• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Halfway Anywhere

Halfway Anywhere

The Tour Divide: What, Where, Why, and How?

By Mac Leave a Comment

The Tour Divide is an annual 2,700-mile (4,300 km) self-supported bikepacking race following the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR). Most of the route follows dirt and gravel roads with a few sections of pavement or singletrack sprinkled in for good measure (along with the occasional hike-a-bike section).

Cursory internet sleuthing tells me that the current iteration of the Tour Divide began in 2008. However, the first individual time trial of the route was in 2005, and people have been riding the GDMBR since as early as 1997 when the Adventure Cycling Association first mapped it.

Speaking of websites, the current Tour Divide website hasn’t been updated since 2014 and leaves much to be desired. Or perhaps the state of the website is instead part of the Tour Divide’s charm? Mystique? Neato-ness?

You may already have more questions than answers if you’ve encountered this with zero knowledge of the Tour Divide or the GDMBR. Fear not; they will be addressed. Also, know that I will likely have many of the same questions. I intend to answer said questions by participating in (and hopefully completing) this year’s Tour Divide.

That said, I’ve been doing my research (and investing heavily in bikepacking gear).

Pinterest - The Tour Divide

What Is the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route?

The northern terminus of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is in Jasper (it was in Banff – the start of the Tour Divide – until 2018), a resort town in Alberta, Canada. It then heads south for over 3,000 mi / 4,800 km to its southern terminus at the US-Mexico Border at Antelope Wells, New Mexico. It can be ridden in either direction, but it’s traditionally ridden southbound.

Along with the Arizona Trail and the Colorado Trail, it comprises the most significant leg of bikepacking’s Triple Crown; similar to the thru-hiking Triple Crown comprised of the Pacific Crest Trail , Continental Divide Trail , and Appalachian Trail .

The route is almost entirely along dirt and gravel roads and is, for the most part, not a technical ride (i.e., you don’t need to be an expert-level mountain biker to navigate the GDMBR). Yes, there are a few short sections of singletrack, but overall, this route is suited for gravel or mountain bikes (but certainly not road bikes).

The GDMBR is approximately 3,000 mi / 4,800 km long and has over 133,000 ft / 40,500 m of climbing and an equal amount of descent. It passes through seven states/provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Despite beginning in Canada (as in riders must pass immigration at a border crossing), the route does not enter Mexico; it ends (or begins) at the US-Mexico Border.

Tour Divide Route Overview Map

The Difference Between the Tour Divide and the GDMBR

You may be asking yourself, as I have, what’s the difference between the Tour Divide and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route? The answer? Nothing. Kind of.

The Tour Divide is the name of the annual self-supported race of the GDMBR . Put another way, the Tour Divide follows the GDMBR. However, it begins in Banff instead of Jasper; Banff was the northern terminus of the GDMBR until 2018, when it was moved to Jasper. At least, that’s all you need to know if you’re not racing and/or riding the Tour Divide. What’s self-supported? It means that racers are only afforded resources available to everyone else participating.

For example, staying at a hotel? Perfectly fine. Staying at a friend’s house? Not okay.

When you drill down to the details, there are a few sections where the Tour Divide diverges from the GDMBR. But for all intents and purposes, they’re the same; again, unless you’re concerned about racing the Tour Dviide, then there are a few spots you need to take note of.

Every year, people bikepack all or part of the GDMBR on their own (in both directions). These people can take as much or as little time as they like – many presumably even enjoy their experience. Meanwhile, others decide to race the Tour Divide beginning on the second Friday of June at the northern terminus in Banff, Alberta (in Canada). The latter group’s enjoyment often falls more heavily into the Type II (or even Type III) fun category.

Patagonia Baggies AZT Mac Sign

The GDMBR Versus the Continental Divide Trail

When I first hiked the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), I met one person in Island Park, Idaho, who was riding the Divide; I had no idea what they were doing, what the Tour Divide was, or what the GDMBR was. The cyclist was stoked to see me and my CDT hiking buddy, but we thought ourselves cooler than him because what could be cooler than hiking the CDT?

How things have changed. I apologize for not greeting you with the enthusiasm you deserved, anonymous 2017 Tour Divide racer.

Despite the CDT following a lot of dirt and gravel roads – that would be suitable for bikepacking – there’s actually very little overlap between the two routes. Yes, there will be opportunities for northbound CDT thru-hikers to see Tour Divide riders, but many will pass like ships in the night.

The Tour Divide starts too early for southbound CDT hikers to catch any riders, but they could still encounter northbound GDMBR riders during their thru-hikes. Remember, play nice if/when you see each other out there. We’re all out there doing awesome things in nature. There’s no need to perpetuate a bikepacker-backpacker divide (on the Divide).

CDT Lima Montana Buildings

How to Participate in the Tour Divide

The community that has made the Tour Divide what it is today doesn’t exist as an official organization or entity. Instead, it’s willed into being by the yearly riding crop’s cohesion, carrying on traditions from and iterating upon actions of previous years’ cyclists.

There’s no sign-up form, no entry fee, no website (at least not a website updated in the last decade), and no organized event at the starting line in Banff (or at the finish line at Antelope Wells, New Mexico).

Most of the organization appears to come from Facebook groups (typically some of the most toxic online cesspools, but in rare cases, useful information corners). Every year, participants who provide tracking information (using a device such as a Garmin inReach Mini 2 ) to trackleaders can be watched online as they move down the course.

You show up in Banff, start riding south on the second Friday in June, tell anyone who asks that you’re riding the Tour Divide, and BOOM! you’re officially racing the Tour Divide. I’ve heard that in recent years that the community attempts to organize waves of riders (based on estimated finishing time) to ease impacts and congestion on/along the start of the race. Don’t want the local government to come in and try to shut down the unofficial race, after all.

Maybe one day, the magic of this unofficial, unorganized, organized, official bikepacking race will wane as permits, regulations, and rules are imposed with increasing popularity and awareness of the event. Maybe someone will write a best-selling book about the Tour Divide and blow it up like a certain unnamed book did to a certain unnamed trail in the Western United States.

Apparently, you’re supposed to send in a letter of intent to a random email address that I suspect is maintained by the crew at Bikepacking.com , but the letters of intent used to be posted to the Tour Divide website (which seems like it was a fun tradition that’s now sadly gone as of 2010).

For now, you only need to get on your bike and ride.

A guy in a yellow helmet riding a pink bicycle up a hill

The Tour Divide is the unofficial orrifical self-supported race of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, with a few changes to the route. Simple enough, right?

It’s an incredible test of physical and mental endurance, with many riders forgoing sleep to put in more hours on the bike (how many hours I sleep every night is something I’m interested in seeing).

According to DotWatcher , since the Tour Divide’s conception in 2008, only 716 riders have completed the race (this number is likely not 100% accurate, but it’s about as good as we can do). Hopefully, after this year’s race, I will be able to count myself among the fewer than 1,000 total finishers.

For now, it’s time to go and ride my bike .

You'll Like These Too:

Share this post:.

guest

‘Tour Divide’ Champ’s Secrets To Conquer A Mountain Range

Share this:.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

tour divide profile

[leadin] Unassuming cyclist Josh Kato crushed last year’s Great Tour Divide, a self-supported race that crosses the United States north to south over the Rocky Mountains.[/leadin]

Finish-2

Imagine your longest day in the saddle. Let’s go with 100 miles….that’s a typical long distance endurance ride. Now double it. Then, repeat…for 14 days, 11 hours, and 37 minutes straight. And for good measure, do it over the most rugged mountain range in America and entirely off-pavement.

That’s precisely what the 40-year-old Washington nurse and endurance cyclist did at last year’s Great Tour Divide (GTD). His time not only won the 2,745-mile event, but it set the course record.

We caught up with Kato to discuss the highs and lows of endurance cycling, and his secret training weapons, including patience, a fat bike, and donuts!

tour divide

GearJunkie: Two years ago, your GTD didn’t go as planned. Can you tell us more about that?

Josh Kato:  2014 was supposed to be the year I was going to accomplish a dream of competing in the Tour Divide. I was riding much stronger than I had anticipated and on day three of the race, in Montana (around mile 300), I ended up crashing in the mud and snow. It was a bit of a worst-case scenario type of wreck. I landed wrong, fractured my fibula, tore my hamstring, and gashed the back of my leg which subsequently got infected. I rode until around mile 1,100 before I called it quits.

That hurt. Dropping out of something I had poured so much time, money, and energy into. It was as if I had let myself down. I was rather depressed. I figured I wouldn’t ever be able to get time off of work again to give it another go.

Along The Divide

So that’s 800 miles with a broken leg! How did you push through that sort of pain? Did you underestimate the injury?

Ha! I said I was a nurse. Never said I was a good one.

Yeah, after my wreck, I realized fairly quickly that something was very wrong with my leg, but denial is a powerful tool. I truly never thought I’d be able to get the time off from work to do the race again so I was committed to pushing on as long as I could turn the pedals. When it got to the point that it was no longer physically possible, I called it on the race.

I’m 40 and my body has been around the block a few times. It’s pretty commonplace to have aches and pains that don’t go away very quickly. In my head, I was pretty sure what I’d done, but also realized I probably wouldn’t incur any permanent disability from it. Of course, had I completely torn my hamstring rather than just a partial tear that would have taken a huge amount of recovery time. It got to the point that I had to lift my leg to the pedal by pulling with my hand a length of strap wrapped around my foot, like a lasso.

On the GTD, everyone hurts. Some things can be overcome and some things can’t. Perhaps being in healthcare, it’s easy to minimize suffering. Acute pain isn’t a permanent ailment. It’s just something that needs to be worked through.

So last year–you decided to give it another go! You must have felt you had unfinished business.

When I found out I was going to get the vacation time from work, I trained like a madman. I wanted to finish what I had started and made every effort to make sure I could.

I never trained with the goal of winning. I trained to finish. I’m not a very competitive guy. Except with myself. I guess I was able to achieve a level of conditioning that allowed me to compete with the amazing field of competitors we had last year.

“I think one of the most important things I did was train with a heavier bike than I used in the Divide.”

What kind of mileage are you churning through to train for the GTD? 

In my lead up to the Divide in 2015, I rode about 3,000 miles with an unusual amount of climbing — round 450,000 feet. We have a lot of hills in Washington. Almost all of my riding was on very poor gravel roads, trails, and abandoned logging roads. Very Divide-like terrain.

I think one of the most important things I did was train with a heavier bike than I used in the divide. I purposely go out and try to find the most challenging rides I can do. For a race like the Divide, a rider has to get used to going slow uphill with a heavy bike. It’s a mental thing.

Of course, we had a very mild winter last year in Washington so I was able to churn out some good rides early in the season. This year is making me get a bit more creative with training. Fat bikes are a great invention for training. This amount of training and having a job means I have to sacrifice a fair bit of other items in life. When I’m not at work, I’m riding, running, or prepping in some way for the Divide. It’s a huge time commitment.

The Road

You work as a nurse – does shift work lend itself to training and pulling in long days in the saddle?

I work the night shift. So yes, I guess it helps to know what keeps your mind going at 3am .

I think one thing that nursing lends itself to more than anything is seeing the struggles of other people. The body can overcome some pretty astonishing things. Some people have an amazing amount of will to keep going when the odds are stacked against them. It’s a good reminder to hear people tell me that they just wished they could be well enough to be outside roaming through the hills. People remind me every day to not take health for granted.

Obviously, you love to ride – do you cross-train to keep it fresh? 

Fatbiking

The best rides are the ones that are not about the ride at all. I only wish that fly-fishing was a better workout. That’s my main passion. Nothing like standing in a river with a bit of graphite. Sadly, it doesn’t work the cardio system too well.

You rode in the Smoke’n Fire 400 last year. Do you use these ‘middle distance’ bikepacking rides as training rides? How many do you take on each year?

The Smoke’n Fire is a super fun event! Excellent scenery and awesome trail sections. My first bikepacking race was the 2014 Tour Divide. My second was the 2015 Divide. My third was the Smoke’n Fire 400. I finished the Divide in June. The SNF 400 was in September. I barely rode after the Divide. I had to go fishing! I used the SNF 400 as a test for myself to see how I’d do “off the couch”. I was very happy with my result.

It was also interesting doing the full sleep deprivation thing. In the Tour Divide, I slept every night. It’s a long race. These shorter races seem to be much more about sleep deprivation. On some of the last climbs in the SNF 400 I was hallucinating pretty well. I remember seeing Jay Petervary (who wasn’t in the race) sitting alongside the road petting a capybara. Also, when I rode into Boise at the end of that race I heard someone shout my name. I thought that might be a hallucination as well.

You weren’t hallucinating. I was following the leader board and cheering finishers at the end of the race–I gave a shout out to you.

Funny! Good to know now I wasn’t that bad off. I guess I’m not cut out for the full sleep deprivation thing. I’d enjoy doing more races but the work schedule interferes quite a bit.

“You gotta find a way to keep going. Donuts help a lot.”

Pulling in mile after mile … I’m sure it can be incredibly emotional, but on both sides. You must hit both extreme highs and lows. How do you monitor your emotional state?

The Tour Divide is so long that yes, you go through every single emotion possible, as well as some that you didn’t realize were in you. Riding mostly alone, pushing yourself to unfamiliar physical limits, that’s the easy part. The emotional aspect is the hard part. You gotta find a way to keep going. Donuts help a lot. In reality, I always try to remind myself that no matter how bad I feel, how down in the dumps my mind is, that things will get better at some point. All bleeding stops, eventually. Ultra-racing is very much like that.

So you’re 40. That’s venturing into middle age. But you’re at the top of the game. Jay P. is even older. Does endurance riding get better with age?

JoshsShadow

JK: Yup, 40. I’ll hit 41 before this years Divide. Guys like Jay P. and Jefe Branham are very inspirational to me. They keep going and going. I’d like to say I’ve solved the mystery of the 40ish racer and ultra-endurance but I haven’t got “the” answer. One of the only things that I can determine is that we keep realizing our gig might be up at any time. So we gotta get done with a few things as fast as we can. I know that I can ride much longer than I could when I was younger. Perhaps it’s an impatience thing with youth. Perhaps we’ve just learned through life experience to endure more. Or maybe we are just more determined to show up the youngsters. I do know I focus on the journey far more than the speed. Oh, I wanna go fast, but the journey means a lot more to me now than it did when I was younger.

You’re quite a photographer. (All photos in this post are taken by Josh Kato). How do you balance pushing so hard, so long, yet taking time to smell the proverbial roses?

The main difference between my touring speed and racing speed are the number of photos I take during a ride. Landscape photography is a hobby of mine and I do love getting a shot of a fleeting moment in a beautiful place. My wife can attest that my camera is rarely out of hand during a tour. Nonetheless, even when racing the best of the best ultra-guys I’m not going to pass up a landscape that creates an emotional response in me.

What kind of camera do you take with you on the bike?

During races, I carry a small point and shoot that takes decent images. During the Divide, I carried a Canon S110. It does great while shooting on the go. While touring I use either a Sony RX100 or Fuji XE-1.

Any advice on how to keep the camera readily available while riding?

I almost always ride with a hydration pack. The packs with a small pocket on the shoulder strap are very nice to be able to tuck a small camera into. I then use a carabiner to clip the lanyard to my sternum strap so I can drop the camera should I need to brake quickly. Of course this only works well if it’s dry outside. I have yet to try a waterproof camera that has the image quality I want. When it rains, Ziploc bags are my friend.

Divide

So what’s your ride schedule look like this year?

I don’t have a huge agenda other than having another go at the Tour Divide. The race just kind of sticks in your head. Amazingly, I got the time off of work to go again, so I’m not going to pass it up. Not sure I’ll be able to train as much as last year but I’m certain I’m still going to have a blast. Other than the Divide, we’ll just have to see. I do know I need to get some more fly fishing trips in this year.

Thanks Josh and good luck this year!

This year’s GTD will roll out of Banff, Alberta on June 10th. The website hosts some good background information, but for the latest check out the  Tour Divide on Facebook . To follow Josh and all the cyclists in real time, head on over to the Tour Divide’s leaderboard at  Trackleaders.com .

Steve Graepel

Steve Graepel is a Contributing Editor and Gear Tester at GearJunkie. He has been writing about trail running, camping, skiing, and general dirtbagging for 10+ years. When not testing gear with GearJunkie, he is a Senior Medical Illustrator on the Neurosurgery Team at Mayo Clinic. Based in Boise, Idaho, Graepel is an avid trail runner, camper, angler, cyclist, skier, and loves to introduce his children to the Idaho outdoors.

Follow Us On

Subscribe Now

Get adventure news and gear reviews in your inbox!

Join Our GearJunkie Newsletter

Gear Top Stories Deals

tour divide profile

Orders despatched same day

Free shipping on orders over £ 150.00

5-year full warranty on all racks

30-day comprehensive returns policy

Need help? Get in touch with our support team via Live Chat on our Contact page.

What is the Tour Divide?

The Tour Divide is often attributed as being the originator of modern off-road ultra-endurance cycling events. The Tour Divide effectively follows the Great Divide route, probably one of the most famous off-road hiking/riding routes in the world, travelling the length of the Continental Divide from Banff in Canada in the north to Antelope Wells on the USA/Mexico border in the south.

tour divide profile

If you’re not familiar with the route it effectively traverses the mountain range that splits the continental United States into its two parts. If you want to go into the full geographical concept, a divide denotes a ridge of land that separates rivers into the oceans in which they drain, the Pacific on the west and the Atlantic on the east. For the North American Continental Divide, this ridge is better known as the Rocky Mountains.

Riders will roll off the start line in Banff for the start of the 2023 Tour Divide on Friday, June 9th at 8 am. Some will be looking to race the course and the other riders with the hopes of potentially beating the fastest known time. For many however, just completing the 2,750 mile route will be the achievement of a lifetime; such is the legendary status of this epic route.

