Gear + Bikes - Great Divide Route

Get geared up

GDMBR RIders

You’ll spot everything from traditional panniers to the latest bikepacking gear on the Great Divide Route.

Is there a great divide setup?

The truth is that there is no ‘BEST’ set up for the Great Divide Route.

It’s easy to get carried away researching equipment online. Before you know it, you’ve ended up forking over 4,000 dollars for the latest bike with full suspension and an integrated USB charging feature. Rest assured, with a little tinkering, the trusty steed you’ve got in the garage can probably tackle the Great Divide.

Sure, trendy bikepacking gear looks cool, but it’s not essential. You can dust off those panniers, fit your old bike with some robust tires and still make it all the way to Antelope Wells.

the choice is yours

GDMBR Setup

The GDMBR is mostly dirt road riding. A skinny-wheeled road bike won’t be up for the rough terrain.

But the GDMBR is not serious singletrack riding either, so don’t scramble to set yourself up with a fat bike or high-tech mountain bike.

You’ve got lots of choices for a bicycle on the GDMBR. You could go with a robust touring bike and traditional panniers. A sturdy mountain bike fitted with racks would also work. Or you could go with a dedicated bikepacking set-up. The choice is yours.

The trend for Great Divide cyclists is to go with a bikepacking setup. On steep climbs like the notorious Fleecer Ridge in Montana, there are obvious advantages to a lighter set-up. But don’t fret if you don’t have bikepacking gear, a traditional set-up will work just fine.

Take a moment to check out the sheer variety of rigs used by Great Divide riders.