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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayCarrying on from yesterday’s massive roundup of over 90 flat-bar rigs, part two of the 2025 Rigs of the Tour Divide features more than 70 drop-bar rigs that will set out this morning on the 2,700-mile route between Banff, Alberta, and Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Find key details and photos on all of them here…
The 2025 Tour Divide is shaping up to be one of the biggest grand departs since the event’s debut in 2008. According to Trackleaders, over 230 riders are signed up for live tracking, and we had a record number submit their bike and gear details to participate in our annual rig roundup. With more than 150 submissions, we split them into two parts. Yesterday, we shared details on around 90 flat-bar rigs that will be taking on the 2,700-mile route. Today, we’re pleased to share over 70 drop-bar rigs, including bike, bag, and gear highlights for each.
Continuing with yesterday’s theme of celebrating a grassroots event such as the Tour Divide, I find it incredibly satisfying to sift through all the submissions that come in to create these rig roundups. It’s easy to get caught up in tire choices, handlebar types, and gear ratios, but I’m more amazed by how far everyone has traveled to participate in an event with no prizes. Unsurprisingly, riders from Canada and the USA make up the majority of the participants, but there are also folks from Germany, the UK, Austria, Australia, and elsewhere who’ve made sacrifices and taken time away from work and family to ride their bike along the length of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
I’m uncertain what it is about the Tour Divide that attracts so many bikepackers. Perhaps it’s the race’s history, the length of the route itself, or maybe it all comes down to Mike Dion’s early Ride the Divide documentary, which captured the imagination of cyclists worldwide at a pivotal moment. Whatever it is, we’re happy to play a small role in sharing its magic, and I think Justin McKinley summarized it well in a recent Instagram post: “This isn’t my ride… it’s ours.”
The 2025 Tour Divide grand depart takes off from Banff, Alberta, Canada, this morning at 7 a.m. local time. Dig into the rigs below, and then head over to our Tracker page to follow their progress live.
Jimmy Ashby
Age 26 / Bright, Victoria (Australia)
BIKE: I’ll be riding my Curve Cycling Titanium Big Kev. The frame is matched with Curve’s 29” carbon dirt hoops with 2.2” Fleecer Ridge Standard Casing and a SON Dynamo Hub. The bike is topped off with Curve’s Walmer bars and a 1×12 SRAM AXS drivetrain.
BAGS: My full frame bag and top tube bag are custom-designed and made by Treadlite Bike bags, refined over years of working together. On the rear, I have a Tailfin Cargo bag mounted on an alloy rack, as well as a Tailfin downtube bag for extra storage.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A full KLite dynamo system and battery-powered exposure lights mounted front and rear. I’m using local Australian handlebar tape, Burgh, on my bars, and I’ll then be wearing Pedla clothing to top it all off.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 solar and SPOT tracker.
Shawn Austin
Age 56 / Tucson, Arizona (USA)
BIKE: My rookie Tour Divide will be on my Salsa Cutthroat with fresh 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals. 30T chainring with an 11-51T cassette. SON dynamo with Klite USB/rear blinky/headlight set up will keep me charged and lit up. An old school Cane Creek Thudbuster is still saving my A$$! Shout out to my LBS, Campfire Cycling, they rock!
BAGS: That blue beauty is a Rogue Panda that will hold my 3 liter Apidura bladder down low. Revelate Designs rounds out most of my other baggage. I’ll be carrying a 3 liter bladder on my back when needed down south.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love my clownishly high Profile Design aero bars on risers. Sleep kit is the new, bear-proof MSR Hubba Hubba tent, Sea to Summit Etherlight XT pad, and a Big Agnes 20 degree bag.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 830 for navigation. RWGPS app on my phone with downloaded files as a backup. I will also carry the ACA GDMBR maps (call me old) and the One of Seven Project Big Bundle for great information!
Samuel Bailey
Age 31 / Gainesville, Florida (USA)
BIKE: Racing my 2019 Salsa Cutthroat (V1). I’m running a Fox 32 step-cast 100mm fork. Berd Hawk 27 carbon wheels with Berd spokes and Onyx hook flange hubs. Boost spacing up front, non boost in rear. Vittoria Mezcal graphene 2.25 x 29″ tires. I’m proud to not fuss with batteries to operate my bike so running the excellent SRAM Force hydro brakes and mechanical drivetrain 1×11 speed with a 34t chainring and 10x42T cassette. Profile design carbon aero bars with 70mm risers.
BAGS: Jpaks custom bags for my full frame bag, downtube bag and top tube bag. Hard to see in photo but Jpaks also made a custom bag to fit in between my aero bars for snacking. I’ll be running the Apidura 3L water bladder in the bottom section of my frame bag. As for my rear bag, I’m running Tailfin’s aeropack cargo bag and rear rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Katabatic bristlecone bivy, Katabatic palisade 30° quilt, Zpacks 7×9’ tarp. Gore Endure rain jacket and pants with Dissent 133 gloves and Black Diamond waterproof mittens just as an extra layer. Gripgrab Aqua Shield 2 gravel shoe covers.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be using a Wahoo Bolt 3 to navigate, my phone will have the route downloaded to RWGPS as backup and I’ll be using a Garmin inReach mini 2 for tracking.
Jeremiah Bain
Age 40 / Crestwood, NSW (Australia)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2021 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, a SRAM AXS 1×11 drivetrain with wolf Tooth 34T chainring, a SON Dynamo hub up front and Chris king rear hub.
BAGS: The centrepiece of my bag setup is a custom Bike Bag Dude frame bag. I am also running a Revelate Designs Spinelock seat pack, Mag Tank top tube bag, and a Bike Bag Dude roll on the handlebars.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An Outdoor Research alpine bivy along with a Mont 300 Helium Sleeping Bag. I have a Mont Lightspeed rain jacket also. The Thompson TI seat post, King Cage mini things on forks and Wolf Tooth valves are of particular highlight.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Wahoo Roam to navigate, but will also have the route loaded on the RWGPS app on my iPhone as a backup.
Jesse Barnett
Age 46 / Ventura, California (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be ITT-ing (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2021 Specialized hardtail with a recently serviced Fox Podium 32 Factory fork. The bike features a new pair of “old school” Continental Race Kings 2.2” tires, a new XX1 Eagle 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T chainring, and Nextie/Berd wheels with a SON Dynamo hub up front and an Onyx rear hub. I have drop bars and the Ratio kit for shifting and dropper post control on my left shifter. Aero bars are my cockpit.
BAGS: The centerpiece of my bag setup is a Tailfin rear AeroPack. I have the AeroPack Cargo with 10L Panniers for my sleep kit, rain gear and clothes. Tailfin 3L top tube bag for snacks and a Tailfin 3L downtube bag for my spare parts and tools. I am also running a Rogue Panda custom Frame bag for water and more food, an Restrap AeroPack for my sleeping bag and two Lead Out Gear handlebar bags ran along the outside of the aero bars for electronics and batteries. Revelate and Rogue Panda feed bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Durston X-mid 1 will serve as my shelter along with an Z packs Zip Around sleeping bag and a not ultra light, but ultra comfy, 4” Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft sleeping pad.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Garmin 1040 Solar to navigate, but will also have the route loaded on the RWGPS app on my iPhone as a backup.
Andre Batista
Age 38 / Portugal
BIKE: I am racing the Tour Divide on my custom Superior XP969. Completed with SRAM AXS Force/X01 30T and 10/52T, RockShox SID Ultimate SL, Hunt Proven Carbon wheels with 29 x 2.25″ Mezcals, Whisky Spano dropbars paired with Profile Designs aerobars, and Ergon Core saddle.
BAGS: A mix of Apidura bags to transport all my gear. The saddle bag has the sleeping gear, all my layers on the aero bag, top tube is food and tools, frame bag for more food and electronics. Two feedbags by the aerobars for candy and chips. The Apidura hydration vest carries toiletries and my Garmin InReach.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I did some minor tweaks after the Stagecoach 400 in April, but it’s almost the same setup. A Borah Gear bivvy, Cumulus quilt, and Klymit Inertia make my lightweight sleeping system. Exposure Lights throughout. PEdALED kit, Lake shoes with mid-foot cleat. The dual bottle cage on downtube plus the Nalgene bottle under the downtube combine to a total of 6.5L of water capacity.
GPS DEVICE: My Garmin 1040 Solar will be my main navigation tool, and I’ll also have the route loaded on my phone with RWGPS as a backup.
Matt Boles
Age 49 / Denver, Colorado (USA)
BIKE: Surprise, surprise, I’ll be riding the 2025 Divide on a Salsa Cutthroat. It’s business up front and party in the back with an AXS 1×12 10-52T and absoluteBLACK 32T oval. I9 rear hub and a SON dynamo up rolling Rene Hearse Fleecer Ridge’s. Redshift suspension seat post and stem with Redshift aerobars.
BAGS: Tailfin aeropack with Salsa Anything cages and EXP bags on the side. Frame bag is a custom Rogue Panda. Talifin 1.6L top tube bag and a pair of Revelate Designs feed bags. Salsa EXP Anything cradle and bag on the handlebars.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be sleeping in a Slingfin Portal 1 and a Zenbivy Light bed system.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar, Garmin Instinct 3, and Garmin Inreach Messenger for navigation and communication backed up with a iPhone and Ride with GPS.
