Clue Me on a Decent Bike for GDMBR?
01-12-17, 04:43 PM
#26
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The 2017 fargo can take a 29+ or 27.5+, the VO looks very similar to the Fargo, forks still allow cages.
01-12-17, 05:03 PM
#27
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Don't forget the Bob trailer to pull behind, what the heck 2 Bob's hooked together in tandem.
Way off topic--- I was looking at electric assist and Rad Cycles sells an electric assist cargo bicycle for under $2K. inc. shipping, unassembled. and somebody did an electric assist Bob conversion.
Way off topic--- I was looking at electric assist and Rad Cycles sells an electric assist cargo bicycle for under $2K. inc. shipping, unassembled. and somebody did an electric assist Bob conversion.
01-13-17, 10:48 AM
#30
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For me, the GDMBR would be an awesome bucket list route. If I were to do that next year, it would be quite the achievement for me. So I wonder what would be a decent bike to get for that trip? I already have a Surly Long Haul Trucker - and I love it - but its not truly a mountain bike, nor do I think that I would care for touring the GD loaded with panniers and racks such. I could really use some schooling on what would make a nice bike and gear setup. Would a 26" mountain bike, or 29er, or what? I'll admit that I'm not fully up on MTBs. Help? 
My wife and I rode from Banff to Whitefish on the GDMBR in 2012. I used a fully rigid Niner 29er and she used a cheapo Performance brand 26er hardtail. Pretty much any bike will work on this route, however I wouldn't use a drop bar bike personally. Some of the descents are long and steep (I'm looking at you Galton Pass). I'd rather remain more upright and comfortable going downhill.
01-13-17, 01:35 PM
#31
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Using panniers on this route would be fine. Less than 1% of the route is singletrack. Most of it is just dirt roads. Your LHT can handle large tires. Why not get some large tires for your LHT and take it for an overnighter on some dirt roads?
My wife and I rode from Banff to Whitefish on the GDMBR in 2012. I used a fully rigid Niner 29er and she used a cheapo Performance brand 26er hardtail. Pretty much any bike will work on this route, however I wouldn't use a drop bar bike personally. Some of the descents are long and steep (I'm looking at you Galton Pass). I'd rather remain more upright and comfortable going downhill.
My wife and I rode from Banff to Whitefish on the GDMBR in 2012. I used a fully rigid Niner 29er and she used a cheapo Performance brand 26er hardtail. Pretty much any bike will work on this route, however I wouldn't use a drop bar bike personally. Some of the descents are long and steep (I'm looking at you Galton Pass). I'd rather remain more upright and comfortable going downhill.
I just slapped a pair of 26x1.75 Schwalbe Marathon+ on my LHT. Do you think that I should have gone wider?
I agree with you on the drop bar thing. Totally. I'm in the process of putting some Jones H-Bars on my bike right now, with Paul components. I ordered the wrong thumbies flat bar adaptors for it (shimano instead of microshift), and now I have to wait until the new ones come in before I can resume. The good news is that its winter, and my LHT is not the only bike in my stable. I'm also adding some nice VO stainless fenders, and some Shimano two-sided SPD pedals. Nice time for a complete detailing job.
My ultimate goal, however is to relegate the LHT to road touring, and to get myself a hardtail/front-suspension 29er for bikepacking trips. Best of both disciplines. If I went rigid all the way, a Surly Ogre would probably be just the ticket.
Still speculating!
01-13-17, 02:02 PM
#32
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Thank you. As a kid growing up in Maine, I was certainly familiar with riding on bad roads and dirt roads. Suspension of any kind was only a pipe dream then.
I just slapped a pair of 26x1.75 Schwalbe Marathon+ on my LHT. Do you think that I should have gone wider?
I agree with you on the drop bar thing. Totally. I'm in the process of putting some Jones H-Bars on my bike right now, with Paul components. I ordered the wrong thumbies flat bar adaptors for it (shimano instead of microshift), and now I have to wait until the new ones come in before I can resume. The good news is that its winter, and my LHT is not the only bike in my stable. I'm also adding some nice VO stainless fenders, and some Shimano two-sided SPD pedals. Nice time for a complete detailing job.
My ultimate goal, however is to relegate the LHT to road touring, and to get myself a hardtail/front-suspension 29er for bikepacking trips. Best of both disciplines. If I went rigid all the way, a Surly Ogre would probably be just the ticket.
Still speculating!
I just slapped a pair of 26x1.75 Schwalbe Marathon+ on my LHT. Do you think that I should have gone wider?
I agree with you on the drop bar thing. Totally. I'm in the process of putting some Jones H-Bars on my bike right now, with Paul components. I ordered the wrong thumbies flat bar adaptors for it (shimano instead of microshift), and now I have to wait until the new ones come in before I can resume. The good news is that its winter, and my LHT is not the only bike in my stable. I'm also adding some nice VO stainless fenders, and some Shimano two-sided SPD pedals. Nice time for a complete detailing job.
