Rivs on the Great Divide Route?

[Mark Reimer]

Hello,

I'm planning out a June bike tour to coincide with the adventure cycling associations 40th anniversary party in Missoula, Montana. 

I'm thinking of flying to Edmonton, riding or busing to Jasper, then riding the Icefields Parkway to Banff. Haven't heard of the Icefields Parkway? Do yourself a favour and just Google 'cycling the icefields parkway'. It's Canada's crown jewel for paved bike touring. Glaciers, mountains, wildlife and campgrounds everywhere.

From Banff I want to hop on the Great Divide Mountainbike route and ride to Missoula. Has anyone done that section of it? I'm just wondering how a more traditional touring setup like my Atlantis would handle the route. I know most of the GDMBR is just gravel roads, but I've also read that the Canadian and Montana section is some of the rougher single track. How about it, any of you taken your Rivs on this trail? 

Also, anyone going to be in Missoula!?

[Chris Lampe 2]

I seem to remember that a Riv employee rode a proto-Hunqapillar the entire 2700+ miles.  I think that speaks well for the Atlantis doing the same. 

[qwerty]

Hi Mark,

I rode the GDMBR, last August. Not on a Riv, but a Surly Ogre. I was
riding WTB Nanos 29x2.3". The ride was fine with this setup, but I'd
hesitate to go any narrower than about 2" tire width. The route
offers alternate options in many places where you can avoid the most
technical sections (mainly from Sparwood, B.C. to Roosville, Mt).
Once in Montana, you can also opt for paved highway shoulders, but
you'd forgo the best scenery.

I had small rear panniers along with frame/seat/bar bags. No issues
there either. It's certainly been done with the full complement of
traditional touring panniers, but I was glad to have my setup on the
more technical sections.

It's a great route and I highly recommend it. Let us know how it goes.

Mike G.

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[Anne Paulson]

I have an Atlantis. Actually, I have two Atlantises. But when it came
time to do the GDMBR last summer, I opted for a Surly Krampus with
29x3 tires, and I was thankful for my choice every single day. I loved
the upright handlebars, the wide tires and the disk brakes.

However, an Atlantis would be possible. I'd suggest using the widest
tires you could fit. And IMO upright handlebars are preferable for the
Divide.

In the Canadian section, when you leave Sparwood, you can head to
Fernie on the pavement, or you can head partway up the Crowsnest Pass
and then up the dirt through the Flathead and Wigwam Valleys. I've
done some of the Fernie section, and all of the Flathead-WIgwam
section. The Flathead-Wigwam section is extraordinary; it's one of the
best sections of the whole route..

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-- Anne Paulson

It isn't a contest. Enjoy the ride.

[Mojo]

Anne, what 29x3 tire did you use? The Knard seems quite knobby for mixed surface rides and holds onto mud & snow pretty aggressively.

I may be retired in 2017 and the GDMBR is at the top of my to-do list.

[Zach Duval]

I live in Kalispell, MT and had been hoping to ride my Hillborne down to Missoula for the event, if I can swing the time off work.

Let me know more about your expected route (I don't believe the Divide route goes directly to Missoula?), and I'd be happy to join you for at least some of the ride down.

[Deacon Patrick]

The Banff extension has long been on my list to ride.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Rich Lesnik]

I rode my Riv. custom (basically a beefed-up Atlantis-type frame, customized for me) from Calgary to Banff, then took the Great Divide to Whitefish MT. Full load, front/rear bags, saddle and handlebar bags. Ritchey Crossbite (1.6") tires. No problems whatsoever. You can see some photos on the "Gallery" page at www.handsonwheels.com. My advice: don't over-plan -- "just ride."

[Mark Reimer]

Oh nice, that custom is GORGEOUS!!

That settles it then. I'm hoping to do Jasper to Banff in three days, then Banff to Missoula in 5-6 days. 

Is sticky mud a big concern? I've been riding 2.1" Tires in the Atlantis for added mud clearance. If it's mostly rocky/gravel I'd opt for 2.25. 

Can't wait!

