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

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 the Rigs of the 2022 Tour Divide—one of the most popular rig roundups we publish each year.

The Tour Divide roughly follows the 2,700-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) from Banff, Alberta, to the US/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The route traces the Continental Divide and is 90% off-pavement along high-quality dirt roads, gravel byways, trails, and a few short sections of unmaintained tracks. Bikepacking the Tour Divide requires only intermediate off-road mountain biking skills, but it’s a painstaking test of endurance given the sheer scale of the route, which packs in around 150,000 feet (45,618 meters) of elevation gain and loss.

Each year, riders from all over the world line up in Banff on the second Friday in June. Some pack light and chase course records, while others will take their time and savor the ride at a gentler pace. Either way, it’s a huge undertaking, and we’d like to commend everyone who will be out riding this year. Because we had so many submissions this time, we decided to break the rigs into two days. You can scroll down for a look at all of the flat-bar bikes folks sent our way, and keep an eye on the site tomorrow for our gallery of 60+ drop-bar rigs. Also, when the event launches on Friday morning, you’ll be able to follow along live over on our 2022 Tour Divide Tracker.

Aaron Ehlers

Age 34 / St. Paul, Minnesota (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Chumba Stella Ti single speed geared at 34×19. The wheels are Santa Cruz Reserve 30s laced to a DT Swiss 350 rear hub and SON dynamo rolling on 29 x 2.25″ Mezcals. Lots of colorful bits from Wolf Tooth (a Minnesota company!) and a Boone Ti rear cog. Staying on theme, I’m also using a titanium Litespeed seatpost, Cane Creek eeWings cranks, and a Thomson handlebar.
BAGS: The Stella is dressed up with an Arkel Seatpacker 15 seatpack, Revelate top tube bag, Rockgeist Honeybox feedbags, and a Cedaero handlebar bag. The fork bags were made by my wife Mary, who finished the Divide last summer with them. She also made my frame bag and modified a few of my other bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be wearing several wool Fjallraven pieces as well as their Bergtagen Lite rain jacket. For a comfy night’s rest, I’ll crawl into my 32-degree Western Mountaineering bag with expander, tucked into a Mountain Laurel bivy. I’ll run the K-Lite gravel headlight and Qube taillight.

Adam Carlson

Age 45 / Queenstown (New Zealand)

BIKE: 2019 Kona Honzo AL. Rolling on a DT Swiss rear hub and rim and SP dynamo hub up front, both will have Vittoria Mezcals 2.25″ tires. It’s a mongrel drivetrain, mixing 11-46T Shimano XT cassette and 30T SRAM chainring with an NX derailleur. RockShox Revelation fork and four-pot braking with big old rotors because stopping matters, and it’s my everything bike and Queenstown can be steep.
BAGS: Southern Lite Packs front roll harness with DIY Carlson 3.0 glovebox, Carlson 2.0 feedbags, and Carlson 1.0 frame bag. Southern Lite Packs top tube bag. Seatbag is a mighty Zefal, not common, not cool, but seems to do the job.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nothing too fancy, some Lezyne lights in case it gets dark. Ergon grips for some comfort, Specialized Power Saddle so I can continue to pee. I’ve got a tidy little single-skin tent to keep the bears and cougars out. Kylimt for sleeping on and a ‘way to thin’ Fairydown Supernova sleeping bag from 2004 (which I had boosted with 100g of extra down) for sleeping in.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I like/need coffee so I’ve got a little spirit stove.

Adrian Barniak

Age 31 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 9zero7 Saber with a Lauf fork, 29 x 2.2″ Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, 1×12 SRAM AXS with 36T front chainring, and dynamo lighting.
BAGS: All locally made from Revelate Designs with the exception of a custom-sized Rockgeist frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will be using a Specialized Power Arc saddle that I first used during the 2019 Trans Am Bike Race. I’ve lost count of how many miles are on this saddle, it’s amazing!

AJ DeLauder

Age 36 / Aurora, West Virginia (USA)

BIKE: I’m non-binary, but I’ll be riding in the men’s division on a 2016 Salsa El Mariachi. The bike has 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tires with a hodgepodge SRAM 1X10 drivetrain and an Absolute Black 32T oval chainring. Brakes are Avid BB7s. Up front, I have a Stan’s Arch laced to a SON dynamo hub and a ROL XC 29 on the rear. Zipp aerobars and Ergon saddle and grips for comfort.
BAGS: Revelate Spinelock 16L, Revelate feedbags, Revelate top tube bag, Alpkit frame bag, Elite Byasi bottle storage, and a Salsa EXP dry bag lashed to the front with Voile straps.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nemo Hornet 1P tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping pad, old REI Magma 20 sleeping bag that is probably too heavy but never lets me down, Gore rain gear, Sinewave Beacon, Fenix HM65R headlamp, Garmin InReach Mini, Wahoo Elemnt Roam for navigation, and a small toy T-Rex named Terry that my kids gave me for company on bikepacking trips.

Anders Carlson

Age 15 / Brighton, Utah (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2022 Diamondback Release 5C with Maxxis Ikon 27.5″ tires a SRAM Eagle 1×11 drivetrain and Ricyrlk carbon aerobars.
BAGS: I made the frame bag, seat bag, handlebar harness, and feed bags, plus an Oveja Negra top tube bag, Lunch Box bag, and Big Agnes dry bag up front.

Andreas Ghabrial

Age 59 / Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

BIKE: Surly Disc Trucker with Rohloff and SON hub and Edelux headlight. Salsa Toploader upfront, Arkel Drylites, and frame bag. First aid/toiletries/tool kit sits below seat. Using Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTB 26 x 2.1″ tires.
BAGS: Toppeak tankbag, Riverdale feedbags, and Bikcase for stove inside frame.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Lost inflatible matress to thorns—replaced in Silver City with a Therm-a-Rest. Love my 2l Camelback for extended dry stretches.

Andrew Strempke

Age 29 / Vanlife (USA)

BIKE: Chumba Sendero Ti. Singlespeed 32x16T. 2.25″ Mezcals. Ergon SMC Core saddle.
BAGS: Dispersed Bikepacking bags, made by me in my van with solar power. Also bringing a Dispersed hip pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin Edge 1030+ and inReach mini for navigation and tracking. SON hub and Sinewave Beacon for charging and light. Fenix PD35 on the helmet. 35F bag, inflatable pad, pillow, bivy, and tarp in the handlebar bag. 4L water capacity. The top tube bag and half of the frame bag are empty, ready for snacks.