Tour Divide Need to Know

Length : Approximately 2750 miles

Start : Banff, Alberta, Canada

Finish : Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA

Elevation : 149,664ft (45,618m)

FKT (Fastest Known Time) : 13 days, 22 hours, and 51 minutes (Mike Hall, 2016)

2022 winner : Sofiane Sehili, 14 days 16 hours 36 minutes

tour divide profile

What is the best bike for the Tour Divide?

tour divide profile

Gravel or MTB or something in between?

The Tour Divide is most definitely an off-road route and as such the bike you choose has to take on some of the most challenging terrain. What makes it equally difficult is due to the length and varying terrain and conditions what might be the perfect bike setup for the first half isn’t necessarily going to be the perfect bike for the second.

Wide flat handlebars, suspension and big chunky tyres will provide a level of comfort and safety when dealing with huge mountain descents littered with baby head rocks but when it comes to covering the long, flatter sections found in the latter parts of the route you might be wishing for the speed and efficiency of a drop barred gravel bike.

Short of carrying a spare bike you’ll find that most bikes riders of the Tour Divide opt for will feature plenty of customisation to try to limit the compromises that need to be made when choosing your setup.

Looking at the past winners it most definitely seems that a hardtail (front suspension) or rigid mountain bike has been the preferred style of bike for the fastest riders but the past couple of years have seen a resurgence in the ‘monster-cross’ build – when a hardtail mountain bike is set up with gravel bike style drop handlebars. This setup currently looks to offer the best of both worlds but with some compromises to handling and geometry. Of the three Tailfin R&D Division riders taking part in the 2023 Tour Divide, we actually have three different approaches! Justinas Leveika has opted for a monster-cross build, Chris Burkard is going for the rigid mountain bike and Gail Brown is riding a hardtail Scott Scale.

Check out Justinas’ Tour Divide bike check in more detail here.

As usual, it’s definitely worth checking out bikepacking.com’s ‘Rigs of…’ pages to see just what is being ridden in the Tour Divide.

Discover the 2023 Rigs on Bikepacking.com

What is the best kit for the Tour Divide?

The Tour Divide is no different to any off-road ultra-endurance race that takes its riders into the wilderness with regard to kit demands. But there are a few essentials.

  • Full waterproofs. If last year’s event was anything to go by with its extreme storms then effective waterproofs are lifesavers.
  • Bear spray . Somewhat alien to a lot of riders outside of North America. Bear spray is without a doubt essential for the first part of the route. It’s also wise to carry something that makes a noise, like a bell to warn wildlife, like bears and mountain lion, that you are coming.
  • Enough water carriers. Water can be plentiful at the start but as the trail heads further south you will encounter arid high desert regions.
  • Shoes for hike-a-bike. Leave the carbon-soled disco slippers behind and get something comfy to walk and push in.
  • The comfiest sleeping setup you can find. With most riders taking well over two weeks to complete the Tour Divide, sleep is essential for completing the route safely.

An interview with Tour Divide expert Jay Petervay

Jay Petervary is synonymous with the Tour Divide having raced and won multiple times. Not only has he developed an unparalleled level of understanding and experience to shape how he approaches the race but he also provides guidance and coaching for some of the latest crop of contenders. We sat down with Jay to find out a little more of his Tour Divide experiences.

tour divide profile

How many times have you ridden the ‘official’ TD race?

I’ve raced down the Divide 7 times total. “Officially” I rode the Tour Divide race while leaving with the Grand Depart, 5 times. 2 of those times we left from the US border, not Banff. Once because the Canadian section didn’t exist yet and the second was due to Covid.

2. What is your fastest finish time?

I’m terrible at knowing any time, on any route, regardless of how I did. When I looked it up it said 14 days, 12 hours, 3 minutes.

3. Which year/edition are you most happy with? What stands out as making it better than the rest?

Gosh, they were all so special for their own reasons. That said, the 2021 Covid Edition felt pretty special. I’m not sure if it was the pure joy of getting out after all the restrictions for so long or if it was because I helped instigate that edition and we rode the original Great Divide route, before Tour Divide. I’m sure it was both but I just really enjoyed myself “playing the game”. While it’s always physical, I was thinking through the strategy more, and having someone to play that game against was what really kept it fun. And it all worked out in the end for me which was pretty satisfying.

4. What parts of the route do you most look forward to riding?

I can find beauty in all the parts. It really depends on my mood and what condition I am in as well as which part of the day it is. I know the route so well I know what to expect and it’s easy for me to predict where I’ll be at any given time. I guess since I live on the route I do look forward to getting to and through Idaho. When I start to get to Idaho I get a spiritual feeling that last until I get deeper into Wyoming. I just know that part of the country so well and spend time in it all year long.

5. Are there any sections you don’t look forward to?

No, not really. I used to not look forward to the Gila in New Mexico but I finally had a good experience through it. After doing the route so many times it’s funny how that is. I think it is natural to hesitate and expect similar experiences from the past but at this point, I’ve had good and challenging experiences on all of them! So, I just expect the best experience in each section nowadays.

6. What is the best place you ever managed to camp?

After sleeping on the route for over 100 days there are many great places to camp but unfortunately, that’s not what I look for when it’s time to grab some zzz’s….

7. and the worst?

Ah, yes, this is more like it. From a couple of feet off the side of the trail, to behind commercial buildings, to next to dumpsters (while using boxes to stay warm), to the beautiful grass park that was actually a dog park!

8. What’s your normal feed strategy? Normal food/hot food or convenience store?

It’s pretty easy to eat on the route and modern-day convenience stores are more like small grocery stores. The strategy is I eat a lot, a lot of normal food. Just like everyday life, I try to have breakfast, lunch and dinner but x2 on all of them. I bring some snack/sweet type food but I like to bring sandwiches, cheeseburgers, french fries, pancakes, etc with me on the trail. As I’ve gotten older my body is much more efficient and I don’t get worried about food or water. I can go many, many, hours without both and it doesn’t worry me a bit.

9.  Tent or bivi?

This year? Neither.

10. What temperature rating and style of sleep system do you use?

I had a system custom-made a bunch of years ago that I really like. It consists of a heavier puff jacket and a skirt. They are filled with synthetic insulation so I can be careless and it’s warmer. It’s not the lightest because you’ll freeze and at this point in my life, I get cold quickly. I haven’t used a sleeping pad while racing for nearly 10 years.

11. What are the essentials you would recommend anyone to carry?

A proper rain kit is crucial. And I mean full kit – gloves and socks too. I think we all know what a basic kit consists of but it really comes down to what works for you. As I said I won’t use the micro puff jackets but I see all others recommend them. So, with that being said, again, get and know what works for you! 

12. What do you think is the perfect bike for Tour Divide?

I don’t think it’s been created yet. Time will tell… : )

MARIE-SOLEIL BLAIS

Tour Divide 2023 : The race, the gear, the whys and everything in between

  • May 13, 2023

tour divide profile

It was just over 2 years ago the first time I ever heard of the Tour Divide. I didn’t even know what bikepacking was or that bikepacking racing was a thing.

By then, I had become a time trialist specialist on the road. I had become obsessed with mastering my mind, mastering the art of executing a perfect time trial. I love it so much. I know very well this feeling, my sight on the road ahead, my head tucked in, my lungs expanding to their max, my legs flowing over the pedals. That feeling when I get in the zone, when I’m able to fully surrender and let no amount of pain bother me. It’s pretty amazing. And quite freeing.

tour divide profile

A few years ago when I was reading this passionating book “How Bad Do You Want It”, the author spoke of how references are limiters to the mind and the body. If you can remove the information that you know as your references, you could push your body much further. I decided to test the concept and did a 20-minutes blind test – no numbers, no references. Increasing my best 20-min power by 18% was a shocking, yet insightful experience. “You are stronger than you think.” Simply remove the thinking.

I was on the stationary bike trainer when a youtube video came up about the Tour Divide (the documentary was I Just Want to Ride featuring Lael Wilcox – record-holder of the fastest female time on the Tour Divide). A 4,300 km time trial. WOAH! Now everything I know as references are quite irrelevant. How the hell is this humanely possible? Then… What if I remove what I know as possible. What if this was just another example of the amazing things a body can do when you remove references. I was immediately filled with curiosity.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I had to find out: where is the limit of what I can do. Am I able to apply what I came to master in road cycling time trial to a 4,300km bikepacking time trial?

Covering a distance of 4,300km, the Tour Divide is one of the longest and arguably the hardest ultra-endurance bike race on the planet. From Banff (Alberta) in Canada, to Antelope Wells (NM) at the border of Mexico, the course takes the riders along breathtaking scenic landscapes of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (designed by the Adventure Cycling Association back in the 1990s), one of the most well-known off-road touring route that attracts bikepackers and bike tourists from all over the world.

tour divide profile

The race has been going on for many years, starting on the 2nd Friday of June of each year, but only started to gain popularity lately with the rise of bikepacking and bikepacking events. The 2023 edition has currently over 250 participants registered to this day (one month before the start). 26 of them are female or non-binary, the highest non-male participation rate ever!

The Tour Divide is more than a cycling race, it is the definition of an endurance and resilience test. The race is self-supported, which means you are not allowed to receive any help. You can use public services such as hotels and restaurants, but you must carry everything you need (clothes, food, camp & sleep, tools). The route goes through many remote areas where a satellite device is the only way of communication. High-altitude mountain passes, changing weather, and wildlife encounters are all part of the race.

tour divide profile

Getting ready – my journey to the start line

There is the physical journey, then it’s freacking scary! 2 years ago I had never camped before, never packed gear on a bike, never ridden in the dark or encountered a bear.

Before I could attempt this, I had a few classes to take on. So, 3 weeks after watching the youtube video about the Tour Divide, I departed for my first bikepacking trip. An improvised, but oh so life-changing, one-month bikepacking trip in Utah and Arizona hooked me up. From there, I would use bikepacking for training when I’m not racing.

Last year (2022), I was still racing as a pro road cyclist when a series of events occurred, one of them being the cancellation of BC Superweek, my beloved crit series in July. I was going to fly to western Canada (near Banff) for Road Nationals, but then I had an opening in my calendar. “What a great opportunity to check out the course of the Tour Divide!” I thought.

I flew with all the gear I had and set to ride as much as I can of the route after racing Nationals. I had a wonderful ride in the time trial at Nationals, I rode the absolute best I could. Another 2nd place, but I felt satisfied. I love when I leave it all on the course. I was not going to be National Champion but that’s how it is. I don’t have less joy riding my bike fullgas. It was time to swap bikes.

So, a week later on July 4th, 2022, I departed from Banff and headed south on my pretty beat-up Cannondale FSi mountain bike hardtail, to see if I was capable of riding the terrain, to overcome my fear of bears (oh, I did come face-to-face with a grizzly! But that’s for another storytelling time), to overcome my fear of riding in the dark and confronting the weather of the high-altitude mountain passes.

The course was absolutely mind-blowing!!! Every day, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscapes surrounding me. The “non-technical” terrain was very much challenging for my roadie skillset. I was very unprepared for the hike-a-bike and the rain, but it was so empowering to come out of these challenges stronger.

tour divide profile

I completed the route in 28 days (about twice as long as the race-winning time), averaging over 10 hours of riding to cover 150km each day -it was the hardest thing I had ever done !!

This course recon was the first step to getting prepared to race. It also made obvious that I needed to improve my MTB skills, to strengthen my upper body for the hike”push”-a-bike, to fasten my camp-to-bike transition, a warmer and more reliable sleep system, and better overall gear and bike.

My 2023 Tour Divide Gear List

By now I have gathered enough bikepacking experience to know better what I want and need for my ideal setup. So I have reached out to my favorite companies and I’m very fortunate that they embarked on my dream race project with me! Here is the best bikepacking setup I could build for racing the Tour Divide :

  • Cannondale Scalpel HT, 100mm suspension fork
  • Sram X01 mechanical 34T x 10-52 Eagle cassette
  • SL4 Lucky Jack – Duke Racing Wheels (XC carbon wheels, 1200g a pair)
  • Son 28 dynamo hub
  • Ergo grips and aero bars
  • Maxxis Ardent Race and Ikon 2,2 tires

Packs: Backcountry Series by Apidura

  • Apidura 11L handlebar pack (clothes)
  • Apidura 2x 1.2L feed pouches, 1L top-tube feed bag, 1L rear top-tube pack for accessories
  • Apidura 4L frame pack with a hydration bladder (food & water)
  • Apidura 1.8L down-tube pack (tools and pharmacy)
  • Apidura 10L saddle pack (sleep system)
  • possibly a hip pack or hydration vest… TBD
  • 7mesh cargo bib (pad removed) paired with 7mesh Foundation Shorts
  • 7mesh Hollyburn light thermal pants
  • 7mesh Chico Anorak pull-over
  • 7mesh merino buff
  • 7mesh Skypilot Gore-tex rain jacket
  • MEC 800-down jacket
  • Mountain Hardwear 800-down pants
  • MEC rain pants cover
  • Showerpass waterproof gloves and socks (available at MEC)
  • Defeet merino gloves

Sleep System :

  • MEC Talon 0 degree C 800-down quilt
  • MEC Vectair Ultralight insulated air mat
  • Mountain Laurel Designs FKT bivy
  • Warmlite Gear Vapor barrier long-sleeve jersey
  • Warmlite Gear Vapor Barrier socks

Electronics :

  • Garmin 540 Solar for navigation (MEC)
  • Garmin inReach satellite tracking (MEC)
  • GoPro Mini 11 for self-documenting the race
  • iPhone and AirPods
  • Sinewave Cycle Beacon2 headlight (dynamo powered)
  • 1x 5,000 mpa power bank, 1x 10,000 mpa power bank, fast-charging wall charger, and cables
  • Black Diamond headlight (MEC)
  • Set of rear lights (MEC)

Tools, toiletry, and other items :

  • Sunscreen (lots of sunscreens)
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste
  • Laundry handwash soap
  • Eye mask, ear plugs
  • ibuprofen, allergy med
  • Caffeine, melatonin
  • BeFree water filter and water purifying tablets
  • Muc-Off Hydro chain lube with a rag
  • Hand pump, tire plugs and sealant
  • Multi-tools with chain breaker
  • Spare derailer hanger, spare brake pads, chain links
  • Patch repair kit
  • Protein powder, BCAAs, Greens powder

Thank you to my sponsors for gearing me up with the best. Find this gear online: MEC outdoor gear , 7mesh cycling apparel , Apidura bikepacking bags , Duke Racing Wheels , Warmlite Gear vapor barrier gear .

Live-Tracking – From June 9th, 2023

We will depart from Banff (AB) on June 9th, 2023. You can follow the race live via satellite tracking here .

Even though I will try to film as much as possible, I will not be posting a lot on social media during the race (because it’s a race!) and there isn’t much service between towns. If you do follow my progress, I will love to read your messages of encouragement!

You can find me on instagram at @msoleilblais74 and you can subscribe to my Youtube Channel to be notified when my Tour Divide film is up!

But why in the hell would someone want to race this?

I have long asked myself this question. What is my motivation, why do I want to race the Tour Divide and put all of the efforts behind such a big commitment? Multiple answers come to my mind.

First, it’s the curiosity, the need to push the limits and see how far I can go. I see this as a continuation of my fascination for the power of the mind and playing with the concept of removing references. To see what I could do if I go into something where I have no references at all. Can I carry my time trial state of mind over 4,300km ? How resilient am I?

Second, it’s the transformation. Endurance has never been something I particularly excel at naturally. I had a strong anaerobic profile as a pro cyclist but that is quite useless over a long distance. I think you never become ready for the biggest race of your life, just like you don’t do a marathon before your first marathon. You “become” someone who is capable of doing it, by doing it. I want to become the person at the finish line who was able to race that distance and push her limits to a new level. No matter what happens, I will come out of this test stronger and more resilient.

Lastly, I want to live the experience. The experience of racing my bike all day, all night. Riding as far as I can, every day, with nothing else on my mind than going further. I quite enjoy the solitude of riding long distances in remote areas, and I look forward to re-discovering the magnificent, yet challenging course that is the Tour Divide.

Stay tuned, peace out

Full heart, fullgas

Marie-Soleil Blais

Marie-Soleil Blais

Bike Racer & Adventurer

You might also enjoy

A bikepacking story – full film release.

tour divide profile

Bikepacking 101 – Tips for your first bikepacking or bike touring trip

tour divide profile

Tour Divide 2023 Live Tracker

Follow on smart phones with BlueDot App!

Previous / Next / View all

About the Tracker

tour divide profile

  • Touring & Bikepacking Bikes

The Fastest Bikes of the Tour Divide Ultra Race (4,400KM Non-Stop)

' src=

Table of Contents

Frame material, drivetrains, gear ratios, the most popular tour divide bike, update: the top-10 tour divide bikes for 2022.

The Tour Divide is an annual off-road ride traversing the length of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada all the way to the Mexican border. The course is over 4,418km long (2745mi), and along the way, riders will gain over 60,000 metres in elevation (200,000ft).

The clock begins at the grand depart and doesn’t stop until riders cross the finish line. And by the way, the ride is strictly self-supported. The fastest riders will complete the course in around two weeks, covering approximately 280 kilometres per day (174mi).

It’s safe to say that the Tour Divide is an extreme test of both the body and mind.

It’s also very interesting from a gear optimisation perspective, as a few small differences in bike setup will allow riders to make their lives a bit easier. In this video, we will be analysing 121 different bike setups from this year’s Tour Divide to find out what makes the best possible setup.

The statistics I will be drawing upon have been wonderfully collected by BIKEPACKING.com in the form of two articles ( HERE and HERE ), where riders from all around the world discuss their bike, bag and gear highlights.

As these articles separate bikes based on whether they use a drop bar or flat bar, this seems like a great place for us to start.

tour divide profile

A bit over half of the riders interviewed this year are using drop bar bikes (55%).

