“The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is Adventure Cycling’s premier off-pavement cycling route, crisscrossing the Continental Divide in southern Canada and the U.S. This route is defined by the word “remote”. Its remoteness equates with spectacular terrain and scenery. The entire route is basically dirt road and mountain-pass riding every day. In total, it has over 200,000 feet of elevation gain. Nearly 2,100 miles of the route is composed of County, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Canadian provincial unpaved roads.”, according to the Adventure Cycling Association.
Totals: This route took us 12 days, 21 hours, 39 minutes, and 29 seconds of cycling time to cover 4540 km (2820 miles), including 52253 m (171442 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 15 km/h (9 mph), reaching a maximum speed of 71 km/h (43 mph) on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. During cycling, there was a minimum temperature of 1 °C (34 °F) on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, and a maximum temperature of 58 °C (136 °F) on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
Cycling the distance of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, while gaining a massive amount of elevation, through good and bad weather, and loaded with gear seems like quite a challenge. Of course, there are other factors like overall fitness, average pace, and most important (I think) the number of hours in the saddle each and every day.
I got asked if I already have training schedules and how I will train for this adventure. To be honest, I have no schedule at all. I will continue with my regular rides with my bike friends. Considering the fact that I already have good overall fitness, I expect that I mainly need to train my bottom and hands/wrists, the main contact points during daytime riding. My saddle and handlebar will replace my office desk and chair for many weeks.
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Transport and Logistics
Before you can start riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route you need to go to ‘the starting point’. Wherever that may be, depending on personal choices. In my case, the starting point is Banff, Alberta in Canada, where I will start riding South-Bound.
So, my bike, gear, and I need to get to Banff. Since I live abroad, I will be flying to Calgary. Although I already booked quite some family holidays to the US myself (flights, rental car, accommodations, etc.), this time it feels different. I need to make sure the bike is confirmed (both ways). I prefer a direct flight on my way to Calgary to minimize issues with the bike (damages, loss, …). The date for the return flight is an estimate, I need some flexibility for change (preferable date/time and also departure airport). In short, I would like a professional to look into this. I hope this makes things easier for me, and they might be able to help with other parts of the journey (shuttle to Banff, accommodation in Banff, or alternatives). So I decided to make use of the services of a travel agency.
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Planting a little seed
After buying my first mountain bike in 2012, I saw the movie Ride the Divide. This movie follows the participants of the 2008 edition of the Tour Divide, a time-trail event on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. A little seed was planted in my head. I loved the idea, not the racing, but touring such a route. I always loved being in nature when visiting the US for our holidays. Exploring the US by bike sounded ideal (faster than by foot, slower than by car). Not much later I explored more-and-more details on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) and dreamed about the amazing experience it must be to ride this route.
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Weather and Route direction
Due to the nature and length of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, careful attention must be paid to the travel direction (North-Bound vs. South-Bound) and the time of year (usually between June and October) for riding this route.
Weather can play a significant role in the experiences on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Freezing temperatures and snow on high altitudes, the pronounced increase in thunderstorms and rainfall during the North American monsoon, high winds on the great plains, and high temperatures during summer are just a few examples of weather that will be experienced during the trip.
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What is the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route?
“The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is Adventure Cycling’s premier off-pavement cycling route, crisscrossing the Continental Divide in southern Canada and the U.S. This route is defined by the word ‘remote’. Its remoteness equates with spectacular terrain and scenery. The entire route is basically dirt road and mountain-pass riding every day. In total, it has over 200,000 feet of elevation gain. Nearly 2,100 miles of the route is composed of County, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Canadian provincial unpaved roads.”, according to the Adventure Cycling Association.
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