Rigs of The 2018 Tour Divide

Continuing the tradition started by Neil and Lindsay at Bikepacker, here are the riders and rigs of the this year’s Tour Divide, the 11th running of the longest and biggest event in bikepacking. The grand depart kicks off tomorrow, the second Friday in June, like every year. Thanks to a passionate group of participants, we’ve compiled a list of 85 rigs, each accompanied with the name, age, and hometown of the rider, as well as a brief kit list.

A few fun facts: 1. The average age of racers in the Tour Divide this year is 45 years old; 2. The most popular bike in the list is the Salsa Cutthroat—there are 23 listed here, that’s 27% of the field; 3. There are eight people in this list over 60 years young. Good Luck to all the racers this year!

Adam Lisonbee

Age 40 / Highland, UT (USA)

The Bike: I’ll be riding a 2016 Salsa Cutthroat with mostly SRAM parts, Nox Composite wheels with DT240s hubs, 2.2″ Maxxis Ikon tires, an Apidura saddle bag, and custom frame bags from Broadfork Bags out of Park City, Utah. I’ve got 4.5L of water capacity, and room for several honey buns.

Thomas Woods

Age 61 / North Oaks, Minnesota (USA)

The Bike: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2016 Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29 World Cup bike with a few modifications from the factory build. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, a 1×12 SRAM Eagle drivetrain with a 32T chainring, Roval Control 29 wheels with a Schmidt SON Dynamo hub up front (connected to a Sinewave Revolution Beacon light and charger), and Ergon grips. Further modifications include a Salsa Firestarter front fork with the Beacon light mounted to the font fork crown, and a Fred Bar with Profile T3 carbon aero bars and arms rests. Bags: JPaks gas tank, Salsa/Revelate frame bag, Revelate Visacha seat bag, Revelate Jerry Can bag, two Revelate feed bags, and an Outdoor Research 20L Airpurge Dry Compression Sack as a handlebar bag held securely in place by a Salsa EXP Anything Cradle. Two one-liter bottles are mounted to the fork using Lezyne Power Cage holders (with add-on elastic shock cords). Two 20-ounce bottles are held in a Broad Fork Down Under bag attached to the underside of the downtube. Additional water is provided by a three-liter water bladder located in the frame bag. Prized gear: A Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 mtnGLO tent will serve as my shelter along with a Western Mountaineering TerraLite 25 sleeping bag and a Sea to Summit UL air mat. I’ll also be carrying an eTrex 30x for navigation.

Kevin Hinton

Age 51 / Santa Fe, NM (USA)

I’ll be riding my custom TI Siren 29er on Conti 2.2″ Cross Kings, 1×12 SRAM drivetrain, XT brakes, Xpedo pedals, a brand new triple beam KLITE system powered via Dyno Hub, a combination of Revelate and Oveja Negra bags, and a brand new custom Rogue Panda frame bag. A Zpack 30f sleeping bag on top of a Neoair pad all snuggled in a Big Agnes Flycreek HV1 Platinum tent, and I’m bringing an inflatable pillow, just because. Lots of warm stuff and waterproof stuff (packing my fears) I hope to send it all home at some point. And, last but not least, a healthy dose of PMA!

Ralph Karsten

Age 62 / St. Paul Minnesota (USA)

Jones Plus (29+ tires); Rogue Panda panniers, Revelate frame bag, fork bags, and gas tank. Modified Thule trunk bag (modified so it will stay on the bike), Tubus rack. Lots of room for food and water! Rohloff hub, WTB Speed saddle on a Thudbuster seat post, solar battery to recharge electronics, Gnarwhal speedbar.

Richard Harding

Age 53 / Temuka, South Canterbury (NZ)

The Bike: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a custom build, based on a Silverback Storm frame with Lauf forks, the bike is known as Magilla. Running a Rohloff and a SP dynamo hub, laced to DT Swiss XM401 rims, these are running Maxxis Ikon 2.25” rear paired with Ardent race up front. Then a mix of gear from Hope to shimano that I have tested and trust. Bags: Full set of Revelate designs bags, to carry my world for the next few weeks. Prized gear: Enlightened Equipment quilt, Neoair Xtherm pad, SMD Cuben shelter, and a Jetboil, (must have coffee) using a Garmin 810 for navigation.

Rob Davidson

Age 51 / Alexandra, Central Otago (NZ)

The Bike: #justanothercutthroatrider Salsa Cutthroat in sexy blue and silver. 2×11 Shimano Di2, SPDynamo up front and Hope4 on the rear. Fresh bearings and general spinny and gnashy bits all round. Prayers and incantations applied to ensure they go the distance. Maxxis Icons have been good to me on my previous outings with 1400km of Divide riding without a puncture, so fresh icons it is. Bags: Frame and tank bags from Salsa, new Revelate Sweet Roll on the front and 8L Terrapin on the back. Older feed bags being used rather than the new ones recently purchased as they are a little smaller and IMHO plenty big enough. Bottles will be mounted to the fork. Sleeping system up front, wet and warm gear on the back, food, tools, and some water in the middle. kLite and Exposure joystick combo for light and USB charging system with cache. Garmin 810 and another 810 setup as backup.

Robert Stuck

Age 47 / Prague, Czech Republic

29” Ti Frame with a MRP Rock Solid (490mm) front fork, DTSwiss M502 (30mm) rims. Ritchey Venture Max handlebars and an assortment of Revelate Bags (seat bag, Fuel Tank, Jerry Can, feedbags 2x, handlebar harness, and frame bag) Gorilla cages on the front forks. I’m running a 1×11 (32×11-46) setup with XT derailleur, XT Cranks, Gevenalle Brake/Shifter setup with additional cross levers. TRP Spyke brakes, Eggbeater Mallet Pedals, Sella Anatomica Saddle. Aerobars with 50mm riser. Tips the scales at 55lbs (25kgs) fully loaded so far.

I will be riding to raise money and awareness for Designablility, a non-Profit that builds, modifies, and customizes off-road vehicles for use by physically disable people. Please check out their website for more information.

Seb Dunne

Age 32 / Canberra, ACT, Australia

Chumba Stella Ti 29er XL. Niner carbon fork. XT/XTR groupo 2 x 11 (28/38 x 11-40). SP PD8/DT 240 hubs on Nextie rims with Crossmark II 3C EXO TR tyres. K-lite lamp and wiring, Sinewave Revolution charger. Thomson bar/stem, Deda TT bars, Syntace seatpost, Specialized saddle.

Tim King

Age 58 / Bixby, Ok (USA)

I am riding a Lynskey Pro 29 with a Lauf fork. I am running WTB rims with Continental X King 2.2″ tires with a SON hub up front and a Chris King on the back. A Shimano XT 2x drivetrain with 38 x 24 chainrings and an 11 x 42 cassette. My saddle is a Brooks. My bags consist of a Sea to Summit bar bag with a small Revelate / pocket in front, on the frame I have a Wanderlust, with a JPaks and a Revelate Jerry Can on the top tube, on the saddle I am using a Ortlieb. I will be running a kLite at night, and have a Sinewave for charging, and Garmin for navigation.

Timothy J Erwin

Age 21 / Chicago, IL (USA)

The Bike: My whip for the trip is a 2018 Trek 1120 with a coupla’ modifications; mainly dirt drops for the dub (Cowchippers). I’m rolling on carbon Bontrager Line Pro 40 wheels and definitely not the tires pictured. Swapped the brakes for TRP Spyre mechanical disc and paired with compression-less Jagwire Pro housing. Also a Microshift Bar-end, some fatttt tape, Brooks Saddle and bags by Blackburn, Salsa, and Sealine. The front hub is a Shutter Precision PD-8x and hooked to a Sinewave Beacon Headlight. Navigation is a Garmin 820 Explore, and camping gear exclusively Nemo. Instagram handle is @timmyerwin; peep it yo!