When people think ‘drop bars’, they think ‘speed’. But speed alone is not how most will pick a handlebar for the Tour Divide. This is a very long event, so comfort is the likely reason that riders choose one handlebar design over another. Contrary to popular belief, the widespread use of the different bar types demonstrates that many bar designs can be ergonomic and comfortable – it’s really just a case of personal preference.

But comfort aside, there is likely an aerodynamic advantage to using drop bars.

When it comes to the aerodynamics of cycling, you ideally want to make your body shape more aerodynamic (Cd), your frontal area smaller (A) – or both. By using drop bars, your hands and elbows do not sit as wide, allowing you to reduce your frontal area and optimise your body shape.

A bit of napkin maths suggests that drop bars could save two or three hours over the full Tour Divide course (75kg/165lb rider, 15kg/33lb bike, 140 watts power output).

You can learn more about the aerodynamics of touring and bikepacking HERE .

tour divide profile

While we’re still on the topic of handlebars, one of the best possible ways to improve both your speed and comfort is to fit aero bars to your bike. Most Tour Divide riders seem to agree, as 77% of them are using aero bars this year.

This is partly because you can make your body shape more aerodynamic with an aero bar, allowing you to ride faster with the same effort. But arguably, it’s the additional comfort that’s the most appealing feature.

Consider this, Tour Divide riders at the pointy end of the race spend upwards of 20 hours per day riding their bikes. This results in a lot of localised body fatigue. Aero bars offer your body a break by providing a different riding position that reduces strain on your arms, wrists, hands and bum, and will allow you to stretch out your back and use different muscles.

If you want to go further down this rabbit hole, I have a detailed article about aero bars HERE .

tour divide profile

The saddle you choose is going to be the difference between completing the Tour Divide and having to scratch.

It’s hard to make saddle recommendations to a broad audience – you really have to try them first. But there are some trends here.

Brooks is the most popular saddle brand for the Tour Divide with 20% of riders using one, so they must be doing something right. Ergon saddles have really taken off recently and now more than 17% of riders have one fitted. And WTB has consistently been a popular brand, featuring on 15% of the bikes.

You can learn more about saddle comfort for touring HERE .

tour divide profile

Only 13% of riders are using a suspension seatpost (including the carbon leaf-sprung Ergon CF3).

After extensively testing suspension seatposts, I think that many riders could improve their TD experience with one of these. Short travel posts are 100 or maybe 200 grams heavier (3-6oz) than a rigid post. That’s it.

You can read my detailed suspension seatpost article HERE and carbon flex seatpost article HERE .

tour divide profile

If you are racing the clock, your tyres are probably the most important component you can optimise over a 4,400km ride.

Some tyres that I’m seeing fitted to TD bikes have been tested on smooth surfaces to roll with 20-watts extra resistance over other tyre sets. A bit of napkin maths suggests that slow tyres could add more than 20 hours of pedalling to a TD run!

But that said, it’s hard to come up with an accurate time figure due to the mix of road surfaces, varying rider weights, tyre pressures and more.

The most popular tyre is the Vittoria Mezcal and you will find it on more than 1/3 of all bikes.

The Mezcal has become the go-to tyre for the TD as it does an incredible job of balancing rolling resistance, puncture resistance, durability and grip. When you move to faster-rolling options like the Schwalbe Thunder Burt, you end up with significantly less grip and a touch less puncture resistance too – which might not keep your mind at ease.

Essentially, there’s a trade-off on all tyres, and it seems that the Mezcal is where most people end up.

tour divide profile

The second most popular tyre is the Maxxis Ikon. These are tested to be slower rolling but are known for their reliability – I know ultra racers who have been using them for years and have literally never had a puncture.

I’m not sure why the Continental Race King Protection tyres (7% of bikes) are less popular than in years past. These tyres are what the late Mike Hall used to set the current 13-day, 22-hour course record. They’ve been tested to be ultra-fast rolling, they’re protective of punctures, and some riders have even raced the TD twice on the same set (8,800km).

If you know why these tyres are less preferred nowadays – let me know.

tour divide profile

In terms of wheel diameter, there are three common sizes on bikes tackling the TD: 26-inch, 27.5-inch and 29-inch.

As the largest diameter wheel offers the smallest ‘angle of attack’ over bumps and depressions in the road, it can maintain the highest speed. 88% of riders are now picking the big 29″ wheels, and it drops off to just 7% of riders using the smaller 27.5″ wheels.

The average tyre width that’s used is 2.2″/55mm. This is likely the sweet spot where riders have the lowest rolling resistance and the most ride comfort on the long dirt roads.

tour divide profile

Almost half of all TD riders (49%) opted for a carbon fibre bike frame. This is the obvious choice for an event with over 60,000 vertical metres (200,000ft) climbing, as a kilogram can make a measurable difference here.

A Salsa Cutthroat carbon frame weighs a touch under 1.5 kilograms (3.3lb). In comparison, a similarly tough titanium frame is often about 2.2kg/4.9lb, and steel is closer to 3.0kg/6.6lb.

Again, the napkin comes out and I’ve calculated an extra kilogram for the average rider to be about 1.5 hours over 4,400km. That’s not huge, but it could be the difference between first and second place.

tour divide profile

1X drivetrains now make up 82% of all bike setups using derailleurs. This should be unsurprising, as the Tour Divide is an off-road route that demands wide tyres and low gear ratios, and almost all bikes that accommodate these features now come with 1X drivetrains.

You’ll notice that there aren’t too many gearbox drivetrains at the Tour Divide this year (4%). But this event has previously been won on a Rohloff 14-speed bike (Ollie Whalley, 2012) – so these drivetrains can be a good idea.

That said, gearbox drivetrains are heavier and less efficient than derailleurs so I suspect that’s why they aren’t popular.

Again, my napkin is out, and I’d estimate the Rohloff would add 3-4 hours in good conditions as a result of its lower drive efficiency, plus you could add another hour or two due to the heavier weight. And the Pinion gearbox could add a total of 10 hours when we factor everything in.

tour divide profile

If you want to get up the steep hills without going into the red, you’ll want appropriately low gear ratios on your bike. Tour Divide riders seem to know this well, as the average low climbing gear across all bikes is just 20 gear inches. This is about right for the course.

Achieving less than 20 gear inches is easy on flat bar bikes, but harder on drop bar bikes as there is limited compatibility between drop bar shifters and mountain bike derailleurs. I’m really impressed with the drivetrain workarounds on the drop bar bikes – about a quarter have been ‘hacked’ in some way to achieve 20 gear inches or less.

The most popular hack is the Wolftooth RoadLink . This extends the effective length of your derailleur, allowing you to accommodate a bigger cassette with lower gear ratios. Another nice hack is the fitment of the Ratio Technology upgrade kit that mates 11-speed SRAM road shifters to 12-speed mountain bike derailleurs.

If you have deep pockets, the SRAM AXS wireless road shifters pair with the wireless AXS mountain bike derailleurs to fit 10 to 52-tooth cassettes. It seems that few drop bars riders are on a small budget as one-in-three bikes are using this setup!

tour divide profile

Almost all riders are using clip-in pedals (86%).

Most of the performance advantages of clip-in pedals are found under acceleration , so there likely isn’t a big disadvantage to those who choose flats. I’d guess that clip-in pedals are simply what most people are used to when they ride their road or mountain bikes, and as a result, it’s just their preference.

Hydraulic disc brakes are also preferred by the majority of riders (82%). They are very reliable these days and often require less grip strength to pull your bike to a stop. This is particularly important when your hands are fatigued after a couple of weeks of riding!

tour divide profile

Only 30% of all TD bikes are using suspension forks.

Suspension will undoubtedly reduce rider fatigue on the rougher sections of the route. And given that you can lock out most suspension, the biggest disadvantage is simply that it adds weight to your bike – most suspension forks are approximately 1.5kg heavier than carbon forks.

My napkin says that’s a bit over two hours of ride time for the average rider. So, what do you think? Is it worth it?

tour divide profile

Incredibly, Salsa made up a whopping 39% of all Tour Divide bikes this year. In fact, there were 8X more Salsas than the second-most popular bike brand (Niner).

Salsa Cycles are the biggest adventure bike brand in the world right now, and the Cutthroat model, in particular, was designed specifically to excel at the Tour Divide. This model represents 52% of all drop bar bikes here, and it’s not hard to see why – when I take a look at my Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guide , the Cutthroat is the only carbon drop bar bike that can fit wide tyres.

And if you’ve ever wondered where the name Cutthroat comes from, the Cutthroat trout is the state fish for all US states that the Tour Divide passes through. You’re welcome.

tour divide profile

Through this analysis, I think the seatpost and tyres are the only areas where Tour Divide riders could squeeze out a bit more performance and comfort. But overall, these rigs are really well dialled in. Just lining up for this event requires a lot of research, so I’m not surprised that almost all bikes are perfectly ready for the course.

To finish up, here’s what the average Tour Divide bike is:

It’s a rigid carbon bike fitted with 29″ wheels and running Vittoria Mezcal tyres in the 2.2″ width. The bike has drop bars, clip-in pedals, hydraulic brakes, aero bars and a 1X drivetrain. The saddle is most likely made by Brooks.

There is a high chance that a SRAM wireless drivetrain is fitted, which allows for the pairing of drop bar shifters and a mountain bike drivetrain to give an appropriately low 20 gear inch climbing gear.

Sofiane Sehili Bike Setup

There is now a 2022 Tour Divide winner – Sofiane Sehili! He rode a carbon Vitus Rapide to Antelope Wells in 14 days, 16 hours and 36 minutes.

Here are the bike statistics from the top-10 finishers this year: Handlebar Type – 70% flat bar, 30% drop bar Aero Bars – 100% aero bars fitted Saddles – 20% Brooks, 20% Ergon, rest is mixed Seatposts – 70% rigid, 30% suspension (including Ergon leaf-sprung posts) Tyre Model – 60% Vittoria Mezcal, 20% Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge, 10% Maxxis Rekon, 10% Schwalbe G-One Tyre Width  – 2.19″ wide average Wheel Size – 100% 29-inch wheels Frame Material – 50% carbon, 40% titanium, 10% steel Drivetrains – 80% 1X drivetrains, 10% 2X drivetrains, 10% singlespeed Low Climbing Gear – 19.9 gear inches average Pedals – 100% clip-in Brakes – 90% hydraulic, 10% mechanical Suspension – 80% rigid, 20% suspension Bike Brands – 20% Salsa, 20% Chiru, rest is mixed

  • aerodynamics
  • rolling resistance
  • Tour Divide

' src=

Tour Divide Elevation Profile

TD Tour Elevation Profile - tour divide guide

Leave a Reply

Leave a reply cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

CHECKOUT ALL OUR GUIDES

Arizona Trail Logo - azt - aztr

Support the Project

Simply clicking on the links below with our affiliates supports the Project.

Or checkout our Deals page to save big!

Rei logo

Our Thoughts on Getting Outside

Leave no trace principles, recreate responsibly.

  • Profile + Stats
  • Current Route: GDMBR-2011v1 TD-2018v1 TD-2017v1 TD-2016v2 TD-2016v1 TD-2015v2 TD-2015v1 TD-2014v1

Downloading Track...

This may take a few moments.

Speaker Mike Johnson says he plans to invite Netanyahu to speak to Congress

Mike Johnson

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Thursday that he plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to Congress about the conflict against Hamas in Gaza .

"I would love to have him come in and address a joint session of Congress. We’ll certainly extend that invitation," Johnson said in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Johnson said Netanyahu has already invited him to speak to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and they just have to work out scheduling. The speaker then denounced Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for his floor speech last week railing against Netanyahu's leadership and calling for new elections in Israel .

"To suggest to our strongest ally in the Middle East, the only stable democracy, that he knows better how to run their democracy is just patently absurd," Johnson said. "I mean, imagine if I came on your show this morning and called for regime change in Ukraine, in the middle of their crisis, fighting for their very survival. That’s what Israel is facing right now. And for the leader of the Senate to say such a thing was just outrageous."

Asked if Schumer would have to agree to Netanyahu speaking before Congress, Johnson said, "Well I guess we’ll find out. I mean, look, I’m the one that extends the invitations to speak in the House. And if we just have the House, that’s fine too. But I think a big majority of that Senate would want to come and stand in support of Netanyahu and Israel."

Johnson hasn't spoken with Schumer yet about Netanyahu potentially coming to Congress to speak, a spokesperson for the Democratic leader said Thursday.

"Israel has no stronger ally than the United States and our relationship transcends any one president or any one Prime Minister," Schumer said in a statement. "I will always welcome the opportunity for the Prime Minister of Israel to speak to Congress in a bipartisan way.”

Netanyahu last spoke to a joint session of Congress in 2015, when both chambers were controlled by Republicans, and he used the speech to criticize the Obama administration over its negotiations with U.S. allies and Iran on a nuclear deal.

Netanyahu on Wednesday addressed Senate Republicans by video for 45 minutes in a closed-door meeting, while Schumer rejected a request by the Israeli prime minister to address Senate Democrats .

"Sen. Schumer made it clear that he does not think these discussions should happen in a partisan manner. That’s not helpful to Israel," a spokesperson for Schumer said Wednesday.

GOP senators who heard Netanyahu speak said his main message to them was Israel is going to "finish the job" against Hamas.

The White House is expecting to meet with an Israeli delegation in Washington next week, a U.S. official said, after President Joe Biden invited a team of officials to visit during a phone call with Netanyahu earlier this week . During that conversation, Biden warned the Israeli prime minister against proceeding with his country's planned ground offensive in Rafah, a city in southwestern Gaza along Egypt's border.

Another U.S. official said that the Biden administration will formalize its recommendations to the Israelis to use small-scale operations that go after high-value Hamas targets and don’t put civilians at risk.

tour divide profile

Rebecca Shabad is a politics reporter for NBC News based in Washington.

tour divide profile

Kyle Stewart is an associate producer covering Congress for NBC News.

Dakota Johnson’s take on her ‘Madame Web’ castmates sums up the Gen Z vs. millennial divide in the workplace: ‘I love them … and they annoy me’ 

Celeste O'Connor, Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson and Isabela Merced attend the World Premiere of Sony Pictures' "Madame Web."

It turns out generational differences aren’t just being noted in the corporate world, it’s happening in Tinseltown as well. At least, that’s if you ask millennial actress Dakota Johnson.

While promoting her latest film, Madame Web, the Fifty Shades of Grey star has spoken warmly of her younger costars but has been open about the distinction between herself and her Gen Z colleagues.

Also working on the Sony project is 26-year-old Sydney Sweeney, 25-year-old Celeste O’Connor, and 22-year-old Isabela Merced, often pictured walking red carpets together during the press tour for the superhero movie.

When asked by Seth Meyers on his late-night talk show how Johnson liked working with the Gen Zers, she responded: “I love them. And they annoy me.” Meyers asked if her annoyance was on a “generational level,” to which she agreed.

“I love them,” she repeated multiple times, adding she felt the oldest “all the time … like every second of the day. I’m not that much older than them.”

The actor—and daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson—added her younger castmates made sure she was “well aware” of the age difference. Johnson told E! News she had a “sisterly dynamic” with her younger team members, who left her out of a Gen Z group chat. “I don’t think they include me,” she said.

Widely seen differences

Johnson, who has also starred in films such as The Peanut Butter Falcon and Our Friend, is highlighting some of the many widely noted workplace differences between younger workers and their older counterparts—with Lloyds Bank revealing yesterday how highly Gen Z value their independence from the wider workforce.

The Lloyds study of 1,500 people found 80% of those surveyed want to launch their own business so they no longer have to answer to a boss. And compared with other generations, Gen Z—born between the late 1990s and early 2000s—are confident in their success, with 73% saying they were optimistic about their odds of going it alone.

Financial independence is the top reason cited by Gen Z freelancers for wanting to work for themselves, along with flexibility to focus more on hobbies and passions. They’re also not looking to traditional channels for advice on how to get the ball rolling. Lloyds Bank data found 26% of Gen Z are getting inspiration from TikTok for starting their own companies, and are nearly three times as likely (27% vs. 11%) as other generations to turn to online content creators for guidance on how to succeed.

More widely, it’s clear younger employees have different intentions in what they want out of their careers. They’re open about prioritizing work-life balance and contributing to companies that have strong moral and ethical values .

But they’re also struggling: Gen Z (currently between ages 11 and 26) are more likely to call in sick on account of mental illness than Gen X counterparts 20 years their senior. They’re also realizing how tough it can be to get a job —and sometimes can’t afford the commute when they do.

‘They were close … I was always working’

Although clearly a fan of her younger colleagues, Johnson isn’t the first big name to discuss the divide between Gen Z actors and older counterparts. Jodie Foster said in January that younger actors are “really annoying” to work with, telling The Guardian : “They’re like, ‘Nah, I’m not feeling it today, I’m gonna come in at 10:30 a.m.’”

Johnson said she witnessed “great camaraderie” among Sweeney, O’Connor, and Merced, describing it as “sweet and wonderful.” In an interview with Capital FM this month Johnson added: “Those three ended up becoming really close. I was always on set working, and they did have some days off, so it was great when they would come in.” Elsewhere, the star has showered the younger trio with praise, commending their work ethic and talent.

Studies have illustrated Gen Z’s commitment to their work—though not necessarily with the same focus on the corporate ladder as their colleagues. Alongside millennials, Gen Z have built up major side-hustle roles earning them $1,505 a month on average, according to a recent study by LendingTree .

And a freelance job isn’t just something they’ve picked up for now—a commitment to earning for themselves is something they want in the long term. The LendingTree study shows 48% of respondents intend to keep up the side hustle indefinitely, regardless of whether they land a higher-paying role, achieve a certain level of savings, or pay off debt.

