Wow! Thanks for the info. A bit shocking given Schwalbe's stellar reputation. Sorry you had such a tough time.

Glad you still finished!

Loved your write up! Thanks for sharing. Really excited to hear your thoughts on the Schwalbe Thunder Burts. Did they hold up? Which version are you riding?

Happy New Year.

Nick

I bought myself a Surly Ice Cream Truck this fall and have loved every ride on it. Despite what Surly told me when I called, mine arrived with Anything Cage mounts on the fork (a big plus in my book). The geometry is great and it's a forward-thinking bike with its 44mm headtube, suspension-corrected geometry and thru-axles front and rear (I can buy a Rock Shox Bluto and don't need to buy a new front wheel). It rides like a mountain bike, with its modern geometry and the price was right for me.

I did replace the Guide brakes with Avid BB7 mechanicals. Otherwise I put on a pair of flat pedals, my preferred saddle and some Bar Mitts. Happy as a clam!

Hi All,

Thanks to those who provided links to Tour Divide stories/blogs. I've published them to: http://lpcb.org/index.php/tour-divide-web-links

If you know of any that are missing please add them through the form at: http://goo.gl/forms/yLuzLYDr62

Thanks Chris! Awesome to see them all in one place. What a huge resource.

If using Shimano brakes, I'd stick to Shimano rotors. If you can, I like Centerlock. Easy on and off, great for travel. But that's up to you. Look for XT level. Best performance for the dollar. XTRs are a tad lighter, but don't really stop much better.

Looks nice. Good luck! Look forward to hearing more about Trans Texas.

Thanks. Just wondering if he had used anything else. Have you? Good thread!

Rick, I've had similar issues. I too like the ability to move my foot around, allow my body to self-align.

I'm interested by your mention of shoes because I've been using Five Tens as well. I have a pair of Aescent and Freeriders (used mostly for mountain biking). How are the Guide Tennies? Stiff enough for long days? Any idea how they are from a width perspective? I'm narrow footed. 

What pedals are you currently on? I'm using Shimano Saints with great bearings but very wide and VP Vice, nice and slim, good bearings, but a tad narrow. Considering Race Face Atlas next.

I've used Revelate in the past with great success. That said, I had a chance to check out the Apidura bags at Interbike and they look exceptional. I like the construction, the reflective details, the blinky light loops on the seat bag, the sizes offered. If I didn't already have what I need, I'd certainly consider them.

Tori was a really nice lady too. Eric, a great guy.

I think the only reason to change your fork is if you have money burning a hole in your pocket and you want to save weight. Then get a carbon fork. Otherwise, I'd still with what you have especially as you can carry water on your fork legs.

Your tire pressure will have a larger impact on comfort than your fork. Just lobbing that out there.

Looks to me like you have it pretty sorted out! Stick with reliable.

The drivetrain question is a good one. It will affect the hubs you buy. I would encourage you to think not only about range but also about the steps between gears. It always stinks to be stuck wanting a gear in between what you have. Tire size, of course, affects this. With 29+ you'll want to gear low for loaded climbing.

Re: brakes, the Deores offer the same stopping power as the XTs once you normalize the pads and rotors between them. So invest in IceTech finned pads and the nicest rotors you can afford. That's a better way to buy.

Wheels are a tough one. Carbon is so tempting and I've had great luck. They often save weight, but the big advantage is how tough modern carbon rims are. While they're a big pill to swallow, it's sometimes better to buy them first instead of swallowing two pills.

The Angleset is interesting and I've only heard good things about them.

Cockpit, get what you like. I like Thomson for stems and posts. With a rigid bike, you might consider a Ti bar for extra cush. I'm also a Jones Loop fan.

Have fun!

I agree that you should use what you're comfortable with. Interesting video on VeloNews.com today about this question and efficiency.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/10/training/video-gcn-investigates-real-difference-clipless-flat-pedals_351535

I've always ridden clipped in, but last year after having to bail on TD with knee issues, I've been experimenting with flats. For my body, they seem to have a real benefit. But I wouldn't make any last minute changes.

I have several custom bikes and another on the way this winter. In the past, the aesthetic has been off because I didn't get a drawing for approval. Make sure you like the dimensions and be sure that the geometry fits you! All the right braze-ons in the world can't make up for a bike that doesn't fit or handles strangely.

