Look for tires that are as durable as possible. We also found it to be a touch heavy when compared to similarly aggressive tires of the same size. We put in lots of time and miles while testing mountain bike tires. Heres my GDMBR gear list related to water: Water filter: Sawyer Squeeze. 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. We mounted tires to 30mm internal diameter wheels. 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. Few tires are as popular as the Minion DHF, and for good reason. I would suggest trying the smaller Sporty version if youre on the fence. We also particularly like the 2-knob, alternating paddle tread running down the center of the WTB Vigilante. Specialized's Butcher T9 is at the top of the heap in the corners as well. Interesting, the new Racing Ralph's perform very well. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. Bike computer: CatEye Velo 7, simple and cheap, handy for checking distance covered without using smartphone battery. You need to be logged in to use these features. 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. FAQ - The Great Divide Trail Association 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. Date Submitted: 09/30/2019 08:43 PM. Partial inclusion of GDMBR dirt route from Cuba to Grants 5. We love the DHF up front, but it's also suitable for use as a rear tire. While the rubber doesn't have the tackiest feel, its dampening properties give it an especially smooth, glued-to-the-ground ride quality. Top tube bag: Moosetreks Gas Tank. 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. We researched nearly every tire on the market before purchasing the 28 models in this review. 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. The 2.3 width was a good balance for me, but you could certainly go narrower or wider depending on your priorities. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Pat Donahue also contributed to this review. It's moderately heavy at 1,123-grams in the 29" x 2.6" we tested, and the aggressive tread, open spacing, and grippy rubber put up a bit of rolling resistance. Ive pushed myself hard on enough prior trips and wanted time for more relaxation and type 1 fun this time around. If youre particular about brands or types youll definitely want to bring them with you and/or mail them in resupply boxes. The larger the circumference and the wider the tire, the less up-and-down. In hindsight I wish we had each carried our own Ursack. We preferred it in the front, paired with something a little faster rolling in the back. Extra bottles: I carried two 1L Platypus SoftBottles for extra capacity. Let me leave you with two final tips that I believe will be helpful to almost everyone: Pack light-ish. They give pretty good traction and so far have been very durable. Spare t-shirt, another Merino Tech-Lite Tee for backup and town days. Rain is a certainty, and snow and hail cant be ruled out. This is one of our favorites as a front tire for aggressive trail riding because of its incredible traction in corners and its durability. I didn't want to give up on them, but simultaneus pinch flats were the final straw. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is a journey from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Saddle: Brooks B17 Short Carved. Your needs will vary based on where and how you ride. Despite the reduced weight, we found the tire to provide adequate sidewall support, and the Slash Guard (SG2) insert stood up to all the abuse we could dish out. The Maxxis Minion DHF is our top recommendation for a burly and aggressive front tire. Off trail alternate routes can require significant navigation skills, especially in poor weather. Monday November 14, 2022. Many tires come in more than one casing option, so you can make that decision for yourself based on how you ride, your trail conditions, and terrain. No matter what type of rider you are, we can help you find what you need. In our latest video, Neil sheds some light on the essential considerations that will help you make an educated decision. 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. Tires are a great way to improve the performance of your ride, but to have the best bike gear setup, you may need a few more items. Bandanafor wiping out dishes and other miscellaneous needs. When conditions are firm, some of our fastest rolling tires perform exceptionally well. George Rose / Contributor // Getty Images. Based on that experience, we feel that the performance of a tire between different wheel sizes will be roughly the same. Despite its cornering and braking chops, the tread design still rolls fairly quickly and efficiently. That said, selection is limited until you reach a larger town with a full grocery or drug store. Fill it with food on your way from the grocery store to the motel, or fill it with water bottles to get you through a rare long dry stretch. Spare brake pads used and replaced several times! We found it provides excellent cornering traction across the spectrum of lean angles in all but the loosest of conditions. Likewise, braking is controlled and confidence-inspiring, and should you choose to run it on the rear, it hooks up very while climbing. Our selection of test tires is split between the two wheel sizes, and in many cases, our testers have experience riding them in both sizes. We found the T7 rubber to be long-lasting with even wear, and the Grid Trail casing stood up to our abuse during testing. The Route | Tour Divide Summaries by section: New Mexico | Colorado | Wyoming & Idaho | Montana | Canada. A closely packed row of taller shoulder lugs provides good cornering traction and a predictable feel until things get super loose. A narrow tunnel of light from my handlebar illuminates the white snow. -Sandy tracks require 3.0" tires for flotation, while wide tires also provide natural suspension and necessary traction on . The Assegai is the best cornering tire we've ever tested. Running shorts: small and lightweight, for sleeping on warm nights or wearing on rest days. Pedaling forces are applied through the rear tire while the front tire is pushed along, guiding the bike along its journey. Down tube: Water bottle cage and tool pouch. 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). While neither of these tires is light, they're both impressive when the going gets radical. Again, many tires are designed to be lightweight and compromise durability. Sawyer Fast Fill adapter kit, allows you to gravity filter directly from the Sawyer into a hydration bladder. Rarely used given the high fire danger lately, but occasionally useful for campgrounds and in case of emergency. For these cases its best to call a business along the route (hotel, RV Park, store, bike shop) that you plan on patronizing and ask if theyll hold a package for you. The majority of our testing took place in dryer California conditions. The Best Tires For The Great Divide? (video) - BIKEPACKING.com I highly recommend these for the Great Divide and bikepacking in general. Gear Aid Tenacious gear repair tape, handy for patching tent, sleeping pad, bike bags, water bladder, etc. This aggressive tire has a row of well-supported side knobs and a predictable locked-in feel when on edge. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. Headband and neck gaiter: Buff and/or bandana. 