Andy Leveto

Age 32 / Bellingham, Washington (USA)

BIKE: Pivot LES SL, Niner RDO rigid fork, SRAM GX Eagle AXS drivetrain, 34T chainring, and blip buttons on PD aerobars. Farsports rims, Chris King hubs, Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tires. Ergon grips and saddle.
BAGS: LOAM Equipment custom frame bag and top tube bag, Tailfin Aeropack, Revelate feedbags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: OR Helium Bivy, NeoAir pad, and 30-degree sleeping bag. Fenix lights, a bunch of quick-charging USB gadgets and batteries (no dynamo), and a Safety Pizza.

Bart Muylle

Age 50 / Waimauku, Auckland (New Zealand)

BIKE: Giant XTC Advanced 2 29er hardtail with factory standard RockShox front suspension. Using an SP dynamo hub paired with Sinewave Cycles Reactor top cap USB charger to keep the Garmin and powerbank charged up. Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tires both front and back.
BAGS: Love the Revelate Spinelock as seat bag. Also went with a Revelate Sweetroll for my handlebar bag and their Jerrycan on the top tube for tools, etc. Added a couple of feedbags and a top tube bag from other brands as that’s what the bike shop had in stock.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MSR Hubba Hubba one-person tent and Garmin Edge 530 for navigation.

Ben Rancier

Age 23 / Calgary, Alberta (Canada)

BIKE: I will be riding (not racing) this year’s Tour Divide northbound on my 2021 Breezer Thunder. The bike is rolling on 2.6” Maxxis Ikons front and rear, a dropper post, and a 1X12 drivetrain with a 10-51T cassette paired with a 34T chainring.
BAGS: A Revelate Designs harness, Egress bag, and two feed bags that all hold my sleep system, camera equipment, and water/snacks. Three Blackburn Outpost cages hold three litres of water and a 30oz fuel bottle. A Rogue Panda top tube bag and custom frame bag. Two 8L dry bags and a 30L Ursack strapped to my excessively overkill Surly rear rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MSR Hubba Hubba tent, Therm-a-Rest Xtherm pad and Questar sleeping bag, Whisperlite Universal stove, Garmin inReach+, Sony a7ii and lenses.

Bobby Snyder

Age 54 / Edmond, Oklahoma (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2019 Salsa Cutthroat Force 1. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.35” tires, a 1×11 drivetrain with a 36T chainring, 10-51T, Chris King rear hub, and a SON Dynamo hub up front. The handlebar is a Salsa carbon flat bar, with Syntace aero bars (widely spaced for comfort).
BAGS: I’m using a combination of the Tailfin rear panier rack with two 5L panniers bags on each side. My seat bag and front harness are Specialized Burra Burra products. I’ll carry my 100oz water bladder in the Cedaero custom sized frame. On top, I have a Cedaero gas tank bag and a Bear Claw bear spray holder mounted on the top tube. Lastly, I have a bike bottle keg mounted under my bottom tube for tools.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Highland Peak self-supporting tent, Nemo Astro Lite Long Wide insulated sleeping pad and 30-degree sleeping quilt will serve as my sleeping setup. For navigation, I will be using a Garmin Edge 520 and an iPhone.

Bruce Cole

Age 57 / Mariposa, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2022 Kona Unit, on 2.4″ WTB Rangers, tubeless. Drivetrain is Shimano 1×11, 32T up front and 11-51T out back. For power, I’ll be using an Anker battery cache to Charge my Exposure light, NiteRider Head light, iPhone, and Wahoo Bolt for navigation.
BAGS: Salsa framebag, Bedrock Bags on bars, Wanderlust feed bags, and an Agua bag on rear rack with sleep kit in it.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For a tent, I’m using a heavily waterproofed Snugpak. A Steripen for water purification.

Chase Blanton

Age 51 / Atlanta, Georgia (USA)

BIKE: This is my second Lynskey, a 2019 Live Wire. “Jonsey” is ready to tour, not race, the 2022 Tour Divide. I added some aero bars to the Jones carbon H bars, Dragon carbon rims with a DT Swiss 350 rear hub and a dyno hub up front powering Kasai dyno light, rolling a Maxxis Ikon 2.35 on the rear and a Mezcal 2.6 on the front. Shimano XT brakes with SRAM Eagle AXS drivetrain.
BAGS: Centerpiece is a custom Rockgeist frame bag and Horton front pouch. The Old Man Mountain rack is new and allows for some extra food storage and gets the weight off my seatpost so I can use my dropper, which makes getting on and off the loaded bike a lot easier. Revelate Designs Sweetroll up front and their top tube bags for water and bear spray. King Cage mounts on the fork with Salsa dry bags holding three weeks’ worth of diabetic supplies. A 2L water bottle attached with King Many Thing cage on the down tube. Spurcycle Bell on the bars for scaring away bears and saying hello to passing riders.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nemo Hornet 1 tent and a warmer Enlighten Equipment 30-degree down quilt. I’ll carry a tiny stove because I love coffee in the morning. A Hammerhead Karoo 2 might go but the Garmin eTrex 30 has never let me down with navigation.

Chris Kuzdas

Age 38 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: I’m riding a Stella Ti with a rigid Enve fork, rolling with 29 x 2.6 front and 2.35 rear Ikon tires. Drivetrain is 1×12 XT with a 30T chainring. A SON dynamo hub is paired with the kLite system. Also got an old Fenix light velcroed to my helmet. Up front is a flat 30mm riser bar with super thick foam grips, bar ends, and Profile Designs aero bars mounted on a Fred Bar, all on a shorter MTB stem. Going with a Koda seat on a Thudbuster ST post.
BAGS: Bags are a mix and match. Most are Rockgeist, including the frame bag and a Bar Jam harness up front, which is holding a small waterproof compression sack. Attached to that is a Bedrock front pouch a friend just gave me that will fit at least five hot dogs. 3L Tailfin bags are solid on the fork legs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m a fan of this kayaking flip visor that velcros on and off my bike helmet. I’m also liking my warm 3/4 zip wool hoody. My feet are happy with the giant Atlas flat pedals and Terrex Swift R hiking shoes. Sleep system is a MSR Freelite 1P tent, a light pad, and a 32F mummy bag.

