Has anyone tried the Shimano GRX RD-RX400 rear derailleur with an 11-42 cassette?  I am currently running a 1x11 using Ultegra 6800 shifters and rear derailleur with a WolfTooth Road Link and an 11 speed 11-42 MTB cassette (w/ 42T front chainring).  It has trouble dropping into the 11 tooth ring sometimes while riding, so I am looking for a setup that doesn't rely on the Road link.  I know the GRX RD-RX400 is only rated to 36T max, and the GRX RD-RX812 is for 42; but shimano is very conservative with capacity, so I am guessing it would work, and be a less expensive option.  I also know that the RD-RX400 is sold as a 2x10, but it uses the same cable pull as 11 speed (like the older Tiagra group before it).

Great new All-City Gorilla Monsoon steel "monster cross” bike with clearance for 27.5 x 2.4″ tires:

https://www.allcitycycles.com/bikes/gorilla_monsoon

https://allcitycycles.com/blog/today_we_introduce_the_gorilla_monsoon

https://www.bikerumor.com/2018/02/17/city-gorilla-monsoon-storms-27-5-drop-bar-monster-gravel-build/

I love these specs and geometry.  The big head scratcher is why the straight 1-1/8" headtube.  QBP announced another new steel bike, the  Surly Midnight Special "all-road" bike with a 44mm headtube.  The ability to run a tapered fork in the future would have been nice.

https://surlybikes.com/bikes/midnight_special/bike_info

Has anyone used an air suspension fork for Salsa Cutthroat?  I wonder if a standard MTB fork would work similar to the Lauf Trail Racer 29er fork.

Axle to crown length:
Salsa Cutthroat rigid fork: 483mm
Lauf Trail Racer 29er fork: 485mm
RockShox Reba 29"/100mm: 506mm

A lot of Salsa's on the list, way more than other brands:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Wgily7rwXq0G5OaC_IeXllI-VzZEcIBY6HugfQ3UzQs/edit#gid=2026310916
No Salsa Timberjack's though - That would be my choice.

Stava Heatmap for the Midwest looks like Tron...
Sioux Falls to Sioux City:

https://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#8.83/-96.22420/42.94687/hot/all

XL Singular Swift.  $old


Everything is working great.  The frame has no dents or rust, just some places on the downtube logo where the decal is peeling off.

More photos: https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/bik/d/singular-swift-xl-drop-bar/6476113505.html

• 1x10 with an Ultegra rear right shifter (and a 105 right lever)
• TRP Hy/Rd hydraulic brakes
• Shimano RD-810 (Saint) rear derailleur
• 11-40 cassette using a Wolftooth 40t ring
• Salsa Woodchipper 46cm drop bar
• Phil Wood Eccentric bottom bracket (EBB) can allow for precision fit or single speed tension.
• Steel fork is 485mm long/48mm rake (can fit a 29er with 3" tire)

Sold

I have a mediun "Slate" Revelate Tangle bag, and want to trade for a large of the same.

Mine is almost like new, with just a few rides on it. Great bag, I just need a large.

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/frame-bags/TangleFrameBag

2015 Salsa El Mariachi  17" / Med. orange.  Built up from the frameset with a mix of used and new parts.   $1000 plus shipping.

This frame is identical geometry and specs to the very last version made of the El Mariachi (in 2016).

More pics here: https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/bik/6467179542.html

Info and geo here:  http://salsacycles.com/bikes/archive/2015_el_mariachi_2_orange

Specs on the steel frame:

Salsa "Kung Fu" Tubing Designed in house by Peter Koski:

- New proprietary triple-butted Japanese Sanko seamless steel tubing
- Design based on Salsa's 20+ year experience with working with steel tubing
- Custom butting profiles put material where it should be resulting in a doubling of fatigue life compared to a standard butted tube
- Salsa Alternator dropouts

Thanks I didn't know about the Giro VR70 HV option, I just might need to give them a try.  I wonder how a 46 VR70 HV would compare to a 47 VR90.  It seems that many people size up, not for length, but for width.