Ty Hopkins

Age 47 / American Fork, UT (USA)

I’m riding a Salsa Cutthroat with 1×11 drivetrain (mostly SRAM) and Roval Control SL wheels; Broad Fork custom bags & Apidura seatbag.

Wendy Stevenson

Sydney, Australia

The Bike: Pivot Les 27.5 with Curve CC 29er BP15 forks, DT Swiss XCM 1200 Spline rear wheel and Nextie XC rim with Son dynamo hub on the front, Maxxis Ikon 2.25″ tyres, SRAM 1 x 11 drive train, Shimano XT brakes, Mt Zoom carbon flat bar, Ergon GP2 grips, Profile Designs clip on aero bars with 60mm riser kit, and Niner carbon seatpost. Lights and electronics – kLite lights and charging system, Exposure Link+ helmet light, Etrex 20x, iPhone, power bank and USB wall charger. The Bags: Bike Bag Dude custom frame bags and down tube bag, Revelate Terrapin 8L seat bag, Stealth custom bar roll, and Osprey 9L hydration pack.

Zaccur Fettig

Age 38 / Burlington, MA (USA)

The Bike: Motobecane Fly Team 29 Ti. Rolling on Continental Race King Protections. I added a Brooks Flyer, Profile Designs T3+ Carbon Aerobars, Ergon grips, XTR bottom bracket and a King Cage top cage. The pedals are Wellgo MG-1. Bags: I’m using a Nuclear Sunrise Fat Man for the saddle, Titan tank for tools and parts, and two Silos for snack bags. A Revelate Designs Sweetroll on the bars for my sleepstuff and a Moosetreks framebag for the main triangle. I’m counting on a Garmin Edge 520 to get me along the route, with a Magellan eXplorist 510 and maps for a backup. P.S. The chain is off for cleaning/shipping in the picture.

Peter Yerger

Age 53 / Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA)

My trusty steed will be making another run at the TD race! She is a 2013 Salsa Fargo steel. Rebuilt from 2015’s race with a new Hope headset and Hope bottom bracket, and upgraded crankset, 2 X 10 with the same gearing, new cabling, and Salsa’s pie town stem cap. I will be running on Continental Race King tires, tubeless. Bags are Revelate all around.

Gary Meyer

Age 57 / Bend, OR (USA)

The Bike: Moots Mooto X YBB 29r. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, 2×11 drivetrain, and Stans Crest rims DT240 rear hub with a SON Dynamo hub up front. Enve Fork and Jones bars, kLite lighting and Sinewave charging. Bags: Custom roll top frame bag and top tube bag from Three Sisters Threadworks. I am also running a Revelate Viscacha seat pack with “Kemp Keeper” Seat Bag Gear Net, must have for carrying sub sandwiches, and a Sweet Roll/Pocket with Bedrock bags Tapeats on the handlebars. A three-liter bladder is in the frame bag along with food.

Grace Ragland

Age 57 / Huntsville, Alabama (USA)

Bike: 2018 Salsa Cutthroat; I did a couple of modifications to my bike for this year’s TD. My gearing is now set up 1×11 50/36. The bags I chose are mostly Revelate Designs with the Salsa Frame bag. Due to the fact that I am mostly a mountain biker I decided to go with straight bars, bar ends and tri bars. We shall see how the rest of my set up withstands the day in and out of packing/unpacking. For my sleep system I chose the Nemo Cleo women’s 15 degree bag paired with the Tensor air pad. I went with the Big Agnus Flycreek UV 2 tent. My computer for the trip is the Wahoo Element. Again, since I am a mountain biker at heart, I decided to go with the Orange Mud hydration pack.

Howard Urban

Age 47 / Fayetteville, TN (currently residing in Alexandria, VA) (USA)

The Bike: This is my 2017 Salsa Fargo Ti. I’m rolling NOX Teocalli CF rims, a SON dynamo up front and a Chris King hub in the rear, wheels hand-built by Bill Mould of Alexandria, VA. It has a SRAM Eagle XX1 drivetrain with trigger shifters on the flats using Paul Components SRAM Adapter. Paul Klamper brakes, Chris King BB and HS, Niner RDO CF seatpost, Selle Anatomica NSX seat, Sinewave Beacon headlight/USB, and BarYak aerobars. Bags: Framebag and Garage by BBD. Revelate Design Feedbags, Jerrycan, and Springroll/Pocket (blue bag underneath is my Z-Packs Hexamid). Ortlieb seatbag, Rogue Panda Oracle for spare parts, and King Cages on the forks for extra water as needed.

Jacob Roberts

Age 44 / Christchurch, NZ

The Bike: Ican Sports Chinese 29er frame, Lauf Fork, Sram XX1 11 speed, CEC wheels front rim laced to a SP dyno hub, running Sinewave USB charger and an awesome kLite light. All bags are Revelate: Viscacha, Sweet Roll, Gas Tank and a modified Salomon front pack.

Justin DuBois

Age 39 / Estes Park, CO (USA)

BIKE: The obligatory Salsa Cutthroat with a Lauf TrailRacer. This one is special, because it’s mine. It’s rolling on Whiskey rims with SON dynamo/Industry 9 hubs. Carbon Woodchipper bar. Sram Rival 2x 30/42. BAGS: The Framebag is made by Triple Crown badass Kurt Sandiforth. It’s got a few other bags, too, which will be full to the gills with mini donuts and expensive nylon things.

Ken Olson

Age 58 / Phoenix, Arizona (USA)

The Bike: 2017 Salsa Cutthroat, bike has been built up with a Lauf Boost front suspension,
with a 1x 11 Sram Rival shifter and rear derailleur and SRAM cassette, and hydraulic brakes. The wheels are Stan’s carbon wheels built with carbon spoke accompanied by DT Swiss 450 Hubs. The tires are Maxxis Icons. Aero bars are by Pro Design. Gear bags: All bags are designed by Salsa brand including the gas tank, frame bag, seat bag. I will be using two feed bags, one on each side of the gas tank bag. The exception will be the handlebar bag by Revelate Designs. Special gear: I will be using a Garmin Etrex 30 and a Garmin 820 for navigation, along with a Go Pro for fantastic photo opportunities.

Gareth Pellas

Age 33 / Melbourne, Australia

Bike: Curve Uprock titanium 29er. Singlspeed (32:16). Curve carbon fork. Curve 30×30 carbon rims laced to SON/DT240. Shimano stuff. Mezcals. Luggage: Revelate Saddlebag/feedbags. Custom full length top tube bag/handlebar bag by local Melbourne maker Overland Gear Australia.

Davy Patterson

Age 47 / Ireland

Salsa Fargo rigid, stock. Ortileb seat pack. Wildcat top tube bag. Salsa Anything Fork bags. Salsa Cradle. Elite tool bottle. SIS 1 L bottles x2. Salomon compactable 1.5L water carrier. Shimano 34 x 46 – SLX. HOPE B.B. Easton Long Stem. Ram GPS bracket. Maxxis Ikons. Etrex 20. Bushmills Whiskey. Non Spd ( Saloman goretex trail shoe). Non Dyno.. ( Duracells). Leatherman Wave.