Chris Miksovsky

Age 53 / Bend, Oregon (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be doing my rookie Tour Divide on a ’21 Scott Scale RC 900 AXS hardtail MTB. Gearing is 1×12 (32T x 10-52) with wireless AXS shifting (including SRAM MultiClics for shifting while in the Syntace Clip aerobars). The bike features 100mm of front suspension with soft/stiff/lock settings, set remotely. 611 saddle and 30×16-deg handlebar by SQ Lab. I added SpirGrips for a hoods-like cruise position. Vittoria Mezcal rubber (2.1 rear, 2.25 front). Power is provided by a PedalCell rim dynamo running on Synchros Silverton carbon rims (I added helicopter tape to the running surface of the rim to prevent wear). An Outbound Lighting Trail Evo headlight should guide me through the dark, scary times.
BAGS: I’m running a mix: bespoke Rockgeist framebag (clothes, tools/spares) and their Honeypot feedbags (electronics, body care, bear spray). By Revelate, I’ve got a drybag on the front (Zpacks Plexamid tent, Enlightened 30F quilt), Mag-Tank 2000 at the stem (snacks), and Spinelock 10L in back (Ether Light XT airpad, warm and rain clothes). Lastly, an Apidura top tube bag (tools). I’ve got two 1L Zefal bottles on the fork. I’ll also be wearing an Ultimate Direction Mountain Vest 5.0 with 3L bladder that I’ll use mostly for food and extra water.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be eating with the lightest, most evolved spork ever made – the GoBites “Uno” by my company, humangear. I’m a product designer with a 3D printer so I went kinda wild on custom parts. The bike features a bunch of one-off brackets, mounts, and other bits and pieces. I also designed a special water bottle cap that lets me mount a Katadyn BeFree filter directly to a Zefal bottle. I actually posted that part on Thingiverse.com and people can download it and make one themselves (search: “Katadyn BeFree Zefal”).

Cole Mumme

Age 25 / Grand rapids, Michigan (USA)

BIKE: My rig is a Raleigh xxix (29). I don’t know the year, but my guess is that it’s roughly 10 years old. It’s got a pretty sweet eccentric BB for singlespeed action. Currently, the drivetrain is set up with SRAM NX eagle paired to a 12-speed Microsoft friction shifter. Wheels are velocity blunts with Shimano Deore hubs. Brakes are good ol’ reliable BB7s. The real highlight of this build is the Velo Orange Crazy Bars for that very useful extra hand position.
BAGS: My frame bag was made by Jonny D’s bike bags in Grand Rapids. This bag came super last-minute and I can’t thank him enough. My front and rear bags are the Junk Trunk from Rocky Mountain Toast (the front bag is slightly smaller). I also have a King Cage for my Nalgene that a certain bike shop employee was kind enough to sell me off of his own bike.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m rocking the REI Quarter Dome tent. It’s pretty light and actually comfortable as well. Sleeping bag is the mountain hardware rook 15° with a Sea to Summit XL pad and a second Nemo foam pad for extra warmth and comfort. I’m also bringing a couple of creature comforts: my kindle Paperwhite and a disposable camera. I know that cellphones have cameras now but there’s something special about having a limited amount of photos and having to be creative with your shots.

Daniel Bijan Connell

Age 26 / Goleta, California (USA)

BIKE: Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 5.0 on Rodeo 2.0 wheels. SRAM X01 Eagle AXS 1×12 drivetrain to propel me forward and Paul Klamper mechanical disc brakes to slow me down. Brooks B17 saddle to keep the cheeks happy.
BAGS: Tailfin Carbon AeroPack, Class 4 Designs frame bag, Revelate harness and feed bags. Will be sporting an EVOC hydration vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Butterflies on the frame bag are partially to inspire nimble movements on the bike, but mostly to inspire smiles. Will be running a Buckshot speaker on the handlebars to soothe the nerves of grizzly bears with the soft melodies of Toots and the Maytals. Nalgene on the downtube is for transporting different variations of milk. Sleeping in a cozy 15-degree Katabatic quilt on an old shortened Z-Pad.

Daniel Nickel

Age 38 / San Jose, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Lynkey Rdigeline 29 frame with a Niner RDO fork again this year. Wheelset is from Dave’s Wheels: i9 Hydra rear hub and SP dynamo front hub laced to We Are One rims. For drivetrain, I used what I could find with all the parts shortages, mostly Shimano SLX 1×12 with 36T up front and a 10-51 cassette. For tires, I’m running my favorite 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals.
BAGS: I’m using a mix of bags this year. Mostly Revelate Designs with a JPacs Footlong SnakPak (amazing) and Oveja Negra Gearjammer seat bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Sinewave Cycles Beacon providing front lighting and dynamo power out. I love that the light can run off battery power for those slow nighttime climbs. I switched up my sleep system this year. I’m using an Enlightened Equipment quilt, full-sized insulated pad, Borah Gear UL bivy, and have an ultralight tarp for when things get wild. Safety Pizza for safety.

Darren Stregger

Age 62 / Kelowna, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the 2022 Tour Divide on a 2016 Norco Revolver HT 9.1with a Fox fork. This bike rolls on a new pair of Maxxis Rekon tires, a modified Shimano 11-51 1×11 drivetrain with a 32T chainring, DT Swiss rims lanced with a SON Dynamo hub up front, and a DT Swiss 360 rear hub. For comfort and a change of position, I added a pair of aero bars with my Luxos light mounted in between the bars.
BAGS: The centerpiece of my bag setup is four custom Shaka Pack bags: frame bag, custom front-roll-mounted food bag, and two top bags. I’m also running two BikepackersFoundry Straddle Bags, two Revelate cockpit feed bags, Salsa anything cradle and roll on the handlebars, two fork-mounted dry bags, and an Apidura seat bag. Two water bottles are mounted to the fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Navigation will be handled by a Garmin 830 Edge along with a Garmin inReach Explorer. I will be sleeping in a MEC Spark tent, -5C sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. I’ll also be carrying an MSR Pocket Rocket stove and fuel for my morning caffeine fix and a warm meal.

Elena Alsides-Haynes

Age 30 / Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA)

BIKE: Surly Troll w/ a RockShox Reba fork! It has Rene Herse Humptulips on some homebuilt wheels with 26” Velocity Cliffhangers, an Alfine dynamo front hub (with a Supernova front light and a Sinewave charger port connected to it), Paul Klampers and some Moloko handlebars. She’s heavy but hardy!
BAGS: I’ve been primarily using the Revelate system for years. I have their rear seatbag, their frame bag, and their feed bags — all have been with me for many off-road tours at this point and I love them. I also have the Salsa EXP Everything cradle and Salsa Anything cages and an Oveja Negra top tube bag!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m stoked on the Sinewave Charger Port this year — it’s my first tour with it and I’m excited to see how it works out. It’s been working well on my test rides. I also just love my bike. It’s been through hell and back with me, and after many hard years, this might be its last big tour due to some rust on the inside. I love it so much.