Zachary Moore-Boyle
Age 31 / Sydney, NSW (Australia)
BIKE: I’ll be riding a custom Tumbleweed Stargazer XL. The bike’s been modded with Curve Cycling’s sleek, strong, and super-lightweight Seek 430 FM carbon fork. It features a custom DT Swiss wheelset with a SON dynamo front hub and DT Swiss 350 rear hub, a 1×12 GRX drivetrain with super wide gearing, and some Pro Missile Aero bars. Vittoria Mezcal Trail tires in 29 x 2.35″ should keep things humming along nicely. Huge shoutout to my friends, family, and the legendary mechanics at Omafiets bike shop, without whom this build wouldn’t have been possible.
BAGS: Everything revolves around a fantastic custom 3-zip frame bag from Bike Bag Dude. It’s light, tough, and roomy, perfect for a long adventure. Restrap Race saddle bags and aerobar bags were chosen for their nifty cradle and dry bag design. A Hungry ‘Muncher’ feed bag and Bike Bag Dude ‘Garage’ top tube pack will house snacks and electronics, while two Ortlieb QR fork packs are ideal for speedy gas station stops.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: a JBL Clip 5 attached to the top of the aerobar back will do double duty as morale booster and bear deterrent. I’m in love with the Big Agnes Hooper Bivvy – small enough to fit in a teeny tiny dry bag, roomy enough to weather the elements in relative comfort. A Sea to Summit Spark III sleeping bag and Ether Light XR mattress will hopefully lend themselves to a good night’s sleep.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be using a Coros Dura, with the route loaded onto Map Out and RWGPS on my iPhone as backup. If all else fails, my InReach device is a Garmin GPS 67i, which can also be used to navigate.
Martin Sosa Lucas-Calcraft
Age 58 / Montevideo (Uruguay)
BIKE: I’ll be racing the 2025 Tour Divide on a Scott Spark RC with full suspension and a gravel drop handlebar. The bike features a SRAM AXS electronic drivetrain, clip-on aero bars with wireless SRAM Blips, and two bottle cages mounted on the fork legs.
BAGS: I’m running a mix of four different frame and soft bags from various brands: a full frame bag, top tube bag, handlebar roll bag, and seat pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: One of my favorite upgrades is the high-rise aero cockpit with remote Blips, which allows for efficient riding and shifting while in the aero position. The drop bar setup provides me with more hand positions for comfort over long days.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be using a SPOT tracker for live tracking and a Garmin Edge 1040 Solar for navigation and route management.
Nic Chaya
Age 34 / Burlington, Vermont (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be racing on my 2025 Ti Salsa Fargo! SRAM + White Industries drivetrain, BB7’s, Stan’s Crest rims laced to SON and White Indy hubs. A B17 Brooks, Sim Works+MKS Taco Pedals, and Pro Missile aero bars.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Ranger frame bag, MagTank, and Pronghorn harness and Egress. Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rack with Ortlieb fork packs. Burro Bags saddle bag, and a custom Tiny Bags Little Guy, made in Vermont.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Going with Da Brim this year, Bedrock Sandals, and some custom Tiny Bags Pogies/Foot Sacks. An old Big Agnes McKinnis sleeping bag and Laurel Mountain Designs UL liner, Big Agnes Rapide SL pad, Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 tent.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Bolt v2.
Benjamin Clark
Age 60 / Enumclaw, Washington (USA)
BIKE: COVID Cutthroat. GRX 1×12 34T front ring, 10-51T cassette. Astral Serpentine hoops on Chris King Rear and SON dyno front with Conti Race Kings. Tumbleweed rack.
BAGS: Revelate Designs and Dispersed bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Revelate Designs Pitch Fork is a well engineered piece I don’t leave home without.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo ELEMNT and Spot 3 for tracking.
Andrew Cole
Age 27 / Durango, Colorado (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding Oliver, a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat kitted out with an AXS eagle drivetrain, carbon hoops wrapped in Maxxis Ikons, a squishy SID 100mm for extra comfort, and a SON dynamo hub to power all the gadgets.
BAGS: Mix of Salsa, Revelate Designs, and Tailfin bags, with a Miss Grape handlebar cradle.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes 1 person tent and 20 degree bag. I have a custom 53 MPB (Miles per Burrito) patch to remind me of the absurdity of the event and to keep on smiling.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 840 with my phone as backup with the route and POIs on a custom CalTopo map.
DAVID ROBERT COLEMAN
Age 62 / Richland, Washington (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2019 Black Salsa Cutthroat (58cm), which everybody says is too big for my 5’10″ frame, so watch me ride or crash and burn? My bike has 2.2″ Race King Pro Tires, Elite Pro Carbon Wheels, an 11-speed 10-42T cassette with a 34T chainring, and XT cranks.
BAGS: The centerpiece of my bag setup is a custom prototype WAZZU Tailfin bag by DRC Inc. My frame bag is a Cedaero and I will be using a compression bag attached to the aerobars for additional storage.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleep system consists of my backpacking REI down bag, Stratus pad, and a Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 tent. I also have a ShockStop Endurance Suspension Seatpost.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using good old paper maps to navigate (12 oz), but will also have the route loaded on the PILGRIM#1 GPS as a backup.
Jeremy Cook
Age 49 / DeLand, Florida (USA)
BIKE: I will be racing southbound on my Salsa Fargo Ti, which is built-up with a mix of mostly SRAM components. Gearing is 34T front ring with a 10-50T Garbaruk cassette and my Force 1 shifters are now 12-speed thanks to Ratio Technology. Hunt XC Wide wheels mated with Continental 29 x 2.2″ Race Kings will keep me rolling while Cane Creek’s eeSilk stem and seatpost will smooth out the bumps, plus I have Profile Designs aero bars for some additional hand and riding positions.
BAGS: I have several pieces from Nuclear Sunrise, including a custom frame bag, top, and downtube bags. Oveja Negra’s Gear Jammer, size-wise, is like Baby Bear’s porridge as a saddle bag. My Swift Industries Kestral front bag pairs well with a Rogov handlebar bag, plus two feedbags round everything out, totaling about 35 liters of storage capacity.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My favorite kit bits include my Nemo Hornet OSMO tent, Hammock Gear 30⁰ down quilt, and Exped Ultra 5R air pad. A Fenix bike light and headlamp light my way. My Kemp Keeper helps keep random items secured to my saddle bag and my Singletrack Samurai safety triangle helps ensure I’m seen.
GPS DEVICE: My Garmin 540 Solar will handle the navigation. I also use the Gaia app on my phone as a back-up.
Val Cyr
Age 29 / Burlington, Vermont (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be racing on my 2022 Salsa Fargo Ti. It’s set up with SRAM Force/GX AXS, a set of 29 x 2.25” Mezcals, a Brooks B17 saddle for comfort, and lit with a Sinewave Beacon 2.
BAGS: Handlebar bag is from Fifth Season Canvas, handmade in Vermont and won in a maple syrup themed race. Frame bag from Revelate Designs, and the rest from Oveja Negra; 2 Chuckbuckets, 1 Snack Pack, and a Lunchbox to hold my book.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m pretty excited to try out my new Da Brim to protect my New England skin from the hot desert sun, and a homemade set of ultralight pogies/foot sacks.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1030.
Sara Dadizadeh
Age 40 / Seattle, Washington (USA)
BIKE: I’m stoked to be riding the Divide on my trusty 2023 Cutthroat GRX, mostly stock with new bike fitted carbon handlebars, and profile designs aerobars. I also dropped the front chainring down for those loaded climbs.
BAGS: I went mostly Tailfin with a custom Rogue Panda bag, Revelate Designs top tube bag (magnet top fortified with added Velcro), Revelate stem bags for quick access to water and bear spray. I really wanted to go pannier-less, but couldn’t fit anything bulky between 42cm narrow drop bars, and I also can’t fill the Aeropack because my saddle is not high enough, so going with the 10L Tailfin Mini Panniers. Small bike problems :).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: It’s my first custom frame bag and wowww! It fits so much stuff, my stove, electronics, gloves, first aid kit, wind layer, buff, hat, and two whole days of snacks! My sleep kit is from my thru hiking days with a Tarptent Aeon Li and a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag. Heavy repair kit items on the downtube.
GPS DEVICE: I got my first Garmin Edge for this ride, the 840 solar. I also have Gaia GPS and RWGPS on my phone with backup downloaded maps.
John Dawson
Age 62 / North Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
BIKE: I’ll be heading south on a 2020 Salsa Cutthroat GRX 600 now sporting a 1X11 mechanical drivetrain with a 32T chainring up front and an 11-50T cassette. Continental Race King 29 x 2.2″ tires mounted on DT Swiss XM 1700 wheels will keep me rolling.
BAGS: A Tailfin alloy AeroPack, frame bag, single 10L pannier and top tube bag will carry most of my gear. I’m also equipped with a Revelate feed bag, and home-made aerobar mount for my down quilt stowed in a sea to summit evac drybag. In addition to 2L of water on my bike, I will be wearing a Solomon running vest with 1.5L bladder. In situations where race variables dictate night riding a Fenix bc26r will light the way, however, I mostly intend to sleep at night.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My home made ‘burner’ which is a slightly higher tech version of a newspaper stuffed inside a jersey is an indispensable piece of riding kit. A lightweight musette fashioned from an Air Canada shopping bag will be used for resupply and temporary food cartage when needed. For shelter, I’m depending on a Durston X-mid 1 (fly only).