Aim to finish in 25 days and enjoy another amazing USA Holiday!

Brent Goldstein

Age 50 / Rockville, MD (USA)

The Bike: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2017 Salsa Timberjack. The bike features a new pair of Maxxis 2.6″ tires (Rekon in front, Ardent Race in back), a modified 1×12 Eagle drivetrain with a 10-50 cassette and 34T chainring with a SON Dynamo hub up front. Other modifications include a Cane Creek Thudbuster under the seat, Jones H-Bar handlebars and Profile Design T2+DL clip-on aerobars. Bags: The centerpiece of my bag setup is a Rogue Panda Designs frame bag along with a Revelate Terrapin seat pack, Revelate Mag Tank top tube bag, Revelate Jerrycan tube, Revelate Feedbags and a Revelate Sweet Roll on the handlebars. Salsa Anything cages are mounted to each side of the front fork for water or extra gear. Sleep: Big Agnes Fly Creek UV1 tent, Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt, REI Co-op Flash insulated pad and Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Liner. I’ll be using a Garmin eTrex 30 for navigation, a Garmin Inreach for spot-tracking and texting with my wife and a JBL Bluetooth speaker for tunes.

Cameron Dube

Age 38 / Beachburg, Ontario, Canada

The Bike: I’ll be riding the 2018 Tour Divide on a 2016 Specialized Fatboy with a custom built set of Woven Precision Handbuilts carbon 29ers and Maxxis Ikon 2.2s. Mods: I’ve replaced the 28T ring with a 32T and swapped the saddle for a Brooks. Also using a LAUF Carbonara fork. Bags: Frame bag is by yours truly – Miles Arbour, formerly known as Screaming Beaver bike bags. I am also running a Revelate Visacha seat pack. Two top tube bags, one by Specialized and the other by Oveja Negra and a Specialized harness off the front, carrying my clothes in a 15L OR drybag. I’m taking four bottles with me, two are mounted on the LAUF fork using TwoFish cage adapters, a third will be in a feed bag off the bar and a fourth will mount under the down tube. Sleep System: MSR Carbon Reflex 1 tent, Sea-to-Summit UL pad and a Mountain Hardwear Phantom Spark -2 dry down bag. Toothbrush: Colgate Reach in a light mauve. Why I love this set up: It allows for ultimate mud clearance and still very lightweight. Not pictured: aero bars, fourth bottle, and Black Diamond Icon 500 lumen light.

Chris Ellison

Age 54 / Austwick, Yorkshire Dales, UK

For the 2018 Tour Divide, I’m riding a Cannondale FSi 2015 High-Mod Carbon, Lefty XLR Carbon 100 (lockable) fork, drivetrain all SRAM Eagle XX1 (10-50) with 32T OPI chainring. Cannondale 172.5 cranks with ATAC XC12 pedals. CZero carbon 29” wheelset with Vittoria Saguaro tubeless tyres. Wildcat seat holster with Lomo drybag, Alpkit Stingray frame-bag with bespoke made Alpkit bar-bag and Alpkit fuel-pods on top tube. eTrex 20 GPS with phone backup and paper notes. Most clothing layers merino with Alé shorts and Northwave Extreme XC shoes. Phdesigns.co.uk Minimus sleeping bag and down clothing. Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1, (500g) Tent. Three litre water capacity in bottles with five litres off roll-bag for dry stretches. All up bike weight 18.5Kg (41lb), plus water. Lucky to come from the same county as the greatest TourDivider of all time, one of the inspirations for making this journey.

Chris Hubick

Age 43 / Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)

I’ll be riding a rigid Surly ECR 29+ with Enve M735 rims, SON28+Onyx hubs (Boost), 3″ Maxxis Chronicle tires, 1×12 gearing, and trusty old BB7 brakes. Bags include Revelate Designs Ranger, Terrapin, Yakataga, Feed (x2), and a Specialized Toptube Pack, plus an Osprey Talon 22 backpack (for food and extra water). I’m using the SON dyno hub with a Sinewave Cycles Reactor for USB power, combined with a Goal Zero Venture 70 cache battery, Garmin Edge 1030 navigation computer, InReach Explorer+ satellite tracking/comms, and Fenix bike+head lights. I’ll be sleeping in an MSR Hubba NX tent with Exped Downmat Lite 5 pad and Mountain Hardwear Lamina Z Spark synthetic bag (34°F/1°C).

Abe Long

Age 38 / Glide, OR (USA)

The Bike: Surly ECR with a dynamo hub and Rohloff Speedhub. Bags are a combination of Revelate and a custom Rogue Panda frame bag with a roll top.

Craig Moss

Age 53 / Auckland, New Zealand

Salsa El Mariachi steel 29er (2008?), Shimano 2×10, mainly XT gear, carbon Jones bar and Niner fork, Stans wheels, Ortlieb seat pack and Revelate for the rest, Garmin eTrex 30 for nav with Gaia on iPhone as back up, battery powered lights and Garmin, etc. All pretty basic.

David Sorrentino

Snoqualmie, WA (USA)

Frame: Jones Spaceframe, Fork: Jones Truss Fork, Cranks: Race Face, Chainring: Race Face 32 tooth, Cassette: Box 11 speed 11-46, Rear Derailleur: XTR, shifter XTR, Front Wheel: DT Swiss 150mm hub, WTB Kom i-29 rim, DT Swiss spokes, Front tire: Maxxis Recon 2.6”, Rear Wheel: DT Swiss 148mm hub with 54 tooth ratchet, WTB Kom i-29 rim, DT Swiss spokes, Rear tire: Maxxis Ardent 2.4”, Brakes: BB7s, TRP levers, Handlebar: Jones H-Bar, Seat Post: Erikson Ti, Seat: Chromag Trail-master, four bottle cages, handlebar bag on bars and handlebar bag mounted behind seat with a tandem stoker stem and cut down flat bar.

I have been riding the TD Route and other routes for the last 10 days from WY, crossed the Basin, and presently in CO headed to Antelope Wells for a south-to-north Grand Depart.

Lewis Ciddor

Age 28 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

I’ll be riding a Giant XTC with a Niner RDO carbon fork. Wheelset is from Melbourne based company Curve Cycling and is their 30×30 rim laced to a DT 350 rear hub and a Son 28 dynamo in the front. Lighting and charging via a Sinewave Beacon. Saddle bag, bar roll, and feed bags are from Revelate and gas tank from Bike Bag Dude. Sleep kit is Borah Snowyside Bivy, Cumulus XLite sleeping bag, and a torso-sized piece of closed cell foam. I’ll be racing for Saint Cloud Bikes, who I can’t thank enough for their support over the last few years!

Larry Shaw

Age 42 / Boulder, Co (USA)

Salsa Cutthroat, Force 1, SON dynamo hub, 34T front ring, Ikon 2.2″ tires.

Chantal Hindrup

Age 36 / Nightcaps, Southland, New Zealand

Touring (40 days) with McKayla; Giant XTC advanced 1, small. XT build. Vittoria 2.35 mezcal tyres. Niner rigid carbon fork. Brooks saddle, SRAM 155mm cranks, absolute black 30t oval chainring, Shimano 11/46 rear cassette. Jones bar with profile aero bar. Salsa wanderlust rack. Salsa Anything Bags up front, rest are all Revelate. Garmin 64st and Gloworm CX trial light, 5x water bottles, Nemo two-person tent, Jetboil, Therm-a-Rest sleeping mat. Prized gear: Nano Panniers from Revelate cause I’m too short to run a seat bag setup.

