After 65 days and a whopping 390,000 feet of climbing, Mark Egge completed a modified version of the Continental Divide Trail, a 3,352-mile bike-legal route from Canada to Mexico following the Continental Divide…

This July, endurance athlete Mark Egge set off on a solo, self-supported ride tracing a modified version of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). His goal was to define a bike-legal version of the CDT and to set a realistic benchmark for how quickly a capable but non-elite rider could complete the route. After 65 days and 390,000 feet of climbing, Mark completed his 3,352-mile bike-legal route from Canada to Mexico. This marks the fifth known completion of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) by bicycle, which threads together rideable alternates around wilderness areas, prioritizing alpine riding and singletrack terrain.

From Mark: “By defining and documenting a complete bike-legal version of the CDT, my hope is to open the door for future riders to experience the Crown of the Continent as a singletrack-oriented bikepacking route.”

mark egge complete continental divide trail
  • mark egge complete continental divide trail
  • mark egge complete continental divide trail

The journey delivered both joy and hardship. Descending Searle Pass on the Colorado Trail was, in Mark’s words, “10 out of 10 mountain biking with fast, flowy trail weaving through aspens just beginning to turn gold.”

But the route also tested patience. Many climbs involved extended hike-a-bike (destroying a new set of bike shoes before reaching New Mexico), with some 150 miles of the route being completed at speeds of two miles per hour or slower. One brutal day earned the name “Hell for Lima,” with 11,795 feet of climbing across a stretch of 68 miles. Weather added complexity: clay mud near Ghost Ranch led to a day of literally watching mud dry, while a Colorado freeze left his bike encased in ice until the sun rose.

  • mark egge complete continental divide trail
  • mark egge complete continental divide trail
  • mark egge complete continental divide trail

The Bike

  • Frame: 2022 Specialized S-Works Epic EVO
  • Fork: Fox 34 Factory SC – Grip SL 120mm travel
  • Shock: Fox Float SL Factory 110mm travel
  • Crankset: e*thirteen XCX Race carbon cranks, Crank Brothers Eggbeater 11 pedals
  • Brakes: SRAM Guide G2 brakes, CenterLine X rotors (160mm front, 120mm rear)
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT shifter & derailleur, Shimano XTR 10–51t 12-speed cassette, 30T oval front chainring
  • Wheels: Whisky No.9 30w hoops, DT Swiss 240 hubs
  • Front Tire: Maxxis Rekon 3C/EXO/TR 29 x 2.6”
  • Rear Tire: Maxxis Rekon 3C/EXO+/TR 29 x 2.4”
  • Handlebar: ENVE M6 carbon bar, Ridefarr Carbon Aero V3 Bar
  • Saddle: Generic carbon saddle from China
  • Seatpost: OneUp V3 Dropper Post (120mm)

Handlebar

  • Revelate Designs Pronghorn Handlebar Pack
  • Hyperlite 20°F Down Quilt
  • Zpacks Plex Solo Lite Tent
  • Zpacks Goose Down Jacket
  • Spare DCF bag, used to isolate wet tent from dry down when packing a wet tent
mark egge complete continental divide trail

Top Tube

  • Custom Sagebrush Stitchworks Top Tube Bag
  • Garmin InReach Mini GPS Tracker
  • Wolf Tooth Chain Lube
  • Nitecore NU25 headlamp (and a mini Titan Strap to attach to handlebar to use as a bike headlight when needed)
  • Tubolito Spare Tube and patches
  • Zpacks Vertice Rain Mitts
  • Chain rag
  • Lens wipes
  • Sunscreen stick
  • mark egge complete continental divide trail
  • mark egge complete continental divide trail

Main Triangle

  • Custom Backcountry Stitchworks Triangle Bag
  • Multitool, tire plug tool, tire levers/chain link tool, spare spokes
  • Isobutane Gas Canister (110g)
  • Tent stakes
  • Nitecore NB10000 Gen III power bank
  • 45w 2-port USB-C charger, 2x short USB-C cables, various tiny adapters
  • MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe stove
  • Big Agnes Zoom UL sleeping pad
  • Nemo Fillo Elite pillow
  • 25’ paracord for bear hang
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, tiny bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap, shaving razor (head only), mini lighter, TP, duct tape, needle & thread, razor blade, Tylenol, ibuprofen, sleeping pad patch kit

Saddle Bag

  • Rockgeist Gondola dropper-compatible saddle bag
  • 7MESH Skypilot rain jacket
  • LEVE Alpha 90 hoody (similar to Patagonia R1, but 50% lighter)
  • Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants
  • Spare pair of Darn Tough socks
  • Toaks 700ml Titanium Cook Pot
mark egge complete continental divide trail

Other

  • Revelate Designs Joey Downtube Bag (spare storage, used mostly for snacks)
  • Raidlite fastpack with 2L bladder, Katadyn BeFree Filter Flask, bear spray
  • Shimano 2FO Cliplite Bike Shoes
  • Specialized Stix Switch taillight
  • CAMP G Comp Warm skimo gloves (Colorado section only)
  • Garmin Forerunner 955 GPS Watch for navigation with handlebar mount
  • Eliel jersey, Oakley bike shorts, Smartwool boxers, Darn Tough socks, POC Spin Helmet, Smith sunglasses with photochromatic lens, Giro gloves

Mark replaced his rear carbon rim with an alloy rim in Victor, Idaho, after the carbon wheel cracked. He replaced the entire drivetrain and tires at the halfway point. His brake pads were replaced four times during the ride. To see a detailed look at Mark’s setup, watch the video he put together below.

For more information on Mark’s route, logistics, and his daily reports, head over to his website, EatEggs.com.

Further Reading

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