Hi Toth88, try finding a copy of Cycling The Great Divide by Michael McCoy as it covers the American section of the trail. I haven’t found much information on the Canadian part. I am considering riding the trail next year as well and I am in the planning stage.

The bike I am building is a 2000 Norco Rampage MTB with Shimano XT/XTR components. I am using V-brakes and I put a rigid fork on it and will be using trekking bars. I am using Old Man Mountain racks and I also have a BoB trailer for it. The wheels I have now are Mavic 618 rims with XTR hubs but will build up something stronger at least for the rear.

Your Crowns may go much further if you have the bike built in England or in North America rather then buying something in Norway. Also if you pick up the bike up outside of Norway you will save the sales taxes. There are a few builders specialising in trekking bikes so have a look at Thorn, True North Cycles, Kona Big Dummy, Koga-Miyata etc… Since you are starting you build from scratch you may consider building it around Shimano’s new SLX trekking groupo.

Welcome to the forum!