Mckayla Holloway

Age 31 / Nelson, New Zealand

The Bike: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2017 Surly Ogre. The bike is mostly stock other than a modified 2×10 drivetrain, hydraulic brakes, Jones Loop bar, and Profile areo bars. I am running 29×2.5″ tyres. Revelate bags, with the exception of Salsa dry bags on the forks. Prized gear: Full length Ground Effects rain pants. I’ll also be carrying an Garmin Edge for navigation.

Joel Flowers

Age 50 / Saint George, Utah (USA)

My bike is a Salsa Cutthroat with Enve flat bars. Her name is Consuela. She is decked out in a potpourri of bags from Rouge Panda, Bedrock, Porcelain Rocket, and Revelate. She may not be much to look at, but she gets the job done and keeps me warm on those cold Montana nights.

Richard Wilson

Age 51 / Carlisle, Cumbria, UK

I’ll be running a Salsa Cutthroat, set up with hydraulic brakes and SRAM 2×11 for my old limbs, with a Syntace carbon post and a Lauf fork up front to take the sting out of the washboard. Dually rims on Hope and SON dyno hub, charging and lighting from kLite, Exposure tailight. I’m running Maxxis Ikon tubeless tyres. Bags a mix of Salsa frame bag and Gastank, Salsa roll in a Wildcat harness under the bars, and toptube bag. Ortlieb seatpack. Nordisk Lofoten tent, with a cosy Alpkit bag. I’ll be using Garmin 1030 unit for navigation; assuming I can get the crashy, buggy software working in time. Sort it out Garmin! My luxury will be my son’s baby snow leopard cuddly to remind me of him and home. I had to take Baby as daddy snow leopard would fill my Ortlieb.

Martin Cunat

Age 29 / Czech Republic

My name is Martin Cunat, 29 years old. I am from Czech republic and I live in Norway. I am going on a Ghost Lector 6.9 with and ortlieb bags.

John Wright

Age 54 / Wandin North, Vic, Australia

I’ll be travelling on an older style (approx 2010) Niner SIR9 with a Niner carbon fork. 1 x 11 with 34T chainring and 11-46 cassette. Hope Pro 4 rear hub and an SP dyno up front rolling on Continental Race King ProTection tyres. El cheapo areo bars mounted 100mm above Jones bars. Looks a little crazy but very comfy. A full set of Revelate bags, aside from the framebag which is home grown by Bike Bag Dude. Borah Gear Snowside Bivy, Sea to Summit UL insulated mat, and a Katmandu down bag round out the sleeping arrangement. I’ll also be weighed down with way too much other gear too numerous to mention here. Best of luck to all the riders, and have a safe and not too adventurous adventure.

Brian Tear

Age 49 (50 in Montana!) / Stratford Upon Avon, England

Canyon Exceed, Lauf Fork, SRAM GX 1×11 with 32 ring and 10-42 cassette, Vittoria Mezcal tubeless. Alpkit framebag, top tube bags and feed bags. Ortlieb Saddlebag. Salsa Anything Cradle with 7L Ortlieb front roll. For sleep kit – Six Moons Design Tent, Thermarest NeoAir X Lite Regular, Western Mountaineering Highlite sleeping bag.

Martine Verweij

Age 43 / Stratford Upon Avon, England (but proudly Dutch)

Canyon Exceed, Lauf Fork, SRAM GX 1×11 with 32 ring and 10-42 cassette, Vittoria Mezcal tubeless. Alpkit framebag, top tube bags and feed bags. Ortlieb Saddlebag. Salsa Anything Cradle with 7L Ortlieb front roll. For sleep kit – Six Moons Design Tent, Thermarest NeoAir X Lite Regular, Western Mountaineering Highlite sleeping bag.

Doug Wenger

Loveland, CO (USA)

The Bike: I will be riding a Niner Air 9 Carbon with a Niner Carbon Fork. The tires rolling on the ground are Maxxis Ikons 2.25″ in rear and 2.35″ in front. Adding stability to the tires, I am running Stan’s Arch EX wheels with a Son Dynamo Hub up front. I chose a SRAM 2×11 drive train for the long ride, providing an ample gear ratio and an e-bike chain to help with managing chain stretch. I am also running a set of Profile Designs T4+ aero bars with risers. Bags: I skipped the frame bag, replacing it with 3x 1L water bottles, which includes the Wolf Tooth B-Rad double water bottle system on the down tube. Up front is a Revelate Designs handlebar harness with an OR 10L dry sack. On the tail I have a Revelate Designs Visacha seat post bag, rounded out by a Revelate Designs Jerry Can and Gas Tank on the top tube with two feedbags on the bars. Lastly, a bag on the down tube under the frame. Navigation: I will be finding my way south using a Garmin eTrex 30, Garmin Edge 800, and my phone using the Gaia App as a back up. Prized Gear: I would say it is all prized gear, I have worked to get the things I really wanted to do this ride and tried to keep it at a minimum for what works for me.

Gary Braun

Age 60 / Seattle, WA (USA)

My bike is a stock 2018 Surly ECR 29+ (from Ride Bicycles) with added Shimano P-TD8000 pedals, Ergon GS-1 grips, and Surly 8 pack front rack. Bags: Ortlieb handle bar and seat packs, Revelate Ranger M frame pack and two grab bags on handle bars (for water bottles), Salsa anything cage with Salsa drybags, 10L drybag for sleeping bag (strapped to front rack). Prize gear: A Velo Orange Mojave High Volume cage on down tube for 48oz Nalgene bottle and a MSR Freelite one-man tent. Electronics: iPhone5, Garmin Etrex, small solar/battery charger (made in China) and CatEye Enduro cyclometer.

Edwin Barnes

Age 49 / London, UK

I’ll be on a 2018 Salsa Cutthroat running a 1×11 drive train with Maxis Ikon tyres on Stans Crest rims with a Hope hub on the rear and a SON Dynamo hub up front. Lights and power from kLite and Sinewave along with a Siren Fred Bar. Bags are a tried and tested mix of Apidura, Salsa, and Ortlieb.

Daniel Dessureault

Age 48 / Whitby, Ontario (Canada)

The Bike: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2017 Norco 9.1 Revolver. The full carbon bike features a pair of Maxxis Ikon EXO TR 2.2″ tires, a SRAM 12-speed 10/50 drivetrain with 34T oval chainring, 29″ DT Swiss X1700 Spline2 wheels, a SP PD-8X dynamo hub, Shimano XTR pedals, Selle SMP TRK saddle, Ergon GS3 grips, and Busch & Muller Lumotec IQ2 Luxos front light. Bags: The seat bag (Viscacha), gas tank, feedbags, and Sweetroll are from Revelate. I custom made the jerrycan, the three-compartment frame bag, and the food bag that clips in front of the Sweetroll for easy access. Gear: MSR Hubba NX tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite air mattress, Western Mountaineering SummerLite sleeping bag, Specialized Expert XC MTB shoes, and Garmin Edge 810 for navigation.

