best tires for great divide mountain bike route30 Apr best tires for great divide mountain bike route
The Bikepacking Trip Planner Workbook can help you take the next step. That's why we put each tire through rigorous testing of heavy use before examining the wear on the tread and casing to assess durability. There are some sections with sharp rocks. Related: How to Keep Electronics Charged While Bikepacking. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 review, Specialized Ground Control Grid T7 review, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, EXO sidewall protection, excellent cornering grip, good on front or rear, dual compound increases longevity, Great cornering and braking traction, fair price, long tread life, supportive sidewalls, work in a wide range of conditions, Fair price (for trail casing), offered in multiple casings for different uses, good braking traction, Great cornering grip, good braking traction, aggressive tread pattern, super damp ride quality, available in 2.6 and 2.3-inch widths, Reasonable price (for trail casing), excellent cornering traction, offered in multiple casings for different uses, Not the best for hardpack, high rolling resistance, requires good technique, Tread may be too aggressive for some riders/locations, a little heavy, Challenging set up process, heavy for "trail" casing, Difficult installation process, heavy-ish for a "trail" tire, One of the most popular tires ever, and for good reason, An aggressive tire with excellent cornering traction, braking bite, and above-average durability, A durable rear tire suited for aggressive trail riding in a range of conditions, Specialized's classic aggressive trail riding tire with a new rubber compound, enhanced grip, and same great value, A durable front tire for aggressive trail riding that carves corners with the best of 'em. They are bulletproof but heavy. Lighter-weight tires often have less protective and resilient sidewalls, while those that weigh more can usually withstand a bit more abuse. We chose metrics like cornering abilities, braking traction, pedal traction, rolling resistance, and ease of installation. Paracord and carabinerfor hanging or otherwise securing the Ursack. (1) It can be argued that tires may be the most important (and most affordable) upgrades you can put on your bike. 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 even tread pattern of those tires also feels more predictable on firm ground as the transition across the tread is smooth the whole way through. The aggressive open tread is great in a range of conditions, but it's the new T9 rubber compound that's most impressive. Front tires are responsible for more of the steering and cornering duties, and they do a fair amount of the braking work as well. Yup, I carried a Kindle! He also touches on eight different tires that fit the bill, including his favorite one in this class.Do you enjoy our videos, routes, and articles? Bear spray: picked up at Brush Mountain Lodge for the northern section (theres a box where southbounders leave their bear spray and northbounders pick it up). For this reason, many front tires feature tread designs with large side knobs that aid in maintaining cornering grip. I use Jabra Elite wireless earbuds (technically only one earbud; I always leave one ear open) to enjoy audiobooks, podcasts, and music on all my long adventures. As with front tire braking traction, rear tire braking traction is also dependent on the size, shape, and orientation of the tread knobs. to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. Pedals and Shoes for Bikepacking Is clipless worth it? The medium profile center tread allows for exceptional pedaling efficiency and low rolling resistance, all while offering adequate bite for climbing and braking traction. Heres a quick list of what I carried on the GDMBR, which I would categorize as a standard type of trip in that post. A relatively squared-off profile and a stout row of shoulder knobs give it excellent cornering manners, while the moderately spaced center and intermediate tread do a fine job of providing traction when braking and climbing in most conditions. The Vigilante provides excellent traction and control is nearly all conditions. 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. That said, I do use the eTrex for racing and more rugged routes; see my eTrex review for more detail. Two shallow tire tracks heading uphill into the darkness remind me that Josh and Ben had recently pushed their bikes through this same slush. 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. It varies with the conditions, but more often than not, a tire with a more aggressive tread design is going to brake better. 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. The Butcher T9 offers impressive performance at a reasonable price. I absolutely recommend tubeless, especially in New Mexico. I love riding solo but a month is enough, and Ive been wanting to share a long ride with him for years. Some rolling resistance data has been posted in the "Wheels" forum lately. Regarding 700x45..I recently trained on some of the panaracers that size, fully loaded for a couple of months. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. Wall charger: Anker PowerPort, fast charging with two USB ports, and 3 USB cables of various lengths and types. The recent proliferation of plus bikes, which feature 3.0" wide tires, are a boon to bicycle adventurers in Baja California. Great Divide Bikepacking Route: Essential Q&A. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. One of the astonishing things is that routes can be utterly wild yet almost 100 percent rideable on a gravel bike. Nano, Dry X 2.1, Small Block 8, in that order. 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. You can also use certain water compatible water bottles, but the syringe is light and works well. 