Originally Posted by
BLYTZPK
For CAMPING equipment. BOMBPROOF. Will bolt to custom brazed on blocks. Suggestions ?
Fronts are NOT ground grinders but higher. With a platform rack over front wheel.
I was over to Universal Cycles looking at racks. My road racks are recycled '58 countertop plywood over a Nbar or Blackburn. Capable of 70 pounds easy.
The plethora at UC leaves me dizzy.
Are you wanting to ride the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) or the Great Divide Mountain Bike (GDMB) route? They are two entirely different trails. The "Continental Divide Trail" is a very rugged hiking trail that has lots of hike-a-bike bits that crosses several wilderness areas where you can't ride a bike. It would require some serious mountain bike skills to ride on an unloaded bike and even more serious skills to ride as a bikepacking trip. It would also require a mountain bike, preferably something with dual suspension. And I would suggest carrying your stuff like VT_Speed_TR suggest.
The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, on the other hand, follows mostly roads that parallel the Continental Divide. It's more "off-highway" than "off-road". While there are sections that require moderate mountain biking skills, it's not as difficult as the CDT would be. You don't, however, want to use plywood anything on the GDMB route. It's just too heavy and does nothing for you. Bruce Gordon racks or Old Man Mountain would be good choices for a high mount rack on the front. Tubus doesn't make a good high mount front rack.