Dave Jackson

Age 42 / Hull, England

The Bike: I’ll be having a go at racing the 2018 edition of the Tour Divide on a custom built Pivot LES carbon. It runs a SRAM Eagle groupset with a 36T oval chainring. Hope X2 race brakes, Specialized Power saddle, carbon seat post and handlebars, Ergon MTB endurance grips, Profile design CS3 aerobars, Maxxis Ikon 2.2s front and rear, Quarq power meter, Stans Crest Rims, SON 28 front dynamo hub, DT Swiss 240s rear hub, kLite light system and Sinewave charging thing! The Bags are mainly Alpkit, although the two handlebar feed bags are Apidura as I kept losing jelly babies out of the Alpkit one. I’ll have a Garmin Edge 1000 backed up with Gaia on my phone and photos of the GDMBR maps on the phone, too! Sleep system is an OR Helium bivvy, Alpkit air bed, Western Mountaineering sleeping bag, and an inflatable pillow. My indulgence for the trip is the high end saddle I bought to match the equally high end bib shorts! I’m really hoping for a comfy bum!

Mario Hamel

Age 52 / Montreal, Quebec (Canada)

This is my rig for a first attempt at the TD; A totally “off the shelf” Salsa Cutthroat 2016 with added aerobars for comfort. Equipped with Salsa frame bag, Salsa seat pack, Salsa dry bag and front pouch, Salsa top tube bag, and Salsa anything bags! The bags are filled with Nemo tent, Rab sleeping bag, Nemo Astro mattress, tools and spare parts, clothing, food, and lots of water. I will be navigating with a Edge Explore 820 and maps.

Rob Knapp

Age 51 / Riner, Virginia (USA)

The Bike: Quiring 29/27.5+ Titanium Hardtail the bike is equipped with WTB 2.1” Tires, Nox Carbon Wheels, Chris King Rear Hub and bottom bracket, Shimano XT Di2 2x drivetrain, Brooks saddle, Jones bars, Son Dyno hub powering a kLite and Sinewave Revolution USB Charger. Bags: A full set of custom JPaks bags featuring a bolt-in frame bag. Prized Gear: to be determined, though I am sure my Western Mountaineering sleeping bag and Nemo bivy will be quite a treat at the end of a long day.

Chris (Fez) Lapcevic

Age 29 / San Jose, Costa Rica

The Bike: 2017 Specialized Epic Hardtail. Ikon tires, stock 1×11 drivetrain. Bags: Specialized seat & handle bar bags, Revelate feed and top tube bags, Apidura tank bag and MEC dry bag in the front. 3.5L water capacity. Prized gear: A small Sea to Summit bivy and sleeping pad. Two MEC down jackets, Garmin eTrex 20 and Edge 810 for navigation.

Mike Lapcevic

Age 55 / Turrialba, Costa Rica

The Bike: 2017 Specialized Epic Hardtail. Ikon tires, stock 1×11 drivetrain. Bags: Ortlieb seat bag, Revelate frame, feed, and top tube bags, Apidura tank bag and MEC dry bag in the front. 3.5L water capacity. Prized gear: A Nemo one-person tent, Enlightened Equipment quilt, and Sea To Summit pillow. Garmin eTrex 20 and 810 for navigation. More important than all the fancy equipment is to have fun and enjoy the ride.

Ben Hirons

Age 30 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

The Bike: I’ll be riding a Loop Cycles frame for the Tour Divide. This is a custom designed titanium frame from a great start up business in Melbourne, Australia. It’s finished off with a Curve carbon fork, SON Dynamo hub, carbon rims, Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires and Shimano XT 1×11 drivetrain. The bike also features Loop Cycles titanium Bengali Bars with all the hand positions and built in aero extensions. Bags: I have a custom Overland Gear frame bag which fits perfectly in the frame around three 1L bottles. I’ve also got a Revelate Viscacha saddle bag, Azur front bag, Revelate feed bags, and a BikeBagDude gas tank. Other: Exposure and Busch & Müller lighting, eTrex 30, Quadlock phone case and mount, Sea To Summit mat, Montbell bivy, Aegismax sleeping bag, and hopefully the right mix of clothing.

Richard Dunnett

Age 29 / Arrowtown, New Zealand

The Bike: Inspired by my good friend Mike Hall and with kind support from Pivot Cycles, I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2018 Pivot Les 29er. I am using a set of custom made Pacenti “Conquer Divide” carbon wheels on a SP8 dynamo hub. The hub will be powering my kLite Bikepacker Pro triple light and Sinewave charger to keep me powered and remove the excuse to stop for a night in a hotel. I’m running a mixed drivetrain with Shimano XTR cranks, Woolftooth 36T chainring, and SRAM Eagle XX1 10-50t at the rear. I’m using Fox Factory 32 suspension forks, and I’ve gone for suspension over rigid because I already have the Fox forks and didn’t want to buy another set (and they are a cool colour). I will be running Maxis Ikon 2.2″ tyres. My rear light choice is very important and I’ve gone for a Lezyne Zectro Drive Max for its super bright daytime beam that I will use day and night when on a highway. I will also have a Lezyne Femto drive on my helmet. I have finished my bike with Lezyne carbon bottle cages and a special and sentimental touch of Mike Hall’s Lezyne Carbon Drive pump that he used to break to Divide record in 2016. Bags: I’ve very gratefully received the continued support from Apidura for my bike bags. I am using their Expedition handlebar pack, Backcountry Saddle Pack, a large top tube pack, and two feed pouches. The Apidura feed pouches would be my prized gear! I wouldn’t consider a long trip without them, they are so versatile and great for changing what I need to store and and have easily accessible as the trail changes. My main navigation will be a Garmin Etrex 30.

Werner Mohr

Age 56 / Frankfurt, Germany

My name is Werner Mohr, living in a nice hilly area close to the city of Frankfurt, Germany. I’m 56 and planning for the TD since three years. Frame: Stanton Sherpa Ti, Fork: RS SID, Wheels: 29″, Stans No Rim, 2.3″ Rocket Ron, Brakes: Magura MT Trail, Hook-up: SRAM 1×12, Gadgets: SON dynamo hub/B&S Luxus light with integrated USB charger/Power2max powermeter, Bags: Multiple brands, Water capacity attached at 5L (180oz). Looks overall quite bulky, but on the opposite I’m going without a backpack ;-)

Bailey Newbrey

Age 31 / Stillwater, Oklahoma (USA)

Salsa Woodsmoke, singlespeed. Mix of bags from JPaks, Salsa, Porcelain Rocket, and Must-Stache.

Marty Johnson

Age 63 / Wichita, Kansas (USA)

The bike is a Salsa Cutthroat, medium, with upgrades from past runs. Carbon Woodchipper bars, Industry 9 Trail 245 rear wheel with the existing Stan’s Flow/SON Dyno front hub. Added a kLite Pro front light with the switch. JPaks custom frame bag and SnakPak top tube bag. Added this year is a JPaks Barrito handle bar bag. Also new is a set of Slim Many Things bags for the forks from Andrew the Maker. Revelate Terrapin seat bag. BarYak bars, 2L bladder in the frame bag, extra bladders for dry areas. REI bivy, 50 degree bag, no pad. I enjoy hot cereal and coffee in the mornings, so I may keep the small stove with me. As always, I’m attempting to put the setup on a diet. I’ve gotten it down to 42 lbs, dry. I’d like to get it down to 40. We’ll see. This is my fourth trip down the divide. First year was on the Salsa Fargo. This year I am leaving Antelope Wells with the Grand Depart on June 8th. My blog is www.bucketride.bike and I’m raising funds for Living Water International to drill a wells in the developing world.

