Touring - cross/touring bikes on continental divide route?

has anyone done this offroad route with the ACA maps? i'm looking for self contained tour this summer but i'm wondering if the cross bike (i'm used to fire roads and easy single track) will be suitable as i'd rather not bring the dual suspension mtn. bike.

also love to hear if anyone has done the Vermont trip with the ACA maps (on-road).

thanks!
t-roy

Hi T-Roy,

Last summer I did a section in Wyoming with an ACA group. We all had mountain bikes, a couple full suspension but most were hardtails. One guy rode a fully rigid bike and it didn't seem to make much of a difference. A good solid touring bike with wide tires, 38 or so, would be ok. The route doesn't have any real singletrack at all and when it gets really dicey you can always take it slow or walk it. Those times are very uncommon. You'll be on pavement more than you might imagine (and you'll love it for the sheer novelty of smoothness). If you took a full suspension you might feel more confident but really, what is the difference between an Atlantis and a steel MTB frame?

I'm looking to do a larger section (Grants, NM to Silverthorn, CO) this summer but I can't really find anyone to go with and it's discouraged to go solo. I might anyway-- I'm cautious by nature so I won't do anything stupid-- but then again I also might *not* go alone. After all, I *am* cautious by nature!

Good luck,
Chuckie

[QUOTE=tblendell]has anyone done this offroad route with the ACA maps? i'm looking for self contained tour this summer but i'm wondering if the cross bike (i'm used to fire roads and easy single track) will be suitable as i'd rather not bring the dual suspension mtn. bike.
thanks!
t-roy

Hi:
I used a cross bike for Divide Route from Canada to mid-Colorado(Breckenridge) in July 2003 using the widest tires I could mount-47mm/1.75inch Schwalbe Marathon XR. No problems except in Idaho on a very soft old railroad bed torn up by ORVs. No enough float in the softest conditions. A small part of the ride.

I travel light with only panniers up front and a large dry bag stuffer on top of the rear rack. Too many people I met had overloaded trailers or panniers and had to walk the passes that I could ride. My base gear weight was under 20 pounds. This made it easier on me and the bike on the few bike n hike sections. I had no mechanical problems other than one flat tire from a big chunk of metal.

The ACA maps and guide book were mostly accurate but sometimes not as clear as they could be. Do check their site for recent updates not on the maps.
Some of the advice/scare tactics are laughable. Just ignore them and practice careful food storage in bear country and ride conservatively knowing that you have to take care of yourself. No one else will be around very often. I rode it solo and loved it. You climb and descent several times a day but the effort is really worth it. The people I did meet bikers and locals were great people-generous and kind.
I hope you have a fun and safe ride,
Arctos