Tour Divide

No, it'll clear 2.5" and the front fork (whiskey no9 carbon) can clear 29+ (3" knard etc).

There's a lot of fireroad, but a lot of it is rocky and rough, so wide is good. I might run a 3" up front, I'm undecided right now.

I've just watched a video of Guy Martin at Strathpuffer and want in. Can't do everything though. Maybe another year of road TTs then I can join you on the dirt for a bit.

Me and my brother and my two cousins are planning on doing the 2016 event, my cousin did it solo last year and was a broken man afterwards!

Do it. I'm considering the Arizona Trail Race in 2016. Looks amazing, including a portage with your bike on your back through the Grand Canyon.

http://vimeo.com/103845154

Just sat down with a beer and watched that. Looks crazy tough but I'm pretty sure those views through the Grand Canyon probably make the whole thing worth while!

Watching it now. Not interested in a 'ride' where you walk more than ride.

Although just got to the Grand Canyon hiking bit.. that I would do!

Good luck with the Tour Divide. It's been on my radar since I saw the film. There are some good journals of guys who have toured in on crazyguyonabike. Last September a mate and I rode the ACA's Idaho Hot Springs Loop, to get a feel for what an extended bikepacking trip would feel like.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/MCandBoblogoHotSpringingaroundIdaho
The terrain and as importantly the riding temperatures would be similar. We weren't racing but touring. I like hanging out in small towns and meeting people and shooting the breeze.
I've ridden the Trans American Trail too, it crosses parts of the GDMBR. We met a German guy near Rawlins in the Great Basin, he had a ton of stories to tell. We also met an English/Canadian couple who in Yellowstone who had aborted their attempt after having met a mountain lion towing an elk uphill on some shared singletrack.

Pack insect repellent.

Looking forward to updates.

MC

Mountain lion dragging an Elk! Shit.

On a brighter note, just built up the bike I'm gonna be riding.

woop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvanhCQ9jho

How's the training going Gabes? So stoked/excited for you...

Hey mate, Yeah, going good, riding 3 days a week to work in Exmouth, so that's about 170, plus trying to get a 100 miler in on the weekends to get my ass used to long days in the saddle. Legs are strong, recovery is stupid quick now. I can only get fitter right! Come April, I'll be working 4 days a week too, so that's even more.

I'm not scared of the ride anymore, it's more bears, mountain lions, buffalo etc, and rednecks, and rabid dogs in new mexico, and scorpions, and new mexican monsoon mud.

Simple: stay out of the long grass, don't talk to strangers and carry some beef in your pocket?

Risks aside, you'll no doubt end up with some awesome stories to tell.

"carry some beef in your pocket"

#euph

Great looking rig right there......the Bears scare me just thinking about them. You can't even climb a tree to get away from the buggers!

the Bears scare me just thinking about them. You can't even climb a tree to get away from the buggers!

It's 'murica - buy a big gun. What could go wrong?

the Bears scare me just thinking about them

I know.. Just look at the crazy shit they get up to!

Does that front guard do anything? I was thinking about using a little stubby guard on the Kinesis. Can't use full front because silly toe overlap.

Catches spray that goes to your face

On my rockshox, it also stops crud getting rammed into my fork seals...

That little guard is the only guard worth having on an MTB. Stops the mud in the eye pretty much. Plus waterproof shorts, sorted.

Think I need longer for the road to get spray flicking off front of tyre blown back by wind. I remember old 80s bikes had one maybe a foot long under the fork but these don't seem to exist any more.

@gabes https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2100249292/inspired-to-ride/description Q&A after film.

Yeah, that's the guy that made the Tour Divide movie, affectionately known as "Cried the Divide".

Wow, pic of Mike Dion at the bottom, he must have put on 20kg since he attempted Tour Divide, that was 7 years ago though.

Got the bag from Wildcat, set it up with a bladder, so I don't have to wear a backpack on the divide. All great. Downside, today the splines on my middleburn x-type cranks failed, they have so much slack in the fit now, they rock on every rotation. Super annoying. Put some old SLX cranks on, run perfectly.