[Steven Sweedler]

Mark, glad you started this. I am planning on leaving Banff in mid-July on a Surly  Ogre w 2.2 tires , using my Ortliebs on Tubus racks, as always my bike will  be heavy. Would like to get to that gathering in Missoula to celebrate the 40th but the timing doesn't work for me. Hope to see some of you on the trail. Steve

Bisbee,  Az. 

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Steven Sweedler
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[Anne Paulson]

I used the Chupacabra, which has similar tread to the Knard but which
mounted tubeless better on my Rabbit Hole rims. On the Divide, a rider
is going to spend almost all their time on dirt. I recommend a
mountain bike tire.

[Anne Paulson]

Since Rich rode the Divide a few years ago, the Canadian route has
been changed. The new section from Sparwood to the US border has a
worse surface and steeper hills.

[Mojo]

Thanks Anne. I am used to Chupas and like them a lot.

[Mark Reimer]

Resurrecting this old-ish thread just to share the news that I've booked my flights and will be riding the Atlantis, or should I say Fatlantis, from Jasper to Missoula from July 6-17. Locals tell me there is much more snowpack than is typical this year, so I'm hoping by early July that will have melted down a bit. That said, I am certainly no stranger to pushing my Atlantis through deep snow for hours on end...

Now on to the fun part, planning the trip details!

[cyclotourist]

Awesome, Mark! Have a great time out there!

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Cheers,
David

Member, Supreme Council of Cyberspace

"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal

[Patrick Moore]

Mark: will you be blogging your preparation and ride? I'd be interested in hearing about both and, of course, in photos of the ride itself.

"Fatlantis" -- I missed this: what makes it "Fat"?

Good luck!

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[Mark Reimer]

I hadn't thought about it that much yet but sure, that sounds like fun. Absolutely a post-ride report with photos and observations, but a pre-trip planning record would be good as well. When the date gets closer and planning is a bit busier I'll share a link or start a new thread here. 

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[Patrick Moore]

Thank you! I look forward to your posts.

[Deacon Patrick]

Right on! You no doubt know this, but just in case ... snow slopes are very different from snow fields. Slip on a field, you fall. Slip on a slope, you slide and it all depends on where you are as to what happens next. I've crossed some amazingly drifted trails and roads that had one wild ride waiting if I misstepped, whether I had a bike with me or not. Sardonic grin.

My two eldest daughters and I are in the process of plotting our Colorado Super Loop (which for us will be at most Leadville - Aspen - Crested Butte - Mt. Princeton Western). They are learning the whole process of reading someone else's (incomplete) route notes online, matching those to maps, and then eventually how that all pans out on the trail. Fun stuff!

With abandon,

Patrick

[Mark Reimer]

Oh indeed I do. If I'm not using up time away to ride my bike, it's pretty much always spent scrambling and hiking in the mountains. I've done a few snow traverses which required ice axes and such for self rescue in the event of a fall. However, lugging a loaded bike across with me will be.....erm......interesting at best. 

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[Jim Bronson]

Rich, your site appears to be down.

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[Pondero]

Brilliant!  So glad to hear this.  You are actually doing what I've only been dreaming about.  Please consider prolific documentation for us dreamers and ponderers.  Who know maybe you'll convince me I could actually do a portion of that route?

I guess I'll need to wait a day or two, and let the thunder die down, before I brag about my upcoming (much tamer) tours.

Chris Johnson

Sanger, Texas

[dougP]

Mark:

As an Atlantis owner, I follow your adventures with interest.  I esp. like you slogging thru the snow with your buddies on fat bikes.  I got an Atlantis because I needed (wanted?) a touring bike but only in the most general sense.  I've done plenty of paved road tours, camping, etc., but nothing off-road epic.  It's wonderful to read exploits of people taking touring bikes where no one ever expected them to be.  Any photos, reports, etc., will be much appreciated.

dougP

[Anne Paulson]

When you arrive in Sparwood, BC, will you be heading on to Fernie, or
will you start up the Crowsnest Pass and up past Corbin?

On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 11:23 AM, Mark Reimer <markn...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Mark Reimer]

I have no idea hahaha!! You've ridden the divide haven't you? What would you suggest?