Giro has HV (high volume) if the regular are too small. Personally, my favorite have been these: http://www.giro.com/us_en/products/clearance/men-s/shoes/code-vr70-hv-18.html . On my third year with them and bought another pair for the future. Might pick up another for beyond that because it looks like they're going bye bye and I'm not a huge fan of laces.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Wgily7rwXq0G5OaC_IeXllI-VzZEcIBY6HugfQ3UzQs/edit#gid=2026310916

List is up.  A lot of Salsa Cutthroats...

Any input on Giro VR90 MTB Shoe sizing vs Specialized. I typically wear a size 12 shoe, but it varies by brand. In Specialized MTB shoes, I wear a 46. Should I size up to 46.5 for the Giro VR90 MTB shoes?

SOLD

Fuji Touring Series I (1998) - 60cm touring bike: $550 / plus $75 shipping via Bikeflights
 
This touring bike is in great condition, well maintained with everything working well.

See photos here: https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/bik/6292708231.html
 
Seat-tube (center to center) = 60cm
Top-tube (center to center) = 58cm
Standover height = 33.75"
 
Frame: True-Temper AVR
Shifters: Gevenalle CX Shifters shifter/brake (long pull / 10 x 3)
Handlebars: Gary Dirt Drop
Stem: Nitto Technomic
Wheels: Mavic with Dura-Ace front hub and Ultegra Rear hub
Panniers: Cannondale (New old stock)
Front Bag: Ostrich Randonneur Handlebar Bag with decaleur
Fenders: SKS (new)

https://www.bikerumor.com/2017/08/18/aasq-12-mixing-and-matching-wide-range-gearing-for-bikepacking-with-jay-petervary/

pics:

http://theradavist.com/2017/08/jay-petervarys-dirty-dirty-tour-divide-salsa-cutthroat/#1

Thanks!  I missed this.  That was exactly what I was hoping to see here.

Bikepacker did a bit of a collection of Tour Divide rigs here, if you're keen for photos: http://bikepacker.com/2017-tour-divide-rigs/

I guess this will have to do to tide over for now:

http://theradavist.com/2017/07/29-camping-bikes-and-their-riders-from-swift-campout-vancouver-morgan-taylor/#1

There is always the Baja Divide in the winter if the Great Divide is too public. 

https://bajadivide.com/route-details/

Pretty much anyone can start a Tour Divide Or Great Divide Facebook page, so if the 2-3 established pages voluntarily dismantle; won't new ones pop up?   I understand the wish to get back to a more "underground" event like it was 7-8 years ago; but the cat is out of the bag now.   Wouldn't a better option be to start a brand new ultra distance cycling/ bikepacking route; and then don't advertise it publicly.

Ie.
http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=299938&pre=1#%7B%22issue_id%22:299938,%22page%22:26%7D

Which groups are being closed?

https://www.facebook.com/tourdivide/
or
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tourdivide/

I think that "underground" may have been lost when Guy Martin raced last year:
http://singletrackworld.com/2016/07/tour-divide-guy-martin-finishes-greg-may-nearly-there/
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2016/june/guy-martin-in-tour-divide-race/

Were there too many athletes at this year's Grand Depart?  Any idea of how the numbers have grown over the years?

For those not keen on Facebook, this was posted earlier by Bonnie:

"Hello my friends! I ask that what is shared here in this private group remain in this group. Here is an update to what's occurring behind the scenes. Matthew Lee has requested that ALL Tour Divide related groups on Facebook be closed. He has directly asked David Chirnside and myself to close our respective groups and he will be addressing all others. The reason he has given is because he wants to turn TD back into an "underground event". While I don't believe that is possible in part due to the world wide spread of the exceptional documentary on NetFlix, features in Outside magazine etc, I still unequivocally support the race and therefore the race director, especially in light of pressing interest by the local governments and forestry services, not to mention liability and environmental concerns.
Matthew recently joined this group along with David's in order to make sure both groups closed. This group has now become simply a group of friends who love bikepacking, which happens to include the GDBMR/Great Divide MTB Route amongst other things. You may have noticed a change in the group privacy as well as an admin approval requirement for any member adds. Matthew is now no longer a member in this group."