Latest in Success

  • 0 minutes ago

Stephanie Pope

Boeing taps internal executive with three decades experience for top job in commercial airlines, but it might not be a ‘slam dunk,’ CEO succession expert says

Man looking at text on a screen generated by artificial intelligence

Some managers looking for a discount think it’s time to replace you with AI 

Executive vice president of The Boeing Company and president and chief executive officer of Boeing Global Services Stephanie Pope gives a press conference at the ParisLe Bourget Airport, on June 20, 2023. (Photo by Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT / AFP) (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images)

Meet Stephanie Pope, the longtime Boeing exec about to become CEO of its commercial airplanes division

Linda Bean

Linda Bean, catalogue heiress turned lobster booster and environmentalist turned Trump supporter, dies at 82

Bustling cities like Rotterdam are growing in popularity for talent and investors.

Europe’s hottest talent is moving to the continent’s second cities like Manchester, Rotterdam, and Stuttgart for a better quality of life—so bosses are following suit

tour divide profile

Want to earn nearly $100,000 within 5 years of graduating? Study engineering, new Fed research says

Most popular.

tour divide profile

Stellantis uses ‘mandatory remote work day’ to cut 400 white-collar jobs: ‘It was a mass firing of everybody that was on the call’

tour divide profile

The key to a long life is avoiding the ‘poisonous 5 P’s,’ says one of the world’s top anti-aging experts

tour divide profile

‘I wasn’t built to work 9 to 5 every single day’: These Gen Z bosses introduced slump hour, siestas, chilled one-to-ones, and flattened structures because they’re tired of formal corporate customs

tour divide profile

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer was once Bill Gates’ assistant, now he’s the 6th richest person in the world. Here are his 5 tips for success

tour divide profile

These are the worst-paying college degrees, according to a Fed analysis of 75 majors

tour divide profile

Restaurant robots are the ‘vanguard of automation,’ top analyst says. It’s not coming for fast-food workers’ jobs—it’s actually helping them

Diddy's Los Angeles and Miami Homes Raided by Federal Law Enforcement

Diddy's Los Angeles and Miami Homes Raided by Federal Law Enforcement

Celebs Wearing Calvin Klein Undies

Guess The Sexy Star Rockin' These Calvin Klein Undies!

California Man Arrested After Carrying Around, Biting Severed Human Leg

California Man Arrested After Carrying Around, Biting Severed Human Leg

Emma Hernan And Chrishelle Stause In Cabo -- Besties On Vacay!

'Selling Sunset's Emma Hernan And Chrishelle Stause Dazzle On Besties Vacay!

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Pack on PDA While Swimming In the Bahamas

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Pack on PDA While Swimming In the Bahamas

Taylor swift and travis kelce enjoy lunch date at nobu malibu, taylor swift & travis kelce keeping it breezy by the beach ... lunch date in malibu, 20.7k 3/24/2024 9:49 pm pt.

Taylor Swift is finally ready to have her picture taken in LA — and yes … Travis Kelce was right by her side for the high-profile photo-op.

The couple hit up one of the most frequented hot spots in town Sunday by dropping in on Nobu Malibu — and in broad daylight, no less … so you know they were ready to be snapped by paps, and they 100% were.

This was a lunch outing, and as you can see … TK and Tay Tay had a balcony seat, facing the ocean.

On their way out, Trav and Taylor were holding hands — and aside from some sunglasses covering T-Swift’s eyes … she was out there in all her pop star glory.

Quite the opposite vibe from what we’ve seen with her of late … namely, umbrellas and car curtains, trying to obscure a clear shot.

This is the first we’ve seen of Taylor in LA in a good long while — of course, we’ve seen her out and about in Australia and Singapore for her concerts.

But, since she’s returned to the States — post- Super Bowl — she’s been relatively low-key. Same for Travis … although, he doesn’t seem as bashful as she is in front SoCal cameras.

Their appearance here at Nobu follows what seems to have been a nice little getaway for the two of them. Remember … there were signs they were down in the Bahamas recently, and Travis himself popped up in Cleveland the other day.

Now, they’re back on the West Coast … with nothing but time on their hands. He doesn’t have to start playing football again until the summer — and Taylor isn’t going back to work until May.

In the meantime, they’re chowing down on overpriced sushi and taking in the sunshine.

Have fun, you two!

  • Share on Facebook

related articles

tour divide profile

Taylor Swift's L.A. Fans Caused Earthquake During SoFi 'Eras' Concert

tour divide profile

Travis Kelce In Talks To Host 'Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?' Reboot

Old news is old news be first.

SORT CONTENT BY LOCATION

CLICK TO DRILL DOWN BY COUNTRY/PROVINCE

Your browser is ancient! Upgrade to a different browser or install Google Chrome Frame to experience this site.

Inspiration

  • Bikepacking 101
  • Join/Support

Bikepacking.com

  • View Latest/All
  • Bikepacking Videos
  • Your Stories
  • Rider's Lens
  • Field Trips

Popular Tags

  • #bikerafting
  • #Tour-Divide
  • #family-bikepacking
  • #winter-bikepacking
  • #1Q5V (1 Question 5 Voices)

Gear/Reviews

  • Bikepacking Bags
  • Camping Gear
  • Accessories
  • #Editors-Dozen (Our Favorite Gear)
  • #Gear-of-the-Year
  • #MYOBG (DIY)
  • #Decade-in-Review (Best of All Time)

The Gear Index

Latest indexes.

  • Mini Panniers
  • Saddlebags & Top Openers
  • Cargo Cages & Anything Bags
  • Gravel Bars
  • Drop Bar 29ers

Bikepacking Bikes

  • Rigid & Plus Bikes
  • Drop-bar & Gravel
  • Full Suspension

Rigs & Roundups

  • Rider & Rig
  • Race/Event Rig Roundups
  • Worthy Builds
  • Handbuilt Bikes
  • #29+ (29-plus)
  • #vintage-mountain-bikes
  • #cargo-bikes
  • Readers' Rigs (Dispatch)
  • New Bikes (Dispatch)

Plan Your Trip

  • Bikepacking Guides
  • Bikepacking Food
  • Gear & Pack Lists
  • Bike Photography

Essential Reading

  • Leave No Trace (for Bikepackers)
  • Guide To Bikepacking Bags
  • Bikepacking Gear That Lasts
  • #Bikepacking-Awards
  • Power Of An Overnighter
  • Advice For New Bikepackers
  • Our Favorite Bikepacking Routes
  •     

Where to Begin

We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries.

tour divide profile

Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography.

By Location

  • The United States
  • Latin America
  • Middle East

Singletrack Bikepacking Icon

By Length (days)

  • Overnighters & S24O
  • Weekend Routes (2-4)
  • Week-long Routes (5-10)
  • Odyssey Routes (11-30)
  • "Freakouts" (31+)

Local Overnighters

The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the world—by locals, in their own backyards.

The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the world), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format.

Bikepacking Story

The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you won’t want to miss! It features 25% more pages with extra stories, bonus art and maps, and much more...

Bikepacking Story

Issue 09 takes readers on trips through time—one to the early days of bicycles—and offers several reminders to be grateful for supportive friends and family, and strangers we meet along the way...

Bikepacking Journal

For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives we’ve long been eager to share...

bikepacking.com - Bikepacking Gear and Routes

Rigs of the 2022 Tour Divide (Part 2): Drop-Bar Bikes

tour divide profile

Part 2 of our massive Rigs of the 2022 Tour Divide roundup features more than 60 drop-bar bikes that’ll be setting out on the 2,700-mile route between Banff, Alberta, and Antelope Wells, New Mexico, tomorrow morning. Find details on all of them here, including bag and gear highlights for each..

tour divide profile

After a canceled 2020 event, followed by an adjusted version in 2021 due to border closures, the annual Tour Divide grand depart is finally back to normal this year. As such, we couldn’t be more excited to present our Rigs of the 2022 Tour Divide—one of the most popular rig roundups we publish each year.

Continuing on from yesterday’s post, in which we shared more than 50 loaded flat-bar bikes , we’re excited to present the second part of our extensive roundup. This time around, we’re highlighting more than 60 drop-bar rigs that will be lined up for the grand depart tomorrow morning in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Browse all the rigs below, featuring bag and gear highlights for each. And when the event kicks off, you’ll be able to follow along live over on our 2022 Tour Divide Tracker .

Andrea Galanti

Age 39 / bologna (italy).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: For my first Tour Divide, I have the great chance to race with an UP by Open Cycle. The bike runs with a 1×12 AXS drivetrain, a pair of 3T 27.5″ wheels with Ultradynamico Rosé tires, and a SON 28 dynamo hub that provides energy for my Garmin 1030 plus, MTB ultra V2 light set from kLite, and a power bank for the other electronic devices. I’m using an ENVE seatpost and ENVE gravel handlebar. Since I’m using a gravel bike, I chose components to absorb as much vibration as possible, including a Redshift Suspension Stem and an incredible Fizik Argo adaptive saddle. BAGS: As usual, I have bags from Miss Grape, a full-frame for electronics, documents, parts, plus some food, a rear bag for clothes, and a front bag for sleeping gear. Feedbags will be used for water. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Definitely my Leatherman knife. For the night, I will use an Alpkit Pipedream 200 and Black Diamond Ultralite bivi bag to protect my Sea to Summit Ether Light XT. I choose to wear a merino base layer and T-shirt from Maad Cycling, a cargo bib and merino socks from Cascada, and Fizik Terra Ergolace X2 shoes if I need to walk.

Abe Kaufman

Age 39 / harrisonburg, virginia (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2020 Salsa Cutthroat with a 1×12 SRAM AXS drivetrain using a 38T front chainring and 10-52T cassette. The cockpit features a Redshift ShockStop stem and Drop Grips mounted to a Salsa Cowchipper handlebar. Contact points are rounded out with Shimano XTR pedals and an Ergon Allroad saddle and seatpost. BAGS: The large triangle features an awesome locally made custom bolt-on frame bag. I’ll also be using two locally made feed bags, a Sea to Summit stuff sack on the handlebars, along with an Apidura top tube and saddle bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Using a SON dynamo hub to power a kLite gravel lamp. An Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, Zpacks quilt, and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir pad round out my sleep system.

Ashley Carelock

Age 39 / colorado (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Rodeo Labs Trail Donkey with a 12-speed 10-52T SRAM E-tap drivetrain and a 34T chainring up front. The wheels are Nex Gen V7, CF gravel, laced with a SON Dyno hub up front. The rubber is American Classic Wentworth 50mm tires. I’ll be rocking my favorite saddle, the Ergon SR Woman’s Pro. BAGS: All bags are from the awesome folks at Oveja Negra. I’m using the bolt-on Snack Pack for extreme snacking while riding, the Chuckbucket Handlebar Snack Bag for repair equipment, the Superwdgie Frame Bag for food, clothes, and personal items, and the large Gearjammer seat bag for my sleep system and extra clothes. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For added hand and wrist comfort, I’ve got the Redshift Shockstop stem and my favorite aero bars, the Profile Designs Air Stryke. I’m outfitted with an array of Sportful clothing to keep me dry and comfy, and my favorite Lazer helmet, the G1, to keep my head safe. I’ll also be carrying an Osprey hydration pack (2.5L) with an in-line Sawyer filter.

Alex Needleman

Age 49 / barrie, ontario (canada).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a V2 Salsa Cutthroat with MASON x HUNT Search 29 Wheelset running a SON Dynamo shod in Fleecer Ridge tires. Aero bars are pro missle on a Fred bar. The rear cassette is a 11-40T with a Wolf Tooth road link. The Saddle is a carved Brooks C17. BAGS: The frame bag is custom made Thief double-decker. The seat bag is Ortlieb 16L, Revelate made the feed bags and the front harness. The top tube bag is a Revelate Mag Tank 2000. Fork bags and mounts are Salsa. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The tent is a Nature Hike Cloud 1 Up. Sleeping bag is a 0-degree Draco from MEC and the pad a Klymit.

Ben Handrich

Age 35 / salem, oregon (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: My bike is a custom English Cycles Attack Owl from Rob English in Eugene, Oregon. My drivetrain is all SRAM Eagle AXS components with a 36T chainring up front, SRAM Red Hydraulic disc brakes, Industry Nine Carbon wheels, and then a mixture of Ritchey and ENVE carbon bits to finish out the build. The bike weighs in around 21 pounds with pedals and bottle cages (yes, you counted correctly—there are four bottle cages). BAGS: The framebag is a custom bolt-on framebag by Kaibob Customs out of Eugene, Oregon. Top tube bags and seatbag are Apidura and Revelate Designs. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Honestly, my whole kit. I’m so excited to be rolling on an Oregon-made bike with an Oregon-made framebag, as it feels like I’m bringing a little bit of home along with me. Even the name of my bike, “Attack Owl,” is in reference to a rather hilarious owl that “attacks” runners at the park I live next to, which gives me a good chuckle every time I look at the vinyl logo. Outside of that, I’m going pretty minimal with a focus on functional and multi-purpose gear.

Brian Toone

Age 44 / birmingham, alabama (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2019 Salsa Cutthroat. I have spent two weeks in the hospital from getting hit by cars (twice), so my frame is covered in lots of reflective day-glow green tape and has a Varia RCTL715 for video, rear light, and radar. I am running the stock 2.2″ Teravail Sparwood tires, 1×11 drivetrain with a 36T chainring, and the stock wheels (DT Swiss) with a SON Dynamo hub powering a Sinewave Beacon light. I also have Profile Design aerobar extensions for an extra hand position and to mount my down blanket. BAGS: I am using the Salsa full frame bag, so my water strategy is two feed bags (one for a bottle and one for bear spray) supplemented with two fork-mounted water bottles. I am going to carry some of my lighter clothes in a small Osprey backpack with inline Sawyer mini water filter and 85oz reservoir that will primarily stay empty. I am also running a Revelate seat pack, Salsa top tube bag, and a Revelate Jerrycan dedicated to spare tube and CO2. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have an emergency bivy, but I’m planning to use whatever shelter I can find for sleep and am not bringing a sleeping bag or tent. My down blanket could function as a mini shelter if absolutely necessary. Electronics will include a Garmin 1030+ with battery extender as primary navigation, Garmin inReach for tracking, iPhone for photos and backup navigation with route pre-downloaded via Ride with GPS for offline use. I am also bringing a backup phone to have a second chance at finding service if needed.

Brian Venable

Age 51 / memphis, tennessee (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be having a really slow and fun time riding the Tour Divide on a 2022 Marin Nicasio Plus. Pretty much stock except for some 52cm PNW The Coast handlebar, a very broken in Brooks B 17 saddle, and some Camp and Go Slow Eastern Rattler bar tape. My pedals are my OLD lucky green S&M box cage pedals! BAGS: My gigantic front bag is called the Void and along with my frame bag and two stem bags are handmade by Farther Bag Co. out of Memphis, TN. I also have two Salsa EXP Series Anything Cage and Bags as well as a Salsa EXP seat pack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m trying out the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 one-person bikepacking tent with a Klymit Insulated V Ultralite SL air mat with a AlpliveT400 down sleeping bag. Fingers crossed it’ll work! I’m finding my way around with a Garmin Edge 520 plus and a Spot X—hope they find me if I get lost!

Bruce Gordon

Age 59 / halfmoon bay, british columbia (canada).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding northbound on my 2020 810 di2 2×11 Salsa Cutthroat with 11-42T cassette, Fox 32 Step-Cast fork, Curve Walmer Bars (with the drops sawed off), In-line brakes on the flats, Ergo grips, i9-32mm stem, PD aero bars on 80mm risers, We Are One “Faction” carbon hoops laced to i9s and rolling on a pair of 2.2″ Conti Protection Race Kings and a Specialized S-Works Roman EVO/mirror saddle. BAGS: Arkel handle bar bag (sleeping kit), Apidura direct mount top tube bag (electronics), two feed bags slung over the top tube, two Gorilla bag fork bags, four bottle cages, Salsa direct mount frame bag with Apidura 3L bladder, Ortlieb saddle bag (clothes). GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Wahoo Element, iPhone, Zendure 27,000 mAh power bank, Magic Shine, Monteer 6500 front light with dedicated 10,000mAh power bank, First Gen SPOT, tent, quilt, and rain gear are all Zpacks. Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xtherm sleeping pad.

Carson Truesdell

Age 26 / charlotte, north carolina (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be enjoying the Great Divide on my 2021 Salsa Cutthroat Apex 1. I’ve made minimal changes off the stock components (aside subbing in a 34t Raceface chainring), as I have like how it rides as is. The tires are 2.2″ and were converted to be tubeless. BAGS: I was lucky to snag an extra custom frame bag from Rockgeist. It is direct mount, very sturdy, and can hold more than you think! The top tube bag (gas can) is also direct mount from Salsa. Additionally, I’m running a rear saddle bag (Salsa Exp Series Seat Pack) and two snack bags that a friend made from scratch. The Anything Cages on the front fork are housing the sleeping pad and various other items, attached via Voile straps. The downtube bag includes a repair kit, also held by Voile straps. A 2.5L CamelBak will be carried via a small, lightweight backpack (Osprey). GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Big Agnes two-person Blacktail Hotel Bikepacking tent is an incredibly light and durable tent that not only has space for two humans, but can cover/protect two bikes in the vestibule. Rocking Goodr sunglasses and a warm Cotopaxi 650 down fill hood jacket as well as merino/polyester blend Smartwool shirts and socks. Using a Garmin 530 for navigation.