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be staring at the blue line on my Coros Dura with the route downloaded into RWGPS on my phone as backup.
Patch Doyle
Age 67 / Fruita, Colorado (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2024 Mason ISO. The bike features a set of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, a 1×12 Shimano GRX drivetrain with a 34T chainring, Mason X Hunt wheels with a SON Dynamo hub up front, and Richey VentureMax handlebars.
BAGS: Tailfin Aero pack with 10L Panniers, Apidura Race Toptube Bag, Custom frame pack by Teknikul, and the very useful Revelate Pitchfork bag for our aero bars.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sea to Summit Spark 30 sleeping bag, Big Agnes Zoom UL sleeping pad, and a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 bikepacking tent.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Wahoo Roam to navigate, but will also have the route loaded on the RWGPS app and Gaia app on my iPhone as a backup.
John Duarte
Age 66 / Morgantown, West Virginia (USA)
BIKE: Racing the 2025 TD (at least against myself, 24-27 days), with my V2 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike is equipped with SRAM XO components, Force brakes, 32T chainring and a 9-52T Cassette by e-THIRTEEN. I’m running a Brooks C-17 saddle on the eeSilk post. Last minute additions include a FOX 32 front fork and a new custom front wheel composed of a BONTRAGER Pro carbon rim with my SON dynamo. The bike rolls on 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tires.
BAGS: My bags and mounts include a mix of Salsa up front, custom ROGUE PANDA in the middle, and a Tailfin in the back. I will also be using a Camlbak vest and water bladder. Additional water storage provided by a secondary water bag and bottles. Mounted on the shock is also a JEFE Bear Spray holder. Lighting my way is kLite upfront and a Trek on my helmet for the hike a bike sections.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Camp shelter will be provided by a combination of ZPack tarp, OR Bivy, NEMO Air Mat, and REI Sleep Bag. No less important will be the Shimano GTX EX9 on my feet. GoPro 9 will also add to my load. Total dry load, bike and gear comes in just under 25kg/55lbs, which is 10lbs above where I would like to be, but 2022 provided valuable insights into the need for standby safety items that a younger racer might be able to do without.
GPS DEVICE: Guiding me will be the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar and inReach Mini with backup provided by my iPhone.
Louis Duclaux
Age 28 / Tours (France)
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a Rockrider Race 900 that I modified myself. It is now equipped with a drop bar, a 1×12 GRX/Deore XT drivetrain with a 36T/10-51T, a pair of Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.35″ tires, Ergon saddle, and 52A aerobar.
BAGS: Restrap frame bag, top tube, aero, and hydration bags. 2x 8L Aeroe bags at the back and Tailfin 3L downtube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes HV UL1 for shelter and a Mammut -11C sleeping bag.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Garmin edge 1030 Plus to navigate, but will also have the route loaded on the Komoot app on my iPhone as a backup.
Chris Ellison
Age 62 / Austwick, Yorkshire Dales (UK)
BIKE: I’m riding my third Tour Divide on my 2019 Salsa Cutthroat the second time that this bike has carried me down the route. Originally 11-speed SRAM Force, it’s been running 12-speed XX1 Eagle for five years, using RatioTechnology.com conversion. I’m on a 34T AbsoluteBlack oval chainring. The wheels are Enve M50 on DT Swiss and SON28 Dynamo hubs, 29” of course, by DCRWheels.co.uk. For comfort I have wider (480) Cowchipper bars and a Canyon S15 seatpost. The aero bars and ‘cockpit-desktop’ have suited me for many years and just work for me. I’ll be riding on 2.1” Mezcal tyres this time, hoping to benefit from the enhanced clearance over last time 2.25”.
BAGS: My bags are a mixture of WildCat, Spoked, and Alpkit but with all the lightweight stuff being bespoke DCF fabric. I’m running a traditional looking bag setup with front roll, rear holster, frame and top-tube bags. The bags and holster have been specially modified by www.IronKeld.com to make them even better than standard. I wear a Salomon running vest for hydration and small snacks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleeping arrangements are a Terra Nova Ultra One tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir pad and Peter Hutchinson Designs (www.phdesigns.co.uk/delta-race-100-down-sleeping-bag) down bag. My down jacket is from them too but most of my riding gear is merino wool. For navigation, I use an eTrex 30x along with printed profiles to remind me of the route. I have a Sinewave Beacon 1 front light driven by the dynamo and an Exposure Joystick too. Warm clothing is a priority for me with ‘proper’ waterproofs, mittens and leg cover. My indispensable item is my MP3 player, so much so that I carry two! I have 1L of bottles on the bike, 3L in my vest plus a Platypus bag for another 2L 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, inspired and riding with that thought every day. #BeMoreMike.
Joel Fast
Age 45 / Portland, Oregon (USA)
BIKE: This 2025 Salsa Cutthroat Force X0 Eagle AXS Transmission has a limited amount of modifications from stock. The changes are: a non-dropper carbon seatpost, a Fox Factory 32 SC suspension fork, a Specialized Phenom saddle, and a pair of 2.25″ Mezcal tires. Fork bags are held in place by a combination of Tailfin Suspension Fork Mounts and Wolftooth Morse Cargo Cages. The cockpit has a space-gaining Kbrotech handlebar extender for mounting a light, a burn computer, a back-up phone for RWGPS, and my bear-scaring timber! Mountain Bike Bell. All other parts are stock including the SRAM XX carbon crankset and carbon WTB 29″ wheelset. Pedals are clipless Shimano XT SPD.
BAGS: Bedrock Bags made my custom frame bag as well as the Kayenta Rear Tank Bag. Revelate Designs is responsible for my Mag-Tank Top Tube Bag, one Mountain Feedbag, and a Spinelock 16L tailbag. Roadrunner’s Buoy bags attach to my fork and one Auto-Pilot Stem Bag holds my cook kit. The Salsa EXP Anything Cradle Top-Load Kit balances out the weight up front.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Gear highlight is going to be my GOREWEAR GORE-TEX Endure Jacket and Endure Pants as well as my Mountain Hardware Phantom puffy. For hydration I’ll be using a DaKine Seeker 6L hip bag with a 2L bladder and pockets for quick access to tools, etc. Outbound Lighting Hangover helmet light will be mounted on my Smith Forefront 2 helmet for visibility at night and sleeping will be attempted in my Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 tent and Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Pad.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 830 and Pixel 6 with RWGPS.
Dave Fleet
Age 45 / Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat. I’m running a modified 1×11 drivetrain with a 34T chainring and an 11-50T Garbaruk cassette. Nobl TR-32 wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tires and a SON dynamo hub up front, powering KLite lights. My saddle is a Fizik Terra Argo, on top of a Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance suspension post. Profile Design aero bars on 70mm risers.
BAGS: Frame bag is a custom Rogue Panda bag with a 3L bladder. At the back, I’m running a Revelate 16L Spinelock, with a Mag Tank bolt-on top tube bag and Jerrycan for extra storage (although I may sub in a longer top tube bag and nix those two). The latest addition is two 3.5L Polecat bags to the forks to free up space in the frame bag for food.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ve opted for a tent over a bivvy, paired with a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag and Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xlite pad.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar.
Sean Gerrett
Age 49 / Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)
BIKE: I am riding a Curve GMX+ Ti. Drivetrain is SRAM 12-speed mechanical. 34T chainring with 10-52T cassette. As I have no suspension, I have chosen larger, Vittoria Mezcal, 29 x 2.35 tires. To keep charging around the clock I am running a dynamo hub with kLite. Aerobars with 75mm risers sitting on top of Curve’s massive 55cm Walmer Bars.
BAGS: Apidura top tube and frame bags, Topeak seat and handlebar bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have chosen a tent over a bivy in hopes of spending less nights in hotels. Heading out with a Mudhugger fender, hopefully that means it won’t rain!
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 530 complimented with iPhone (on Quad Lock mount) for Ride with GPS.
Jake Gunther
Age 50 / Logan, Utah (USA)
BIKE: This is a Salsa Cutthroat (56 cm) frame with a Fox 32 Stepcast fork (100 mm travel), Brooks C17 saddle, Cane Creek eeSilk+ seatpost, Profile Design aerobars (70 mm riser) mounted to Salsa Cowchipper handlebar covered with Red Shift Cruise Control drop bar grips and bar tape. The drivetrain is a 1×12 SRAM XO1 with 10-52T cassette, 32T chainring, and Funn Mamba pedals (SPD clip-in on one side and flat and the other). The rims are Whiskey 29” and tires are Continental Race Kings. The bike is equipped with a JACK the Bike Rack up front and a Bontrager BackRack MIK out back. The electronic bits begin with a SON dynamo hub, Sinewave Cycles Revolution USB power converter, Outbound Lighting Trail Evo headlight, and Garmin Edge 1040 Solar for navigation. One unique thing about this setup is a custom designed and built bracket mounted to the downtube that provides three mounting holes for a pair of Tailfin large Cargo Cages. Any bottles can be attached using Voile straps. The picture shows 1L bottles on each side and another under the seat in a bottle cage for quick access.
