Which Bike: Great Divide MT

[no-name]

Howdy:
My wife and I will be riding the Great Divide MT this summer and I am trying to decide which bike to ride.  My choices are my hardtail (Gary Fisher Wahoo) or my full suspension (Giant Reign).  As I see it, the considerations are as follows:

Hardtail--It is a simpler system on which I can fix nearly any problem trailside.  I commute nearly daily on this bike and have put over 2,000 miles on it in 2 years.  but I paid alot more for the other bike and it is very sexy.

Full Suspension--it is a fun and very comfortable bike.  however, with hydrolic brakes and compressed-air shocks all around, I am less confident of my ability to fix problems that arise.  if the rear shock goes out I may be without a ride.  I have never had a problem with the shocks, but Murphy's Law. it is quite a bit heavier, but climbs very well.

So, should I go simple, reliable and familiar, or full tilt and hardcore, and trust he engineering?

thanks for the input.

matt

[Julie]

I rode the Great Divide two years ago. I chose my hardtail over my full suspension bike and was quite satisfied. I chose that bike because I thought it would be more reliable(it did wonderfully) and it fit me better and was more comfortable to ride. I suggest going with the hardtail.

Julie

[TwoWheeledExplorer]

"Aye sir, the more they overtech the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain." -- Scotty, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock

Go with the hardtail.

Ride safe,
Hans

National Mountain Bike Patrol-MN
www.trailpatrol.org

[no-name]

Well, as I typed the original message, It started to appear to me that
this is a false dilema--not a choice between two equally good or bad
options, rather a conflict between what I want to do and what I know
the correct decision to be.

Thank you for the thoughts.  I am leaning strongly towards the
hardtail, which is what everyone I have spoken to who is familiar with
the ride has recommended.  all my local buddies are recommending
the full suspension, for comfort, but I think simplicity and reliability are
the keys.

Is there anyone who feels that the full suspension is beneficial on this
ride?

mw

[TwoWheeledExplorer]

The ACA and Mike McCoy's guidebook to the GDMBR strongly suggests the combination of a full-suspension bike and BoB trailer for the route. Not my choice, and we'll see if they are still suggesting it when the new edition comes out in May.

Ride safe,
Hans

[Derek]

If you want the added comfort of full sus' on your hardtail use a Thudbuster seatpost. Very comfy.

[no-name]

Thank you.  I'm not so concerned about the comfort issue--maybe I
should be.  My big concern is getting on a washboarded surface and
not being able to keep my back tire on the ground.   It sounds like that
is not enugh of an issue to keep others from having a great time on
their hardtails.

[no-name]

Well, for posterity sake, I just got back from the tour, and was pleased
with choosing the hardtail.  there were some extended sections of
washboard, and so I would not dissuade anyone from taking a full-
suspension bike--there were lots of them on the tour.  Also, the
mechanic was ever present, so had there been problems, help was not
far.

It was a great experience.  I cannot wait to do it again.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Matt

[SherryOlson]

Just finished the Great Divide and loved my full suspension bike.  My husband rode full suspension as well.  No bike issues except for 2 flats coming into Silver City from glass. We were riding tubeless so the Stans sealed them up and we finished the ride without any repairs.