The Tour Divide is a 2, 745 mile unsupported, off-road mountain bike race from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, on the Mexican border, following the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route created by the Adventure Cycling Association. The route closely follows the spine of the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. It is mountainous and remote with over 200,000 vertical feet of climbing and 29 crossings of the divide. Weather is unpredictable - high passes are snow-covered; torrential rain showers are common; and heat persists in the badlands of the New Mexican plateau.



The route is unmarked and circuitous, traveling through Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the US states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico (map). It travels through remote back country on dirt roads, jeep trails and forgotten mountain passes.



The Tour Divide tests ones endurance, navigational, mechanical and decision making skills; along with hydration, nutrition and shelter challenges. And of course the Grizzleys and Mountain Lions call this land their home!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Hard parts.....Salsa Fargo

My Tour Divide ride will be a titanium Salsa Fargo 29'er with  a steel 'enabler fork' - so called due to the multiple bosses for bottle cages, racks or other bolt on items as needed for carrying options.

I ordered my frame back in November from Paul, the owner of Meridian Cycles. While waiting for the frame from Salsa we brainstormed on components and finally put together the parts list. Wheels were built while waiting for the frame and parts. Frame finally arrived the end of February, but I was delayed in building the bike since I was in Boulder City for training. 

Once back to Boise I arranged time to work on the bike.  The welds and the fit and finish on this frame are superb.  The natural finish with 'Salsa' and 'Fargo' etched into the frame makes this a work of art worthy of any museum wall.

I Spent a day at Meridian Cycles building the bike with help from Paul and the super cool crew at the shop.   I gotta say their jobs are secure since I am a very slow bike builder!  Thanks so much Paul, George, Skye, and Eli for your patience and help.  The international currency for bike shops - beer -coming your way.....



The plan from the start was to do a conservative 'build' for durability.  The Divide tears bikes up with all the mud, water, dirt and debris.  Riders ship drivetrains and other hard parts to various points along the route and hope things don't blow up beforehand.  And if you don't need it ship it 1000 miles down the road and hope you still don't need it!

Finished product in the shop at home.


And in the kitchen.....Eve was impressed!


She rides like a dream.  Titanium is super comfortable, light, responsive, and durable!  The ride feels quick in the steering but not twitchy.  And it behaves very nicely on climbs due to the stiffness of the material.  And on steep descents the bike is super stable.  Being a rigid frame with no front suspension however, it can be jarring in the rough stuff at speed so picking the right line is essential.  The more I ride it the more I like it!! 
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2 comments:

Andrew said...

I'm surprised that you went with drop bars and a rigid fork. I suppose the drops will allow for more hand positions, but it seems like the fork is going to negate that advantage by beating you silly for 2700 miles.

May 6, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Andrew said...

Though I have to say, she's a beauty. I'm going with a Salsa next round.

May 6, 2011 at 9:54 AM

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