Danny Green

Age 42 / poole, dorset (uk).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: For my rookie Tour Divide, I will be racing on a Canyon GRIZL CF SLX Di2. The bike rolls on a pair of DT Swiss GRC1400 carbon gravel rims with a set of Vittoria Mezcal 44mm tires and a SON28 Dynamo hub up front. Drivetrain is a Shimano GRX 2×11 speed, with a 46/30T crankset, and 11-42 cassette. Aerobars are Profile Design with Di2 shifters. Saddle is a Selle SMP Dynamic. BAGS: Apidura Race and Expedition bags. 1.5L hydro bladder inside the framepack, and I will wear an Osprey waistpack with water, food, and quick-to-hand kit (Goretex, Dynaplug, etc..) GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping system is an OR Alpine Ascentshell bivy with a Therm-a-Rest Uberlite air pad. Lighting the way will be Supernova dynamo lights, with Exposure lights as back-up. I will be navigating with a Garmin 1030.

Chris Ellison

Age 59 / austwick, yorkshire dales (uk).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’m riding the Tour Divide on my 2020 Salsa Cutthroat that I’ve had for the past two years. Originally 11-speed SRAM Force, it’s been running 12-speed XX1 Eagle for a year, using Ratio Technology conversion. I’m on a 34T AbsoluteBlack oval chainring. The wheels are Enve M50 on Hope Pro4 hubs and rolling on Teravail Sparwood tyres. BAGS: My bags are a mixture of WildCat, Spoked, and Alpkit but with all the lightweight stuff being bespoke DCF fabric items made by Wild Sky Gear. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleeping arrangements are a Terra Nova Ultra One tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir pad and Peter Hutchinson Designs down bag. My down jacket is from them too but most of my riding gear is merino wool. For navigation, I use an eTrex 30 along with printed profiles and joystick lights by Exposure. My indispensable item is my MP3 player, so much so that I carry two! I have 2.5L of bottles on the bike plus Platypus bags for another 4L across the more dry stretches. I am blessed to be a Yorkshireman, so from the same county as the greatest Tour Divide rider of them all. I’m honoured to be following in his wheel tracks again. #BeMoreMike.

Age 25 / Brooklyn, New York (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: 90s Dirt Research Hot Springs size xxxtra small frame, Craigslist special. Velo Orange Piolet fork. Wheels handbuilt by me (my first time!) – Shutter Precision PD-8 dynamo front hub and White Industries Eno rear, rolling on 26 x 2.2” Maxxis Ikons. Dinglespeed gearing is 36/17 outer and 34/19 inner courtesy of Garbaruk and Wolf Tooth rings paired with a White Industries Dos freewheel. Disc front/canti rear mullet brakes. 160mm Crupi cranks, MKS Lambda pedals, Ritchey Beacon drops, Pelago front rack. BAGS: All bags sewn by me (@besternweef on Instagram), plus a couple of Sea to Summit Big River dry bags. Dog carrier is a modified USPS mail bin. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Kasai Trailbeam — sick little dynamo light with integrated USB charger, 1/3 the price of a Sinewave. Also our Enlightened Equipment Accomplice 30° quilt, which comfortably sleeps two people and two dogs.

Christopher Schmidt

Age 47 / lake geneva, wisconsin (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: Salsa Cutthroat frameset with SRAM AXS Eagle drivetrain, 34T chainring, 10-52 cassette, and SRAM RED AXS shifters. 3T aero bars mounted on a Fred bar with an Enve Carbon Gravel 48cm handlebar complete the cockpit. Wheelset: Bontrager 30 Line Carbon/SON Dynamo Hub up front with a HED Belgium+/Industry Nine Hub in the rear on a fresh set of Vittoria Mezcal 2.1” tires. Front suspension is the 32 Float SC 29 FIT4 Factory Boost Fork. Pedaling Shimano XTRs on a Selle Anatomica X2 saddle. BAGS: Apidura aerobar pack, Revelate Mag Tank top tube bag, Revelate feedbags x2, custom Rockgeist framebag, Brooks drybag carried by a Tailfin carbon arch and Widefoot voile straps. 3L Hydrapak bag in the framebag and a PEdALED hydro vest on my back for extra water and food. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Montbell Breeze Dry-Tec Sleeping Bag cover as my Bivvy resting on a small Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad. Sleep kit wouldn’t be complete without a custom Nunatak PCT Pullover w/APEX synthetic insulation and custom Nunatak down-filled half bag, aka the “JayP skirt.” Navigation is Wahoo ELEMNT Roam. Lighting is kLite MTB kit.

David Boswell

Age 58 / oro valley, arizona (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’m a rookie looking to finish in 28 days on my 52cm 2020 Salsa Cutthroat. I’m running a 1×12 mullet drivetrain with a 34t front, a 10-52 SRAM XO1 cassette, XO1 Eagle AXS derailleur, and Force AXS brakes/shifters. I’ll be sitting on an Ergon SM Pro saddle and a Cane Creek eeSilk+ carbon seatpost with 30mm of travel (love it). The wheels are Whisky No. 9 carbon, Vittoria Mezcals 2.25, with an Industry 9 Hydra rear hub and a SON dynamo front. Salsa Cowchipper carbon bars with a 50mm Enve stem finish it off. BAGS: Since I ride a small frame and am limited on my seat bag, I chose to go with a Tumbleweed mini pannier rack and a set of Revelate Designs Nano Panniers. The frame bag is a direct mount Salsa, the sleep kit rides in Revelate Designs Pronghorn and an Egress bag on the front. The rest are a mix of Salsa, Rev Designs, and Bedrock. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep kit is a Tarptent Rainbow Li one-person tent, an Enlightened Equipment 30-degree quilt, and a Sea to Summit UL insulated pad.

David Quinn

Age 39 / sand springs, oklahoma (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a custom painted “Last Call Tulsa” 2019 Niner RLT Steel gravel bike. Painted specifically for this trip, the bike celebrates and reminds me of friends I ride with at home and the raddest single-day ride I have ever completed. Added for comfort is the gravel suspension fork by RockShox. The Rudy Ultimate XPLR shock complements my “small tire volume” very well to make a supple ride. The bike rolls on Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 700 x 45mm tires and is propelled by a SRAM wireless AXS Eagle XX1 mullet 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T Wolf Tooth Cinch chainring and Leonardi Racing 9-48T cassette, cranked by an Easton EC90-172.5mm carbon crankset with BBInfinite bottom bracket and Stages left side power meter. The wheels are Stan’s Carbon Grail CB7s with DT Swiss 240s modified with the 54T star ratchet upgrade. ENVE gravel carbon seat post, ENVE Carbon Gravel drop bars with Fizik bar tape, and a Fred Bar mount for the Profile Design Sonic Erogo 45AR aero bars on 30mm risers round out the contact surfaces. An aero bar Garmin mount, Exposure Lights stem fit bracket mount and, of course, the friendly trail bell finishes the cockpit. Lighting is by Exposure Lights with the Diablo MK12 on the helmet and the Toro MK12 on the bars. BAGS: Tailfin Carbon Rack with pannier mounts hold the bulk day-to-day and repair items. The bar bag is a Sea to Summit nylon compression sack squeezing the sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and bivy down to travel size. In the frame is Rapha’s Frame Pack, mostly for food, electronics, and handy riding clothes. Feed zone pack and bear spray holster are both Revelate Designs feed bags attached to the bars. Probably the most used item is the Mag Tank on the top tube for easy access to snacks. Hydration storage is the Adventure Hydration Crank Tank 4 with 4+ liters of capacity. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An Outdoor Research Alpine Ascent Shell Bivy is my shelter along with a 32°F Western Mountaineering mummy bag and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping pad. I’ll also be carrying a Garmin Edge 1030 Plus Cycling computer for navigation and the Garmin inReach Mini for tracking, safety, and remote communications. Power for all components comes from a fast-charging Anker Power Core Elite with 19,200mAh and 60W power output. Fast charging is from the four-port Ugreen 100-watt GaN fast charger.

Josh Ibbett

Age 34 / buckden (uk).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: This is my second time on the Divide, and I will be using the already proven Mason Cycles InSearchOf frame. I have opted for a RockShox Sid fork this time, the thinking is that comfort is faster long-term than weight savings. Wheels are Hunt Limitless Gravel Disc rims with a SON front dynamo hub. The groupset is a mix of GRX Di2 with some 11-speed XTR Di2 parts and an XT chainset. Tyres are Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge, bars are Ritchey VentureMax alloy, and I’m running a kLite dynamo light and charging system. BAGS: I am using some custom products from Tailfin. The bags are made to measure for the frame and the rear Aeropack is custom made with additional side pouches for easy access to rain gear or food. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My kit is from Albion Cycling, and I’ve paid particular attention to keeping dry. I’ll be using the Albion Zoa rain shell and prototype rain trousers to keep the worst of the weather off, with a custom hooded ultralight insulated jacket providing warmth. Albion cargo shorts will provide plenty of food storage options. Sleeping gear is the well tested OR Helium hooped bivvi, a short Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad, and a custom-made PHD sleeping bag.

Dave Williamson

Age 63 / invermere, british columbia (canada).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: Carrying me on the Tour Divide is my 2020 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike features 2x chainrings (30/46), 2.2” Fleecer Ridge tires, RaceFace cranks, and Di2 shifting. Modifications (thanks to Lakeside Bike Co) include an 11/42 cassette, SON Dynamo hub up front, Profile Design aero bars, and Brooks B17 leather saddle. BAGS: Principally Apidura bags and a Salsa EXP direct mount frame bag making the line-up. Three bottles mounted to the forks and downtube, also bringing a 3L bladder for parched sections. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping gear comprises a Rab bivvy bag, Big Agnes Anvil Horn sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir pad (for some extra comfort). To find my way, I’ll be packing a Wahoo Element Roam, and “kicking it old school” with paper maps.

David Crumbley

Age 61 / auburn, alabama (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: The bike I’ll be riding for the Tour Divide is a titanium Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon. What other bike is there for an Auburn fan!? I went with the titanium fork for more comfort/compliance and strength. It has SRAM AXS components, an 11-52 rear, and 32T chainring. Wheels are Reserve with an SP 8x dynamo hub powering a kLite Ultra MTB. Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires. Appreciate the Profile aero bars with 60mm rise as hip angle doesn’t change much when transitioning from tops/hoods to aero position, it’s comfortable, and my water bottle clears underneath. BAGS: My frame bag, top tube bag, and Honey Pots are all Rockgeist. Great performance from everything Rockgeist, and Greg is always helpful. Salsa Anything Cradle on bars, Anything Cages on forks, and Salsa front pouch. Just added the Tailfin Aeropack with mini panniers. So far, very solid/stable setup. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My shelter is a Big Agnes Fly Creek HV along with a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm and Katabatic quilt. For navigation, my primary guide is a Wahoo Roam with Gaia GPS and Ride with GPS as backups. My tracker is an inReach Explorer+.

David Landis

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a custom Salsa Cutthroat built around a non-boost 2018 frameset. Highlights include SRAM AXS XO1 with 36T x 10-52 gearing and two sets of wireless blips, TRP Hylex brakes. Cockpit is framed with Ritchey VentureMax bars, Profile Design aerobars, and a Redshift stem. Wheels are built on SON dynamo and DT240 hubs with Nextie carbon rims running 29 x 2.25 Mezcals. BAGS: Frame and stem bags are a custom local collaboration from Harrisonburg, VA. Remaining bags are all Revelate: the trusty Viscacha saddle bag and Gas tank/Jerrycan top tube bags. Cage mounted 2x 1L Magnum bottles on the fork and a Zéfal tool canister on the downtube. A Sea to Summit dry compression sack Voile strapped to the handlebars and aerobars carries the sleep system. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Zpacks Solo 30°F quilt and Hexamid tent, along with a Therm-a-Rest Uberlight make up the camp setup. Navigation via Garmin 530, backups of the Wahoo Bolt and Fenix 6x watch. Running an inReach Mini 2 for tracking. Power and light via the kLite gravel kit.

Age 65 / Wellington (New Zealand)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2018 Salsa Fargo. The bike features a Shimano GRX 1×11 drivetrain – 32T chainring and an 11-46 cassette. In addition, tyres are Continental XKings, an SP dynamo, a Lauf fork, and Profile aerobars. BAGS: Custom framebag and top tube bag by BBD. Oveja Negra seatbag and toptube bag. Rockgeist for feedbags and front roll harness. Three 1L bottles mounted to downtube plus a 2L Platypus in framebag when required. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: kLite dynamo lights front and rear SMD Lunar solo tent.

David Schultz

Age 54 / duluth, minnesota (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on my 2020 Salsa Cutthroat GRX 600 with Fox 32 Step-Cast Fork. Onyx rear hub, SON 28 dynamo, Sinewave Beacon light, Wolf Tooth GoatLink 11 paired with Shimano 11-40 cassette, Redshift Kitchen Sink Handlebar, and Dual-Position seatpost, Brooks Imperial saddle, Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires. BAGS: Cedaero Frame Pack, Tank Top LD, Wedge, and Devils Draw Packs. Salsa EXP Anything Cradle and Revelate Terrapin Seat bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system includes an Enlighted Equipment quilt and Big Agnes Copper Spur tent.

Jacob Ashton

Age 30 / boise, idaho (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide to the best of my ability on my Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon. It’s got a 2×10 drivetrain and Onyx hubs front and rear. Dynamos are only slightly better than brakes because they generate electricity while slowing you down so, hopefully, I’ll ride just a little bit faster. It’s shown here with mismatched tires in touring mode as I sliced my back tire on my second day of touring my way to Banff for the Grand Depart. For the race, I’ll be trading my tent and stove for a bivy and copious amounts of cookies and peanut butter. BAGS: The half-frame bag is a very special request built by Rockgeist. I have a Revelate Spinelock seatbag and a Roadrunner handlebar bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Rockgeist frame bag and a solar panel!

Eric Betteridge

Age 60 / ottawa, ontario (canada).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: As I’m riding with my partner Jen, this is a “sportif” ride rather than a race. My trusty steed is a steel 2016 Salsa Fargo with a Firestarter carbon fork. Nicknamed “Dobbin,” the bike is mostly stock with a few changes. I have put on new wheels with 2.25” Vittoria Mezcals in honour of the Tour Divide. Ritchey VentureMax handlebars with Red Shift top grips and Profile Design aerobars with 50 mm risers have added considerably to the cockpit comfort. BAGS: Custom made by the Log Driver’s Waltz (i.e. Jen and me). I have opted for a trunk bag and one mini pannier to supplement the full frame and front bags. Of the two feed bags, one is for a water bottle and the other is for snacks, etc. I have also made a “cookie jar” which is a small feedbag located right above the steerer tube that will hopefully be a bottomless source of energy! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The tent is a Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL. I will be relying on charging blocks and battery packs to keep the electronics going. Navigation will be by Garmin 530 with phone backup.

Age 55 / Tucson, Arizona (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: 2020 Salsa Cutthroat Apex 1 (32 x 11-42) with RockShox Reba 100mm front fork, Trevail Sparwood 2.2 x 29 tires. Added a Bar Yak Expedition up front to keep bags away from cables. BAGS: Salsa frame and front roll bag. Lots of Revelate bags, Terrapin, Egress, Mag-Tank, Jerrycan, Feedbags, Polecat and Joey Downtube (for extra water capacity). GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes CopperSpur HV UL1 Tent, REI Magma 15 Sleeping Bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Pad, Patagonia Micro Puff, OR Helium Rain Pants, Montane Minimus Rain Jacket, Wahoo ELEMENT Roam for navigation.

Ezra Ward-Packard

Age 28 / vanlife, arizona (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing the 2022 Tour Divide on a 2019 Bombtrack Hook EXT-C frameset with an MRP Baxter 60mm fork. The wheelset is a Schmidt SON dynamo front and DT Swiss 350 rear laced into HED Belgium G rims. Teravail Rutland 27.5 x 2.1″ in the front, 650b x 47mm in the rear. Drivetrain is a mix of Shimano Ultegra and GRX. Gearing is 48/31 x 11-40 with a 4iiii power meter. Cockpit is a Zipp Service Course SL handlebars, eBay aluminum stem, and hodgepodge TT bar set-up. BAGS: Porcelain Rocket Mr. Fusion seat pack. Bontrager half frame bag and top tube bag. Revelate Jerrycan, dual Feedbags, and a heavily modified Sweet Roll handlebar bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system is an REI Magma 30 bag, Therm-a-Rest Uberlight pad, Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie, and an ultralight tarp. Kit is all Pearl Izumi, sans a custom jersey from VIE13. Key electronics are a Sinewave Cycles Beacon, Garmin 530, Spot Gen 3, Nitecore NPB2 10,000mAh cache battery, and Dexcom G6 Continuous Blood Glucose Monitor (Type 1 Diabetic).

Anthony Ball

Age 50 / belper, derby (uk).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I shall be making my debut on the Tour Divide riding my beloved 2021 Salsa Cutthroat GRX600, the bike is as it left the factory apart from an upgraded Shimano XT 11-40 rear cassette that works well with the OE 30/46T 2x setup, ITP aero bars, a SON dynamo front hub, and I’ll be rolling on grey wall Mezcal 2.25″ tyres. Lighting is taken care of by Exposure Lights. BAGS: I am using a full set of Alpkit bags, including a custom made Stingray frame pack and a couple of custom made brackets for my toolkit and other accessories. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent and OEX bag on a Therm-a-Rest UberLite air mattress to keep me warm and dry (hopefully).

Age 45 / Coral Springs, Florida (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I will be riding my all-steel Breezer Radar. The bike features WTB i25 wheelset with Continental Race King 2.2 tires, Shutter Precision dynamo hub, Bush and Muller dynamo lights, and Sinewave Revolution charger, 1×10 Shimano drivetrain 34T (oval) chainring, 11-46 cassette, Microshift bar-end shifters, BB7 mechanical brakes, and Profile Design aerobars. BAGS: I will have a Revelate Designs frame bag, top tube bag, front harness (with Sea to Summit drybag) and feed pouch, Topeak Backloader seatpack (with Revelate drybag inside) attached to a modified rack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will be navigating with an eTrex 30x, Ride With GPS, and photos of the ACA maps as a backup on my phone. The 20mm suspension seat post and stem will provide a little extra comfort for bumpy roads. I have a 26T extra chainring installed on the cranks as a manual bailout, increasing my gear range to 547%!