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[Anne Paulson]

Definitely take the route that goes past Corbin; it's spectacular. Be
ready for some walking. Have a good way to secure your food from
grizzly bears.

[Deacon Patrick]

Chris,

Pick a section and go for it! You'll do just fine.

Mark,

The lightest, bear proof option out there (at least when I bought mine):

http://www.ursack.com

With abandon,

Patrick

[Steven Sweedler]

Do most Divide riders use these bear proof options or is a stuff sack hanging in a tree sufficient Steve

[Mark Reimer]

I'm also wondering this. I had planned on just putting a rope around my panniers and hanging them from a tree

[Mark Reimer]

Anne - I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about the Corbin route. Your comment about walking - is that because of the steep grades, terrain, snow, maybe all three? Any other general route advice? A friend of mine raced the divide last year and gave me his GPS file to follow. I was planning on basing my route on that and sticking as close to the 'official' route as possible.

[Deacon Patrick]

I've no idea what most Divide riders do. My experience and rule of thumb is the more humans have stupidly conditioned smart bears to turn to people/campsites for food, the greater the need for a bear bag. In the areas I go there is little training, but on a defined route, that risk rises. Keeping a generally clean camp and following common sense rules goes a long way toward protecting you. Ultimately, however, its a bag that's under $100 that protects you and the bears and isn't a big deal. Some places require a bear proof container, though I do not believe there are any on the GDMTBT.

-- Cook, eat, etc away from your camp. 

-- Clean up your eating area.

-- Store food overnight away from your tent, if possible hanging from a tree, but this is VERY hard to do many places. Usually it's a lot of extra work to accomplish very little (starters: good luck finding a tree branch like in the diagram. They only exist on one in 10,000 trees, and never where I am).

By controlling scents and access, I've never had an issue with a bear, and that includes multiple overnights in Death Canyon in the Grand Tetons, so named because of Grizzly bear attacks (where we saw multiple bears from a mile off on every trip).

With abandon,

Patrick

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[Mark Reimer]

Thanks Deacon. I haven't done a huge amount of back country camping in grizzly territory before. Probably around 20 nights in proper griz territory, and almost always within a group. It's not certain yet if I will be doing this tour with a couple friends or entirely solo yet. Most likely with a group, but until they book their flights I've gotta assume I'm flying alone. Doing this solo doesn't give me any cause for concern with the exception of dealing with bears, so I welcome any and all advice on that topic. I've already started to learn some classic sailor shanties to belt out along the trail, and of course have my bear spray hanging off my belt :)

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Steven Sweedler
Plymouth, New Hampshiret

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[Ryan Fleming]

BTW...one funny thing I learned when I used to tour across Manitoba during the late eighties and we would ride through bear country in Riding Mountain, for instance, is that you don't want to even have toothpaste or other hygiene items in your tent, because bears are attracted to the scent. When someone told me this lo many years ago, I thought they were joking, but of course , once I thought about it a little more, it totally made sense. Just wasn't something that would have been on my radar at the time in 1986, where I was very green when it came to camping and bicycle touring

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[Mark Reimer]

Ryan,

Funny you mention Riding Mountain as I'm going to tour across that park the week before the divide as a final shake-down before heading west! 

[Jonathan Black]

My experience is that Divide Riders are pretty savvy with the proper way to camp in bear country.  Divide Riders are the type who do their homework.  Hang your food, don't eat in or near your tent, wear your bear spray on your person, and be bear aware.  I rode with Anne Paulson on the Canada section for a week.  She is right.  Spectacular!  I live just a few miles from the Tetons so I am very familiar with bears.  

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[Jonathan Black]

I rode the GDMBR Canada section in July 2015 from Banff to Eureka, MT.  I rode on 2.1 inch tires.  It worked OK, I guess.  This July 2016 I'm going to ride the Montana section with 3 inch tires.  So, bottom line:  2.1 will do, but more rubber is highly desirable on this trail.  When the going gets tough, you'll want more rubber.  But when it is easy, your 2.1 tire will fly.  Sticky mud is not a concern, wet gravel is.  

Good luck!  

On Friday, February 12, 2016 at 8:30:27 AM UTC-7, Mark Reimer wrote:

Oh nice, that custom is GORGEOUS!!