Nic Wardenaar

Age 50 / Melbourne AUS

Sam Wardenaar

Age 23 / Melbourne AUS

We will be riding (not racing) on mostly matching 2017 Niner SIR 9s, one Large and one XL. We built the bikes how we’d like to ride them when we get home, so we’ve gone for SRAM GX Eagle 12spd drivetrains and 120mm Rockshox Pikes on the front. We’ve then made choices from there to get them ready for bikepacking. We’ve attached some Blackburn Outpost cages on the fork legs for extra water carrying capacity. I’m running Surly Moloko bars and an SMP saddle. These bikes descend really well, even fully loaded. Our bags are mostly Revelate Designs or Alpkit. The custom Alpkit Stingray frame bags are mostly bolted on using Niner’s myriad of bidon mounts, which make for a cleaner look and hopefully less frame rub. We were given a couple of Revelate feedbags as gifts but we couldn’t justify spending more money on others when our homemade bags have worked a treat in the past. That is why we each carry a Revelate feedbag ($90) and a Mammut chalk bag ($10). We are navigating with a Garmin Etrex 30 and we each have an Exposure Race front light.

Ron Jendro

Age 50 / Helena, MT (USA)

The Bike: I will be riding the Tour Divide on a 2018 Carver Gnarvester Titanium custom built by Carver bikes in Woolwich, Maine. The bike will be rolling on 29 x 2.35″ Maxxis Ikons on Blunt SS wheels. The drivetrain is the Pinion P1.18 gearbox with a 30T front and 26T rear chainring, SON dynamo hub, Jones H-bar handlebars and Lauf trail racer fork. Bags: Revelate framebag, Revelate seat bag, Revelate gas rank, Revelate jerrycan, two Revelate mountain feedbags, Revelate sweetroll, Revelate saltyroll, Revelate egress pocket, Broad Fork Banana hammock for inside the h-bar and will have the Osprey Zealot pack on my back. Sleeping Gear: Borah side zipper ultralight bivy made in Troy, Montana. Western Mountaineering sleeping bag and Klymit inertia O zone sleeping pad. Will be using the eTrex 20 for navigation.

Chase Medina

Age 33 / Portland, Oregon (USA)

I ride a highly modified Salsa Beargrease XX1 carbon “fatbike” that I converted into a 29er. Last year Sugar Wheel Works (shout out!) built up a set of Nox Carbon wheels for the Tour Divide, with Sapim Bladed spokes, Onyx (177mm) rear hub, SON (150mm) dynamo hub up front, and Vittoria Mezcal 2.2″ rubber front and back. Drive train is a mix n’ match SRAM XX1 cassette/chain, with an Eagle 30T chainring for long life and extended chain wear. BB is Wheels Mfg. angular contact spinning a pair of SRAM Eagle Carbon cranks and Blackspire Sub4 flat pedals. Lighting the trail at night is a kLite, and extra juice by the dynamo goes to a 27,000 mAh Anker cache via Sinewave. Steering provided by Bontrager XXX carbon flat bars, Profile T1 Carbon Aero bars, and S-Works bar ends. Top tube mounted with a modified 48 oz. Nalgene and bite valve hose, and 2L water bottle mounted to the down tube by an Anything Cage with Voile straps. Sitting on a well-broken-in Brooks B17 Special Ti saddle, no chamois. All the gear goes in three Bags: A custom made ultralight DCF (FKA: Cuben Fiber) 35L seat bag (15 ounces!), Relevate frame bag (heavy stuff), and Relevate feed bag for snacks and extra water bottle for NM and The Basin. Shooting for a sub 20 day finish.

Larry DeWitt

Age 60 / Colorado Springs, CO (USA)

The Bike: I’ll be riding a Specialized Epic (Pro) FSR. Everything original with the bike except Jones handlebars. Specialized 2.1″ Fast Trac tires, Eagle 1 x 11 drivetrain with a 34T chainring. Revelate packs: Tangle Frame Bag, 2 x mountain feedbags, gas tank, jerry can, terrapin seat bag, harness with salty roll, and egress pocket. Two water bottles mounted to the front forks and will be carrying a Camelback HAWG. Garmin 1030 for navigation with two back-up batteries.

Sam Scipio

Age 27 / Chicago, IL (USA)

The Bike: I will be racing a Liv Obsess Advanced 1 single speed conversion using a Paul Melvin tensioner. My wheels are Giant XCR1 laced to a SON Dynamo in the front and DT Swiss 350 in the rear with some hunky 27.5+ Maxxis Ikons. Jones H-Bars for my hands to grab. Bags: Giant Scout handlebar bag, frame bag, and seat bag. Handmade Must-Stache feed bag. Prized gear: Western Mountaineering TerraLite sleeping bag because I’m always freaking cold. Also, handmade lil valve cap hands by Crud Caps.

Charlie Hudson

Age 43 / Richmond, VA (USA)

I’ll be riding a 2015 Pivot Les with an SP dynamo hub. Drivetrain is a 1×11 with a 34T chainring. The centerpiece of my bag set up is a custom Rogue Panda frame bag. Seat pack is Ortlieb. Revelate Sweet roll on the handlebars.

Terri Collins

Age 50 / Wilmington, NC (USA)

The Bike: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2017 Lynskey Ridgeline custom built by Charlie George of Two Wheeler Dealer Bike Shop. The bike features a 1 x 11 drivetrain with 32T chainring, Continental X King 2.2” tires, and Enve M50 wheels with a SON Dynamo hub up front. Other modifications include Salsa Cowbell 2 Handlebars, Shimano DI2 Hydro Shift/Brake Lever set, and XTR DI2 11sp Rear Derailleur. Bags: The majority of bags are from Revelate Designs and include the Surly Mountain frame bag, Pika seat bag, medium Sweet Roll with Egress pocket, and two Mountain Feedbags. To complete the setup, I am also running a Blackburn Design Outpost top tube bag, and Oveja Negra small Snack Pack. Other gear: A Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum HV tent will serve as shelter along with an Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad. I’ll be using a Garmin 1000 along with iPhone/ Gaia app for navigation. My prized piece of gear is my Clemson Tiger Rag.

Stefano Romualdi

Age 37 / Medicina , Bologna (Italy)

The Bike: I’m riding a Locomotive Scotsman stainless steel frame with a Niner carbon fork. Shimano XT 3×11 drivetrain. ZTR ARCH EX wheels mounted on an American Classic Hub. Aerobars. Bags: frame bag, seat bag, and top tube bag by Miss Grape. Sleeping system: Ferrino tent and sleeping bag. Electronics: Navigator is a Garmin GPSMap 64s, the front light is a Moon Meteor Storm Pro 1600.

Dom Irvine

Age 50 / New Alresford, Hampshire, U.K.

Paulus Quiros custom made steel bike in Reynolds tubing. 1 x 11. DT Swiss rims, SON dynamo and Hope 4 hubs, Ortlieb saddle bag, Bike-Bag frame bag and Alpkit top tube bags.

Bryce Daniel

Age 34 / Missoula, MT (USA)

I’ll be riding a 2018 Salsa Cutthroat (Rival 1). Wheelset consists of DT Swiss R500 rims laced up to a Shutter Precision front hub and Powertap G3 in the rear running on Vittoria Mezcal 2.1 (setup tubeless). 1X11 drivetrain with a 36T up front, but packing a 34T for days with high ascent. Bag system is Revelate Designs with the exception of the Salsa EXP Framepack. Navigating with the Garmin Edge 810.

