as baggy bike shorts can be. Figuring out which tires will perform well and hold up for the duration can be tricky, especially given all the options on the market. Nearly 70% of the route is on public lands - 18 National Forests, 6 National Parks and Monuments, and 4 areas with Bureau of Land . Those wide paddle-shaped lugs in the center tread of the DHR II dig in effectively, especially in loose conditions. It has a distinctive locked-in feel, though it may take a little getting used to for some riders. Lets start with the most important part of a Great Divide bike route gear list: the bike, obviously! Tires are currently trending wider, and a wider front tire can help maintain traction as they have a larger contact patch on the rolling surface, and you can run lower tire pressures to enhance this even further. However, this isn't the most aggressive tire on the market. The result is a well-damped ride quality that feels very well connected to the trail surface. Still think lightweight racks ie Tailfin beat Saddle Packs by themselves by a street mile. Custom, handbuilt 27.5", 29", Plus and Fat wheels. While we really loved most aspects of the performance of the Butcher Grid Trail T9, it isn't the fastest rolling tire. Just 5% of the route is on more difficult terrain such as unpaved four-wheel drive tracks and single tracks. Chamois shorts (2 pair): very personal choice, but Louis Garneau Carbon 2 shorts work well for me. 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. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Horizontal knobs with edges that run perpendicular to the direction of travel are often employed to enhance braking traction. Bike: Salsa Fargo with steel fork. Ive written about this little sanctuary many times before; it goes with me everywhere. The side knobs are stout enough to rail corners but not so burly that they resist flicking the bike's rear end into corners and breaking traction when the mood hits. We did our best to use consistent testing trails that offered a variety of features and soil types. 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. Bike shoes: Pearl Izumi X-Alp Canyon are my favorite bikepacking shoes, and very comfy for walking and hike-a-bike. The stock build alone is excellent for immediately hitting a trail such as The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Two shallow tire tracks heading uphill into the darkness remind me that Josh and Ben had recently pushed their bikes through this same slush. I replaced it halfway through with the womens version which is slightly warmer and shorter perfect for me. With that in mind, we set out to review the best tires for all-mountain and trail riding; you can even call it enduro if you like. RockBros front pouch: held snacks and other small items. Mile for mile, the Colorado Trail is one of the most beautiful trails I've ever ridden. I love this thing and always clip it on when riding in traffic. Gaia GPS is a popular alternative to RideWithGPS. 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. TCS Light SG2 casing reduces weight and still feels tough, Tighter fit in the rim during installation. Bluetooth mini-keyboard: As you can probably tell, I like to write! Thanks! The Maxxis Minion DHF, Vittoria Mazza, and Continental Kryptotal Fr use deep, open tread designs with tall knobs that dig well into just about any soil type. Stretching 2,745 miles from Banff, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, it loosely follows the Continental Divide through the Rocky Mountains on a series of dirt and paved roads. This tire performs as well as the best cornering tires we've tested. 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. 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. High-viz windbreaker vest: extra warmth and/or peace of mind in traffic. One look at the Wild Enduro Front, and you can see why. Figuring out which tires will perform well. The JetBoil is so efficient that I / we only needed three canisters total for the whole GDMBR. It's also still moderately heavy, but that's the price you pay for the performance it offers. The side knobs molded to rock faces just as well as they clawed for traction in the rubble. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. I highly recommend these for the Great Divide and bikepacking in general. 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. I'm looking for something with better than average rolling resistance (though it still needs some traction) and good wear. Saddle: Brooks B17 Short Carved. The biggest issue: with the dry bags on the front fork, the load is very front-heavy. Learn more. For sure, were out there to enjoy ourselves and we all have our favorite ways of doing that. 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. The fastest men can complete the route in under 14 days, while most people who tour it take six to ten weeks. No ads. We tested the TCS Light SG2 casing with High Grip rubber, and while it isn't the lightest tire in the world, it weighs a lot less than the Tough casing we've tried in the past. Held clothes, food, and sleeping pad. This lightweight model tips the scales at just 867 grams in a 29" x 2.35" size, contributing to their zippy feel. Wider tires have more air volume and provide more damping and traction. I recommend the REI Stormbolt GTX as a more affordable 3 layer GORE-TEX jacket, or even the affordable Marmot PreCip for smaller budgets. The platforms on these pedals are big and stable, and there were times where I rode them unclipped for days. 