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. Read more: Specialized Butcher Grid Trail T9 review. Ive pushed myself hard on enough prior trips and wanted time for more relaxation and type 1 fun this time around. That said, it works well and stays attached nicely, and really does help with sun exposure (which youll get a lot of on the Great Divide). A 27.5+ hardtail with tubeless wheels and durable tires is recommended for the Baja Divide. The Minion DHR II was originally designed for use as a rear tire, and paired with a Minion DHF up front, we think it's the ultimate combo in loose conditions for aggressive trail riders. This is why 29er wheels roll better than 26 wheels. Before the rubber hits the dirt, you'll be laying out some coin for said rubber make the most of it. I had come for this, in part, after a year of isolation that left me craving the community of a well-traveled route. 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. The stiff carcass on the Michelin Wild Enduro Front and Wild Enduro Rear were both tough to pull onto the rim. Down jacket:Arcteryx Cerium LT. If we were forced to pick one rear tire to ride for an entire year, knowing we'd be experiencing a huge range of conditions, trail types, and weather, we'd choose the Maxxis Aggressor. More often than not, the more aggressive a tread design is, the more rolling resistance it has, and vice-versa. Running a Maxxis Minion DHF or Asegai, Vittoria Mazza, or WTB Vigilante front and rear might not be the fastest rolling choice, but it would definitely stop you in a hurry. What are the best tires for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Tour Divide race, and other long, mixed-terrain bikepacking routes? A substantial row of side knobs handles well when tipped on edge through corners, with a supportive and durable EXO casing. Rawlins to Pinedale (Great Basin) The Great Basin (the area starting north of Rawlins and ending south of Atlantic City) is often spoken about with reverence as the most remote and dry section of the entire Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Paired with a DIY lid made from metallic bubble wrap to keep food warmer while rehydrating. 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. We selected tires in the 2.3 to 2.6-inch width range. Due to the Mazza's tread design, it has a bit more rolling resistance than tires with a less aggressive tread. New off-highway route north of Hartsel, CO 3. Continental's new tires can compete with the best in the business. Both of these tires really impressed us with their long-lasting tread and resilient sidewalls. The stock build alone is excellent for immediately hitting a trail such as The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. used because summer days were so long and pace was leisurely, so never needed to ride in the dark. What are the best tires for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the Tour Divide race, and other long, mixed-terrain bikepacking routes? Despite its somewhat aggressive appearance, the Specialized Ground Control is a very fast-rolling tire. Held snacks, sunscreen, bear spray when carried. Youll also want the ability to add another 3 4 liters occasionally, probably only a handful of times. Ive used these for years and think they have an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. For more detail, seeHow to Use Your Garmin InReach Mini. A couple of the toughest tires we've ever installed are the Continental Kryptotal models. The GDMBR is an epic journey, and I think youll be really glad you decided to take it on. Celebrating its 20th year, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route stretches the length of the United States, and was researched and mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association to provide a non-paved cycle touring route for those who are so inclined. This post describes the GDMBR gear list that worked for me, but if you know your preferences are different, you do you! 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. 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. Disposable ear plugsfor noisy campgrounds or motels. Pretty well. TCS Light SG2 casing is much lighter than the Tough casing. Copyright 2023 Exploring Wild, All Rights Reserved. The Maxx Terra compound on the Minion DHF is an excellent balance of grip, rolling resistance, and longevity. Welcome to part 4 in my series of GDMBR summaries by state. While traveling across North America you bike 2,774 miles on a route that is 88% dirt and 12% paved roads. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is one of America's best big adventures, traversing thousands of miles of remote dirt roads and high-altitude trails through the Rocky Mountains. I used these less than expected on the GDMBR, but it was a relatively warm summer and my leisurely pace meant I rarely rode in the chilliest hours of the day. 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. For the Great Divide route, most will use nanoraptors, but I kept on getting pinch flats at 200lbs plus gear. Good cornering and braking traction compared to similar tires, Not ideal for super aggressive riders or terrain. Despite its do-it-all intentions, it has a relatively aggressive tread design with tall, stout side knobs and similarly tall and aggressive tread in the center and intermediate zones that inspire confidence in corners and on the brakes. Extra bottles: I carried two 1L Platypus SoftBottles for extra capacity. 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. In our latest video, Neil sheds some light on the essential considerations that will help you make an educated decision. I used mostly the same clothing system that I use for backpacking, with a few cycling-specific modifications. This burly and mean front tire can stand up to aggressive movements, committed riding, and all types of terrain. Lots of lengthwise siping on all of the knobs allow them to really conform to the trail surface, and it holds well on firm surfaces, off-camber terrain, and rock slabs. Sunglasses: Im currently liking these affordableCastKing Hiwasseepolarized sunglasses. 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). No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. 