Ethan Washam

Age 29 / Coeur D’Alene, Idaho (USA)

BIKE: I’m riding a Solace Cycles OM-1. I’m running it single speed at 32×17 with an oval chainring. SON Dynamo in the front, Industry Nine in the back. Besides that, just loads of Thompson components sprinkled around.
BAGS: Revelate seat bag, frame bag, top tube bag, jerry can, feed bag, and front harness. Some other Wolf Tooth accessory bags as well.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My trusty Zpacks quilt and tent. A kLite dynamo light so I can enjoy the scenery even at night.

Gehrig Haberstock

Age 28 / Douglas, Wyoming (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2016 Niner S.I.R. 9. This bike brings together the love of steel, a Whisky LT fork, broken-in Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires on Mason X Hunt Search wheels: a SON Dynamo up front to power my gadgets and an Industry Nine Hydra on the back to keep me company on the downhills. Also, a 36T absoluteBLACK oval chainring connected to a 19T Cogalicious cog.
BAGS: I will be using an Outer Shell Dropper Seatpack and an Outer Shell Drawcord Handlebar Bag laced to an Outer Shell Handlebar Harness. A Ghost Cat Bags Big Lunch will house my Haribo gummies and electronics. To add some fashion, I’ll have a High Above Lookout strapped around my waist. Portland Design Works owl bottle cages hold water in the usual spots, plus one bottle on each side of the fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using my trusty Garmin Edge Explore for navigation, a Spot Gen4 so my mom knows I am safe, a Kingdom 8 footprint for makeshift shelter, and a pair of Tasco gloves that makes it look like I love Arizona more than I actually do.

Jakub Cychowski

Age 29 / Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA)

BIKE: I’m riding a 2011 Surly Karate Monkey. For tires, I am running Vittoria Mezcal 2.25s, a 2×11 drivetrain made of Frankensteined Shimano XT and XTR parts (some new, some old). The wheels were made with Stans Arch MK4 hoops, a SON 28 dynamo hub in the front, and a Shimano XT hub in the rear. Special additions include a Salsa Fire-Starter fork for the additional braze-ons and a King Cage anything cage hose-clamped to the down tube for extra water storage.
BAGS: The majority of my bags are from Revelate Designs and include two Feedbags, a Terrapin seat bag, and a Proghorn handlebar bag with Egress Pocket. I also have an Oveja Negra wedge and top tube bag. Last but not least, I have my tiny Bedrock bag for all the tools I hope I never have to use.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The sleep system I will be using includes a Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 tent, Q Core sleeping pad, and an Enlightened Equipment Enigma quilt. I will be relying on my kLite electrical system to power my front light and rechargeables while the ceramic toe provided by my D&D group will ward off any malicious spirits.

James Bacon

Age 36 / Denver, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: 2021 Salsa Timberjack Ti, Fox 34, Fox Transfer Dropper, Ikon 2.2 tires, SRAM Eagle, DT rear with carbon hoop, dynamo Front, Profile Design handlebar.
BAGS: I’m using a JPaks prototype handlebar cradle and bag, footlong top tube, custom frame Pack, two Rucksacks, and a dropper post bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: REI quilt and airpad, Black Diamond Bivy, Ti stove, Tokes cup, Garmin 830.

Jason Baertschi

Age 30 / Barrie, Ontario (Canada)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the tour divide on my trusty Surly Ogre. Got a new set of Rene Herse 2.2” tubeless tires on my 29” wheels to get me up and over hills. The classic Jones loop bar with a new aerobar setup will get me through those windy days.
BAGS: Rockgeist custom frame bag, Loop Bar Harness, and Horton Front Pouch, two Salsa Anything Cages on the front forks, Revelate Designs Spinelock 16L seat pack, two Mountain Feed Bags, Jerry Can and Gas Can storage on top tube. Three water bottles and a Platypus 3L bladder in the frame bag will keep me hydrated.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My trusty Mewtwo Pokémon trash collector! Mewtwo’s been around the block, but as I keep munchin’ the snacks, he keeps taking the wraps!

Jason Reamy

Age 37 / Tijeras, New Mexico (USA)

BIKE: Specialized Chisel with SRAM Eagle GX (32T chainring, 10-52 cassette) and Shimano XT brakes. Fox Float 34 Kashima Coat front suspension for that extra cush-cush. Maxxis Ikon 2.2s front and rear. Mavic Crossmax carbon wheels. Profile Design aerobars.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Going with an Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, 3/4 length Nemo foam pad, and 20-degree Enlightened Equipment quilt for a sleep system. Navigation will be eTrex 30, and all AA powered lights to see the mountain lions.

Jens Van Roost

Age 36 / Antwerp (Belgium)

BIKE: Last time I toured the Divide, I took a heavy old rig towing a trailer. This time around ,I will be racing. For this trip, I choose my 2007 Scott Scale 26” hardtail. Full carbon, full XTR. The biggest pro about this bike choice is the fact that it’s a bike I already had. Also, it has a gold chain. Con of this bike is that it doesn’t have a lot of mud clearance. Tyres are Conti RaceKing Protection 2.2”. No dyno hub. No fixed lights, just the head torch. I fitted a rigid fork for the Tour Divide. To take the edge off my hands, it has a Flexx handlebar with some elastomer suspension built into it.
BAGS: The front bags are all Revelate: 2x Feedbag, 1x MagTank 2000. The rest is Apidura. Particularly happy with the packable backpack strapped to the frame – this should create some overflow capacity for excess burritos and extra water for the dry stretches.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Like on most of my bikes, this one has some cheap armrests without the actual aero bars. They’re light, minimalistic, and give me all the comfort I can get from an aero position. To counter the lack of dyno hub, I will be bringing two powerbanks that charge at 60W each. I locally reinforced the frame with some homemade Kevlar composite where the mud would otherwise scrape away the carbon. Not sure if this will help at all.