That settles it then. I'm hoping to do Jasper to Banff in three days, then Banff to Missoula in 5-6 days. 

Is sticky mud a big concern? I've been riding 2.1" Tires in the Atlantis for added mud clearance. If it's mostly rocky/gravel I'd opt for 2.25. 

Can't wait!

[Mark Reimer]

Ah, excellent advice. My Atlantis can fit 2.25 thunder burts but there is very little clearance on the sides. Like...maybe 2mm per side. I rode the Oregon Outback and across Washington with that setup last year, more than half of it in the rain on gravel and dirt. It was totally fine. The second it gets tacky or sticky though the entire thing locks up hard. If this isn't sticky terrain, I'd definitely go to 2.25 tires again. 

[Anne Paulson]

I started out last July 1, and there was no snow. I don't know what it
will be like this year. You should be OK starting in July.

There are some places where some people have to walk, and a few places
where everybody has to walk. Not too many places, though.

The GPS is a good idea. You should be OK following your friend's GPS route.

[Anne Paulson]

Rivsters, listen to Jonathan. He knows a lot about camping with bears.
(Hi Jonathan!)

The Flathead River Valley, the area the southbound GDMBR rider
encounters after Corbin and the Flathead Pass, is a wild and beautiful
place. Supposedly, it's where they relocate problem grizzlies. We
didn't see any bears there, but we were careful to keep anything
scented away from our tents. It was one of the sections of the Great
Divide where I was glad not to be alone.

>>>> Steven Sweedler
>>>> Plymouth, New Hampshiret
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[Zach Duval]

Last year was an exceptionally dry year, and a nasty fire season was the result. This year's snowpack around the Flathead (and probably extending north) is somewhere around 100% of average. By July you should be fine, but this is something to keep in mind if making comparisons to last year's conditions.

I moved to the Flathead Valley last August, and don't have a lot to add to what Jonathan wrote concerning bear precautions. However, if by Whitefish you're up for more upscale camping, I'd highly recommend looking into the Whitefish Bike Retreat. The owner is super cool and has raced the Divide several times. Catering to Divide riders is basically her niche, and she could offer lots of info and probably several 2016 ride reports by the time you'll be coming through.

I was hoping to make it down to Missoula on my Sam, but have recently started a new job and won't be able to swing any extra time off work. Good luck with your ride!

[KTY]

Zach what do you mean by "100% of average"? It's at average or 100% above?

[dougP]

If the average snowfall is 60", 100% means getting to that 60" amount.  Similarly, 120% of average would be 72".  It's also usually expressed in relation to time, as in "100% of average for March 27". 

Previous posts have mentioned less than average snowfall last year.  So that may mean 75% of average, i.e., only getting 3/4 of the expected snow.  So people who did this route last year may have encountered less snow than would be expected this year at the same time.

dougP

[Tony]

Hi Mark,

I did the Adventure Cycling Montana Great Divide route a few years ago on my Sam Hillborne with Albatross bars.  It was a fully supported ride, meaning they carried our gear in a van. 

My Flickr account is only 3 pages and most are of that week.PM me if you have any questions I can help with.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/51959000@N08/page1

Tony

"Where the rivers change direction - across the Great Divide" _ Kate Wolf

On Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 2:10:25 PM UTC-8, Mark Reimer wrote:

Hello,

[Mark Reimer]

Thanks Tony, great photos.

Trip planning is making slow progress. It looks like I won't have time to ride the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Banff before starting the divide after all. The distance will just be too much. I think there was some confusion between distances being referred to in miles vs kilometers between me and some other guys in the group, and all of a sudden when I plotted the GPS route I discovered my daily average would be about 140km per day for 10 days straight. That's leaving no room for unexpected and planned stops, weather, injury, gear malfunction and other delays.

So, even though my flight is already booked into Edmonton, I'll be renting a car and driving straight to Banff for the start. I'm hoping to get in at least 20km of riding the first day so I can bush camp outside of town.

