Messages

1

Routes / Re: What is Your Favorite Cross Country Route and Why?

« on: December 16, 2016, 11:44:11 am »

I'm in a bit of a bind as I've (currently) only ridden on XC route, and that's the GDMBR. It's an extremely challenging route, but the silence and the scenery are absolutely amazing. Plenty of time to look around, not worry about traffic, and take in the the scenery and the fresh air. I also found the logistical planning around getting through the day incredibly enjoyable.

The Trans-Am is likely my next XC route to take on.

2

Routes / Re: Great Divide MTB Route options?

« on: August 20, 2015, 10:17:28 pm »

This is an old, old thread, but I thought I would chime in. I've ridden recumbent trikes for a couple of years in my past, and I just finished a successful southbound run of the Tour Divide a couple of months ago.

Northbound, IMO will be more difficult than southbound. Fleecer Ridge in particular will be be completely hellish. It was difficult walking DOWN Fleecer with a regular bike. With a trike, you're going to be in for a hell of a workout. The steepest section will be just shy of a mile long and gain around 930' (approx 19% average). You will also need to be careful of your rear derailleur. On my wife's Catrike Trail, the derailleur is perilously close to the ground. There were lots of fist size or larger rocks all over the route. Plenty of sections of washed out ATV trail around Park Lake between Butte and Montana as well. Mud will be your other foe if you happen to hit rain in many of the sections.

With enough study, the really hard parts of the route can be routed around in many areas, but even the reroutes won't be easy.

It will definitely be an adventure.

3

Temporary ACA Route Road Closures / GDMBR Addenda for Canada

« on: January 24, 2015, 10:02:45 pm »

The addenda for BC-209 2014 state that "Map A - At Mile 5.9..."

I think that addenda should actually be Map B.

Steve

4

Routes / Re: Montana Great Divide -- with a Chariot

« on: November 23, 2014, 01:27:09 pm »

Slightly late to the party on this one, so you may have already started your quest.

There are some sections of single track on various sections of the route, along with quite a few sections of rough road and the occasional washout. This summer, there was a short singletrack connection as we worked our way from Holland Lake Campground towards Clearwater Lake, as well as washed out section of road that required some pushing of our bikes. The good news is that there are ways around those sections, but they might involve more climb or distance.

5

Routes / Re: Great Divide Route Solo

« on: November 23, 2014, 01:13:19 pm »

Royce,

I think the recommendation against riding it solo has to do with the remoteness of some of the route sections and the ability to get help if there's an issue. If you're traveling with another person, and if you're incapacitated for some reason, you have someone with you who can call for help and potentially stabilize you if you are seriously hurt. If your bike breaks down, you could be walking for a period of time before you get to a spot where you could either get repairs or hitch a ride. Cell phone coverage is spotty in many areas, so I wouldn't rely on that as an "out".  I rode south from Rooseville to Ovando, and then back north to Swan Lake with two friends over 6 days this past July. There were at least two days where we didn't see a single vehicle other than at camp sites.

All that being said, we did encounter a number of through riders, both male and female running solo on the route this summer. If you take care of yourself and equipment, you should be fine. I would consider investing in a spot tracker if I was riding solo, just so friends and/or family would know where I am, and could notice if I haven't moved for some amount of time.

6

General Discussion / Re: Map updates - GDMBR

« on: September 18, 2013, 09:24:02 pm »

John,

Thanks for the update. The 2015 date is focused on the Tour Divide race, so I won't have much opportunity for route deviation. I am planning on hitting a few days of the route in the summer of 2014 as an exploratory trip, so I might try and hit some alternates during that time.

7

General Discussion / Map updates - GDMBR

« on: September 18, 2013, 07:37:30 pm »

Based on the the update times listed, it appears that the maps for the GDMBR will maybe be updated/reprinted this year or in 2014. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I am planning tackling the route in summer of 2015, and would like to start planning now, but if the maps are going to be updated and reprinted, I'll hold off buying them.

Thanks.

Steve