John O’Malley

Scranton, Pennsylvania (USA)

BIKE: I am most grateful to be roaring all the way on a 2017 steel Salsa Fargo set up in flat-bar mode and modified with a Redshift stem and Cane Creek eeSilk+ carbon seatpost for more cush in my push. XT 1x 11-speed soultrain at 11-46 with a 32T chainring up front. Bontrager Line Pro 30 carbon wheels and Vittoria Mezcal 29 × 2.5 tires. Huge thanks to the Greenwood Village REI tech shop for the painstaking build-out.
BAGS: A mix of Revelate Designs and Salsa. Salsa Anything cages and cradle up front, and a Tailfin alloy rack and cages bring up the rear.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin 66i for C2, but like any soldier would, I’m carrying the maps and a compass. A Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 tent, Therm-a-Rest Ohm 32 sleep bag, and Nemo UL Tensor pad for my sleep system. I will carry a humble cook system with a Snow peak LiteMax Titanium stove and cup. Osprey Katari 7 hydration pack. Plenty of Stars and Stripes for inspiration.

Josh Brearley

Age 42 / Canberra, ACT (Australia)

BIKE: I will be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a carbon 2020 Merida Big 9 7000. The bike features Reynolds TR 249 carbon wheels laced with Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2″ tyres. Other features are Shimano XT 1×12 with 32T chainring and 10-51T cassette, alloy Controltech Falcon stem tri clip-on aero bars, SQLab 311 FL-X carbon handlebar, and Rockshox SID SL 100mm suspension fork.
BAGS: Blackburn Outpost Elite medium/tall framebag (2L Platypus Hoser reservoir tucked inside), Rock Bros handlebar bag, PacGear 2×1 litre feedpouches, RideFarr mini bar bag, Revelate Designs Spinelock seatpost bag, Jerrycan, Gas Tank and Egress Pocket.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Hyperlight Ultamid 2 tent will serve as my shelter (minus the fly). I will be using a Mont Helium 450 sleeping bag and Alpkit Numo sleeping mat as my sleeping system. I will be operating a Garmin GPSMAP 66i along with a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (utilising Komoot and Gaia GPS apps) for navigation.

Katie Strempke

Age 29 / Vanlife (USA)

BIKE: Chumba Sendero Singlespeed, 32×17
BAGS: Dispersed Bikepacking bags and hip pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A luxurious sleep kit with a 25-degree bag, insulated air pad, and prototype Dispersed Bikepacking bivy and tarp. Lots of room in my bags for french fries.

Ken Knight

Age 65 / Roberts Creek, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: Bike is titanium, designed for me and made in Vancouver, BC, by Landyachtz. A 2x drivetrain with 11-50 cassette. The suspension fork and Brooks B17 should make for comfortable days. Carbon lower handlebar for most riding and an adjustable upper bar about 5” higher for sitting back on those gradual descents, flats, and when my hands get tired. I love it.
BAGS: All bags except the feedbags are made locally in Kelowna, BC, by Shaka Packs. They are my own design. Really happy with each of them. The front bag is huge and allows for the sleep system and the extras needed on some stretches. Fully loaded (without food or water) is 54lbs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Using a Nemo 2P tent, Big Agnes bag, and Nemo pad.

Kevin Latta

Age 48 / Columbia, Tennessee (USA)

BIKE: I’m riding the Priority 600x pretty much straight from the box except for the addition of Surly Moloko bars and Shimano dual-sided pedals. The bike features the Gates Carbon Belt Drive and Pinion internal gearing with a 600% spread for peanut butter mud and climbing help. The tires are WTB.
BAGS: I’m running a Revelate SweetRoll (16L) on Surly Moloko bars, which is direct-stuffed with the a Big Agness Tiger Wall UL 2 tent, footprint, rainfly, and my awesome PNW Lander Jacket. Also have a Revelate Egress bag attached up front for electronics (minus the drone I crashed in testing). Outer Shell Stem Caddy (L) and Rogue Panda Bismark Bottle Bucket (R). Salsa Anything Cages on the front forks attached via Jensen clamps due to the inverted fork not having any attachment points) with a Salsa Dry Bag (R) with REI Magama 30 Sleeping Bag/Liner and Sea To Summit inflatable pillow and a Revelate Dry Bag (L) with a lightweight Tarp and extra stakes and cordage. Top Tube Bags by Rogue Panda Alamogordo up front (and a Rogue Panda Rincon bag at seat post I’m still iffy on running). Custom Rogue Panda Frame Bag has dual pockets with my food pantry up top and tools, etc. on bottom. Rockgeist Mr. Fusion (16L) Seat Bag in the rear with all the rest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m rocking the Dustin Klein “SLOW AF” stickers (which are literal in my case), have a ton of Steeped Coffee (if you need any just ask) and I’ll be filming as much as possible on the route using the INSTA 360 RS one so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE say hey as you pass by and leave me in your dust.

Lee Newsom

Age 58 / Tijeras, New Mexico (USA)

BIKE: 2016 Salsa Fargo with Firestarter fork, Shimano XT/SLX 10-speed w/ Sunrace 11-42 x RaceFace 22/38, Velocity Cliffhanger rims, Chris King rear hub, SON dynamo front hub, Specialized Fast Trak Grid 2Blis 29 x 2.6″ tires. Paul Klampers (SRAM pads) with Paul Love Levers and Shimano rotors. Salsa Bend Bar, BarYak Expedition kit, Thomson stem, SQ Lab 702 grips up front, and a Cane Creek eeSilk post topped off with the best saddle for me, an Infinity Seat E1X for the rear!
BAGS: Salsa Frame bag, EXP bag and two Anything Cages. Revelate Jerrycan, two Mountain Feedbags, Gas Tank, Harness, and Nano Panniers. Tumbleweed Mini Pannier rack. I will be carrying my CamelBak for extra water capacity, personal items, and first aid kit.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: SON dynamo hub, Sinewave Beacon headlight, Supernova rear light, Goal Zero battery bank, Wahoo Elemnt Bolt GPS and Ride with GPS on my iPhone.

Luca Bettinsoli

Age 42 / Bovegno, Brescia (Italy)

BIKE: I’ll be riding Tour Divide on a 36/18 Singlespeed Salsa Woodsmoke with a rigid Salsa Firestarter fork. The bike features a pair of wheels with Stan’s Arch CB7 and SON dynamo hub on front and DT240 on the rear, a pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ and 2.25″ tires, a singlespeed drivetrain with Shimano Deore XT crank and 36T oval titanium chainring and 18T cog by Zeta Bike Components. One other modification is a Butterfly Guns by VAP Cycling with arm rests on the handlebars.
BAGS: I’ve got a complete bag set by VAP Cycling. A custom framebag, two small bags on horizontal top tube, a Kangaroo as seat bag, and a waterproof bag on handlebar. Two .75L bottles on the fork and a 2.5L CamelBak.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An Elyum bivy by Outdoor Research will serve as my shelter along with a Camp sleeping bag and Sea To Summit UL Air Mat. Garmin GPS66s for navigation.

