Messages

1

Routes / Great Divide and a lot of questions

« on: June 15, 2006, 09:46:30 am »

Thank you for your post, bikefam.
Nice to see that other cyclist are there at the same time of the year.

Christian

2

Routes / Great Divide and a lot of questions

« on: March 10, 2006, 05:21:54 pm »

Hi crankela,

as nobody else seems to have to say something...
I haven´t ridden the route myself yet, but I think that somewhere on the Adventure Cycling pages they mention that full suspension bikes are not really recommended for this tour - and I read a journal of this trip from a guy from Switzerland who definitely had some troubles with his - had to change the frame during the trip.

I´ve been cycling in Iceland several times and had to ride lots of washboard. While a full suspension would certainly have been more comfortable it was always doable on the hardtail and I think not worrying about worn out bushings in the middle of nowhere was worth it.

Maybe the suggested suspension seatpost is the better choice if you´re really concerned about the washboard.

Hope this helps,

Christian

3

Routes / Great Divide and a lot of questions

« on: February 08, 2006, 11:44:56 am »

richc and wrightwoodfilms: Thank you for your reassuring words!

bikerlee and everyone interested: If all goes well I´m going to arrive in Whitefish, MT by August, 10th and I would be glad to have some company on the Divide.

4

Routes / Great Divide and a lot of questions

« on: January 28, 2006, 12:47:36 pm »

Thank you for the information!

It´s very reassuring to read that a lot of people have ridden this route solo and the prospect that I have to be careful but not worried all the time is easing my mind quite a bit.
In fact I´m already looking up flights and train schedules and getting everything ready for my visa application...

5

Routes / Great Divide and a lot of questions

« on: January 13, 2006, 12:24:03 pm »

Hi BikerLee,

thanks for your reply and the link to Glacier Cyclery.
Do you already know if/when you are going to start your ride?

6

Routes / Great Divide and a lot of questions

« on: January 09, 2006, 12:42:57 pm »

Thanks a lot for your reply and the information.

Seems like I simply have to live with the presence of bears - and have to get some information about mountain lions as well...

Glad to hear I´m not completely wrong by going alone and starting in August!

Thanks for your offer to help me with further information - I´ll be glad to have someone to ask when I have some specific questions.

7

Routes / Great Divide and a lot of questions

« on: January 03, 2006, 07:29:47 am »

I´m planning on riding the GDMBR north to south starting in August 2006.

I´m fairly experienced in doing longer self-supported touring by bike and I have gathered as much information as possible by reading Michael McCoy´s book and everything I could find on the net. But there are still some questions left that are starting to make me feel rather insecure if it can be done the way I planned it:

1. Bears, bears, bears
I know they are somewhere out there but living in Germany I have no idea how dangerous travelling in an area where bears live really is. Of course I read a lot about how to act and how to set up camp but this is really frightening me.

2. Riding alone
As I know noone who has enough time and wants to go on this trip, I´ve been planning to go alone. I´ve done this several times before in very remote areas and always felt fine - but with the GDMBR I´m getting increasingly worried if this really is a good idea (think of bears...)

3. Starting in August
Although Michael McCoy says it´s probably the best time to start, it seems that everyone it starting much earlier. Because of my job there´s no way for me to start earlier so maybe there´s another problem.

If you´ve got any information concerning this (or concerning something I simply did not think of yet) I would be very grateful if you´d share them.

Christian