The plan is still to ride the Atlantis, though I have also just purchased a new bike this week: a Crust Evasion, or DFL as they will be known moving forward. This is a new brand started by a friend of mine. I toured with him on the Oregon Outback last year while he rode his prototype frame, so I had a lot of time to check it out.

It's a 26" Plus rigid frame, with clearance for 26" x 3" tires, or 650b x 2.5. I'm tempted to bring this on the ride for the additional tire width, but I won't even have the bike for at least another month, which doesn't leave much time to finish building it up, test it, and leave on a long back-country trip. We'll see. 

[Ryan Fleming]

Oooh new bike...this sounds exciting!...but I'm sure you want a thorough shakedown before you take it on a long adventure...any pictures of this bike?

[Mark Reimer]

I don't have a photo of my exact bike, but this is someone else's in the same size. I'll be running a gooseneck / limp dick stem to get the bars up higher. And I don't have a frame bag yet so it'll be racks and panniers for the moment. 

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[Mark Reimer]

Hmm doesn't look like the photo worked. Here it is again:

[Ryan Fleming]

hmmmm hunky...that looks like a good choice in the backcountry

[Mark Reimer]

Figured I'd share a quick update about this divide trip. I'm flying West on Wednesday in the early morning, with the hope of riding a short distance out of Banff in the evening for my first night. I've decided not to ride the Atlantis in the end. Not because I don't think it could handle it (of course it could) but because I've put together a bike that I believe will handle it better. 

I've built up the 26+ plus bike pictured below, and just returned from a three-day 360km off road tour that featured very comparable terrain to the Divide. The added cushion from the 3" tubeless tires and the remarkable stopping power in wet and muddy conditions with the Paul Klamper disc brakes are what ultimately sold me. The carrying capacity and weight are pretty similar between the two bikes. The overall riding position is extremely close to the Atlantis. But based on my personal experiences I think this will be the better option. There will be one or two Riv's along for the ride though, so it will be fun to compare our experiences. 

Next summer when my wife and I do an East-coast tour, it will definitely be on the Atlantis though :)

If anyone wants to follow along, the best way it to check my Instagram account at instagram.com/markreimer

[Bill Lindsay]

Your DFL looks so butch.  I probably would have chosen it as well.  Safe travels!

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Zach Duval]

Probably mentioned above but worth repeating: bear spray will be on the ready? Have you practiced firing it?

A MTBer was killed by what was most likely a grizzly bear yesterday outside West Glacier. That's not exactly on your course, but it's fairly close.

I've been thinking one of those Randi Jo bar bags might make a good spray holster. Might be worth consideration?

Anyhow, good luck on the adventure. As you swing into the Flathead Valley, I'don't love to check outhe your DFL in person. I'm considering options for something with more trail ability than my Hillborne.

Zach
Kalispell, MT

[Deacon Patrick]

Dude! I will be very curious to learn your experiences comparing (as well as might be given different trails/gear/times/weather/etc) between 2.1" Thunder Burts and those beasties for bikepacking and winter. Have a wondrous trip!

With abandon,

Patrick

[Ryan Fleming]

Good luck , have fun and safe travels...that Crust looks like just the ticket...but I'll be happy to experience your trip vicariously...take your usual awesome pictures...Cheers

[Mark Reimer]

Zach, wow, hadn't heard about that. But yes, I will have bear spray. I thought of putting it in the bar bag, but that isn't much use to me when I lean the bike on a tree and zip into the woods to answer nature's call or check out a stream or some other point of interest. I think I'll keep it on my belt the whole time. I've carried it on all my hiking trips and can flip that safety clip off in a flash :)

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[iamkeith]

Glad Zach posted that!  I saw this on a news feed early this morning, and immediately thought about your (Mark's) upcoming trip as well.   (Oddly, It was all over the British news, before anything hit the National U.S. news)

You're right about bearspray being no use in a bag.  One of the accounts I read said that they surprised the bear and that it "took the first rider 'off his bike'," so even quick-draw access might not have mattered.  A couple of other things you could consider, and that I do on many of my regular rides, are:

1)  attach a bear bell to your bike.  This is the best way to make sure you don't surprise bears (or moose) in the first place. You can usually find them with velcro attachment straps.  Intended for walking sticks or backpacks, but they work well on handlebars, and are easy to remove when you don't need the noise.  