BAGS: The paniers are Dry-Lites from Arkel (2 x 14L), a Rogue Panda frame bag, and some Sea to Summit drybags in front.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m sleeping in a Westering Mountaineering TerraLite bag on a Sea to Summit Ether Light pad and pillow. The shelter is a Sea to Summit Telos Bikepacking tent.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar and Ride With GPS on iPhone.
Clinton Hodges
Age 43 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)
BIKE: Corvus Crow Pass, Shimano GRX 12-speed.
BAGS: Rockgeist frame and gas tank bags. Revelate Designs Pitchfork, 10L Spinelock, Joey Downtube bag, Mountain Feedbags. Ultimate Direction running vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 34T chainring, 10-51 XTR cassette. Race Face Era crankset, Cane Creek Hellbender BB and headset, Redshift suspension stem, Corvus Cycles carbon seat post, PNW Coast handlebar, Profile Designs Aero bars with Fred Bar for my old man back. Continental Race King 2.2″ Black Chili Protection tires, Sinewave Beacon 2 with Son 28 Dynamo hub generator. We Are One Sector rims with DT Swiss 350 rear hub and SON 28 Dynamo hub generator. My framebag is HUGE! So much room for snacks!
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 530, maybe my maps, and phone backup.
Alexandera Houchin
Age 35 / Duluth, Minnesota (USA)
BIKE: Large Esker Lorax Ti.
BAGS: I am running Dispersed everything. And will as long as they keep dialing in details on their perfect ultra racing set ups. The bag in a bag system is the absolute best thing I’ve ever been gifted, thanks Andrew and Katie.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I am in love with the titanium handlebar harness my friend Max from Mostly Forever made me. Also, the pink and green anodized bits from Industry Nine! Shout out to Emily Brown for last minute help. Another shout out to my guy Kerry at kLite for his support through the years— honestly the best shit on the market if you’re trying to send it in the dark. Mega shout out to George at Broken Spoke Bike Studio in Green Bay, WI. I ABSOLUTELY would not have a complete bike without their support. Oh dang, and thanks to the folks at Campfire Cycling in Tucson, for helping me source a last minute SON Hub.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.
Rohan Hunt
Age 31 / Canberra (Australia)
BIKE: Salsa Cutthroat, 2.4″ Vittoria Mezcals, Redshift ShockStop stem and seat post, SRAM AXS 10-50T cassette paired with 34T Wolf Tooth chainring, Curve Dirt Hoops, and Walmer bar, Klite for lights and charging all powered by a Son dynamo.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Spinelock, Jerry Can, Mag Tank, and Pitchfork. Custom half frame bag by Baby Legs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Redshift gear has been an absolute game changer. The “top grips” unlocked a new hand position for me and the Revelate Pitchfork stretchy side pockets eliminate the need for feed bags. They don’t get in the way of your knees when climbing out of the saddle!
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Bolt for navigation, Garmin inReach for tracking, and MapOut (app) for POI’s.
Trevor Irons
Age 44 / Anaconda, Montana (USA)
BIKE: Custom DeKerf titanium frame and segmented fork. I’m running the somewhat rare Shimano 2×12 MTB drivetrain which provides great range and spacing. To do this I have Gevenalle shift/brake levers mated to Campagnolo flat mount brakes and 180mm discs. Cane Creek eeWings are 2x thanks to an Aerozine spider and Praxis chainrings (36/26T). An XTR GS rear derailleur moves the chain across the 10-45T cassette. Wheels are 32 spoke Chris King hubs laced to 29″ We Are One Faction rims and Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tyres. I’m also running a Cane Creek suspension seatpost and stem to take the edge off stutter bumps. A Tumbleweed titanium pannier rack and King Cage Longer Thing cages hold all my bags. While a Cyclewerks under down tube water bottle adapter allows for two additional bidon cages. A PRO Missile aero bar fitted to the comfy Whisky Spano handlebar provides ample riding positions.
BAGS: I’m running a Restrap 1/2 framebag and downtube bag along with Aeroe drybags on the fork (2x8L) and rack top (12L). Two Ortlieb 6L fork packs are mounted on the sides of the rear rack and can be quickly disconnected and lashed elsewhere for hike-a-bike sections. My handlebars are intentionally free from bags and I have just over 40L total capacity.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Hyperlite Mid 1 tent is only slightly heavier than a bivvy and much more livable. I’m using a Sea to Summit Ether Light pad with a Hyperlite 5°C quilt and down pants and jacket for a modular sleep system that’s been comfortable in sub freezing trials. A Jetboil provides absolutely-essential-for-me morning coffee and evening hot drinks. A 2.4 a/hr Anker 737 power bank charges in less than an hour (at 140 W) and has enough capacity for several days. For lighting I have a Gloworm X2 light on the bars powered by the power bank and an Outbound Hangover on my helmet, although I do intend to sleep at least 6 hours a night. I have four water bottle cages and a Camelbak for about 4L of water stowage. A dromedary will provide extra water capacity in New Mexico and a Sawyer filter and tablets will let me use non-potable water sources. A Timber! bell will let the bears know it’s dinner time as I ride past, but hopefully they won’t be startled by me.
GPS DEVICE: My primary GPS device is a Garmin Edge 840 Solar and I have an Edge 830 as a backup. I also have the route loaded on my phone using RWGPS along with digital spreadsheets and route information. I’m also carrying a Garmin InReach Mini 2 for emergency SOS, satellite texting, and dot tracking.
Erik Jensen
Age 66 / Caledon, Ontario (Canada)
BIKE: 2021 Cube Elite SLT MTB, SRAM Eagle cassette 10-52T, front 32T, SRAM Force eTap AXS. Wheelset Newmen Advanced SL X.A.25 Carbon, 28/28 Spokes with Race King proTection Tires Front 2.2″, Back 2.2″. Fox 32 Float SC FIT4 Factory fork.
BAGS: Frame Bag Revelate, Top Tube Cyclite, Handlebar bag Cyclite.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My SRAM eTap AXS Wireless Blips (top tri-bar and on the drops).
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040.
Keisuke Kawanabe
Age 41 / Tokyo (Japan)
BIKE: I’m riding a 2019 Santa Cruz Highball with an ENVE fork. The drivetrain is 1×11 with a ROTOR Kapic carbon 32T chainring up front and a Garbaruk 11–50T cassette in the rear, paired with a Shimano GRX Di2 STI and a Shimano XT derailleur fitted with a Garbaruk cage and pulley. SON dynamo hub up front and DT Swiss rear hub, laced to Light Bicycle XC924 rims. Cockpit includes a Cane Creek stem and seatpost.
BAGS: Rockgeist custom frame bag, Cyclite top tube bag, Restrap Race Aero Bar Bag on the aerobars, Tailfin rear rack, Hyperlite Mountain Gear 30L rear bag, and a Cyclite Race 7.1L backpack (carried while riding).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Main gear includes the Igaro D2 Pro R3 dynamo USB converter, Supernova M99 DY Pro light, Therm-a-Rest Hyperion sleeping bag, short NeoAir UberLite sleeping pad, and Mountain Hardwear Nimbus UL1 tent.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Roam and smartphone with Ride with GPS.
Tami Kerns
Age 55 / Yucaipa, California (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2023 Lauf Seigla. The bike has Hunt wheels with a Son Dynamo to run an Adventure kLite and charge 2x Voltaic battery banks, RH 2.2″ Fleecer Ridge tires, SRAM T-Type 1×12 with an Appleman 30T chainring and Appleman cranks, Kogel OSPW, Adventure Series Infinity saddle, Redshift suspension stem, AXS dropper post, and a 3L CrankTank for water.
BAGS: I have a Tailfin carbon rear rack with 2x panniers and the AP 18 Cargo Top Bag, a Tailfin top tube/frame bag, and up front in the cockpit, I have the Restrap Race Aero Bar Bag and 2x stem bags for snacks and bottles.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The sleeping system will consist of an HMG Mid 2 tent, Zenbivy quilt, and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite pad. Kit will be a blend of 7mesh, Albion, POC, and Terry.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura and the Garmin 1040 Solar.
David King
Age 65 / Christchurch (New Zealand)
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a carbon hardtail with front suspension (Reba). Drivetrain is Shimano Di2 mix, GRX brifters with XT front/rear derailleurs (2×11). Drop bars with aero bars for a change of position from time to time. Low gearing, apparently there are some climbs?
BAGS: Mostly stock Revelate Designs bags with Sea to Summit eVent for front roll.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Accommodation is a single skin freestanding tent out of Asia (900g) with a Sea to Summit quilt and Nemo Tensor mattress. No lights, will sleep when it is dark!
GPS DEVICE: Main device is Garmin Edge 1040 Solar with Garmin Enduro 3 as backup as well as maps on Samsung S24 Ultra.
Dan Lambert
Age 54 / Carlsbad, California (USA)
BIKE: I’m riding a steel Salsa Fargo setup with Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.35″ tires, Curve Walmer 55 bars, Bontrager aerobars, and a Brooks B17 saddle I’ve been breaking in for the last 2,000 training miles!
BAGS: I use Revelate Designs for most of my bags including handlebar harness, frame bag, Terrapin seat bag, feedbags, mag tank, and jerry can. Additionally, I mounted one Porcelain Rocket Microwave Pannier for overflow.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For sleeping, I’m bringing a Feathered Friends Flickr 20 quilt, Durston x-Mid 1P tent, and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad. I have water on my down tube and fork.
