Great Divide Route - Type of Bike

[jdmcpartland]

What's the best style bike for the Great Divide?  Is a touring style bike practical? What do most riders choose for this type of terrain?  I am more interested in comfort than speed.

Jeff

[CMajernik]

On the ACA website there is information on several pages on what type of
bike to use for the Great Divide. Here are the links: http://adventurecycling.org/routes/greatdivide.cfm?pg=more
http://adventurecycling.org/features/bikeforthedivide.cfm


 

[IndyPat]

I saw on the ACA article that Salsa Cycles has a bike marketed for the GDMBR.  The fargo Complete.

http://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html

Look good but I did not see front suspension on the bike.  Everything I have read suggest front suspension.  There are several post on the internet with problems with the full suspension bikes.

My experience is if you are riding self contained, it is all about weight.  Just like in backpacking.  Less is more.  Secondly, it is all about reducing risk of equipment failure.  Back to my Army days, you sometime wonder why equipment is the way it is but think about reliability.  Even the trailers seem to be problematical.

[RussSeaton]

I saw on the ACA article that Salsa Cycles has a bike marketed for the GDMBR.  The fargo Complete.

http://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html

Look good but I did not see front suspension on the bike.  Everything I have read suggest front suspension.

My experience is if you are riding self contained, it is all about weight.  Secondly, it is all about reducing risk of equipment failure.

As you state, its all about weight and reliability.  Non suspension fork is lighter and more reliable than suspension fork.  Now days with huge tires like the Schwalbe Fat Albert tire is available in 26"x2.4" you get plenty of suspension from the tire itself.  No need for extra weight and complexity in a suspension fork.

[Moondoggy]

Seriously consider a 29er mtb( which the Fargo is) over a 26, especially if you plan on not using front suspension. My experience has been they`re faster and roll over stuff much better

[John Nettles]

Get a Thudbuster or similar seat post also.  Lots of people have not used front suspension but since you emphasized comfort, I would suggest you got with it. 

[IndyPat]

Some great thoughts, esp the Thudbuster.  I had looked at it before.  I will stop by the LBS to try some 29er and see what I think about the size.  Thanks

[Moondoggy]

TB are pretty nifty. I used one for a couple of years, just keep the pivot points lubed