Maebe Wood

Age 45 / Hot Springs, Arkansas (USA)

BIKE: Marin Team Titanium frame, Velo Orange Piolet fork. Microshift Advent 9-speed drivetrain with a 36T Wolf Tooth ring. Titec H-Bar handlebars (drone case fits perfectly inside the loop!) plugged w/ champagne corks. Blackburn cargo cages on the fork. Mismatched wheels with random stock front wheel and Deore hub and Velocity Dyad rear, shod in Continental Mountain King front and Cross King rear. MKS Promenade pedals, Fizik Aliante saddle, Nitto front rack.
BAGS: Frame bag and top tube bag sewn by my boyfriend Re. Everything else a work in progress.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Frogg Toggs :)

Manu Cattrysse

Age 34 / Hamme, East-Flanders (Belgium)

BIKE: I will be racing the Tour Divide on the CHIRU Divider Titanium frame with a 100mm Reba RL fork upgraded with a race-day damper. The drivetrain is a 12-speed SRAM GX AXS with a 10-52 cassette to a round 36T Wolftooth chainring mounted on a Sram XX1 Crank + Quarq powermeter, linked by a SRAM XX1 chain. Ergon GS3 grips on a Carbon CEC handlebar, shifting on the aerobars with SRAM Blips shifters. Rear wheel is a DT Swiss XRC1200 and a Duke Lucky Star laced on a SON dynamo hub up front rolling on Mezcal 2.25s filled with Caffélatex. Wolf Tooth B-Rad system gave me the ability to put two 1L bottles on top of the downtube, and I’ll be carrying a third liter on the frame below. Seatpost is a Carbon CEC with Bontrager saddle locked by a Wolf Tooth clamp. Lights are kLite bikepacker MTB in the front and kLite Cube in the back.
BAGS: Peloton de Paris full waterproof saddlebag, two Apidura top tube bags, Ortlieb 4L framebag, snacking from the Revelate design foodpouches, and a Zpacks dyneema drybag on a modified Salsa Cradle.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system is a Zpacks plex solo tent, a Sea to Summit Spark 2 sleeping bag and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X-lite short with a Zpacks pillow that I can attach with velcro to the tent floor so it doesn’t slip. Garmin Edge 1030 for navigation and eTrex 30x as a backup. Water filter is a 1L Katadyn BeFree that can serve as storage too for long dry stretches.

Marcus Baguley

Age 52 / Wellington (New Zealand)

BIKE: Custom Ti, eccentric BB, Rohloff, Lauf fork and aero bars.
BAGS: Trying to keep it minimal but have a Ti cage I can strap to fork for extra long days. I am a nothing on back person.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: SON dynamo hub. Hand built rims from Wheelworks. Added Magura brakes with 213 rotor up front for extra braking performance on those long descents. Have MLD tent and quilt to keep me snug at night. Dropped my belt drive for traditional chain this year.

Mark Rothschild

Age 64 / Parker, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I will be heading south on my 2018 YT Jeffsey CF 29. Stock gearing. Carbon wheels. Dropper post was switched out for an aluminum Race Face post. A Stooge Moto bar replaces the carbon stock one, for a 17-degree sweep, and to be able to clamp on Profile Designs T3 aero bars. I’ll be running Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tires set up tubeless. XTR Shimano SPD pedals, Ergon grips, and an Ergon Core saddle for my contact points.
BAGS: My bags are from JPaks and Revelate Designs. Joe with JPaks made the large gas tank and bottom bracket bag at the JPaks world HQ in Denver, CO. Revelate Designs Sweetroll and Mountain Feedbags finish off the cockpit. A Revelate Terrapin seat bag system will carry clothes and gear in the back. An Osprey Raptor backpack will carry first aid and personal items and water for the dry sections.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Lights are from Ay Up in Australia, and a Black Diamond Storm headlamp. Sleep system is an Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20 bag, Nemo Tensor Field pad, and a Nemo Hornet 2P tent with Tyvek ground cloth. Rain gear is an REI Stormbolt jacket and Showers Pass Transit pants. Navigation is by Hammerhead Karoo 2 and electronic ACA maps. I will also have an electronic map for New Mexico and the expected fire re-routes. Water carrying capacity is 5.5 liters, with two bottles in the feed bags, 1L in a collapsible bag in the bottom bracket bag, and 3L in the backpack. Cue sheets are mounted to the aero bars in a Seal Line E-Case. Shoes are Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit. Mounts for the bear spray and tool bottle are homemade.

Michael Browning

Age 54 / Athens, Alabama (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2012 Salsa El Mariachi Ti frame with a carbon Niner Fork. The bike features a new pair of Maxxis Ikon 2.35″ tires, a modified 1×11 drivetrain with a 32T chainring with an 11-52 cassette, and a Stan’s Arch wheelset. I’m totally comfortable with my Box Two 11-speed rear derailleur.
BAGS: I am running a Blackburn frame bag, Acepac rear bag, and Acepac front handle bag roll. I am using a Revelate Egress Pocket on front and Revelate Joey Downtube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Nemo Dragonfly 2P Bikepacking tent will serve as my shelter with a UGQ 15-degree quilt and Nemo Tensor Sleeping Mat. I’ll also be carrying a Wahoo Element and iPhone for navigation. There are a few (probably more than a few) other extras I’m carrying for comfort. I’m carrying two liters of water on the fork, a liter bottle on each side. I am carrying a two-liter water bladder for extra storage in a CamelBak M.U.L.E. 9L Hydration Pack, which will also provide storage for extra food if needed.

Mike Enfield

Age 56 / Show Low, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: Custom Co-Motion Divide with Lauf TR Boost fork and Jones H-bar. Drivetrain is a Pinion P1.18 gearbox with Gates Carbon belt drive. Custom Rogue Panda frame bag, top tube bags, and handlebar bottle bag.
BAGS: Rhinowalk 30L roll-top trunk mounted to a Tumbleweed rear rack. The rack has bottle mounts for two Salsa Anything Cages that have a pair of 64-ounce Kleen Kanteen water bottles (which will mostly be empty except for the basin and NM or to hold water while it’s being treated). The custom Rogue Panda frame bag has a 3L Apidura frame bladder in it, which will be full most of the time. The Rogue Panda bottle carrier will have a 32oz bottle with LMNT electrolyte mix as needed. There is also a Revelate Design feedbag with bars/snacks and a Jones bag in the space on the Jones H Bar that will also contain quick snacks. On the front is a Revelate Designs Sweet Roll and Pocket.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Camp/sleep system is a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 bikepacking tent, Helinox Cot One, Sea to Summit EtherLight XT mattress, Sea to Summit Aeros down pillow, and Nemo 20 degree quilt. I sleep great on this setup. If it’s hot, I just use the cot, which has a very cooling mesh material. If it’s cold, I put the air mattress on the cot to stop the airflow and provide additional insulation. It’s heavy. I won’t be setting any records, but I will wake refreshed and ready to put in some long hours on the bike.

