GDMBR Surface Types

[wisaunders]

What would you estimate for the breakdown of surface types over the entire GDMBR?  Assign a percentage to each:

Pavement
Dirt Road
Singletrack

And if you have completed the GDMBR what tires did you use and were you happy with your choice?

[Cawlin]

75 dirt/gravel
24 pavement
1 single track (maybe none?)

This is just what I remember thinking after completing the route last summer. The percentages described on the maps seemed incorrect to me.

[wisaunders]

75 dirt/gravel
24 pavement
1 single track (maybe none?)

This is just what I remember thinking after completing the route last summer. The percentages described on the maps seemed incorrect to me.

Congrats on completing it.  What tires did you use?  Were you happy with that choice?

[Cawlin]

Thanks - I ran Maxxis tires, Aspen up front and Crossmark in the back.

Both tires held up fine though the Crossmark was pretty bald by the end. Once in New Mexico I would have preferred something more puncture resistant but not a lot you can do about the goat heads except maybe run your tires tubeless.

There are lots of opinions on tires for the divide - I'm not terribly gear minded and went with what I could easily purchase locally. In the end fast rolling and fat enough to dampen the rough stuff were the qualities I most appreciated in tires.

[JMW4]

Hey Cawlin, i've been looking to talk to somebody who's recently rode the route, as im going to go for it in 2014. Im looking to buy a new bike for the route but dont want to spend much over 1000, any bike's you could recommend me to point me in the right direction?

Did you see any 26" wheels on the route?... or would this even be possible? I'd love to just use my original bike i have now.

[dave]

JMW4,

You absolutely could use a 26"-wheeled bike on the Divide route.  Plenty of people have done it on 26'ers, with no problems whatsoever.  There is nothing inherent to the route (or to any bikepacking route or trail, really) that would be a problem for 26" wheels.  Personally, I'd ride the current bike and keep the $1000.

Best,

Dave

[Cawlin]

I saw mostly 26" bikes on the route actually. Most people ride the bike they have. One of my favorite setup a was an old Rocky Mountain Sherpa with fat 26" tires, fully rigid and going strong!