My ultimate goal, however is to relegate the LHT to road touring, and to get myself a hardtail/front-suspension 29er for bikepacking trips. Best of both disciplines. If I went rigid all the way, a Surly Ogre would probably be just the ticket.
Still speculating!
01-14-17, 04:12 PM
#33
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Using panniers on this route would be fine. Less than 1% of the route is singletrack. Most of it is just dirt roads. Your LHT can handle large tires. Why not get some large tires for your LHT and take it for an overnighter on some dirt roads?
My wife and I rode from Banff to Whitefish on the GDMBR in 2012. I used a fully rigid Niner 29er and she used a cheapo Performance brand 26er hardtail. Pretty much any bike will work on this route, however I wouldn't use a drop bar bike personally. Some of the descents are long and steep (I'm looking at you Galton Pass). I'd rather remain more upright and comfortable going downhill.
My wife and I rode from Banff to Whitefish on the GDMBR in 2012. I used a fully rigid Niner 29er and she used a cheapo Performance brand 26er hardtail. Pretty much any bike will work on this route, however I wouldn't use a drop bar bike personally. Some of the descents are long and steep (I'm looking at you Galton Pass). I'd rather remain more upright and comfortable going downhill.
I would try for 2.0 inch tires, but its certainly doable on narrower.
I agree about drop bars, but some people like them.
01-14-17, 06:27 PM
#34
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What's a sensible amount of daily mileage one should try to do on The Divide? I realize that its all personal choice, and also based upon an individual's level of fitness and pain threshold, etc. Those guys in the video on the other GDMBR thread (how I got divided into two threads, I have no idea), seemed that some days they were doing 100+ and riding into camp or town beat half to death. Might be good for them, and I'm no tenderfoot, but danged if I don't want to just enjoy my ride out in the great Gaia!
01-14-17, 07:10 PM
#36
30-70 miles per day (±30 miles) That's what I use as a daily basis for every tour tour I do. I'm sure it applies here too 
Last edited by BigAura; 01-14-17 at 07:14 PM.
01-14-17, 07:21 PM
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The writeups I've been reading refer to this guidebook that is divided into about 70 days, which makes it about 40 miles, but they usually mention doing two "days" per day and taking rest days. Other things I've seen say allow 6-10 weeks, which is about the same thing. It's high-altitude knobby-tire with a lot of climbing.
Once upon a time a long time ago I learned to estimate 2mph plus 1 hour per 1000 ft climbing for backpacking. I wonder if anyone has a similar rule of thumb for bikepacking.
Once upon a time a long time ago I learned to estimate 2mph plus 1 hour per 1000 ft climbing for backpacking. I wonder if anyone has a similar rule of thumb for bikepacking.
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01-14-17, 07:28 PM
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I've ridden 2/3 of the route (its a long term project).
We did meet a guy doing it on a disc trucker, it seemed to be working well for him.
I agree with the previous poster, although I personally would recommend at least 2" tires, but it has been done many times on thinner tires. I think the sweet spot might be 3" tires, to get a little suspension from the tires, but I haven't tried it out.
An older hard tail mountain bike that can take panniers would be good. Suspension would be nice in some places but not strictly necessary. In retrospect, my old long wheel base steel Stumpjumper would be ideal.
We used panniers, because we are retrogrouches and because we wanted the greater packing capacity. In 2015 we ran in to some very bad weather and were happy to have the equipment to deal with it. Some of the bike packers seemed to be cutting it pretty close with the minimalist equipment approach.
It is a great route, lots of fun, physically demanding but not technically difficult. Go for it!
We did meet a guy doing it on a disc trucker, it seemed to be working well for him.
I agree with the previous poster, although I personally would recommend at least 2" tires, but it has been done many times on thinner tires. I think the sweet spot might be 3" tires, to get a little suspension from the tires, but I haven't tried it out.
An older hard tail mountain bike that can take panniers would be good. Suspension would be nice in some places but not strictly necessary. In retrospect, my old long wheel base steel Stumpjumper would be ideal.
We used panniers, because we are retrogrouches and because we wanted the greater packing capacity. In 2015 we ran in to some very bad weather and were happy to have the equipment to deal with it. Some of the bike packers seemed to be cutting it pretty close with the minimalist equipment approach.
It is a great route, lots of fun, physically demanding but not technically difficult. Go for it!
01-14-17, 08:13 PM
#39
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I'm liking the notion of 30-70 miles per day. Some days I just know that I'll be pokey, but other days I'll feel salty and really need to stretch my limitations. This may be the best reason of all to bring a partner along. You would keep each other honest and meet your daily mileage goals. I get a little distracted sometimes... "Oh look! Doesn't that water look inviting!" 
01-16-17, 11:18 AM
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I've been looking at packing lists for this trip and others and it struck me today that no one ever lists a lock.
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01-16-17, 12:49 PM
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...or I wont use it if the area doesnt strike me as needing the extra step.
Based on everything Ive read about the GDMBR, i wouldnt think I would use a lock much over the span of weeks.
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