2) If you get tired of using a holster, carry the spray in your bottle cage.   Many or most oversize water bottles (with the necked-down area) happen to be the PERFECT size to snugly hold a standard bear spray can.  Just remove the lid and press-in the bearspray.  The water bottle stays on the can when you pull it out, and you can easily grab it when you walk away from your bike:

Hope the trip goes well, and don't let this stuff freak you out.  Just be smart, and you'll be fine.  

[Zach Duval]

Bartender bags, I meant, not bar bag.

I work in the newsroom for the Kalispell newspaper, and it has been a complete shit show since the attack. A former coach of the victim (he was a runner as well as a forest service agent) was quoted in an initial report, and he has since fled town after the resultant media assault. One of the British papers put it humorously with a headline that "the bear is wanted by police."

This shouldn't frighten you too much of course. Bear spray at the hip and the ability to make lots of noise, especially before blind corners, should leave you plenty safe. Also, be sure to stop in Whitefish for pizza and a delicious beer!

[Coconutbill]

I've underbiked on Homer many times, and I wonder, would it be possible to do this ride on A. Homer Hilsen?

I sold my MB-1 and MB-4, so it is my only bike at this point in time, although, if I wanted to , Im sure I could borrow an old school mountain bike from a friend.

The other idea that had occured to me was to have a friend braze canti-posts onto my Homer, as the main drawback I see with my build, is that sidepulls are just not adequate. Any thoughts on this matter?  

[Mark Reimer]

Possible? Yes. Enjoyable? Debatable...

I recently did the first 1000km of the Divide. I decided to leave my Atlantis at home and ride a Crust DFL with 26" by 3" tubeless tires. It was the perfect decision. There was an Atlantis in my group, and he had many, many flats. Some of the descents are more akin to creek beds due to erosion. I could let go of the brakes and fly down. He double flatted. Some of the descents are steep and very long. I was extremely thankful for my large disc brakes. I never had trouble stopping my loaded bike even in the rain. My Atlantis would have been a bad call in my opinion. 

Now, there are many long sections of the divide where a Homer would be absolutely in its element. I guess you need to decide if you want a bike that sings on the gravel roads but you're walking some of the most 'fun' sections. Or a bike that doesn't bat an eye at the rough stuff, but might be a touch slower on the road. I never felt I was at a disadvantage on the road sections. I increased my tire pressure and kept up just fine. But the guys on 2" tires and under were at a definite disadvantage. 

So yeah, you can do it, and many people have, but your bike and body will take a much bigger beating.

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[Coconutbill]

Given my finances, I think that my best workaround might be to borrow this "Sherpa Comp" mountain bike my friend said he'd lend me. 

I'm not familiar, but if it could fit a 2.3' It should certainly be more enjoyable than on my 650b x 42+ tires, I'd think.

I'd love to see your photos (if you have some) from the tour. Any other good resources for which I can see the topography and terrain? 

[Mark Reimer]

Here is a collection that shows the varied nature of terrain. Bad pavement, gravel, double track, single track, rocks, grass, you name it!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/markreimer/albums/72157672539573505

--

[Kellie]

I haven't  ridden the divide, but you can put up to 2.3 tires on an Atlantis and go tubeless. I have Cliffhanger rims and Thunder Burt tires, all tubeless compatible. I do know an early version of a Hunqapillar had no problems on the Divide. 

On Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 2:10:25 PM UTC-8, Mark Reimer wrote:

Hello,

[Anne Paulson]

I have ridden the Divide. I was glad of my 3" tires. I also looooved my hydraulic disk brakes. 

The only problem with the hydraulic disk was bike shops along the route didn't know how to maintain them. For that reason, last year I switched to mechanical disk brakes-- and rapidly switched back. The difference was astonishingly large. 

I rode the first 2300 miles of the Divide. I got one flat along the way, a nasty slash on a rocky downhill. 

Someone in Mark's group had fenders. For the part of the route he rode, that might be OK, but further south, it's so very much a bad idea. There is mud.

Mark, I love your pictures. I still think about the Divide a lot.