Mike Freeman

Age 40 / Salt Lake City, Utah (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on my 2019 Salsa Cutthroat named Morison. I’m running the bike as a flat bar with Ergon GP3 grips. Maxxis Ikon 2.20″ tires on DT Swiss EX471 wheels, SON Dynamo hub, SRAM GX 1×12 drivetrain (10-52T) with a 34T chainring, and a Brooks C17 saddle.
BAGS: Broadfork Bags custom frame bag, Bar Buckets, and Stem Cell. Revelate Designs Sweetroll, Jerry Can, and Terrapin Seat Bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A kLite Gravel Kit will keep the trail lighted up at night and all my electronics charged. Big Agnes Torchlight UL 30 bag and Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 tent for some good recovery sleep.

Nick Patrick

Age 40 / Denver, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2015 Niner ROS9 Plus named Newland. The rig features 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcal tires, Jones H-Bar controlling the front end, and on the back end, a sturdy yet simple Tumbleweed T Rack paired with Ortleib Fork-Pack bags.
BAGS: The bag kit is a mix of old and fresh Relevate, Salsa, and Oveja Negra, and will be mounted via Widefoot Cargo Mounts.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A couple of rig bits I particularly appreciate are the CaneCreek Silk eeSick+ suspension seatpost to keep things smooth, M-WAVE bottle cage adapters so I can fit both water bottles and fork bags, and the Rockgeist Spacelink to help the cockpit look clean and organized.

Paul Kuzdas

Age 64 / Phoenix, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding on a sweet Chumba Stella Ti with an ENVE Mountain fork, rolling on 29” wheels with Nox rims, Vittoria Mezcal 2.6/2.35 tires and SON 28 Dynamo/DT Swiss 350 hubs. Drivetrain is a combo of Shimano XT/XTR, 1×12 with 10×51 gearing and a 32T chainring. For old man comfort (in addition to the Ti frame and 2.6” front tire): Syntace C3 aero bars attached to a Fred Bar, Redshift Shockstop stem and an Egron SMC Sport Gel saddle attached to a Cane Creek Thudbuster ST. For lighting, I will be using the kLite Ultra v2 lamp powered by the Dynamo and a Fenix BC26R for backup.
BAGS: A mix of bags including a Rouge Panda framebag(custom made for an older bike, however it fit the Chumba nicely), Revelate seat/handlebar bags, Rockgeist top tube and Honeypot feedbags attached to a Spacelink, and Tailfin 5L bags on the fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Apidura 3L Frame Pack Hydration Bladder, which fits into the Rouge Panda framebag perfectly, will help keep weight off the saddle. Sleep kit includes a Fly Creek HV1 tent, Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xlite pad, Enlightened Equipment 20* quilt, and a piece of Tyvek for ground cover. Navigation: Garmin eTrex 30x and Edge 530 for backup.

Ralph Karsten

Age 66 / St. Paul, Minnesota (USA)

BIKE: Jones Plus LWB Ti, equipped with Rohloff hub gear and Gates belt drive. Vittoria Mezcal 2.6” tires are fitted to Hunt rims with 203mm rotors.
BAGS: The Jones/Revelate frame bag handles food, water and sundries; the fork bags each hold a water bottle and food. Clothing is in the Revelate Spinelock seat bag. My OR Alpine bivy and sleeping bag ride in the Ortlieb handlebar roll.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The cache battery rides on the handlebars on a mount I built up. A Redshift stem and Thudbuster help with comfort.

Randy Neill

Age 63 / Longmont, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Pivot Les XT RACE modified to Jones 2.5 H-Bar Loop handlebar integrated with Profile Design Aerobar.
BAGS: I have mixed in a “share the love” use of Oveja Negra, Revelate Designs, and JPAKS bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This my 5th year on the Divide is minimizing weight with wider range of comfort with a front shock this time around. Transitioning back from a Bivy to my Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1. Nav is the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and paper maps.

Scott Chenue

Age 50 / Castro Valley, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll either be fast-touring or slow-racing my 2022 Falconer steel hardtail. My first custom bike frame, it is the epicenter of my kit, built by my good friend and fellow OG Team DFL-er, Cameron Falconer. It’s purpose-built for this tour to optimize both cargo and comfort. The build features a Lauf fork; Stan’s Arch wheelset laced to a Shutter Precision dyno hub with a kLite and Sinewave charger; Shimano XT 1×12 drive train; flat bars with Ergon grips and Profile Design Sonic Ergo 50 aerobars; and Continental Race-King 2.2’s.
BAGS: My featured bag is another fine contribution from our SF Bay Area bike tribe, a side-roll bolt-on custom frame bag built by Kyle Ng at OuterShell of San Francisco. The kit is rounded out in bags from Revelate Designs: Sweetroll, Terrapin, Mag Tank, and feedbag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system contains a Zpacks tent and bag, and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir xlite pad. Navigating by eTrex 30 and tracking by InReach.

Sean Di Lizio

Age 41 / Brisbane, Queensland (Australia)

BIKE: The rig is a 2021 Niner Air 9 RDO with Lauf TR Boost fork. The bike is rolling on Fleecer Ridge 29×2.2” tires and a DT Swiss XRC 1501 wheelset. It has a SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain (36t front, 10-52t rear) with SRAM G2 RSC brakes. Also of note are the Pro Missile Aero Bars, SDG Bel Air V3 saddle, and Shimano XT T8000 Pedals. SQlab 411 Inner Bar Ends offer an alternative hand position while still allowing brake control.
BAGS: The Wayward Riders Louise Harness V2 with a 14L Revelate Terrapin Bag carries mostly clothing. Under the aero bars, a 14L Sea to Summit Dry Bag holds the sleeping kit. A Revelate Tangle frame bag and Jerrycan contain almost everything else. Two feedbags (one Revelate, one Orucase) and a Revelate MagTank provide food and drink storage. A Kathmandu 15L pocket pack can be unpacked if needed, too.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An Adventure Hydration CrankTank carries 3L of water while an Arundel Looney Bin cage holds another litre between the aero bars. Sleeping kit includes an Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, Exped Synmat HL mat, and Sea to Summit Flame FMII sleeping bag. Navigation is via a Wahoo Element Bolt V2. Without food and water, the entire setup (including lock and bear spray) weighs about 19Kg (42lbs).

