Topics

1

Routes / What is the best 100 miles of the Great Divide Route in Colorado?

« on: March 17, 2019, 02:55:21 am »

My sons and I are going to do the entire Great divide route starting in Mid to late July.  I wanted to do a 2-3 day "shake-out" trip to make sure that all of our bikes/gear/Garmin trackers/left handed bacon stretchers/etc work properly before we head to Canada.  It turns out we can all 3 be in Colorado for 3 days June 1-3. 

So Im asking for advice on the what specific roughly 100 mile portion of the GReat Divide trail should we tackle to test out our legs/lungs/butts. 

Thanks in advance.

2

Routes / Advice for Great Divide daily mileage planning

« on: March 29, 2018, 08:42:26 pm »

I would truly appreciate some input here.  Especially from people who have done the Great Divide Route.

I am planning for summer 2019 to do the Great Divide with my 2 sons.  They will be 22 and 26 and are in excellent condition but are not cyclists.  They are training now to get ready. They are meatheads and love a challenge  - they are not interested in dawdling along smelling the flowers.


I will be 55, and have been a lifelong cyclist.  I did the TransAm route 2 years ago averaging 575-600 mile weeks (with about 1 day off per week). 

Im wondering about what to expect to be able to do mileage wise.  I have a hard time converting "6 centuries in a row on the Transam Route" to "Great Divide mileage."

I dont have unlimited time off of work, so I cant just start and see how it goes. I will have about 9 weeks at the absolute maximum to complete the route. I also havent scoured the elevation route maps yet - but it seems to me that the last half of new mexico is probably easier to get more miles in than the Canadian Rockies.

So what do yall suggest as what kind of mileage I should plan for.  ?Start off with shooting for 30 miles a day and ramp up over the first few weeks to averaging mid 60's?  Try for closer to 40 miles/day initially?  Or would starting slower (25 miles/ day and ramp up to closer to 75miles/day toward the end) be a better plan?

 I really appreciate any and all advice - especially from people with experience on the route.

Greg

3

Gear Talk / Can I use only a Hammock on Great Divide route?

« on: December 03, 2017, 05:08:32 pm »

Im gearing up from scratch for a summer 2019 trip from North to South on the Great Divide Route from Banff to Mexico.  Im wondering if a hammock will leave me stranded above the treeline or in the New Mexico Desert?  Any advice from anyone who has used a hammock on this route, or if you have done the route and have first hand knowledge of whether is will work or not?

Thanks

4

Routes / Should/could I take my dog on the Great Divide Route?

« on: October 26, 2017, 01:43:50 pm »

I have a dog that could easily run the 50-75 miles Im planning on riding a day for the Great Divide route. 

Two questions:

Could I? 


Should I?


Im thinking that the wilderness parts would be fine.  The dog is well trained and obedient.

 Off the top of my head the following issues come to mind
 - traffic in towns that are on the route
- are dogs allowed in the National Parks along the route?

(Any advice from people who have done it would be greatly appreciated.)

Thanks

Greg

5

Gear Talk / Advice for Great Divide bike set up

« on: October 08, 2017, 01:10:44 pm »

Hi Everyone

Im building up a bike to do an awesome Canada to Mexico trip along the Great Divide route.  Im leaning toward a 1X setup for durability and ease of maintenance en route. 

Id like your advice on set up

Given that the  route will be 80% dirt roads/10% singletrack/10% paved roads - Im leaning towards drop bars and mechanical disk brakes (again due to ease of maintence).

I prefer SRAM shifters on my current road bike, but I am not completely dead set on them.  I am a spinner, not a masher, so I would like to set the bike up with plenty of low end gearing and would be happy to spin out above 25 mph


So - if you could start from scratch - what would you suggest? 

Thanks

Greg