Gary Hill

Age 55 / Northampton (UK)

The Bike: Charge Duster Ti 29er (large). The bike features a new pair of Maxxis Crossmark 2.1” tires, Shimano XT throughout with 1×11 drivetrain with a 34T chainring, but Hope 160 front and 140 rear disc rotors. Syncros C2 Tri bars, Ti 740mm flat bars and Ti Van Nicholas seat post, Selle Italia SLR XC seat, Ergon GP2 grips. Exotic carbon rigid forks and Stans Crest wheels with an Exposure Revo Dynamo hub up front. Bags: Revelate half frame and Ortlieb seat bags, with the rest being Alpkit: front dry bag, carrier, feed bags, and top tube bags. Three 0.6 litre bottles on frame with two larger SJS bottle cages mounted to the fork. Prized gear: Black Diamond bivy, Rab neutrino 200 down sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite, Sea To Summit silk liner. I’ll also be carrying a Garmin eTrex 30 for navigation.

Jason Wolf

Age 31 / Salt Lake City, UT (USA)

The Bike: I will be riding the Tour Divide with ‘Bonnie the Bonneville’ Cutthroat. Bags: Custom designed by BroadFork Bags out of Park City, Utah. Build: She was once stock, but now has a E*Thirteen TRS (9-46T) cassette, 34T Oval Wolftooth chainring, RaceFace Next Cranks, Nextie Rims, WTB 2.1 Nano tires, DT Swiss Hub, and a SON Dynamo in the front. Other Bits: kLite Light, Sinewave USB, Garmin 520, Bluetooth speaker, and 42 oz. Polar Bottles. Gear: Marmot Atom bag, Klymit pad, Montbell bivy, Gore jacket, OLiCamp stove and BD headlamp. Good luck everyone, looking forward to meeting you on the road!

Keenan DesPlanques

Age 21 / Mancos, Colorado (USA)

For this trip, I will be filming a documentary on musician Ben Weaver’s music tour from Banff to Antelope Wells with a guitar and banjo in haul. You can learn more about the project, here.

The Bike: I will be riding the GDMBR on the Salsa Cutthroat Force 1 build. I have Salsa’s frame bag, front roll, Anything Cradle with dry bag, seat pack, and Anything Cages with dry bags. I have a SON Dynamo hub up front that will be primarily be used to charge camera batteries.

Ben Weaver

Age 39 / Saint Paul, MN (USA)

I’ll be riding a 2018 Salsa Ti Fargo. Build looks like this: HED wheels, Onyx Racing Products rear hub, SON 28 front hub. kLite headlight and usb charging system. Custom Cedaero frame, top tube, and Devil’s kettle bags. Salsa EXP seat bag and Salsa Anything Cradle. Osprey Raptor 14 hydration pack.

Then this is where my ride differs from most: I’m not actually riding the TD, I’m following the GDMBR but starting with the TD grand depart because I’m celebrating the communities along the GDMBR who support riders of both courses throughout the year. I’m celebrating these communities and the 20th anniversary of the route by playing free shows for them. In order to do that, I’m carrying my guitar and banjo with me on the bike. In addition to my other bags, Cedaero has made me custom guitar and banjo bags.

Tony Painter

Age 60 / Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

The Bike: Kona Raijin Ti. I will be starting from Banff on the 8th and have a mix of Revelate Designs, Porcelain Rocket, Rogue Panda, and Farsik bags. Stan’s Flow rims with Schwalbe Racing Ralphs. Drivetrain is Shimano 11×46 with a single 30T front ring. TRP cable brakes. SP hub with a kLite. Zpack Solplex tent for a touch of lightweight luxury at night and Selle Anatomica saddle for daytime luxury. Cutthroat carbon fork. Last but not least, a Spurcycle bell to deafen the bears.

James Slowey, Paul Birchall, Eoin Birchall

Age 40, 55, 16 / Cork and Mallow, Ireland

There are three of us from Ireland riding, all on the same rig. The three of us are riding Surly ECRs with Miss Grape front and saddle bags and Surly frame bags.

Roman Bojda

Age 29 / Liberec, Czech Republic

The Bike: I will ride on RB CRR 29 (Czech handmade aluminium frame), on 2×10 Shimano XT/SLX with 34/24 chainrings, front fork is RS Reba. Bags: seat bag is Apidura dry 17L, frame bag is handmade, two small bags on top tube are from Czech company ACEPAC (eco friendly Cordura), and bag on handlebars is also from Czech company Everbike (eco friendly cordura).

Johana Stastna (Jo Happy)

Age 32 / Liberec, Czech republic

The Bike: I will ride on RB CRR 26 (Czech handmade aluminium frame), on 2×10 Sram X9/GX with 38/24 chainrings, front fork is RS Reba. Bags: seat bag is Apidura dry 14L, frame bag is handmade, two small bags on top tube are from Czech company ACEPAC (eco friendly Cordura), and bag on handlebars is also from Czech company Everbike (eco friendly cordura).

Manu Cattrysse

Age 29 / Hamme, Belgium

The Bike: I will be racing a 2018 Salsa Cutthroat with Salsa bags, except for the Topeak toptube bag and two Revelate feedbags. Stock wheels were replaced with a self-built wheelset made with DT Swiss 350 hub and SON in the front. Aero bars are the Profile design T3+ alu version wrapped with lizard skin bartape. I will be using three water bottles and a 2l CamelBak bladder for the dry parts along the route. My sleeping setup includes a Outdoor Research alpine bivy, Thermarest Xtherm, and a down Sea-to-Summit sleeping bag.

Michael Schroder

Age 60 / Sequim WA (USA)

The Bike: I’ll be riding, dragging, and carrying a Specialized S-Works Stump Jumper. The bike will be rolling along on a set of Specialized Ground Control Grid tires. On the front we have a 29” x 2.3”, and a 29” x 2.1″ on the rear. The drive train consist of Shimano XT group set. The chain ring is 28T with a 11-46 cassette. The Velocity Aero wheel on the front includes a SON dynamo, which will be powering a Schmidt headlight. Bags: The seat bag, handlebar bag, and feedbag are from Revelate. The gas tank bag is a Salsa. The frame bag is a custom bag from Bedrock Bags. There are four bottles mounted on the forks using the kLite Anywhere Ccage mount. I’ll be using a Garmin eTrex 30x for navigation and a Spot Tracker to let family know where I am. I’ll be spending the night in a Tarptent Notch, a Marmot Sawtooth bag, and a Nemo air mattress. Prized gear: I have a custom made stem that relocates my Jones H-Bars above and to the rear of the steerer.

Matej Karasek

Age 34 / Delft, NL / Jablonec N.N. (CZE)

The Bike: Originally assembled from leftover parts, now my Tour Divide bike: Cube GTC 29 GTC frame, Rock Shox Reba, 3×10 XT, Avid BB7 brakes, ZTR Arch Mk3 (DT Swiss 350 rear, Funworks (SP?) Dynamo hub front), Maxxis Ikon tubeless (2.35F, 2.2R) Bags: Mixture of Alpkit frame bags, Revelate Designs Sweetroll and a saddlebag and handlebar feedbags by Jan Kopka. Other gear: Nemo Hornet 2P tent, Sir Joseph Koteka II 290 down sleeping bag, Decathlon 3/4 inflatable mat, 2x eTrex 30x for navigation, B&M eWerk for USB power.

Jason Carter

Age 58 / Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Surly Krampus 2015, with 2.35 Rocket Ron tires (for more mud clearance), 2 x 10 Shimano Deore crankset (boost to provide clearance), SRAM XO grip shift (more hand clearance), Surly Moloko bars (better sweep, rock solid aero), Revelate bags old and new.