James Naughton

Age 55 / north kingstown, rhode island (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide 2022, as an ITT starting on 6/25. I’ll be riding a 2021 Salsa Cutthroat with AXS Eagle 1×12 drivetrain with a 36T chainring. The bike features a new pair of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 2.2” tires (Endurance casing). I made a few modifications to the build, using a RedShift Shockstop Stem, and adding a Profile Design aerobar with 70mm risers. BAGS: I’m using a custom frame bag by Rogue Panda. Salsa EXP Anything Cradle on the handlebars, two Salsa anything cages on the fork, two Revelate Mountain Feedbags, a Revelate Jerry can, and a Revelate Mag Tank 2000. I’m also using a Tailfin Rack system featuring two ultra-durable panniers and Aeropack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using a Nemo Dragonfly tent, an REI Magma 15 sleeping bag, and an Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm sleep pad.

Age 59 / Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I am riding the Tour Divide as a sportif rather than racing, as I am riding with partner Eric. My bike, “Daisy,” is a 2018 Salsa Fargo with a Firestarter carbon fork. Switched in new wheels built with Hope hubs, Ritchey Comp VentureMax handlebars, and Profile Design aerobars. BAGS: Custom made with Ecopack EPX 200 by the Log Driver’s Waltz (i.e. Eric and me) mini-pannier saddle bags, trunk bag, jerry can, front roll, feed bag and glasses holster. My Topeak gas tank was modified by a pesky red squirrel on a recent shake-down ride. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system of Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xlite, microfibre liner, down quilt, and deluxe inflatable pillow will be supplemented with down pants and puffy jacket for the very coldest nights. Navigating by Wahoo Bolt with my phone as a backup.

Age 53 / Worthing, West Sussex (UK)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: Mason ISO, stock SRAM Force build, with some Hunt dynamo wheels and a kLite bikepacker pro dual USB charger and light. This bike is wicked, I love it! We’ve done over 10,000 miles together and I absolutely know it’s the right tool for the job. BAGS: Apidura frame bag, top tube bags, feed bags, fork bags. Alpkit dry bag on front and a Revelate front pouch. Tailfin rear bag with extra cargo cages. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m using the two frame cages for water bottles. I bought the Tailfin so I have extra cages for two 1L bottles for the drier parts of the course. I’m wearing a fanny pack that also has a 1.5L bladder that I’ll also use only for the drier bits. The bike will have Vittoria Mezcals fitted for a bit less weight and a bit more speed (hopefully!). I’ll be using a Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent with a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X therm and an Alpkit Pipedream 400 sleeping bag.

Artec Durham

Age 36 / flagstaff, arizona (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: 2020 Salsa Cutthroat. Rigid, but with a Redshift Shock Stop stem. Drivetrain is a SRAM Force group. The shifter is converted with a Ratio kit to work with the 12-speed XO1 MTB derailleur with an 11-52T cassette. 36T chainring. Dropper post with left side Force shifter as actuator, fun! BAGS: The Cutthroat is fitted with a custom direct mount frame bag made by Rogue Panda Designs in my hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona. For hydration, I will be using the Bismarck Bottle Bucket by Rogue Panda. Additional two bottles on the fork. On the back, I have a Tailfin Aeropack, 20L capacity, dropper post compatible. I’m excited to try this out! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I just got the new Fenix BC26R bike light with 5,000mAh replaceable batteries. I’ll also have a BC21R on my helmet as well. But I’ll probably regret not having a dynamo hub.

Jocelyn De La Rosa

Age 32 / kelowna, british columbia (canada).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: Purple, my custom, fast and far bikepacking bike made by Em at WZRD Bikes. It’s equipped with a Rival/GX AXS drivetrain, Hope RX4 brakes, Rene Here Fleecer ridge 2.2” tires mounted on a set of We Are One Revive x DT Swiss rear/SON Dynamo wheels. A custom rack supports the front bag and holds the Sinewave light. BAGS: Oveja Negra saddle bag, Rockgeist everything else: custom frame bag, Cache tope tube bag, and front dry bag. Also using their Armadillo dry bag protector cut to size, super useful to strap things on top of the bag. Additionally, I’ll be carrying a small hip bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Katabatic bivy + Zpacks pocket tarp for shelter, Timmermade false bottom sleeping bag, a Therm-a-Rest Uberlight mat and a pillow for sleep. I use a Garmin Edge 530 for navigation, and a Stoots Opalo headlamp to light up my path (in addition to the Beacon). Rain gear is complemented by a set of BikeIowa pogie lites to make sure my fingers stay warm.

John Breinholt

Age 54 / los angeles, california (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’m riding a 2021 Salsa Cutthroat, GRX 600 edition. It’s set up as a 2x, 46/30 chainrings in front. I’ve added a 42/11 cassette in back. I changed out the stock wheels for a pair of DT Swiss XM421s. A SON dynamo hub powers an Edelux II headlight. Tires are Maxxis Ikons 2.2″. Profile Design aerobars help keep my back from aching. BAGS: My bag setup is a bit of a mish-mash. The frame bag is a made-to-order bolt-on by Rogue Panda. On the handlebars, I have a Swift Industries Zeitgeist. There’s a couple of Revelate Feed Bags, and a Salsa branded top tube bag. In the rear I’ve got an old Revelate Viscacha; I’ve had it for ages. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My handlebar bag is supported by a Swood Cycles T-bar. It really keeps the bag from flopping around. The T-bar also anchors my light mount. It’s not too elegant to look at, but it puts the beam right where I want it. I’m also happy with the adjustable bottle cages on my forks, by Arundel. They’ll take just about any bottle I put in them. They come in handy when I need to maximize my water capacity. My saddle of choice is a Selle SMP Glider.

Age 56 / Eagle, Colorado (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: Salsa Cutthroat 2019, SRAM Rival Group, Speed Play pedals, Redshift suspension stem, Cane Creek Silk EE suspension seatpost, Fred Bar with Profile Design Aero Bars, and Maxxis Ikon 2.2 tires with Stan’s sealant. BAGS: Revelate Designs Terrapin 14L seat bag, Mag Tank bag, feed bags, and frame bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes 1P Fly Creek HV UL tent, Therm-a-Rest Neo Air Pad, Garmin 530 with Garmin Fenix 6 watch for back up navigation.

Kevin Meier

Age 54 / hilton, kwazulu-natal (south africa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2022 on a Silverback Superspeed S1 conversion. The bike has been fitted with GRX components with a 30T chainring and 9–46, 1 x 11 cassette. I have included Profile Design TT Bars for comfort. The bike has Stan’s Crest Rims and will have new Maxxis Rekon Race tyres together with a SON Dynamo Hub and Sinewave Beacon headlight. I have included the Brookes B17 narrow seat for comfort. BAGS: My bag setup will include an Arkel 15 seatpack, a Revelate Tangle frame bag, Revelate Gas Tank and Jerry Can toptube bags, a Revelate Mountain feedbag, and a Revelate Harness to hold my sleeping equipment. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have a Naturehike VIK Series Ultralight one-person tent with a First Ascent Amplify down sleeping bag and First Ascent Ultralight mattress. I’ll also be carrying an eTrex Touch 35 for navigation.

Age 62 / Chandler, Arizona (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: 2017 Salsa Cutthroat with all New SRAM Components. I will have a modified 1×11 drivetrain with a 34T 10-46. Wheels are Stan’s Arch with a SON Hub for charging Lighting and GPS devices, Batteries. New additions are my redesign of my areo bars and rear rack. BAGS: Most all bags are by Revelate Designs. Front Harness holds a Salsa waterproof bag for the sleep kit. Feed bags and Gas Tank bags are also Revelate. Rear Salsa bike rack holding a Sea to Summit 20L bag for rain and dry clothing. Center frame bag is a custom bag by Rogue Panda that will hold many things, including my 2L reservoir bag which will be my ace in the hole when needed. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I am excited to use my sleep kit consisting of the Six Seasons Solo tent, Nemo sleeping bag, with a Therm-a-Rest mattress. Lastly, you gotta love the Lauf front suspension frork.

Kevin Shenk

Age 28 / south lake tahoe, california (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2019 Salsa Cutthroat Apex 1. The bike is set up with 2.35″ Maaxis Ikon tires and a SON dynamo hub. Profile Design aero bars and flat pedals with the stock drivetrain. BAGS: Revelate handlebar harness with a 20L drybag and Egress Pocket out front. Revelate Mag Tank, Jerrycan and Feed Bags. Salsa frame bag and Ortlieb saddle bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Zpacks Altaplex tent, Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xlite pad, and Enlightened Enigma 20-degree quilt. A Garmin Edge 530 computer for turn-by-turn navigation. A kLite Gravel Light and charger.

Peta McSharry

Age 55 / jaberg, canton bern (switzerland).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’m bringing the Open U.P. with a Lauf fork, running 650B wheels with Continental Race King tyres – 2.0 on the rear and 2.2 up front. A 30T chainring pairs with an 11-50 cassette to limit my walking requirements. BAGS: My kit will be retained in a 2013 Revelate saddlebag, Alpkit custom framebag, Revelate Feedbags and Gastank, and an Exped Drybag as the TT bar bag. Hydration is carried in a Dexter backpack along with food and rain gear. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Recovery is taken care of with some merino wool pyjamas and silicone earplugs along with a PHD sleeping bag, custom bivy, and SilPoncho tarp. Bike is held upright during camping and used as the “tarp frame” with some lightweight MSR titanium pegs and a guyline. A SON dynamo powers the Exposure Revo light and Sinewave USB charger.

Martin Grethe

Age 50 / wellington (new zealand).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be fast-touring the Tour Divide on a Salsa Cutthroat SRAM Force 1×11. Will be running Vittoria Mezcal 2.25 tyres on Wheelworks custom front DT Swiss GR wheel laced to a SON 28 Dynamo hub with a DT Swiss CR1600 Spline rear. Anodised red Absolute Black Oval 32T. Cockpit includes Fizik double bar tape on Cowchippers and Profile Design T2 aerobars. Sitting on a Fizkik Arione Open saddle. BAGS: Running mostly Revelate Designs bags: Revelate/Salsa framebag, Terrapin 14L seat pack, Mag Tank toptube bag, Jerrycan, and a Stealth bar harness with Sea to Summit dry bag with Revelate Egress front pocket. Hydration will be four bottles mounted to the fork with Salsa Nickless Cage and downtube using King cage and double adaptor. Also taking MSR 2L dromedary bag as a reserve along with MSR trailshot filter. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My shelter and sleep system will compromise of an MSR Hubba along with an locally made Kiwi Ultralight down quilt and Exped Synmat Lite UL Air Mattress and Sea to Summit Aeros pillow. Will be taking Robens Fire midge titanium stove with Toaks Titanium cup principally for use in event of emergency of get stuck somewhere cold and wet. I’ll also be using a Wahoo Element Roam for navigation. My favourite frivolous piece of kit probably is my Spurcycle Bell, hopefully the angelic melodic glockenspiel will ward off bears.

Matthew Corey

Age 34 / bristol, tennessee (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: Tumbleweed Stargazer, White Industries crank, BB, and chainring, GX drivetrain, Western Rattlesnake bar tape with bar-end shifters, Derby Carbon rims with Schmidt dynamo front hub with beacon light and i9 rear huh for the buzzz, 29 x 2.5 Ikons, Tumbleweed mini pannier rack, Salsa Ti seatpost with carved B17 saddle. BAGS: Rockgeist Microwave panniers, framebag, and top tube bag. Swift Zeitgeist front bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Party Pace patch because that’s just how I’ll be rolling!

Arthur Morgan

Age 37 / seattle, washington (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding border-to-border on a 2020 Salsa Cutthroat. 30/46T front and 11-42T rear. DT Swiss XM 421 rims with Onyx rear hub and SON dynamo front hub. Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires. Redshift stem, mix of Profile Design and Redshift aerobar parts. kLite headlight and charging. I love this bike. BAGS: Oveja Negra seat bag, top tube bag, feedbags, fork bags. Rockgeist frame bag and BarJam harness. The front end took a long time to dial in, and the harness was my third solution. It’s stable on rough trails and easy to pack/unpack with numb fingers. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Enlightened Equipment synthetic quilt and MLD Soul Bivy for sleep. Garmin eTrex 22 for navigation. Hatchimal added by my daughter for good luck.

Matthew Tullai

Age 49 / carmel, indiana (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing an individual time trial, departing Antelope Wells on June 16, on a Salsa Fargo Ti with a Fox 32SC suspension fork, a Jayhawker dynamo boost carbon fiber wheelset by jefe.bike, and Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tubeless tires. With dynamo power onboard, I’ll be running a full electronics suite that includes a kLite Ultra Gravel lighting and charging system, a kLite Qube front and rear safety blinker, a Wahoo Roam GPS, an iPhone 13, and a Garmin inReach Mini2 satellite communicator. The cockpit features a Walmer drop handlebar, a BarYak Expedition aero bar, and Profile Design flip-up raised armrests. The drivetrain is anchored by a Cane Creek eeWings Ti crankset with a Garbaruk 34T chainring and gearing is through a SRAM 1×12 Eagle 10-50 AXS rear. To soak up vibrations, I have a Cane Creek eeSilk Plus carbon seatpost and a well-worn Infinity E1X saddle with stainless steel rails. BAGS: I’m going “full toothbrush” this year and looking to spend a majority of nights outside on the trail. Rogue Panda made my top tube bags and my roll-top frame bag. I have a Tailfin Aeropack rear bag with King Cage Ti bottle cages on one side, a King Cage Ti Manything Cage and a Dyneema 5L bag by Ultra Lite Sacks on the other, and a Cargo Net over the top by Original Free Range. I have a Wolf Tooth TekLite roll-top bag on the underside of the downtube that holds my tools and a Sea to Summit e-Vent sleeping system compression bag lashed to my BarYak Talon retention system. Tailfin suspension fork cargo mounts hold three King Cage Ti bottle cages and a BearClaw Holster bear spray mount within easy reach of my right hand. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My toolkit includes some good luck heirloom Allen keys that travelled with my parents during their bicycle touring adventures in the 1970s; my setup also includes a green Salsa Pie Town steer tube top cap from the 2018 TD grand depart mounted on my rack boss.

Moez Bhatti

Age 25 / toronto, on (canada).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on my 2020 Salsa Cutthroat. I’ve got some little SRAM robots shifting my 1×12 Eagle drivetrain, a set of SON Dynamo and Onyx Rear hubs laced up to some Light Bicycle rims, along with a kLite lighting/charging system, Berthoud Saddle, and 29 x 2.2” Rene Herse tires. BAGS: I’m running a custom Rockgeist frame bag, along with their Cache XL top tube bag and Honeypot feedbags. I’ll be keeping my bear spray in one of the Honeypot bags, in case Winnie the Pooh decides to make an appearance. My rear toptube bag and seat packs are from Apidura, and I’m using a Salsa Anything Cradle to hold a drybag between my bars. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have a really nice sticker of a chubby cat. He reminds me of my chubby cat.

Wyatt Spalding

Age 22 / phoenix, arizona (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the 2022 Tour Divide on my Crust Evasion Lite. I laced some Bontrager carbon hoops up to a White Industries XMR rear hub and a SON dynamo for the front wheel. I went with TRP Spyre SLC brakes, GX 1×12 with a 34T chainring, 29 x 2.1 Vittoria Mezcals, and 46cm Cowchippers with a Profile Design aero bar. BAGS: Sick custom frame and top tube bags from Josh at Ghost Cat Bags. I’ve been super impressed with his work on these! The seatpack is a Topeak Backloader paired with a Revelate Sweetroll up front. I also have a pair of Revelate Feedbags for a water bottle, bear spray, and snacks. My tools are stored in a storage bottle under the downtube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An Enlightened Equipment 30°F quilt, Klymit X Lite sleeping pad, and Montbell Bivy will keep me comfortable while resting. A Sinewave Beacon is wired to my dynamo, which will provide light and power to charge my devices along the way. My shifter and derailleur are modified with parts from RatioTech to allow my 11s drop-bar shifters to work with the GX derailleur and cassette, which I’ve been very stoked on!

Nicholas Vitale

Age 34 / hamden, connecticut (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I will be riding the divide on my Salsa Cutthroat. Drivetrain is a mix of GRX Di2 levers and XTR Di2 rear derailleur. 32T chainring, 11-46 XT rear cassette, Raceface Next SL cranks, Shimano 180mm/160mm XT rotors, 44cm carbon Cowchipper handlebars, Profile Design 45-degree carbon aerobars with 30mm riser. Redshift Pro suspension stem 80mm, WTB Volt saddle with Ti rails, Ritchy Flexilogic seatpost. Wheels are custom carbon from Lightbicycle with a SON 110 dynamo up front and a DT Swiss 350 rear hub. Tires are 2.2” Rene Herse Fleecer Ridges with Endurance casing. A huge thanks to D’Aniello’s Amity Bike in Woodbridge, CT, for making this build a reality. BAGS: Revelate; Pronghorn, Egress Pocket, 14L Terrapin, Polecats, Mag-Tank, feedbags. Rogue Panda double-decker frame-bag with a sunrise/topo design. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A 3L Appidura water bladder fits perfectly in the lower triangle. The dynamo is powering a Sinewave Cycles Beacon light/charger. Tent is a Big Agness Copper Spur UL 1 Bikepack. Sleeping pad is a Sea to Summit ultralight insulated mat. Quilt is Enlightened Equipment Revelation (20-degree).