I would recommend looking at the geometry of bikes that you've liked, from both fit and handling perspectives. That's a great place to find inspiration.

I would also consider room for 29+. More mud clearance is never a bad thing. You might also consider dropper post routing if that appeals to you. With that long fork you can have a lot of fun.

Personally I wouldn't bother with 2 sets of cable routing. Seems like extra weight with no real benefit. I personally like full housing for a mountain bike.

Have fun!

I like Voile straps. They stay tight over the bumps. Discovered them while reading threads on offroad moto touring. Great luck. Light and pretty cheap.

http://www.voile.com/voile-straps.html

Added more photos of the frameset today. Thanks for looking.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128695450@N04/

If only bike frames were like suits and you could have them taken in! Thanks for looking.

Howdy, hope everyone had a great weekend. Frame and fork are still for sale. Have some interest already but nothing firm. Thanks for looking!

For sale is a 2013 Salsa El Mariachi Ti frame, Cane Creek/PRO headset and a Whisky No.7 carbon fork with great mojo!

I've had an amazing time on this frameset and took the time to have an extra bottle mount welded onto the underside of the frame's down tube and a bottle mount bonded to each fork leg. Would like to sell frame, fork and headset together but am open to offers to sell separately. $1,450 $1,300 $1,150 for frame, fork and headset.

-size Large frame (20")
-Alternator Dropouts (3-derailleur, 1 singlespeed hanger) Also compatible with thru-axle and Rohloff, not included with frame
-threaded bb
-full cable housing
-direct mount front derailleur
-27.2mm seat post
-44mm head tube with headset for tapered steerer (Cane Creek lower, PRO upper), can be used with straight 1 1/8" as well
-3rd bottle cage mount on underside of down tube installed by Mosaic Cycles in Boulder, CO
-clear vinyl on head tube to save from Sweet Roll scuffs
-scuffs/polishing from frame bag has occurred (will additional email pics to interested buyers)

Whisky 7 carbon fiber fork, QR, tapered, 45mm offset, matte finish
-additional bottle mount bonded to each leg by Calfee Design. I've carried 1L bottles on these with no problems
-clear vinyl on crown to save fork from Sweet Roll scuffs

payment via PayPal, buyer pays shipping (U.S. only)

I'm lusting after a fat bike and need to make room. Would love for this excellent frameset to go to a bikepacker.

Photos can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/128695450@N04/

Thanks for looking!

Anyone interested? Price is flexible for a bikepacker. Have a good one!

I have a lightly used 29er Kona King Kahuna 19" frame and a newly installed Ritchey WCS carbon fork (never had a brake mounted to it) for sale. It's a killer bike for rigid mountain biking, bikepacking and gravel riding. The effective top tube is right around 23". The frameset includes a Cane Creek headset (the fork is a straight 1 1/8" but the head tube will also work with tapered forks) and a Dura-Ace bottom bracket spaced to Shimano mtb width. Seatpost diameter is 31.6mm and I'll also include a spacer to run a 27.2mm seatpost. The frame is made from Scandium and I believe was built for the Kona pro mountain bike team (the awesome orange wasn't otherwise offered). A threaded bottom bracket, post mount (160mm w/o adapter) brake mount, 2 bottle mounts and fender mounts make this a very versatile frame. I rode the frame on several occasions then slapped on the Ritchey fork with a project in mind that didn't pan out. I'm not interested in separating the frame and fork. Fork retails for $500 and the frame is worth at least that, even despite the small scratches (see photo of bb yoke). Asking $650 + shipping for my bikepacking buddies here.

-19" frame (approximately 23" effective top tube length)
-73mm threaded bottom bracket
-head tube will take tapered or straight steerers (1 1/8" straight steerer on Ritchey fork)
-2 bottle mounts
-160mm post mount rear
-fender mounts on frame
-31.6mm seatpost, adapter for 27.2mm post included
-Cane Creek headset and Shimano Dura-Ace bb included
-QR front and rear (no thru axles)
-newly installed Ritchey WCS carbon fork has never been ridden. Steerer is 20cm long with 5.7cm exposed above headset.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123614615@N03/13934696761//
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123614615@N03/13934696441//
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123614615@N03/13934694622//
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123614615@N03/13957855303//
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123614615@N03/13957855113//