GPS DEVICE: For navigation, I’m using a Garmin Explore 2 plus I have the route with POI in Ride with GPS and cue sheets on my phone to help with all the resupplies and sleep options.
Justin McKinley
Age 37 / Boulder, Colorado (USA)
BIKE: OTSO Fenrir Ti — 32x18T.
BAGS: JPaks frame bag, top tube bag, and handlebar roll. Mica Rat Tail rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Foam sit pad, kLite dynamo.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar.
Steve Mehne
Age 34 / Arvada, Colorado (USA)
BIKE: 2021 Salsa Cutthroat, SRAM AXS GX (with the new 13-speed hoods, so comfy), Race Face crank with 30T chainring (for going up), Mezcal 29 x 2.25″ tires mounted to Belgium g rims laced to DT350 rear and Son 28 dynamo front hub powering a Sinewave Beacon 2.
BAGS: Jpaks custom frame bag, Ruksak x2, and footlong snakpak, Rogue Panda Blue Ridge harness with Sea to Summit dry bag, and Bedrock Bags Coconino seat pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Carrying a Zpaks Plex Solo tent and a pot and stove for ultimate overnight recovery and hot coffee.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar in conjunction with my iPhone utilizing RWGPS offline maps.
Dirk-Jan Meirink
Age 46 / Katwijk (The Netherlands)
BIKE: I’ll be fast-touring the Tour Divide on a rigid Salsa Cutthroat V2 56cm with a SRAM Eagle AXS GX Groupset, 32T chainring at the front and a 10-52T cassette at the back. I’ll be sitting on a FIZIK Terra Argo X5 Saddle mounted on an Ergon CF Allroad seatpost. The dropbar is 42cm wide, with minimal flare and is fitted with Redshift cruise control grips and and suspension stem. The bike is rolling on handbuild Duke Racing Crazy Jack wheelset fitted with Vittoria XC Mezcal 2.25” tires.
BAGS: On the front: a topeak frontloader for my Nomad Taurus sleeping bag, liner and sea to summit pillow. Two topeak feedbag, one for drinkbottle in use, other for sweets etc. On the top a Restrap full length toptube bag for food, snack and electrolytes. In the middle a custom made framebag from Wit Slingers which is holding a 3L Apidura bladder for the long stretches and NM. At the back a Tailfin Aeropack for holding my tent with two 10L side panniers (one for dry weather clothing one for the wet stuff) with enough spare space to store food.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Son Dynamo Hub, kLite front light, E3 Tail light 2, Favero Assiomo MTB powermeter pedals so I can keep an eye on my pacing.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Wahoo Element Bolt V2 to navigate, but will also have the route loaded on the RWGPS/Google app on my iPhone as a backup.
Matt Miller
Age 50 / Frytown, Iowa (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding a 2021 Salsa Cutthroat GRX 600. The wheels are DT SWISS XM 421 with a Son dynamo hub up front and a DT Swiss 350 in the back. The rear tire is a Vittoria Mezcal and the front is a Vittoria Barzo. My saddle is a Brooks B17.
BAGS: In the back I have a Tailfin Aeropack with 10L panniers. The frame bag is by Rogue Panda and the front forks have Salsa Anything cages with Revelate Polecat bags. In the cockpit, I’m using Profile Designs Sonic Ergo aero bars, Revelate Designs feedbags and a Salsa EXP top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My tent is a Gossamer Gear The One. My sleeping bag is a 30 degree Sea to Summit Spark paired with a Nemo Tensor Elite pad. For lighting, I have an Exposure Revo powered by the dynamo hub.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 830 for navigation and Garmin Inreach Mini 2 for tracking.
John & Mira
Age 54 & 8 / Canadians on World Bikepacking Tour
BIKE: The is a newly designed titanium (including rack) mid-tail cargo mountain bike. Pinion and Gates drivetrain belt rings 34T F/R stainless. Electronic Smart.Shift 12-speed. 197mm rear spacing to allow the bike to be set-up as a fat-bike. Light bicycle carbon rims, SP dydno-hub, DT Swiss 350 rear hub. Current build includes 42cm Enve AR Road handlebars, TRP Hywire brake/shift levers, Wolf Tooth Revolve dropper post with WT road bar control lever. Vittoria Barzo front, Mezcal rear trail casing with insert, 29 x 2.6″. Profile aero bars mounted with Fred Bar.
BAGS: Tailfin long Top-tube bag and large Wedge pack, Downtube pack. Crank Tank 3L frame mounted water tank. Wild North custom frame bags (Dog food, Human food). Revelate Pitchfork aero pack, 2x Saltyroll.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Uline plastic mesh basket to transport Mira la Perra. Sleep kit includes a Durston X-Mid 1 Fly/ ground sheet only, with bivy sack. Enough room to protect 1.5 people from the weather.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar, MapOut iPhone K-Lite Front/ Rear lights, Petzl headlamp (helmet mount).
Alexia Molina
Age 29 / North Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Divide on a Landyachtz custom titanium frame. My monster truck features a Fox 32 step cast, a fresh pair of 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals, Cane Creek eeSilk suspension post, 1×12 drivetrain with a 34T chainring, We Are One Sector wheels, with a SON Dynamo hub powering my Klites. I’m also running Zipp aero bars.
BAGS: My frame, seat wedge, and feed bags are HMPL, the rear system, downtube bag, and top tube bags are Tailfin, and up front, I’ve got a Rockgeist harness carrying a drybag from MEC.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My Rab Mythic 120 sleeping bag holds a very dear place in my heart.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1040 solar.
Brendan Moore
Age 36 / Kent, Connecticut (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be racing with my 2023 Salsa Cutthroat C size 56 with SRAM GX Eagle AXS. The bike features a new RockShox SID Ultimate SL front suspension fork and a PNW Coast suspension dropper post. New Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 29 x 2.2” tires. The drivetrain is 1×12, 10-52T cassette with a 34T Absolute Black oval chainring and 165mm SRAM GX Eagle crank arms. The pedals are Garmin Rally dual sided power meter pedals. The cockpit is built off of an 80mm stem with 44cm Salsa Cowbell drop bars and Pro Missile aero bars with 70mm risers. The aero bars also feature Leap 3d printed bar end mounts for SRAM AXS blips. Cockpit includes mounts for two Garmin devices (computer and satellite tracker) quad lock phone case, a GoPro, two Fenix lights, and the mount for the Tailfin handlebar bag.
BAGS: Bag setup includes the Tailfin Carbon Cargo Aeropack rack with two 10L pannier bags. The Tailfin Bolt on long top tube bag and Tailfin handlebar bag. There are two Apidura stem bags a Tailfin down tube bag and on my person I will be wearing a restrap Hydration pack and a Restrap roll top hip pack for my 35mm film camera (Minolta x700). The centerpiece of the whole bike is the custom frame pack that I designed and had made by Rogue Panda. It features my mascot, the SquirrelBird and hotrod flames (cause they make you faster)
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The primary gear highlight is the frame pack but another unique feature is the saddle. I modified the Fizik Tempo Aliante adaptive 3d printed saddle by cutting out a well to relieve pressure. To smooth out the removed area, I upholstered the entire saddle in a tanned cow hide. Other gear highlights include a Nemo Dragonfly two-person tent, a Big Agnes AXL air mummy style blow up sleeping pad, and an Enlightened Equipment 30° down quilt.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be using a the Garmin 840 Solar GPS unit and the older 830 as a backup. Also using the Garmin InReach Mini 2 for satellite tracking.
Tilman Morlok
Age 56 / Schlaitdorf (Germany)
BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2025 Monster Gravel from Basic Bikes in Berlin. It is all carbon, including 29″ carbon wheels with Conti Racekings 2.2″. It features a 1×12 Shimano XTR/GRX drivetrain and a profile armrest.
BAGS: Framebags and front roll are custom made from Fogoods in Stuttgart. For the rear I chose the Tailfin Cargo Aeropack with 10L panniers. With a water bladder in the frame and two 1L bottles on the fork, I can carry nearly 6L if needed.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Air mat and sleeping bag from Sea to Summit and an MSR Freelite 1 tent.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Wahoo Elemnt ACE and iPhone for backup. For recharging I use two power banks.
Patrick Olfindo
Age 28 / Moncton, New Brunswick (Canada)
BIKE: I’m a rookie racing the Tour Divide on a 2022 Canyon Grizl. I’ll be riding on 27.5 x 2.0″ Continental Race Kings. The drivetrain is a Shimano GRX 2x mechanical, with an 11-40T cassette and a 46/30T chainring. Power metrics will be provided by a Power2Max GRX specific power meter on 155mm Rotor Cranks. Aero bars are the Legacy II from Profile Design, which will helpfully add comfort and help me be a bit more aero.
BAGS: All my bags are made by myself, except for my seat pack which I unfortunately did not have enough time to make. My seat pack is the Deuter Cabezon with a 16L capacity, which carries my spare clothes, tent poles and sleep kit. I’m running are a full length top tube bag for food and electronics. An aero bar bag which has my tent, gloves and rain coat, and a tool bag in the downtube which will have my spare tubes and tools. I will also be wearing an Ultimate Direction Race Vest 6.0 for extra water carry and food storage.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My favorite part of my setup are my DIY’d bags. They are waterproof and very cost effective. It also helped me to learn a new skill in sewing.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be using a Garmin 1040 Solar as my main device for GPS, and activity tracking. I have a Garmin InReach Mini 2 for satellite tracking and communication, and will be having my phone for backup.