Dr. Tracy Berman

Age 38 / ann arbor, michigan (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a singlespeed Seven Evergreen SL (40:20T gearing) with an Enve Adventure Fork, Whisky drop bars, Profile Design aerobars, and TRP Hylex RS levers and brakes. Wheels are self-built with 650B HED Belgium rims, an Industry Nine hub in back, and a SON 28 dynamo in front. I’m rolling on 45mm Kenda Alluvium Pro Tires. BAGS: Most bags are by Topeak (frontloader, freeloaders, toploader, backloader). I’m also utilizing Revelate Designs polecats mounted on Topeak versacages and a Rockgeist Dyneema 40 frame bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be wearing an Orange Mud endurance pack to increase my liquid carrying capacity. My shelter is a Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack tent and a Marmot Hydrogen 30-degree sleeping bag. I read every night before sleeping, and my trusty kindle will be tucked into the “map” pocket on my frame bag.

Nick Marzano

Age 40 / philadelphia, pennsylvania (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’m riding a 2019 Salsa Cutthroat named Jem. She’s truly, truly, truly outrageous. On the wheels, 700 x 55mm Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, a SON dynamo, and SRAM hydraulic brakes. Running 1x with a 34T in the front, 10-50T Eagle in back. Comfort bits include Redshift stem (yo Philly!), Brooks saddle, and aero bars. Sinewave Beacon for night climbs. BAGS: Custom framebag and rear Wedgie Pack by Cedaero. Saddle and handlebar bags by Apidura. Top tube by Topeak. Hoagie Hauler stem bag by R.E.Load (yo Philly!). GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Was recently put on to 7Mesh MK3 Cargo bib shorts and my butt is very grateful. Navigation via Garmin eTrex 22x. Nighttime cougar spotting via Exposure Joystick on the helmet.

Nick Runtsch

Age 33 / santa cruz, california (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding Tour Divide on a 2021 Specialized Epic hardtail. Build highlights include Roval Control Carbon wheels with an SP dynamo front hub and Specialized Renegade 2.3″ tires. The dynamo powers a Supernova E3 Triple 2 headlight, E3 taillight, and Sinewave Reactor USB charger. The drivetrain is SRAM AXS – Red levers, XO1 rear derailleur (two spare batteries), 36T Wolf Tooth chainring, 10-52 cassette, old XTR pedals, and GX alloy cranks. Level brakes. The cockpit consists of a Selle SMP Drakon saddle, Thomson Elite seatpost, generic 30mm stem, Specialized clip-on aero bars, and PNW Coast 52cm drop bars. The fork is a RockShox SID SL Ultimate Brain with Tailfin SFM mounts holding a Salsa Anything HD cage on one side and dual Specialized Z Cages on the other. BAGS: The framebag is an excellent first effort from Merz bags that features a lower compartment for an Apidura 3L bladder along with a center shelf to prevent stuff on top from collapsing as the bladder is emptied. Other bags include a Specialized Burra Burra 20L seatpack, an older Revelate Sweetroll handlebar bag, a Blackburn Outpost Toptube bag, and two Blackburn Outpost Carryalls. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 for getting around + Garmin eTrex 30 as a backup. REI Quarter Dome SL1 tent. Soto Amicus stove since I’m powerless against the wondrous effects of coffee.

Patrick Carlson

Age 46 / boise, idaho (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding a 2021 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike is a custom build that I purchased used from the owner of my local bike shop, Meridian Cycles. The owner took pity on my inability to find a Cutthroat and sold me his personal bike, which I further customized. The bike has Shimano Ultegra shifters, brakes, and derailers. The gearing is 46×30 front and 11-42 rear. The rims are Astral Outback 28 spoke with Continental Race King Protection tires. Cranks are 165mm Race Face. SQLabs 610 Active saddle. I laced a SON28 dynamo into the front wheel that powers a Sinewave Revolution charger for my low-power-draw, critical devices (GPS, Garmin, etc). For high-power-draw devices, I have an Anker USB C 735 65 W charger and PowerCore III Elite quick charge power bank (1.5 hrs charge time). I was able to store spare spokes inside the frame through the access port near the bottom bracket. Tools and spare tube are stored in a Zefal Z-Box mounted in a bottle cage near the bottom bracket. BAGS: Salsa direct mount frame bag; Ortlieb ~15L Saddle Bag, ~15L Handlebar Bag, and Accessory-Pack (for food); Revelate Mountain Feed bags (2), and Mag-Tank. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using a home-sewn tarp along with an REI Bivi, REI Magma 15 degree sleeping bag (probably too warm but I dislike sleeping cold), and a Nemo Tensor air mattress. I’ll be using a Garmin 530 for navigation along with Gaia GPS on my phone. I’ll be supplementing the route with Adventure Cycling’s GPX files.

Patrick McKellips

Age 26 / seattle, washington (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the 2022 Divide, with good friend Tyler Gatlin on my recently built Stinner Frameworks custom steel gravel+ bike, built around Enve AG28 650B wheels and hometown Rene Herse 55mm tires. Opting for SRAM AXS mullet with a Praxis 38T chainring. BAGS: I am running a pretty stock Revelate Designs bag setup. Harness up front holds tent, pad, and drybag with sleeping bag. Luxury of a being tall is I can squeeze a heck of a lot in my XL Frame Bag, and Terrapin Seat pack to finish it off. A large Oru Case seat bag holds tubes and repair items attached to the seatstays. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Stoked on my Shutter Precision dynamo powering my kLite system, providing me plenty of charging power during the day. I’ve also been impressed by the RedShift suspension stem, keeping me comfy, including while in the aerobars.

Age 35 / Southampton, Hampshire (UK)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2021 Salsa Cutthroat running on Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, SRAM AXS drivetrain with a 34T oval chainring, DT Swiss rims matched to a Hope Pro 4 at the rear and a SON Dynamo hub up front. Lots of Hope Technology components including RX4 calipers, discs, and Evo cranks. I went with the Profile Designs aerobars but with 60mm riser blocks for long-term neck and back comfort. An Exposure Revo front light and matching tail light will light my way coupled with an Exposure Joystick on my helmet. BAGS: The centerpiece of my bag setup is a direct mount Salsa EXP frame bag. I am also running an Ortleib seat pack and a Salsa Anything cage up front with an Alpkit Drybag. Various other Revelate Designs storage including feed bags, gas tank, and jerry can. I am running two 1L bottles mounted on the forks with options for internal frame bladder on the drier sections. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An MSR Freelite 1 will serve as my shelter. My 1 luxury item is a pair of snazzy Western Mountaineering Flash down pants – they look ridiculous but they are warm!

Quinn Gregory

Age 27 / new york, new york (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing on a Fuji Jari Carbon 1.3. Up front, a 29er 2.1 mezcal, in the back I’m limited to 700 x 47mm. BAGS: Bags are a combination of Apidura and Salsa. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m trying out the pedalcell for this trip. I’ll have a backup external battery in case. The ability to take it off the rim and eliminate the resistance when climbing was appealing to me.

Age 48 / North Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I am racing the Tour Divide on my all-time favourite, (2022) Salsa Cutthroat C X01 Eagle AXS x12 drivetrain (the III), with Whisky No. 9 30W carbon wheels and Teravail Sparwood 29 x 2.2″ tires. On the front, I have added a Shutter Precision dynamo hub to power my kLite system. BAGS: Within the frame, I am sporting my trusty, durable, bottomless Salsa half-frame bag with multiple feed bags in the cockpit from both Revelate Designs and Apidura (spread the love). On the top tube, I am running the elongated 2L racing back. At the back, I have the Tailfin carbon rack and waterproof pack. Two water bottles are mounted beneath the half-frame bag and a tool kit mounted below the down tube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My clothing kit is top to bottom 7mesh, save my Rab Infinity Microlight jacket and Big Agnes Pluton sleeping bag. Finally, I will note my prescription Julbo Sunglasses, which seems like no big deal, but at 48 I am now struggling to see the map, especially with bleary, sleep-deprived eyes! For navigation, I will be using my God-given intuition. Since that is not very reliable I have a Garmin Edge 530, eTrex 30x, and Komoot route for backup.

Age 28 / Gainesville, Florida (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: 2019 Salsa Cutthroat. Setup rigid. SRAM force 1x setup with 38T chainring in the front. 10-42 rear. Wheels: Hunt 35 Carbon X Wide wheelset with new Vittoria mezcal G2 TLR 29”x 2.1” tires (not pictured). BAGS: A complete collection of Revelate Designs bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This my fifth year on the Divide, and I’m minimizing weight with wider range of comfort via a front shock this time around. REI Quarter Dome 1 with a 35-degree sleeping bag.

Scott Sebring

Age 55 / bellefontaine, ohio (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding a 2018 Jamis Renegade Exploit. I have a modified 1×11 38T Wolf Tooth up front and 11-42 with GRX rear. There’s a Fred bar for the aero bars along with a Redshift suspension stem. The wheels are Hunt with Maxxis 47mm tires and SON dynamo hub powering my kLite system. BAGS: Rogue Panda frame bag, Revelate Spinelock seat bag, Revelate MAG 2000, two Revelate feed bags, and a Revelate Harness. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: No tent. First time using an Outdoor Research Helium Bivy. Wahoo Element Roam for navigation (ACA maps as back up) and a Garmin inReach mini.

Sarah Mulholland

Age 58 / tucson, arizona (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: 2020 Salsa Cutthroat Apex 1, Race Face oval 32T chain ring with 11-42 cassette, RockShox Reba 100mm fork, Teravail Sparwood 29 x 2.2″ tires. BAGS: A mixture of Salsa and Revelate bags with a Salsa Anything Cradle, King Cages on the front, and a bag under the down tube for extra water capacity. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Copper Spur one-person tent, Montbell Super Stretch down bag, Wahoo Element Roam, and a homemade phone mount (there’s always one piece of homemade gear).

Brent Olson

Age 46 / salt lake city, utah (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding an Otso Waheela C on Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1″ tires with a Wolf Tooth Camo 34T chainring and an e*thirteen 9-46T in the back. BAGS: I’ll be putting things in a seat and frame bag from Rockgeist, a handlebar bag from Bedrock Bags, and snack bags from Apidura and Revelate Designs. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: They say you pack your fears, and I’m most afraid of blowing out a sidewall on a descent at night and washboards. So, I’ve put CushCore XC liners in the tires, lots of lights, and a Redshift ShockStop stem. I’ll sleep on a Klymit sleeping pad in a Sea to Summit bag, and I’ve got a Tyvek bivy in case of rain (or snow).

Scott Sundby

Age 48 / alexandria, minnesota (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2021 Salsa Cutthroat (yes, another one) GRX600. It is a stock setup, except for a wider range cassette (11-42) with a Wolf Tooth Roadlink to make that happen, a Selle SMP Avant saddle, and the ever-popular Mezcals (not pictured) on SON dynamo hubbed Mason/Hunt wheels. In the cockpit, Profile Design flip-up aerobars will have my Garmin eTrex 30x, Garmin Edge 830, and a kLite front light (with a rear Qube light), which is fantastic. BAGS: The bags are mostly Revelate Designs. Legacy gastank bag as a jerrycan (lube, rag, misc), Magtank bag (cache battery, kLite system), Terrapin seatbag (clothes), Joey downtube bag (tools), and two Feedbags (food) make up most of my bags. The framebag is a custom Rogue Panda (everything else). My sleep system is on a Salsa Anything Cradle in a Sea to Summit Drybag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Wolf Tooth makes an adapter (B-Rad system) so I’m able to have four bottle cages on my fork, three of them will be water, one will be used for bear spray. I also need to add that there is a reason you see a lot of Cutthroats on this list. It is comfortable, carries as much as a mule, and most importantly, my girls like the color!

Sean Huzieff

Age 40 / rist canyon, colorado (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: 2020 Salsa Cutthroat, fully modified with electronic 2x drivetrain, Race Face Next SL G5 carbon cranks bolted to an Absolute Black oval turning an e*thirteen 9-46 cassette (784% gear range, and I use them all) to spin an Onyx hub laced to a We Are One carbon rim riding on a 2.2″ Continental RaceKing tire. The front end is mildly damped with a Lauf Boost fork clamped to a DT Swiss 240 EXP hub laced to a NEXTIE rim. BAGS: A mix from Salsa, Oveja Negra, JPaks, and Revelate. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My JPaks Footlong top tube bag in the “Rad Splatter” pattern. It’s basically my pencil bag from the early ’90s! So rad.

Steven Sloss

Age 48 / atlanta, georgia (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2021 Bearclaw Ti Beaux Jaxon. Front end is a Bearclaw Ti rigid fork. Carbon rims laced to SP PD8 dynamo and a DT Swiss XD so I can run a wide range 9-50 in the rear. The SP is hooked up to a kLite system charging a Voltaic 12,800mAh battery during the day which will then charge GPS and tracker at night while the kLite headlight leads the way. Additional low-draw kLite flashers running constantly for safety. Drivetrain is 1x SRAM AXS GX Eagle paired to SRAM Force levers plus remotes on the flats for climbing. 34T oval AbsoluteBlack chainring. Profile Design aero bars with Ergon grips mounted to Ritchey Comp Beacon drop bars. Redshift Pro stem and Pro seatpost to smooth the ride out a little plus Redshift Cruise Control grips to help with hand numbness. Brooks B17 saddle. Rolling on Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25 front and back. BAGS: Revelate Ripio framebag holding tools, water filtration system (Sawyer Squeeze, tablets and UV light), zip lock bag of extra small bits and bobs. 3L Hydrapack with hose at the handlebar for drinking. Revelate Mag Tank 2000 and Jerrycan with Leatherman and Silca torque ratchet for quick access tools. Revelate Sweetroll for clothing. Revelate Terrapin 14L for the entire sleep system including Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 and Western Mountaineering 32-degree sleeping bag. Therm-a-Rest Uberlite pad. Two feed bags The Spindle Atlanta. One carrying either a large water bottle or food and the one to have bear spray handy. For food, I have an extra roll-up drybag attached to the front of the Sweetroll. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin 1030+ for navigation and hill-climbing data for a little on route nerding out. Love my Spindle feed bags. They have external pockets for electrolytes, spork, and other small bits and pieces. The 34T with 9-50 e*thirteen cassette gives so much range for flats and climbing. Two water bottles on the frame on either side of the frame bag then two extra Nalgenes on the forks (not shown in pic). Plenty of squish from the Redshift stem and post. The kLite system has been a joy over the last six months. Small can on the lower frame with flat tire tools for quick access. Spot X for satellite communication. It weights 46 pounds without food or water.

Age 63 / Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my Salsa Cutthroat Force 1 2019. I’ve added a Lauf fork (custom Voronoi/Delaunay design by O’Leary Built Bicycles and Los Alamos Grid Toolbox), Schmidt SON28 hub, SRAM 1×11 (30/10-42T), Profile Design T1 aero bars, handlebars are double-wrapped with gel pads between the layers, Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25″ tubeless tires, Time pedals, kLite Ultra light w/ dual USB charger, and a Brooks Cambium C17 Carved saddle. BAGS: I’m running a Salsa frame pack, Revelate Sweetroll w/ Egress Pocket, Apidura saddle pack, two feed bags, and two top tube bags. I’ll also be wearing an EVOC race pack with 1.5L H2O capacity. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The water bottles are attached to the Lauf fork with electrical tape and zip ties. This has worked fine for three years and five thousand miles. My sleep system is a Zpacks Plexamid V Beta Tent (386g), Zpacks 35F Solo Quilt, and Big Agnes AXL Air mattress. This is essentially the same setup I rode Tour Aotearoa, New Zealand in 2020 except some additional warm layers. “Good judgement is the result of experience. Experience is the result of poor judgement.”

Theo Kelsey-Verdecchia

Age 26 / toronto, ontario (canada).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Curve GMX+, floating on a set of Curve’s carbon dirt hoops and a pair of Vittoria Mezcal tires in 29 x 2.6. Drivetrain is a mechanical Shimano GRX 812 1×11 group, mated with SLX 4 piston brake calipers. Gearing is 34T up front and an 11-46 cassette. Bars are the Curve Walmer bars in 55cm width. BAGS: A mix of bags I’ve been using for a long time and have had success with in the past. Revelate Sweetroll and Egress pocket up front, Apidura expedition seatpack, a custom framebag from Nightengale Threadworks, Revelate Mag Tank 2000, and a pair of Curve Rocket Pooches on the fork legs. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: kLite dynamo/electronic system so I never have to worry about lights or charging electronics. Triple-wrapped handlebars to keep my hands as comfy as possible. Garmin Etrex 32x for navigation and an edge 530 for recording/metrics. 3L of water capacity in bottles, plus an extra litre available with my water filter. The rest of the kit is built with the priority of keeping me comfortable, confident, and calm for the length of the race. An extensive toolkit, a full set of waterproof gear, and warm dry clothes are all accounted for. Sleep kit is a synthetic bag from cumulus, an OR Molecule bivy, and a Therm-a-Rest Neoair Uberlite sleeping pad. Huge thanks to Brockton Cyclery and Curve Cycling for getting me set up with the best possible gear for this ride!

Tom Anderson

Age 56 / missoula, montana (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2017 Salsa Cutthroat. I upgraded the wheelset to a pair of Carbon Control SL, those required a bump to a 180 rotor in the front and a change to an 11/34 in the cassette (stock 24/26 front). I’m running Continental Race King 2.2″ tires and a BarYak off the bars. I plan on adding cages for additional water capacity once I hit the warmer weather (SOBO). BAGS: Most of the bags are by Revelate. Up front is the Harness with the older Pocket. In the back is the Viscacha and a Sprocket. In the middle is the Salsa frame bag along with the large MagTank and a Jerry Can. Down below is a Keg for tools and heavy parts. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An old school 100oz Camelbak bladder resides in the top of the frame bag, it is marked in 20oz segments and I rarely fill it over 50%. Sleep kit in the front harness, tent and cold weather gear in the back. Pocket, MagTank, and some of the frame bag for food supplies. Garmin 530 for navigation (GAIA on the phone as back-up). Big gear specifics: REI Lumen 20 degree bag, Nemo Tensor pad, Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 tent. Luxury item: Down Booties to sleep well.