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. If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. The GDMBR route is not that remote and I dont think this is necessarily mandatory, especially for those riding in groups. Rolling resistance is often more of a concern for a rear tire, and some tires feature low to medium height center tread knobs that roll faster than more aggressive designs. 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. The fastest men can complete the route in under 14 days, while most people who tour it take six to ten weeks. Great Divide Mountain Bike Route - Riding Canada to Mexico We loved the Mazza as a front tire where it excels in the corners with a stout row of well-supported side knobs that grip well in a huge range of conditions. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. A 27.5+ hardtail with tubeless wheels and durable tires is recommended for the Baja Divide. 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. there are a lot of toilets along the route, but that doesnt guarantee youll find one when you need it. Benson is a competitive gravel and mountain bike racer, highly experienced tester/reviewer, and published author. Held sunscreen, lights, snacks, other small items. Thus its important to carry a fairly comprehensive repair kit. 2.8" Mountain Bike Tires: 26 & 29 Inch MTB Tires for Sale Online In the far north as temperatures dropped I also slept in my down jacket. I love reading at camp or on rest days. This is why 29er wheels roll better than 26 wheels. Thanks for the detail. It's also one of the least expensive tires we tested, and we feel it is an excellent value. Lighter-weight tires often have less protective and resilient sidewalls, while those that weigh more can usually withstand a bit more abuse. I heard the trails aren't that technical but I'm sure theres plenty of nasty stuff along the way. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! But its always a good idea to have a headlight in case youre stuck riding in dusk or dark for some unforeseen reason. We put the best mountain bike tires from Maxxis, Specialized, Vittoria, Michelin, WTB, and others to the test. Our mountain bike tire review is led by our Senior Mountain Bike Review Editor, Jeremy Benson. All trademarks property of their respective owners Figuring out which tires will perform well and last long can be tricky, especially given all the options on the market. 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. The stock build alone is excellent for immediately hitting a trail such as The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. That said, the Maxxis Aggressor, Maxxis Dissector, WTB Trail Boss, and Specialized Eliminator T7 offer decent braking bite given their rolling speed. I wear them for warmth and wind protection in addition to rain. Braking traction is a crucial element of any mountain bike tire and one that varies dramatically between the different models and tread designs. Traillinks. 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. TCS Light SG2 casing is much lighter than the Tough casing. 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. I usually kill a pair (scratched or lost) on every long trip and these are cheap enough that it doesnt matter. 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. 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). The Great Divide Route is the world's longest off-pavement cycling route. Ive gone through a few and find the Cerium to be a good balance of packability and warmth. Power bank: 10,000 mAh Ainope, lightweight and quick-charging. While it provides good braking traction in most situations, the knob spacing also doesn't bite quite as well as more open tread designs in super loose conditions. Like most cross-country tires, they are very fast rolling, but unlike a typical XC tire, they provide better cornering and braking traction than you might expect. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. It has a distinctive locked-in feel, though it may take a little getting used to for some riders. Touring the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route vs. Racing the Tour Divide To give context to the Great Divide gear list that follows, here are the basics of my experience on the GDMBR. Any thoughts on what would be the earliest you could start? The race was conceived in 2004 by cyclist Mike Curiak. Read more: Specialized Ground Control Grid T7 review. 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. For this reason, the tires with the lowest profile center treads and the semi-slicks garnered top honors in rolling resistance or lack thereof. If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing so more people can benefit from it: Great resource thanks! More here. Backflush syringe for Sawyer filter. Socks: 2 pair of Smartwool PhD hiking socks, plus 1 pair of thicker Darn Tough socks for sleeping. There are some sections with sharp rocks. He comments: For off-pavement touring, the Endomorphs make for an extremely comfortable ride. May be too aggressive for some riders/locations. Note on sharing a filter: When my husband joined in Jackson we considered each carrying our own filter. Definitely touring, not racing. The rear tire is responsible for the brunt of pedaling and braking traction. Great Divide Mountain Bike Route - Wikipedia Ive traveled over 17,000 miles by bike and still cant stop planning my next ride (and helping you plan yours). The Vittoria Martello delivers excellent cornering abilities along with killer rolling speed. 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. Those concerns aside, we feel this is a great, well-rounded rear tire for aggressive trail riding. The DHF is offered in all-wheel sizes and a huge variety of widths, casings, and rubber compounds to meet a broad range of user preferences. The Western Wildlands Route - Bikepacking Roots The simple, no-nonsense tread design uses square, horizontally siped knobs that splay to increase friction and surface area. Bikepacking The Great Divide: A Guide on What to Pack Glacier Cyclery in Whitefish (406-862-6446) can handle any bike needs or outfit you with rental gear. One of these days Ill have to try that kind of setup. Panties: 2 pair for sleeping and town days. In general, the GDMBR is perfect for a standard 3-season backcountry layering setup. Incredibly fuel-efficient and decently lightweight as a stove/pot combo, especially shared between two people (though I carried it solo too). We tested each tire as much as humanly possible and ranked them based on these metrics. 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). GREAT DIVIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTE #1: ROOSVILLE, MONTANA - eBay I was thinking about doing it on a Surly Long Haul Trucker - the frame can handle a 45C Tire. 70 % of the of the GDMBR is on quiet gravel roads with very little traffic. Matt RC has logged over 5000 miles of touring on a Pugsley. Best Bike Trails in America by State - Health Semi-slick tires have lower profile treads in the center to decrease rolling resistance with sturdy side knobs for confident cornering. While other tires may handle specific conditions better, the Aggressor rarely leaves us wanting more. Sometimes my posts contain affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For the more aggressive rider, the Maxxis Minion DHR II is our favorite option. [1] [2] [3] I discuss my repair kit in more detail here: Tools and Spares List for Bikepacking.