Cory Ostertag
Age 38 / Squamish, British Columbia (Canada)
BIKE: A Panorama Taiga EXP will be the reliable choice for my rookie attempt. It is outfitted with a SRAM AXS mullet drivetrain with 34T, 10-52T gearing. A Redshift stem, Ergon grips, bar tape, and saddle to smooth every bump. A SON 28 Dynamo powering a kLite system and Mezcals in 2.35″.
BAGS: No real allegiance for bags. I’ve picked each piece based on the best fit and practicality for my needs. A custom Shaka Packs frame bag, Revelate Spinelock seat pack, Restrap aerobar bag, 2 feed bags and two top tube bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m using the most typical sleep kit; OR Helium Bivy, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping mat and Big Agnes Pluton UL sleeping bag. I’m most excited about my 7mesh apparel which should keep me moving forward no matter the conditions.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1030+.
Scott Petrie
Age 39 / Van Life (USA)
BIKE: Revel El Jefe, size large. SRAM GX Transmission with Force road levers, XO power meter cranks, Redshift Topshelf curly bars, Profile Design carbon aerobars, Fox 34 Grip fork, Hunt Proven XC Race carbon wheels with a Son hub up front, 29 x 2.2″ Continental Race Kings (new matching set will be on for the race), PNW Coast suspension dropper post.
BAGS: Smorgasbord – Restrap top tube and aero bar bag, Tailfin Aeropack, Oveja Negra Superwedgie frame bag, Oveja Negra fork bag (downtube mounted).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent, Nemo ultralight sleeping pad, Enlightened Equipment quilt, kLite lighting and charging setup, SRAMS blips on the aero bars, custom Nalgene hose hydration system
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 830.
Sonny Rasmussen
Age 48 / Sioux Falls, South Dakota (USA)
BIKE: I will be riding (not so fast) my 2024 Otso Waheela, lovingly nicknamed “Olivey”, with a 1×12 SRAM mullet drivetrain, Force AXS shifters and power meter crankset, 5Dev oval 32T chainring, 10–52T rainbow cassette, and GX Eagle AXS rear derailleur. It rolls on Whiskey No.9 30W rims, with a Chris King R45D rear hub and SON 28 dynamo front hub, fitted with Mezcal XC Trail 29 x 2.1” tires. I’ll be sitting comfortably on a well-upholstered Brooks B17 saddle.
BAGS: Apidura full frame bag. 2× Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbags and JerryCan. Tailfin top tube bag, 1.5L zip. Custom-fabric BarYak Expedition Harness, Talon Nano Bag, and custom BarYak Marsupium seat harness with waterproof seat bag with support by Tailfin Rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Redshift Suspension Stem and ShockStop Pro Race Suspension Seatpost. BarYak Expedition setup: Triple Crown Navigation, Sinewave Beacon, custom-engraved with my initials “SR” as the Trackleaders logo.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar as my primary. Great Divide maps and iPhone as backups.
Josh Reid
Age 27 / Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK)
BIKE: My bike is a Giant Revolt X (color: Gloss Kelp Forest) with a 40mm Fox suspension fork and a Redshift suspension seatpost. I have Redshift Cruise Control grips on the Redshift Kitchen Sink bar with the made-to-measure bag, currently filled to the brim with Clif Bars. Mounted on the loop of the bars is my Exposure Six Pack front light. Other contact points are an Fizik Antares adaptive saddle and Crank Brothers Candy 7 pedals. The saddle is super comfortable but I’ll still be carrying a full tub of Chamois Butt’r Ultra Balm. I am running Giant CXR X1 wheels paired with 45mm Hutchinson Touareg tires. To give my hands a break I’m also using Redshift quick release TT bars which allows me to mount a Quad Lock for my iPhone, a mount for my Insta360 X5 and a Fidlock universal bottle holder. I also have a Fidlock antibacterial bottle on my downtube. For gearing I have SRAM Force eTap AXS with a 40T on the front and a 10-52T SRAM 12-speed cassette.
BAGS: My bag setup is made up of a Restrap custom full-frame bag, a Restrap long race top tube bag and a prototype rear bag system, which is a secret so don’t tell anyone. I’ll also be carrying a Restrap hydration backpack, mainly to carry my Canon R6 Mark II with a 70-200mm lens.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My bike is set up with Enduro Bearings XD15 in the bottom bracket, wheels, and derailleur pulleys on my SRAM X01 Eagle AXS rear mech. I also have Enduro Bearings stainless steel upper and lower headset bearings. As for stopping I’ve added some Jagwire Extreme Condition pads.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar with the maps.me app as a back-up on my iPhone.
Max Riese
Age 35 / Salzburg (Austria)
BIKE: I’m riding my Cervélo ZHT-5 hardtail named “Zandile.” She has a full SRAM drivetrain with a mix of XO Transmission, XX1, and Force parts. Built as a dropbar MTB with Zipp Vuka aero bars. The saddle is a custom 3D printed Posedla Joyseat Ultra, Tires are MAXXIS Reckon Race and Aspen 29 x 2.35”. I am using a SON 28 dynamo hub and Ladelux headlight and charger. Chain is waxed with Silca super secret chain wax and endurance chip. Will top up with synergetic oil.
BAGS: Full Tailfin setup with AeroPack Cargo and long top tube and frame bag. Extra storage and water with an Ultimate Direction trail running vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Full 7mesh kit with MK3 bib shorts pace jersey and rain gear. Also puffy jacket and multiple pairs of socks and gloves. STYRKR nutrition in between every gap. QUOC GT XC shoes. Running a OR Helium Bivvy and Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag as sleep system.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura and Ride with GPS are the best combo ever right now.
Keenan Ryan
Age 42 / River Heights, Utah (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25” tires, a modified 1×12 10-52T SRAM AXS drivetrain with a 32T chainring, and DT Swiss 1900 wheels. Other modifications include Red Shift Suspention seat post and Aero bars.
BAGS: Starting up front I have two Revelate Designs feedbags. A Rogue Panda Blue Ridge harness holding a 13L drybag and Frame bag with a 3L Apadura bladder in the lower zip. Ortlieb Quickrack and Gravel Panniers round out the tail end. One liter bottles will be mounted to the fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Nemo Hornet (2p) tent will serve as my shelter along with a Nanga ultralight sleeping bag and Big Agnes mattress. I’m rolling out with two Anker 10,000 mAh packs for recharging electronics.
GPS DEVICE: My navigation will be through a Wahoo Roam (v3) with an Android phone with RWGPS files as a backup.
Zach Ryerson
Age 37 / Salida, Colorado (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be racing the divide on “Dusty” my Salsa Cutthroat. SRAM 1×11 10-42T. SRAM Apex hydraulic brakes. Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25″ tires. PNW suspension dropper post. Wolf Tooth supple bar tape. Redshift aerobars. Thanks to SubCulture (Salida!) for getting it ready!
BAGS: A mix of Bedrock and Oveja Negra (Salida!) cockpit and handlebar bags. Tumbleweed rack with a Sea to Summit drybag. Centerpiece being a custom tractor and field frame bag by Curiosity bags. To remind me of home and where I came from.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Rab 30° bag, Durston X-Mid Pro 2 tent, Big Agnes sleeping pad to get me through the night. Gas station pastries, chocolate milk, and Tool in the headphones to get me through the day. The singular thought of a silly border patrol sign to get me to the end.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 840.
Heath Sample
Age 35 / Silverthorne, Colorado (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2022 Salsa Cutthroat. Vittoria Barzo tire on front and Mezcal in the back, Shimano GRX pedals, and no dynamo. Fred Bar combined with the 60mm riser aerobars continues to save my hands.
BAGS: A mixed kit. An Ortlieb 11L seat pack, Revelate Designs handlebar harness, Salsa 6L frame bag, Apidura 2L top tube, Camelback feed bags, and two 1.5L Nalgenes mounted to the front fork on Revelate Tarsier cages. I’m also wearing a Deuter pack with a 2L bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My old Marmot bag with a Copper Spur Bikepack tent and Rapid SL pad for sleep setup. For water, a Sawyer Squeeze. And of course I can’t forget my mustard packet collection.
GPS DEVICE: Using an Edge 540 Solar computer, inReach tracker, and a Caltopo backup map on my phone.
Till Schneider
Age 27 / Cologne (Germany)
BIKE: I’m riding my self-made drop bar mountain bike. It has all the functionality of a normal hardtail, with a 100mm fork, boost axles, tire clearance for up to 2.4” (I will ride 2.2” Continental RaceKing) and a slack head tube angle. The geometry is trimmed to fit a drop bar (smaller stack and reach) to have more comfort on the long journey. The aim was to have the largest possible frame for a bolt-on frame bag. The steel frame was built by Hill Frameworks. It features internal cable routing for the brakes and the electric cables for the dynamo lights.
BAGS: The highlights are the custom made two-piece frame bag and the top tube bag by Babylegs. They are completely waterproof and ready for electronic cables and a tube for a bladder. The other bags are a Tailfin AeroPack with two 3.5L panniers. On the downtube is a small Tailfin bag, bolt on, for tool and spares.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have fully integrated electric cables with a switch in the bar ends. I can choose between the dynamo lights or to charge my Forumslader. A 32Wh power bank will be charged by the dynamo. At 25 km/hour it charges the batteries and my phone with 8W. Together, with the low power draw of the Coros Dura, I shouldn’t need external electricity if everything works.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a Coros Dura and an old Wahoo Bolt as a backup.