Age 43 / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I will be racing the TD on a Titanium Bearclaw Thunderhawk. My Thunderhawk runs a White Industries 32T crank with a GRX 11-46 drivetrain. I have Santa Cruz Reserve 27 wheels with Rene Herse 55mm tires. For lights, I use the kLite system with, USB charger and gravel lamp running off a SON front hub. I have Redshift handlebars, grips, and suspension stem, and I have HED aerobars with a Fred bar. BAGS: I enjoy sewing and made my frame bags from Liteskin21 with some angry cat patches and dual-sided pockets. I also made my top tube bag and my front holster to hold my dry bag. My saddle bag is a Rockgeist Porcelain Rocket and I have a Revelate Egress on the front. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I look at my bike and it brings me joy. From the way it makes me feel, to my component choices, to the way it fits, to the personal details I’ve added that make me smile. I’m excited, ready, and grateful to line up in Banff this year.

Tommy Vater

Age 27 / charlotte, north carolina (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding (definitely not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2020 Salsa Cutthroat Apex 1. The bike has a new pair of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, a super-wide PNW Coast bar, Profile Design Sonic Ergo Aero bar with a 30mm spacer, and a 30T chainring mated to an 11-42 cassette to help drag me up those climbs. BAGS: I’m running a bolt-on Salsa frame bag that thankfully was part of the deal when I bought my bike in February as those are near impossible to find these days. I have a Revelate Designs Gas Tank, Jerrycan, Spinelock 10L, and handlebar harness holding a 20L Sea to Summit drybag. I also DIY’d a few feed bags following the BIKEPACKING.com guide. Additionally, two water bottles are stored on the front forks. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ve been super happy with my sleep system made up of a REI Magma 30 sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir pad, and a DIY’d stuff sack style pillow. For some added luxury, I’ll be bringing a pair of bedrock classics as camp shoes.

Tyler Gatlin

Age 31 / seattle, washington (usa).

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: I’ll be riding the divide on my Crust Bombora. It’s rocking a white Thereabouts paint scheme and an ENVE Adventure fork. It’s wearing a pair of Rene Herse Umtanum Ridge 650B x 55 tires mounted to Enve AG28s. A SON28 dynamo is powering a kLite gravel light and USB charger. For the cockpit, I’ve got some ENVE gravel bars, Profile Design aero bars, and a Redshift suspension stem to soften it all up. I’m super excited about my new 3D printed Power Mirror saddle, the most comfortable saddle I’ve tried yet. And finally, making it all move is a Rival/GX AXS mullet with a 38T up front and a 10-52 out back. BAGS: Revelate Designs all the way. Terrapin, Ripio, Sweetroll, and Mag Tank. The frame bag looks nearly custom fit on this frame so I got lucky there. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m using a Zpacks Duplex shelter to have a palace to myself out there. It came with me on my PCT thru-hike so it’s almost a second home by now.

Age 43 / Lakeville, Minnesota (USA)

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

BIKE: 2021 Salsa Cutthroat converted to SRAM Eagle GX AXS rear end and Force hydraulic brakes, shifters and wireless blips. Industry 9 Enduro S wheels with Hydra Hubs. Selle Anatomica H2 saddle. BAGS: Rogue Panda Double Decker frame bag. Revelate Spinelock seat bag, Revelate top tube and feed bags. Salsa Anything handlebar and fork cradles. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Running a PedalCell charging system off the front wheel to charge a battery bank. Frame bag bladder system with inline filtration. Using all Wahoo equipment for navigation. Nature Hike tent sleep system.

tour divide profile

Do you enjoy our in-depth reviews, route guides, and stories? We’re a small, independent publication dedicated to keeping our content free for everyone, but we need your support. To keep articles like this one coming (and not behind a firewall), please consider becoming a member of our Bikepacking Collective. By joining, you’ll receive The Bikepacking Journal in the mail twice a year, industry discounts, and many other great benefits. Learn more here.

Related Content

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

2022 Tour Divide Rigs

Rigs of the 2022 Tour Divide (Part 1): Flat-Bar Bikes

2022 Hunt 1000

Rigs of the 2022 Hunt 1000

2022 Trans Balkan Race Rig, Chiru

Rigs of the 2022 Trans Balkan Race

2022 Pinyons and Pines

Rigs of the 2022 Pinyons & Pines

Filed in (categories & tags), bikepacking race rigs.

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.

Rad Companies that Support Bikepacking

7mesh

You need to be logged in to use these features. Click here to login , or start an account if you’re not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective…

The US government is running out of funding for a program that could cut internet access for millions of Americans

  • The Affordable Connectivity Program allows low-income households to get internet access.
  • Millions could lose internet access when the federal program runs out of funding after April.
  • An FCC official told CNN the popular bipartisan program will end "because of politics, not policy."

Insider Today

Millions of Americans risk their internet access being disrupted if a critical government program runs out of funding next month.

The Affordable Connectivity Program has been helping low-income households access the internet since the Federal Communications Commission launched it in 2021. The program provides eligible households up to $30 off internet services every month, and households on qualifying Tribal lands receive up to $75 off monthly. according to the FCC.

But the ACP is winding down. According to the FCC, it stopped accepting new applications and enrollments in February, and the last fully funded month of the program will be April. US lawmakers don't even seem to be close to approving the Biden administration's supplemental request for an additional $6 billion to renew the program.

Related stories

If the program shuts down, it will further exacerbate the digital divide and leave many older Americans, as well as those in rural areas and the South, without internet access . Among ACP subscribers, 19% are households with seniors, 26% live in rural areas, and 41% live in the South, according to a survey of 801 ACP participants from Comcast and the Benenson Strategy Group . Almost half are from military families.

"Because of political gameplay, about 60 million Americans will have to make hard choices between paying for the internet or paying for food, rent, and other utilities, widening the digital divide in this country," Gigi Sohn, a former FCC official, told CNN. "It's embarrassing that a popular, bipartisan program with support from nearly half of Congress will end because of politics, not policy."

The ACP has drawn strong, bipartisan support, with 62% of Republicans, 78% of Independents, and 96% of Democrats supporting the program, according to a survey of 1,000 registered voters conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and RG Strategies in December.

Once the program ends, some ACP subscribers say they'll need to work more just to stay online. Kamesha Scott — a 29-year-old mother of two in St. Louis who has two jobs, one at a restaurant dealing with takeout orders and another delivering Amazon packages — told CNN she plans to take extra work shifts.

And the ACP's shutdown is likely to impact tribal communities disproportionately. "I'm not saying maybe other people don't need [ACP funding,] but they probably don't need it as much as reservations or tribal areas where we are significantly under the poverty line ," said Brian DeMarco, the general manager at Montana-based internet services provider Siyeh Communications, according to the telecom industry news outlet Fierce Telecom.

According to the outlet, ACP recipients are about 15% of Siyeh Communications' customer base, or about 2,000 subscribers in the Blackfeet reservation . "So to eliminate ACP altogether without looking at [that], I think is very reckless by the government."

The FCC, Sohn, Siyeh Communications, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Watch: Antonia Wade, PwC's global CMO, tells Insider how B2B spending changes in tough economic times

tour divide profile

  • Main content

Tour Divide

  • the Route (description)
  • The Challenge
  • Grand Départ
  • Rider Resources
  • News & Notes (blog)
  • News & Notes
  • `11 Race Updates
  • `11 Rider Call-Ins
  • `11 ITTD Updates
  • `10 Race Updates
  • `10 ITTD Updates
  • `09 Race Updates
  • `09 ITTD Updates
  • `08 Race Updates
  • About Start List
  • `11 TD Start List
  • `11 ITT-D Start List
  • `11 Letters of Intent
  • `10 TD Start List
  • `10 Letters of Intent
  • Start List & LOI Archive

The Grand Tour of MTB

Banff, ab ca - antelope wells, nm usa, expedition bike racing at it's finest, great divide mountain bike route, one stage: 2745mi / 4418km self-supported racing, great continental divide mountain bike race, 13th of june, 2014.

Decidedly not for sprinters, this battle royale braves mountain passes and windswept valleys of the Continental Divide from hinterlands of the Canadian Rockies to badlands of the Mexican Plateau.

IMAGES

  1. Tour Divide Elevation Profile

    tour divide profile

  2. Alexandera Houchin Won 2019 Tour Divide Women's Overall and SInglespeed

    tour divide profile

  3. Tour Divide 2021

    tour divide profile

  4. Tour Divide Rigs 2018

    tour divide profile

  5. Rigs of The 2019 Tour Divide

    tour divide profile

  6. Tour Divide Transportation Guide

    tour divide profile

VIDEO

  1. Howes Divided on the 2023 Tour Divide

  2. Howes Divided on the 2023 Tour Divide

  3. Tour Divide 2022

COMMENTS

  1. The Route

    The Great Divide Route is the world's longest off-pavement cycling route. It was tirelessly mapped over a 4 year span, and published in 1998 by Adventure Cycling Association, North America's premiere bicycle travel organization. The route is highlighted by long dirt roads and jeep trails that wend their way through forgotten passes of the ...

  2. Tour Divide

    The Tour Divide is an annual mountain biking ride traversing the length of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to the Mexican border.Following the 2,745-mile (4,418 km) Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, it is an ultra-distance cycling ride that is an extreme test of endurance, self-reliance and mental toughness. The ride format is strictly self-supported, and it is not a stage race - the clock ...

  3. Route Geographics

    US-GDMBR Profile (courtesy, Scott Morris) Major Climb Profiles of US-GDMBR (courtesy, Andreas Vogel) Eureka-Whitefish, MT. Ferndale to Richmond Peak, MT. Seeley Lake to Ovando, MT. Lincoln to Helena, MT. Helena to Basin, MT. Butte to Wise River, MT. Wise River to Polaris, MT. Moran Junction to Pinedale, WY. Indiana Pass, CO. La Manga Pass, CO ...

  4. The Tour Divide: What, Where, Why, and How?

    The Tour Divide is an annual 2,700-mile (4,300 km) self-supported bikepacking race following the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR). Most of the route follows dirt and gravel roads with a few sections of pavement or singletrack sprinkled in for good measure (along with the occasional hike-a-bike section). ...

  5. About Tour Divide

    Time-trial season on the Great Divide Route begins annually with Grand Départs, occurring approximately 2nd weekend in June from both termini of the Route. The goal of these Solstice common starts is for athletes to challenge the Route in situ, under similar weather conditions and maximum daylight.If one cannot make a grand départ, there is a season-long ITT-Divide format to contend.

  6. Preparing for the Tour Divide

    The Tour Divide is a huge undertaking, and most riders will only have one shot at it because of work, family, and finances. So, there's pressure right from the start. ... This annotated profile is a nice supplement to the GPX track. Beyond all that, perhaps the most important mental lessons I've learned through participating in 11 ...

  7. Tour Divide Planning Guide

    The Project conducts an ongoing rider survey to help new riders try to figure out what gear to use on the Tour Divide. Undertaking a ride/adventure like can be very intimidating and the planning can be overwhelming. It's our hope this survey will help new riders with their planning and execution of their Tour Divide ride, as well as help ensure riders are more properly prepared for their ...

  8. 2022 Tour Divide Tracker

    The 2022 Tour Divide begins on Friday, June 10th at 8AM with over 200 riders following the 2,745-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from north to south starting in Banff, Alberta, Canada and finishing at the US/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The current record was set back in 2016 by the late Mike Hall (13 days, 22 hours, 51 ...

  9. 'Tour Divide' Champ's Secrets To Conquer A Mountain Range

    The Tour Divide route and elevation profile. GearJunkie: Two years ago, your GTD didn't go as planned. Can you tell us more about that? Josh Kato: 2014 was supposed to be the year I was going to ...

  10. What is the Tour Divide?

    The Tour Divide is often attributed as being the originator of modern off-road ultra-endurance cycling events. The Tour Divide effectively follows the Great Divide route, probably one of the most famous off-road hiking/riding routes in the world, travelling the length of the Continental Divide from Banff in Canada in the north to Antelope Wells on the USA/Mexico border in the south.

  11. Tour Divide 2021

    In short, the 2021 Tour Divide will start from Eureka, Montana at the Canada border and run for nearly 2,500 miles to the traditional southern terminus at Antelope Wells on the Mexican border. Read more here. Also, you can follow this years ~100 grand depart participants on the Trackleaders map below. The Tour Divide roughly follows the Great ...

  12. Tour Divide 2023 : The race, the gear, the whys and everything in

    The race. Covering a distance of 4,300km, the Tour Divide is one of the longest and arguably the hardest ultra-endurance bike race on the planet. From Banff (Alberta) in Canada, to Antelope Wells (NM) at the border of Mexico, the course takes the riders along breathtaking scenic landscapes of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (designed by ...

  13. TOUR DIVIDE GUIDE

    TOUR DIVIDE. The Tour Divide is not an sanctioned or organized race in any way. Consequently it's regarded as large group ride that follows a fixed route, a set time, a set of simple rules and that's all. Those who partake should understand this and obey the gentleman's agreement to "race" fairly and follow the rules.

  14. Tour Divide 2023 live tracker by trackleaders.com

    Live tracking event map for Tour Divide 2023 - The iconic 2700 mile race across the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Includes leaderboard coverage, race flow, replay and links to individual track history pages. Home Features Portfolio Trail Tracking About / Contact Tour Divide 2023 Live Tracker ...

  15. Race the Roof!

    The Tour Divide challenge is simple: Race the rooftop of North America by mountain bike; travel self-supported along all 2,745 miles of Adventure Cycling Association's Great Divide Mountain Bike Route; keep moving and be moved; exist well outside one's comfort zone in tackling a cross-continent bikepacking odyssey; finish as fast as possible without cracking.

  16. The Fastest Bikes of the Tour Divide Ultra Race (4,400KM Non-Stop)

    The bike setup Sofiane Sehili used to win the Tour Divide in 2022. Image: Sofiane Sehili. There is now a 2022 Tour Divide winner - Sofiane Sehili! He rode a carbon Vitus Rapide to Antelope Wells in 14 days, 16 hours and 36 minutes. Here are the bike statistics from the top-10 finishers this year: Handlebar Type - 70% flat bar, 30% drop bar

  17. Tour Divide Elevation Profile

    Tour Divide Resource. Tour Divide Guide; Tour Divide Planning Guide; Tour Divide Resupply Guide; Tour Divide Transportation Guide; Tour Divide Planning Aids; Bikepacking Gear. ... Tour Divide Elevation Profile January 8, 2018 / 0 Comments / by Craig Fowler. Share this entry. Share on Facebook;

  18. Rigs of the 2023 Tour Divide (Part 1)

    There's no wrong (or right) way to enjoy the Tour Divide. Last year's Tour Divide was especially exciting, returning from a canceled 2020 event and an adjusted version in 2021. Sofiane Sehili took first place with a time of 14 days, 16 hours, and 36 minutes. Ana Jager was the first woman to finish with a time of 19 days and 54 minutes.

  19. Great Divide Elevation Map

    Choose DirectionSouthboundNorthbound. Loading... Downloading Track... This may take a few moments. 0%. Draw elevation profiles for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and Tour Divide route.

  20. Speaker Mike Johnson says he plans to invite Netanyahu to speak to Congress

    Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images. WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Thursday that he plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister ...

  21. Madame Web: Dakota Johnson's take on Gen Z castmates sums up ...

    Dakota Johnson's take on her 'Madame Web' castmates sums up the Gen Z vs. millennial divide in the workplace: 'I love them … and they annoy me'. Dakota Johnson (second from right) said ...

  22. 10 Tips From College Tour Guides to Have a Successful Campus Visit

    2. Dress to impress, but don't sacrifice comfort. It's important to look nice, but you don't have to don a jacket and tie. Tour-goers should put their best foot forward with a sturdy pair of ...

  23. Disappointing Photos Show What a Cruise Was Really Like Vs ...

    Disappointing photos show what it's actually like to go on a cruise. Joey Hadden. Updated. Mar 25, 2024, 9:29 AM PDT. Cruising is a popular vacation that Business Insider's reporter found to be ...

  24. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Enjoy Lunch Date at Nobu Malibu

    Travis Kelce was right by her side for the high-profile photo-op. The couple hit up one of the most frequented hot spots in town Sunday by dropping in on Nobu Malibu — and in broad daylight, no ...

  25. Virgin Voyages' Richard's Rooftop: VIP Cruise Lounge Tour

    Joey Hadden/Business Insider. I cruised with Virgin Voyages and spent some afternoons on Richard's Rooftop, the ship's VIP lounge. The rooftop reserved for suite guests had cabanas, shaded beds ...

  26. Rigs of the 2022 Tour Divide (Part 2): Drop-Bar Bikes

    Part 2 of our massive Rigs of the 2022 Tour Divide roundup features more than 60 drop-bar bikes that'll be setting out on the 2,700-mile route between Banff, Alberta, and Antelope Wells, New Mexico, tomorrow morning. Find details on all of them here, including bag and gear highlights for each.. compose Miles Arbour. time Jun 9, 2022.

  27. Digital Divide Widens As Federal Internet Assistance Program Ends

    The Affordable Connectivity Program has been helping low-income households access the internet since the Federal Communications Commission launched it in 2021. The program provides eligible ...

  28. Welcome, Bienvenue, Bienvenido a...

    Great Divide Mountain Bike Route One Stage: 2745mi / 4418km Self-Supported Racing Great Continental Divide Mountain Bike Race 13th of June, 2014. Decidedly not for sprinters, this battle royale braves mountain passes and windswept valleys of the Continental Divide from hinterlands of the Canadian Rockies to badlands of the Mexican Plateau.