Sofiane Sehili

Age 40 / Paris (France)

BIKE: Vitus Rapide, Columbus Futura adventure fork, René Herse Fleecer ridge tires, Shimano XT m8000 11-speed, 34T-11/42T, XT pedals, XT rotors 180/160mm, Niner RDO seat post, Ritchey WCS carbon flat bar, Pro stealth off road saddle, Redshift ShockStop Pro stem, Ergon GS3 grips, Profile t3+ aerobars
BAGS: Miss Grape all over.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Supernova e3 triple 2 front light / e3 tail light, Hammerhead Karoo 2 GPS, and Hunt Trail Wide carbon wheels with SON dynamo.

Steve Klackle

Age 67 / Greenville, Michigan (USA)

BIKE: Rig (ride what cha got) is a Specialized Epic Expert Evo (gives this old guy a little “cush”). I feel a few of the drawbacks to a full suspension for this is perhaps settling for a smaller framebag, hence the need for more gear storage capacity elsewhere and the extra bike weight. But it is what it is. I’ll be gear shifting via the stock drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed, 32T ring & 10-50T cassette which gives me 18.5 to 93 gear inches- hopefully enough low-end for the steeps! Bike alone is 27 lbs, w/bags 40 lbs, and 240 lbs fully stocked with rider & ready to go.
BAGS: Out front it’s the BarYak Talon harness with a Pronghorn 11L drybag and a Relevate Egress Pocket. The remaining storage consists of Relevate- 2 Mtn feed, MagTank 2000, Jerrycan, a small framebag, and a Joey on the downtube. Two King Cages on the front fork nest 1.5L Nalgene water/beer bottles (also have 3L bladder with cockpit hose in Framebag- HydroPak Force). Bringing up the rear is a Tailfin system: carbon X1 rack/aeropack and two panniers. I like the lower rear load center/stability this Tailfin combo provides Vs a seatbag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system in front roll consists of Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo mobile domicile. I’ll be stretched out on a Trest NeoAirUberlite pad mated to a Zpack 20 deg full zip down bag (stomach sleeper) and a StoS Coolmax liner tucks me in at night.

Steve Large

Age 55 / Warwick (UK)

BIKE: Planet X Dirty Harry rigid mtb with aero bars, Son dynamo hub, and Mezcal tyres.
BAGS: Bags are a mixture of Wildcat gear, Alpkit and a cheap ebay 1.5 litre triangle bag for water. Most of my water is on my back or fork legs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A TerraNova Pulse tent and Cumulus 350g bag—both favourites of mine.

Tom Baker

Age 39 / Queenstown (New Zealand)

BIKE: I’ll be pedaling the Tour Divide on my old Niner Air 9, with niner carbon forks. It has been my lightweight single-speed commuter forever but to save buying another bike, it’s now my bikepacking rig. Rolling Vittoria Mezcal because they are rapid. Shimano 11 spd stock standard. Think it’s Deore? Gears seem to work okay. DT Swiss wheels with SON Dynamo hub up front. Surly terminal bars, ergon grips. Selle Anatomica saddle. Old hope 2 pot brakes.
BAGS: Running the made in New Zealand Robo Kiwi front roll, gas tank and feed bags. With a beautiful custom Carlson frame bag. Cheers, Adam. A zefal saddle bag because it’s the largest and cheapest! I have the WoHo anti-sway/bottle holder to the rear. Highly recommended for water carrying. I’ll have some additional bottles on the fork legs just in case.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sea to summit camping pillow for the win! My new Nemo hornet 1 person tent. Life is so much better in a tent than a bivvy. Nemo insulated sleep mat. Sea to Summit sleeping bag. The Julbo Fury sunglasses are awesome. K-lite front and rear lights. Still working out what GPS to take. So excited!

Trent Resetar

Age 29 / Cascade, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I am riding, not racing, the Tour Divide this year on my Litespeed PinhoTi 3. Set up full ridged with a Whisky carbon fork. Bags are a mix of Oveja Negra, Bedrock, and Revelate. King Cage’s Titanium Manything cages on the fork and bottom of downtube. Drivetrain is a mix of X01 and XX1 with a 34T Oval up front and a 10-52 in the rear. This is my first go at the GDMBR.
BAGS: I bought this bike last year and got as many things that are made in the USA for it, starting with the USA made frame and bags from Bedrock Designs. This rig has taken me on some amazing bikepacking loops so far through the front range of Colorado.

Zack Freundlich

Age 34 / McCall, Idaho (USA)

BIKE: Advocate Hayduke Steel, Niner carbon fork, 32×18 singlespeed, DT Swiss EX511/471 29″ wheels, SON Dynamo/DT 350 hubs, Vittoria Mezcals, Chromag Scarab pedals, SQlab bars, Ergon saddle and grips.
BAGS: Rogue Panda frame bags, Mr. Fusion seat pack, Rockgeist Barjam harness, Revelate feedbags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Rainbow anodized Titanium cog from Boone Tech, kLite Bikepacker Ultra setup.

Zoé Chauderlot

Age 29 / Bruxelles (Belgium)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the TD on a 2014 Kona Raijin, with a 100mm Sid World Cup fork. 1×12 SRAM drivetrain with a 34T chainring. 29” wheels built on Chris King hubs, no dynamo. Still rolling on Mezcals 2.1”. As for contact points, SQLab 311 handlebars with Ergon grips, Pro Missile aerobars and a Specialized Power saddle.
BAGS: All Revelate. These are the sturdiest bags I’ve ever owned. I don’t usually use a framebag, but for the TD I’ll be fitting a 2L bladder in there along with food. Bottle cages added on the fork and downtube (total water capacity: 4.3L). No backpack. Ever.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My kit is an upgraded version of my 2019 run, trying to learn from my mistakes. Main additions? Leg warmers and good gloves (oh yes)! Petzl Swift headlight! Knog Cobbler tail light! For goodie snowy nighty comfy safety I will again be carrying a tent (Lunar Solo), a full-length air mat and a Spark III sleeping bag. An eTrex 20 for navigation.

Find Part 2 here, featuring nearly 70 more Tour Divide rigs with drop-bars.

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