Steph Skinner
Age 30 / Canberra, ACT (Australia)
BIKE: I’ve got a 2024 Salsa Warbird with 650b Curve Dirt Hoops and 48mm René Herse Juniper Ridge tyres (not yet pictured since they’re impossible to get in Australia at the moment)! It’s kitted out with a sram AXS mullet setup with a big ol’ 10-52T dinner plate on the back and a 38T Wolf Tooth oval chainring on the front. While certainly not the beefiest bike it’s surprisingly capable, and the Redshift stem and seat post make for a pretty plush ride despite the smaller tyres. 5mm Wolf Tooth supple bar tape is also incredibly luxe on the hands. kLite provides plenty of lumens off my SON dynamo.
BAGS: I’m running a full Apidura Expedition series setup since they’re light, durable, and waterproof. The cockpit setup is an Apidura fork bag run as an aero bag instead, with a stem pack located either side. My bike is small, so running stem packs instead of feed bags means no interference with the knees. I’m also running a half frame bag so I can still run bottles (not a fan of only a bladder), which I’ve been able to fit PERFECTLY after drilling some new holes through my bottle cages so I could shift them down. Hydro pack on the back for extra snacks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m running a bespoke tent that weighs 227 grams! It’s basically a custom made tiny version of a Zpacks Plex tent designed for someone who’s 165cm tall or less. Feels like a palace compared to sleeping in a bivy, without any of the weight or pack size penalty of a tent.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Elemnt Bolt for on the bike nav, supported by Ride With GPS and MapOut on the phone for the extra stats and POIs.
Jesse Stauffer
Age 37 / Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania (USA)
BIKE: Salsa Cutthroat, Shimano GRX components, Son Dynamo, DT Swiss rim on front and stock rear.
BAGS: Mostly Revelate Designs.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1030.
Nate Stedman
Age 35 / Brooklyn, New York (USA)
BIKE: Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon with a SRAM Transmission drivetrain, 29 x 2.3″ Vittoria Mezcals on an i9 wheelset, and Zipp drop bars with Profile Design aerobars attached.
BAGS: Revelate Designs frame bag, top tube bag, and feed bag. Tailfin rack with a dry bag strapped on top, and my Tailfin fork packs bolted to rack as well. Another dry bag is hung from the aerobars. King Cage bottle cages on the work and under the downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: SlingFin SplitWing with a Big Agnes sleeping pad and an REI Magma sleeping bag. Patagonia puffy jacket and Gorewear waterproof jacket. Sawyer Squeeze water filter.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin InReach for tracking and messaging, Wahoo Elemnt for navigation, and my iPhone with offline maps as a backup and for POIs. I also have a spreadsheet calculating distances between resupply points, as well as the ACA maps.
Scott Sundby
Age 51 / Alexandria, Minnesota (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be another rider on a Salsa Cutthroat, 2021 vintage. This is what I used during the 2022 TD and have made few modifications. The only change was to utilize a Garbaruk longer rear derailleur cage to allow for a 11-46T cassette. Otherwise, still with the Mason/Hunt wheels with a SON dynamo hub, Mezcals, Selle SMP Avant saddle, and Profile aerobars.
BAGS: Mostly Revelate Designs, including JerryCan (lube, rag, misc), Magtank (cache battery, kLite system), Terrapin seatbag (clothes), Joey downtube (tools), and 2 Feedbags (food). The framebag is from Rogue Panda Designs that will carry everything else. Sleep kit is in a Sea to Summit drybag on a Salsa Anything Cradle.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I appreciate the Wolf Tooth B-Rad System adapter for the forks to have the ability for 4 water bottles (3 for water, 1 for bear spray). I am also excited for a new tent, a Slingfin Portal 1 that I learned about from Bikepacking.com (Thanks for the review, Neil!).
GPS DEVICE: I am a firm believer in the adage of “2 is 1, and 1 is none”. Therefore, I have a Garmin eTrex 30x for the breadcrumb, a Garmin Edge 830 for additional turn-by-turn, and my phone in my pocket with the route if everything else goes sideways. I wish everyone well out there and good luck and remember, “Hard is the beginning of Easy, -J ‘OM”.
Brenna Swetman
Age 29 / Winooski, Vermont (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Great Divide NOBO on a fully custom bike that I built up around an Esker Lorax Ti frame. Drivetrain is Shimano GRX 1×12 with a White Industries crankset/36T chainring and Hope RX4+ brake calipers. For the wheels, I’m running a SON dynamo up front and P321 hub in the rear laced onto Astral Serpentine rims. Tires are Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge and suspension fork is a Fox Factory 34 Stepcast. Shoutout to several VT bike shops and friends for supporting me with this fun project, especially Outdoor Gear Exchange!
BAGS: Custom frame pack and top tube bag made by the lovely folks at Cedaero. Paper Roads harness (thank you, Amy) and Revelate Designs Pronghorn handlebar roll. Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rack with Juniper trunk bag on top and Salsa Anything bags mounted to cages on the uprights. Stem bags from Fifth Season Canvas.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Super excited about a lot of things, including my Sinewave Beacon front light, Brooks saddle, Bivo bottles, Bedrock sandals, and Durston X Mid 1 tent.
GPS DEVICE: I use a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt to navigate and RWGPS routes downloaded on my phone as a back-up.
Matthew Thor
Age 38 / Omaha, Nebraska (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding a Viral Wanderer with a Pinion C1.12i SmartShift gearbox and Gates Carbon Drive belt. TRP shifters/brakes, OneUp V3 dropper post, Chris King wheels with a SON dynamo hub up front, RockShox SID SL Ultimate (removing the little fender which is definitely a mud clearance hazard), Vittoria Mezcal XC Trail 2.35″ (swapping out the pictured XC Race 2.25″) with Vittoria Air-Liner inserts.
BAGS: Lots of Tailfin (obvi). Rogue Panda custom frame bag with 1.5L Apidura bladder. Outer Shell stem caddies complete with patches from my buddies at Ponderosa Cyclery in Omaha. I wouldn’t be here without them!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Pinion + Gates combo should be pretty bombproof, and it does really well (comparatively) with mud. kLite Micro-D kit with race front lamp is great (Exposure Joystick on my helmet to supplement). I’m also a big fan of the Fidlock bottles and universal connector (as a bear spray holster).
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar, Edge 830 as a backup, RWGPS routes with POIs downloaded on my phone.
Marko Torbarina
Age 27 / Canberra, ACT (Australia)
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a Curve GMX+ steel frame equipped with SRAM Rival/Eagle AXS and an AXS dropper post. The build is designed for comfort and control on varied terrain, running 2.6” Vittoria Mezcal tyres and aero bars for efficiency on flats and open stretches. A dynamo hub powers a KLite system for lighting and charging on the go.
BAGS: I’m running a full Bike Bag Dude setup, including a custom frame bag, top tube bag, and dry bags mounted on the bars and rear rack. Anything Cages are mounted to the fork and Tumbleweed rear rack, fitted with BBD fork bags. I’ve opted for a spacious setup—not to carry more, but to compartmentalize and stay organized for the long haul.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Shelter is the Durston X-Dome 1+, paired with a Sea to Summit sleep system. I’m also carrying a lightweight cooking kit, a merino-based layering system, and a synthetic puffy for warmth during cold mountain mornings. My kit is focused on comfort, simplicity, and efficiency at camp.
GPS DEVICE: I’m navigating with a Garmin Edge 530, with a full backup on my phone using Ride With GPS, mounted via a Quad Lock.
Daniel Townend
Age 51 / London (UK)
BIKE: Riding my Curve GMX+ with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires and airliners on Curve Dirt hoops, SRAM Eagle AXS, 9-50T e-thirteen cassette, 30T chainring, and a SON Dynamo hub. 55cm Curve Walmer bars and Redshift grips. Klite front and rear light plus Exposure Diablo.
BAGS: Tailfin cargo aeropack, bar bag, half frame bag and top tube bag. 2L Salomon adv skin cross season 15 hydration pack, 2 bottles, plus extra bottle cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite pad with Sea to Summit II sleeping bag. Durston X-Mid 1 tent.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1040 for navigation, with spare 530 and phone as back-up.
Svein Tuft
Age 48 / Nelson, British Columbia (Canada)
BIKE: Landyachtz custom ti hardtail with Fox 32 fork,
Shimano GRX, and XTR di2 blend 12-speed. 38T chainring. 10-51T cassette. Reform saddle. Vision handlebar and aero bar. Redshift suspension stem and ergo grips. We Are One wheelset with Continental Dubnital 29 x 2.2″ tires.
BAGS: Bags are a mix of Apidura backcountry and race models. Race aeropack, top tube and handlebar bag. Backcountry frame and seatbag. With Apidura stowable backpack for big Resupply.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The new XTR GRX might be the nicest Shimano stuff I’ve used in 20 years of riding. This Ti frame is incredibly comfortable and fits like a glove.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar and RWGPS.