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. Through the years, they've mapped routes down the West Coast and several routes across the U.S. for road bicyclists. The transition from the center tread to the side knobs is smooth, and once on edge, it bites and holds with confidence-inspiring and predictable manners. 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. Glacier Cyclery in Whitefish (406-862-6446) can handle any bike needs or outfit you with rental gear. The Avid BB7 brakes took a lot of fiddling to keep adjusted. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. Comfy and as stylish as baggy bike shorts can be. 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. Sandals and sometimes stove strapped to the outside. I didn't want to give up on them, but simultaneus pinch flats were the final straw. We ended up sharing one and it worked fine. This is one of our favorites as a front tire for aggressive trail riding because of its incredible traction in corners and its durability. Heres what I suggest carrying in order to leave no trace: Spend your town time resting and eating instead of wondering what youre forgetting. This aggressive tire has a row of well-supported side knobs and a predictable locked-in feel when on edge. Held clothes, food, and sleeping pad. MSRP $66.00. Alternate routes are indicated in orange on the GDT map, and include: Mount Rowe to Sage Pass - moderately difficult cross-country ridge walk, literally on the Great Divide without any water sources (other than residual snow). With a tread design that looks strikingly similar to the Minion DHF, the Vittoria Mazza also boasts impressive cornering traction. Finally, Ill underscore again how many ways there are to pack for a route like the GDMBR. If you spend more nights in town (we camped as often as possible) and arent too fussy about eating cold food, you can get by without a stove. With rear tires, you'll find huge variances in traction, depending on the type of terrain and the surface conditions. Water availability varies along the Great Divide. The capacity of a regular Ursack was fine for my southern solo section and the more populated areas of the north. Hello! While neither of these tires is light, they're both impressive when the going gets radical. A relatively square profile, squared-off edges, side knobs, and sidewalls all contribute to the overall quality and performance of this tire. I was thinking about doing it on a Surly Long Haul Trucker - the frame can handle a 45C Tire. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. Other rear tire options will roll noticeably faster than the DHR II, but that's a trade-off you'll need to consider for a tire with the cornering grip and braking traction it provides. But on the GDMBR we often showered at RV parks and campgrounds that didnt offer this. Once I picked up the bear spray this was redundant. This tire uses Specialized's T7 rubber compound that prioritizes rolling speed and longevity over all-out grip, and the medium height center tread with moderate spacing helps further reduce rolling resistance. Seat tube length: 508mm (center to top) Seat tube angle: 73 Top tube: 615mm (effective) Chainstays: 435mm Bottom bracket drop: 60mm Fork Offset: 43mm Wheelbase: 1093mm Standover height: 812mm Specifications Frame: 4130 chromoly steel, three bottle mounts, rack and fender mounts Fork: 4130 chromoly steel, rack and fender mounts, triple mounts Even though the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route runs from Banff Canada all the way down to Mexico, the Colorado section is one that every bikepacker should have on their to do list. Theres more where this came from! Gear Aid Tenacious gear repair tape, handy for patching tent, sleeping pad, bike bags, water bladder, etc. 1 liter bottle: I carried this bottle in a cage under my down tube as extra capacity and to have a container for electrolyte drink separate from my pure water. Wet, loose, loam, this tire rips into the soil. How did this all work? Despite costing less than most of the competition, the Specialized Butcher Grid Trail T9 and the Specialized Eliminator Grid Trail T7 are highly rated and are our picks for an affordable front and rear trail riding combo. Mine was threadbare by the time I finished, and I sometimes got sunburnt through it. Lets start with the most important part of a Great Divide bike route gear list: the bike, obviously! The stock build features Salsa Woodchipper drop bars, a 1x11 drivetrain, and 29 x 2.2" tires. Its important to note that my Great Divide gear list is based on a touring pace ride that took over two months. We've tested this tire on both the front and rear of the bike, and it performs outrageously well in both locations. 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. This doesnt have to be fancy. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. You must be so excited for your trip. Ive written about this little sanctuary many times before; it goes with me everywhere. This tire isn't the fastest-rolling, but that's a tradeoff that we expect most aggressive trail riders are willing to accept. Vittoria uses a 4C (4 compounds) rubber that is infused with Graphene. 10. panchocampbell (Jul 15, 2019 at 8:29) after a zombie apocalypse these people would be the actual survivers !!! I especially liked the flexibility of the big 5L dry bags on the front fork, which could expand or contract a lot to hold varying amounts of food or even, in one long dry stretch, water. The larger the circumference and the wider the tire, the less up-and-down. Its burly enough to handle occasional rough stuff, efficient enough for pavement, and perfect for the large chunk of gravel and dirt road in between. The tall center tread lugs with open spacing provide excellent braking traction, while the substantial row of shoulder knobs grip very well through corners. That said, we feel this is a great rear tire option paired with something a little more aggressive in the front, and an affordable one at that.
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