Adam Parke

Age 27 / Steamboat Springs, CO (USA)

Bike & Gear: Salsa Cutthroat, Salsa Anything Rack, Oveja Negra Lunch Box, Sea to Summit eVent dry bag, modified Revelate Gas Tank, modified Salsa EXP series frame bag, Porcelain Rocket Mr. Fusion V2.

Brian Jett

Age 35 / Austin, TX (USA)

Chumba Stella Titanium, 29er, rigid; Son 28 dyno hub, Sinewave Beacon light/charger, Jones bars; Shimano 3×10 XTR; Wanderlust gear bags; Thomson stem and seatpost; Polar bottles for hydration.

Sebastian Muñoz

Age 21 / Dahlonega, Georgia (USA)

This year for my first attempt at the Tour Divide I will be racing on my Fuji SLM 2.5 29er. This bike has been built up with a 1×11 Shimano XT Drivetrain; 11-46T gearing. Up front I am running an Absolute Black Oval 32t chainring. This bike is rolling on a set of WTB i29’s laced with sapim cx-ray spokes to a Hope Pro4 rear Hub and an SP Dynamo front hub both 32h. My tire choice has come down to the Maxxis Ardent Race EXO 2.35 front and an EXO Ikon 2.35 rear. The highlight of this bike is the wicked kLite cockpit paired with my Bryton 530T for metrics and a Garmin Etrex 30x. Bags: I have a hodgepodge of bags because I find that different companies do different things that I like. You can see I have an Apidura rear saddlebag and Ortlieb waterproof bar bag. My framebag, feedbags, and top tube bags are all Wanderlust bikepacking gear bags. Note: my frame bag fits like a glove and it’s just an off-the-shelf bag!
Topping it all off is the piñón front pocket for misc items. Let’s try to get to Mexico now!

Mike Barklow

Age 36 / Tetonia, ID (USA)

The Bike: 2018 Salsa Cutthroat, Teravail Sparwood tires, stock 1x drivetrain 38T x 10-42, SON Dynamo front hub, Custom fame bag and top tube bag by Broad Fork bags out of Park City, UT. Custom sleep system rack off the handlebars (not shown) by Metal Mindset LLC, Revelate seat bag. Two water bottles on the fork legs and one under the frame, OR bivy bag, REI 40 deg sleeping bag, Samsung Note 8 for navigation.

Stewart Mulford

Age 60 / Wilmington, NC (USA)

The Bike: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2016 Salsa Cutthroat custom built by Charlie George of Two Wheeler Dealer Bike Shop. The bike features a 1 x 11 drivetrain with 34T chainring, Continental X King 2.2” tires, and Stan’s Crest wheels with a SON Dynamo hub up front. Other modifications include Salsa Cowbell Handlebars, Shimano DI2 Hydro Shift/Brake Lever set, and XTR Di2 11sp Rear Derailleur. Bags: The bags are from Revelate Designs and include the Terrapin seat bag, Sweet Roll with Egress pocket, Gas Tank, Jerry Can, and two Mountain Feedbags. To complete the set-up, I am also using a Salsa Anything Cage with Anything bag. Other gear: A Big Agnes Fly Creek 1 Platinum HV tent will serve as shelter along with an Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad. I’ll be using a Garmin 1000 along with iPhone / Gaia app for navigation.

David Ristau

Age 55 / Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The bike is a steel 2017 Bombtrack Beyond with 2×10 gearing. I dubbed her The Queen 2.0. She replaces The Queen, which was my former touring bike. It doubles as my adventure and touring bike. The Queen was named after my wife and also because its first adventure was in England. The frame and tank bags were custom made by Guy Anthony of Winnipeg. The frame bag holds a 6L hydration system Guy and I devised. I wanted to avoid carrying water in my backpack as I broke my shoulder last year and it is still quite sensitive. The seatbag is a Specialized Burra Burra. The well worn Brooks seat carries over from the old Queen and has over 20,000km on it. Hopefully, it will carry me another 4300km to Mexico! It is equipped with a SON Dyno. The Queen 2.0 is a bit overweight, but this my first crack at the TDR and I hope to put her on a diet before I do the TDR again.

Oliver Gimbel

Age 47 / Frankfurt/Darmstadt, Germany

The Bike: Racing the Tour Divide on a 2017 Salsa Cutthroat frame with a Lauf fork – complete custom flat bar build by me. Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, Shimano XTR DI2 1×11 (9-46T) drivetrain with a 34T chainring, and DT Swiss wheels with a SON Dynamo hub up front and a Novatec hub in the rear. Bags: Arkel, Revelate Design, JPaks, Bedrock Bags. Two liter bottles in the feedbags. One 0,5L bottle mounted to the downtube and a 4L MSR water bladder in the frame bag. Sleep system: Zpacks Solplex, Thermarest xlite, WM Highlite sleeping bag. Navigation: eTrex 30.

Dane Roberts

Age 40 / Canberra, Australia

The Bike: I’m riding a Scott Scale RC customised with a rigid Niner fork and have swapped in a few more durable bits and pieces, including alloy handlebars, Crossmark tyres, and brass spoke nipples. The drivetrain is SRAM 1×12 with a 34T chainring and a 10-50 cassette. I’m using Revelate bags. Prized Gear: My ultralight Mont zero sleeping bag.

Greg Gleason

Age 51 / Sioux Falls, SD (USA)

The Bike: My 2018 Tour Divide rig will be on a 2018 Specialized Epic Pro FS. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.1” tires, a SRAM Eagle XO 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T Wolf Tooth Elliptical chainring, and Specialized Roval Control carbon rear wheel with DT Swiss 350 hub and a Nextie Carbon front wheel with a SON Dynamo hub. And a kLite lighting system to light my way into the late night hours. Bags: My bags consist of Rogue Panda’s Oracle for my tubes and Revelate Design’s Sweet Roll/Pocket on the handlebars, Gas Tank, Jerry Can, two Mountain Feedbags, and the Viscacha on the rear. Two liter bottles will be mounted the downtube along with two Bell Clinch 650 Expandable Bottle Cage and Mount on the fork. My sleep system: My comfy sleep system consist of a Klymit Inertia pad with a Klymit Pillow X pillow, Montbell Breeze Dry-Tec bivy, REI 19 Degree Down Sleeping bag. I will be carrying an eTrex 30x for navigation and an Edge 1000 for backup and daily stats.

Michael James

Age 42 / Dahlonega, Georgia (USA)

Moots Baxter 29; Apidura frame bag, seat bag and handlebar bag; Revelate feed bags, top tube bag and front bag; Jones H bar with 2.5 rise; Continental race king 2.2 tires; Sram XX1Eagle Crank with 12 speed 10/50T; Hope Tech Front and Rear brakes with Hope Tech Floating rotor; Enve Seatpost with Specialized Saddle; Dynamo Hub with Sapim spokes and nipples, DT 350 rear Hub; Arc 27 29er rims with a Fox Step Cast 32 fork with Chris King Headset

Jason Mattock

Age 47 / Iowa City, Iowa (USA)

I will be riding the 2018 Tour Divide with the Grand Depart on June 8th. My rig is a Surly ECR set up 1×11, SRAM, Race Face drive train. XT/Shutter Precision hubs on Blunt35 rims. Maxxis Ardent tires. Woodchipper bars w/Profile Design aero bars and a Super Nova headlight. Gear: Big Agnes Seedhouse tent, Sea to Summit bag, pad, and pillow. Bags are all Revelate.

Thanks for all of your participation, and have a safe and wonderful Tour Divide!