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. Having said all that, we still feel the Aggressor is the most versatile rear tire. 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. Baggy bike shorts: I wear these over my padded shorts, just personal preference. How did this all work? 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. Water is often (not always) relatively clear, but should always be filtered. Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. We found the Aggressor works best on hardpack, rock, and loam. Some are much more expensive than others, so we do our best to identify which models represent the best value. Bears on the Great Divide Trail. No matter what type of rider you are, we can help you find what you need. The larger tire will absorb some of the rough stuff and give you some more traction. For this reason, the tires with the lowest profile center treads and the semi-slicks garnered top honors in rolling resistance or lack thereof. The Aggressor is impressively versatile and works across a huge range of conditions. The alternative would be to use a sturdy rear rack and small panniers or dry sacks, which I saw pretty often on the Divide. Spare t-shirt, another Merino Tech-Lite Tee for backup and town days. So youre about to get into the nitty gritty details of planning your dream trip on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. While we were truly impressed by the performance of the Ground Control Grid T7, it is important to keep in mind that these tires do have limitations. Read more: Specialized Ground Control Grid T7 review. Check out the reviews on Dirt Rage and Twenty Nine Inches. Garmin eTrex22x: My backup navigation device while riding solo. He also touches on eight different tires that fit the bill, including his favorite one in this class. Gravity filter bag: CNOC Vecto 3L (28mm thread), used as dirty bag in a gravity filter system and for extra water capacity as needed. Hydration bladder with hose: Platypus 3 Liter Hoser, carried in my frame bag as my primary water container. . We love the DHF up front, but it's also suitable for use as a rear tire. George Rose / Contributor // Getty Images. Our joint tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3. Youll probably have service in towns, but dont count on it out in the national forests. This doesnt have to be fancy. From laps on the steeps to sessions at the pump track, Ian knows a thing or two about riding mountain bikes and knows the importance of having the right tires for the job. 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. Bright glints of light near my eyes sparkle - the headlamp reflecting against the sleet. Mosquitos are also a consideration on the Divide; youll want fully zippable bug netting. 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. A substantial row of side knobs handles well when tipped on edge through corners, with a supportive and durable EXO casing. I discuss my repair kit in more detail here: Tools and Spares List for Bikepacking. 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. 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. Disposable ear plugsfor noisy campgrounds or motels. We researched nearly every tire on the market before purchasing the 28 models in this review. 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. 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. In general, the GDMBR is perfect for a standard 3-season backcountry layering setup. That said, it's no worse than most similar tires, and a trade-off for its otherwise excellent traction and super smooth feel. It's hardly a coincidence that many of the best front tires look similar. Mountain Bike Tire Sizes Knobby 29 x 2.6 Teravail Kessel trail/enduro, Mountain bike Tire. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. 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. I roll up the hand portion around my wrist when wearing bike gloves. No issues and no punctures that didnt immediately seal. Wet, loose, loam, this tire rips into the soil. If youve packed something youre not using, mail it home. Fire starter: Cotton balls rubbed in Vaseline, andwaterproof matches or lighter. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is a journey from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Seat bag: Revelate Viscacha 14L. 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. In much of Canada, Montana, and Colorado its easy to find surface water multiple times per day. 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. From a casing standpoint, we were impressed by the TCS Light SG2 casings on the WTB Vigilante and Trail Boss. Spare batteries as needed for your devices. 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. The tall center tread lugs with open spacing provide excellent braking traction, while the substantial row of shoulder knobs grip very well through corners. This post will give you my gear list, including what worked well and what I would change in hindsight. There's no way around it; mountain bike tires are pricey. 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. The GDMBR is an epic journey, and I think youll be really glad you decided to take it on. This versatile model performs well in all but the loosest of conditions. 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.

Ruth's Chris Specials 3 Course Meal, How To Treat Scours In Humans, What Happens If You Kill The Mayor Of Strawberry, Articles B