Maarten Vanhaverbeke
Age 40 / Brakel, Flemish Ardennes (Belgium)
BIKE: Of course my Mason ISO: the perfect frame for the three Mountain Races last year and TD ‘23, so no need for a change. Still using 46cm Ritchey Beacon drop bars, a SWS Wheels hand-built wheelset (DTXM421, SON/DT240) and René Herse Fleecer Ridge tires. What’s new? Shimano XTR-GRX 1×12 Di2 shifting! Let’s put that shiny new derailleur to a proper test?! Satellite shifters on Syntace XXS aerobars, so there’s still some wires involved. Wolf Tooth 34t chainring, RockShox SID SL fork…too easy to get lost in the details as a bicycle mechanic.
BAGS: Revelate Designs feedbags, seatbag, framebag, and dry bag. Miss Grape handlebar cradle. Tailfin top and down tube bag. Camelbak hydration vest with a 2L Hydrapak bladder and inline filter, second 1.5L bladder in the framebag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nordisk Lofoten tent, Cumulus X-Lite 400 sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest mattress, KLite lights and charger, Lucifer helmet light.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar. Edge 530 and Iphone with OsmAnd as backup.
Quinda Verheul
Age 34 / The Netherlands
BIKE: I’ll be riding a custom-painted Orbea OIZ full-suspension rig in dusty pink with bronze logos. Big thanks to the crew at Orbea for making this one come together. It’s built with a SRAM XO 12-speed drivetrain, FOX 34 Factory SC fork and SL rear shock, and Schwalbe Thunder Burt 29 x 2.35″ Super Ground tires front and rear.
BAGS: I’m running a full custom Tailfin setup, including custom-painted dyneema by yours truly, an amazing collab which will hopefully make me extra fast, full frame bag, and a new prototype aerobar bag made just for this race. I also pack snacks in a Carrie Gere vest and top tube bag for easy access.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Power and light come from a SON dynamo hub paired with a K-lite system. I’ve got Hope X2 brakes with 180mm floating rotors, Wolf Tooth dropper remote, Curve Walmer 55 bars, and PRO Missile aerobars. Fizik Ergolace shoes and saddle, Pedaled kit, and Smith for head and eye protection. Excited to test this R&D setup through the Rockies! Hyperlite mountain equipment tent and quilt.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.
Gaetan Vidal
Age 34 / Baissescure (France)
BIKE: I’ll be riding a CHIRU FUKAI, RockShox SID 100mm fork, Redshift seatpost, SRAM Transmission 1×12 drivetrain, 32T chainring, SON dynamo hub, Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.10″ tires, Profile Designs Ergo extenders.
BAGS: Frame Bag is from CYCLITE. I’m also running a CYCLITE top tube bag and an Aeroe Spider rack out back.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m using an MSR Hubba bikepack tent that I pack on the handlebars. I’ll opt for an Osprey Escapist Velocity hydration vest. I’ve attached a canister with all the necessary tools to the bottom of the frame. I’ve slipped in a little harmonica when the mood takes a turn for the worse.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.
Rogier van der Wacht
Age 30 / Hertogenbosch, North Brabant (The Netherlands)
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a Trek Supercaliber Gen 2 refined over two years of gear nerding and tests in ‘shorter’ ultra races. It’s outfitted with drop bars, VAP aerobars, and a KLite front and rear light system combined with a Lupine headlight. The build features a modified SRAM Eagle 1×12 drivetrain (34T front, 10-52T rear), paired with DT Swiss XRC1200 wheels and a SON dynamo hub to keep everything charged. I chose a 100mm RockShox fork, shorter than the standard 110mm the Supercaliber is designed around, to steepen the head angle to add a bit more agility and to reduce wheel flop. Tires are Vittoria Mezcal 2.1” front and rear for versatile grip. The bottom bracket is a smooth-spinning Bikone.
BAGS: A custom Wit Slingers frame bag, Tailfin cargo rear and downtube, and an Apidura top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleeping kit includes an Outdoor Research bivy tent, Therm-a-Rest sleep mat, and a Mountain Equipment sleeping bag. I’m also proud of my DIY metal 3D-printed bottle holders, which let me mount two extra bottles on the sides of the bike alongside my bags.
GPS DEVICE: Primary navigation with a Coros Dura, backed up by a Wahoo Roam V2.
Corey Wallis
Age 35 / Port Moody, British Columbia (Canada)
BIKE: I am riding a custom titanium hardtail made by the guys at Landyachtz in Vancouver, BC. I am running SRAM GX AXS Transmission with a 34T chainring. The fork is a 100mm Rockshox SID Ultimate SL and I have the 29 x 2.2″ Conti Race Kings on Sector carbon wheels from We Are One Composites in Kamloops, BC (make, model, build kit, frame bags, etc.)
BAGS: I have a mix of bags from Tailfin, Apidura, and Restrap. Going with a 3L bladder in the frame bag and then 2L bladder in my Apidura Race Vest that I will fill later in the race.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have majority 7mesh clothing, it’s really the best stuff out there. I am stoked to fill my Apidura Packable Backback with all junk food along the way.
GPS DEVICE: I have a Garmin Edge 540 solar as my main navigation, and a Garmin Edge 530 as a back up. I also have my Garmin Fenix 6 water if things get disastrous.
Todd Watchmaker
Age 65 / Edina, Minnesota (USA)
BIKE: I will be riding a Salsa Fargo Titanium with 29 x 2.35” Mezcals, a 1×12 with a 32T chainring and 42T in the back. Derby carbon rims, son hub and profile aero bars with 40mm risers.
BAGS: Rockgeist full framebag and two feed bags for water bottles, as well as a dry bag attached to my rear rack for rain gear and cold weather clothes. Revelate Designs Pronghorn front bag setup for camping equipment with Egress Pocket for miscellaneous (toiletries, water purification). Finally, Tailfin top tube bags.
GPS DEVICE: I use the Garmin GPSMap66i for both spot tracking and route guidance. Wahoo Element Roam tucked away as backup.
Everett Werner
Age 25 / San Luis Obispo, California (USA)
BIKE: This bike is a bit of a frankenbike, it is a Chinese (lightcarbon) hardtail frame with a SID Ultimate fork and drop bars with Rival shifters. The drivetrain is all X01/XX1, except for an XX T-Type rear derailleur.
BAGS: All bags are homemade, this is the second iteration of most of them, its nice to have to live with your decisions rather than the decisions someone else made.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Homemade alpha direct fleece and an SP Dynamo Hub connected to an IQ-XS front light.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.
Dan Wilde
Age 40 / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)
BIKE: I will be racing the Tour Divide on a 2024 Kona Sutra LTD. I’m rolling on Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 55mm tires with the endurance plus casing. A 1×12 drivetrain will be powering those wheels. A 34T Wolf Tooth chain ring and a SRAM NX Eagle PG-1230 Cassette, 12-Speed, 11-50T, cassette made possible by a Ratio expansion cage. I skipped out on the dynamo and will just be using power banks to power my electronics. I’m using Zipp Vuka Aluminum aero bars on a 50mm riser.
BAGS: The 14L Expedition handle bar bag by Apidura sits between my drop bars. I’m utilizing Revelate Designs feedbags at the front for water bottles. I have a 1.5L Tailfin top tube bag that bolts onto the frame. A full frame bag that sports a custom Trash Panda Print from Rogue Panda sits in my frame. And to round out the bags, I have a 10L Revelate Designs Spine Lock attached to my Brooks C-17 saddle.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m especially fond of the drivetrain that was installed by Keystone Bike Co in Philly, and the custom frame bag from Rogue Panda because the pattern reminds me of some jokes that I share with my wife.
GPS DEVICE: I’ll be using a Garmin Edge 840 for navigation saving my phone for back up. Garmin inReach will be used for tracking.
Eric Wright
Age 47 / Saco, Maine (USA)
BIKE: I’ll be riding my 2018 Salsa Fargo with a Rohloff belt drivetrain and Gebla Rohbox to run drop bars. Wheels are built with WTB CZR rims and have a SON Dynamo hub up front to power my kLite and USB charging. I am running Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25” tires setup tubeless.
BAGS: I have collected bags from all over the USA. The frame pack is Dyneema and made by Broadfork bags in Salt Lake City, UT. Gas tank bag is made by Rockgheist in Asheville, NC. The rolltop handlebar bag is the Middle Earth Jammer and that as well as my fork bags are made by Road Runner Bags in LA. Revelate for saddle bag and feed bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes bikepacking tent, Zenbivy sleep system, Zpacks rain gear, Ben’s 100 DEET and earplugs, so bears don’t wake me up.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1040.
Michael Yura
Age 53 / Breckenridge, Colorado (USA)
BIKE: Salsa Cutthroat with Conti Race King 29 x 2.2″ tires in size large with a mix of bags like Tek Ni Kul frame and lunch bag. The drivetrain is the stock 1×12 SRAM drivetrain. I will use a battery bank with no dynamo hub.
BAGS: Titanium rear rack for a Sea too Summit Dry bag and side Salsa everything cage with my tent Hyperlite Mid 1 tent. I am also using Bar Yak expedition with aerobars out front.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I can carry 6L of water if needed, but will typically use a 4L hydroflask bag in the frame bag area. I have a 20° Big Agnes Greystone bag and a Therm-a-Rest air pad that is nice and cush!
GPS DEVICE: I will use a Coros Dura to navigate and also use RWGPS on my phone for more specific route info like how far POI’s are ahead of me.
Further Reading
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