Here's an elevation profile of the whole route: https://www.eatsleepridegreatdivide.com/#start=0&end=2691

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[Coconutbill]

I found someone selling a smalll crust evasion frame .... basically my narrow nitsche needs of 26+ or 27.5+ are met, as well as disk brake mounts , rack mounts , etc. and while part of me would love to test Homer on this terrain , I am sure I will be grateful for disk brakes and fatter tires. Mark thanks for starting this thread - and for the excellent photo documentation.

[Patrick Moore]

Curious, and very daring too: has anyone ever modified a Rivendell frame to accept disc brakes? My beau ideal, or perhaps belle ideale, is an Atlantis that takes 60 mm tires with fenders and air between them, and that has disc brakes and drop bar.

On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 1:04 PM, Coconutbill <evan....@gmail.com> wrote:

[...]while part of me would love to test Homer on this terrain , I am sure I will be grateful for disk brakes and fatter tires. Mark thanks for starting this thread - and for the excellent photo documentation.

--

[Orc]

On Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 1:32:15 PM UTC-7, Patrick Moore wrote:

Curious, and very daring too: has anyone ever modified a Rivendell frame to accept disc brakes? My beau ideal, or perhaps belle ideale, is an Atlantis that takes 60 mm tires with fenders and air between them, and that has disc brakes and drop bar.

If I can't get rid on the Rosco carcass that's sitting in my basement I'll probably put a disc mount on the rear triangle;  in my (small) experience discifying frames it's fairly safe to braze post mounts onto the axle end of a seatstay because that wheel will break loose and skid before the forces get high enough to damage the tubing.   The fork, on the other hand, I'd set aside and replace with a new explicitly disc-capable one; the failure case would trash an otherwise perfectly good fork (and possibly a perfectly good rider as well), and there seem to be a few companies still making 1" disc forks out there.

I'd bet if you sniffed around town you might find a framebuilder who'd be amused enough by the idea that she'd put a disc mount on a Riv for you.

[Patrick Moore]

First though I'd have to save up to buy the Rivendell! But it would be interesting to hear more of your project if it comes to fruition, particularly how a different fork affects the ride.

On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 4:10 PM, Orc <grr.g...@gmail.com> wrote:

If I can't get rid on the Rosco carcass that's sitting in my basement I'll probably put a disc mount on the rear triangle;  in my (small) experience discifying frames it's fairly safe to braze post mounts onto the axle end of a seatstay because that wheel will break loose and skid before the forces get high enough to damage the tubing.   The fork, on the other hand, I'd set aside and replace with a new explicitly disc-capable one; the failure case would trash an otherwise perfectly good fork (and possibly a perfectly good rider as well), and there seem to be a few companies still making 1" disc forks out there.

 

I'd bet if you sniffed around town you might find a framebuilder who'd be amused enough by the idea that she'd put a disc mount on a Riv for you.

-- 

[Coconutbill]

I'm wondering if anyone is over their ACA maps for the great divide , and would sell them to a nomad about to attempt this route . I'm on a shoe string budget so just thought I'd inquire.

[Deacon Patrick]

Coconutbill,

You may want to post a separate thread so this gets seen? And perhaps a thread on iBob? If it's any help I have Section 5. If you want it send me your address off list and I'll post it soon.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Jay Connolly]

My wife and I rode 2700 kms of the GDMBR in 2015 and planned to go back this year, but family circumstances changed our plans. I rode a Fargo with 2.4 Maxxis Ardents. When I returned, I sold the Fargo and bought a Jones Plus. I prefer rigid bikes, but because I'm tall and heavy, the more suspension from the tires, the better. Any rider of average size would be just fine on 2.2s or better, so any strong frame with enough clearance would be fine. People travel large portions of the route on cross bikes (supported, usually). For the long haul, it's ablout comfort.

I would recommend bikepacking bags rather than panniers. For most riders, there will be some pushing, and loaded panniers can make hike-a-bike awkward. On very small bikes, a "rack" to support a dry bag behind the seat post will allow teh rider to maintain tire clearance. Portland Design Works makes an excellent one.

I would sell my maps, but I hope to do the whole thing next year.

Jay