Rigs of the 2024 Tour Divide (Part Two): Drop-Bar Bikes (2024)

More than 200 riders have signed up for live tracking for the 2024 Tour Divide, with folks traveling from all over the globe to participate in one of the most iconic bikepacking events. The excitement surrounding the event is unshakeable, and although we’re slightly jealous of everyone out tackling the stunning 2,700-mile route between Banff, Alberta, and the US-Mexico border, we’re excited to share updates along the way.

This year’s Tour Divide rig roundup is our largest yet, with over 150 submissions! Continuing from yesterday’s post, in which we shared more than 80 loaded flat-bar bikes, we’re thrilled to present the second part of our extensive roundup. Today, we’re highlighting around 70 drop-bar rigs that are setting off this morning from Banff, Alberta, Canada. Browse all the rigs below, featuring bag and gear highlights for each. And when the event kicks off, you’ll be able to follow along live over on our 2024 Tour Divide Tracker.

Mohamed Almarar

Age 41 / Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2024 Twostroke 01 FRS BMC. The bike features a new pair of Hutchinson Tubeless 29 x 2.15″ MTB tyres. SRAM XX1 Eagle 12-speed wireless drivetrain with a 34T chainring and 10-52T cassette. DT SWISS Wheels. No dynamo.
BAGS: Carbon Rack from Tailfin, AP Rack Top Bag and 2x10L mini pannier.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping bag, cooking set, and MSR Hubba NX Tent.

Gyorgy Ari

Age 47 / Aiken, South Carolina (USA)

BIKE: I will be racing on my TD-tested 2019 Breezer Radar drop bar 29er rigid steel frame with redshift stem and TranzX suspension seatpost. Tires: 29 x 2.2″ Continental Race King Shieldwall tires, on WTB i25 eyeleted rims. Hubs: Shutter Precision PD 8x, Novatec. Lights: B&M. Navigation: Wahoo, Phone. Powertrain: 1×11 32/11-42T Apex1/Rival.
BAGS: Revelate Designs frame bag, Mag Tank, Jerry Can, and front harness, Sea to Summit dry bag, and Tumbleweed T-Rack
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My bike frame is the best I could dream of. I tried to replace it but no frame came close to the Radar’s stability and comfort. Also, shout out to Revelate Designs. They really know how to make bags that last and are convenient.

Jimmy Ashby

Age 25 / Kangarilla, South Australia (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Curve Cycling Titanium Big Kev. The frame is matched with Curve’s 29” carbon dirt hoops with 2.1” Mezcal tyres and a SON Dynamo Hub. The bike is topped of with Curve’s Walmer bars and a 1 x 12 SRAM AXS drivetrain.
BAGS: The majority of my bags are custom-made by the beautiful people at Treadlite bike bags. On the front is our custom Sol Seeker handle bar bag of which we’ve spent years designing and refining together. My saddle pack is a Revelate Designs Spinelock and I’ll have three water bottles mounted on the frame.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A full kLite dynamo system and battery powered exposure lights mounted front and rear. Local Australian handlebar tape, Burgh on my bars and then the stunning cassette, chainring and pulley wheels from Garbaruk with the popping gold. I’ll then be wearing Pedla clothing to top it all off.

Ulrich “uba” Bartholmoes

Age 37 / Girona (Spain)

BIKE: BMC Twostroke 01 One, inspired by my winning machine of 2023, is totally custom built with Beast Components XS30 Carbon rims wheels with a SON Dynamo hub up front, a SRAM Eagle XX1 Drivetrain (34T x 10-52T), a RockShox SID suspension fork and Beast Component Dropbars. Pulley wheels and all bearings are low-friction ceramic parts by Kogel to ensure smooth pedaling. Tires will be Hutchinson Python 3 & Taipan 2.15”. My favorite highlight on the bike is my Supernova M99 DY Pro front light, it’s the brightest I have ever seen and will be my laser sword to conquer the nights!
BAGS: I will use the Apidura Backcountry series with the 6L saddle pack, the 4L full frame pack, the 1L rear top tube pack, and the 1L top tube pack for a total of solid 12L to carry clothes, spares and food. If more capacity is needed on the way, I will find it in my Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack, which also features a 2.5L water bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The bike and the setup for the race are a great work of art. My focus is on the lowest possible weight, good durability, and, above all else, reliability. All components have been tested for many thousands of kilometers and will for sure serve me well. Plus, this setup won Tour Divide already.

Tyler Branine

Age 40 / Wichita, Kansas (USA)

BIKE: “Cringer” the Specialized Diverge STR Expert with an Ortlieb waterproof seat bag and panniers on OMM Divide rack, framebag, and fork bags. Wheels are Roval Terra C carbon with DT370 hubs. Tires are 700 x 42mm Specialized Tracers measuring 45mm setup tubeless. The drivetrain is a mullet 12-speed Rival and GX Eagle AXS drivetrain 40T x 11-50T. Power from 35,000MAH bricks.
BAGS: Ortlieb waterproof bags are quick-release to make access fast and easy when the bike needs to be carried, or weather is inclement.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 2 bibs, 1 thermal tights, 1 rain pant, 1 SS light base layer, 2 rain jacket, 1 light down base jacket, 2 merino LS jersey, 2 SS light jersey, 1 -20⁰ sleeping bag, 1 ultralight inflatable sleeping pad, 6L water bladder with shower nozzle, tools/tubes in downtube, batteries/electronics in top tube bag.

Les Brown

Age 51 / Blacklion, County Cavan (Ireland)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the 2024 Tour Divide on a drop bar Santa Cruz Highball with a RockShox SID Ultimate fork. I’m running 9th Wave 4Shore deep section beach racing rims on DT Swiss 240s/Son dynamo hubs. Handlebars are Farr gravel bars with lots of padding and Profile Design aerobars for comfort. Stem and seat post are from Syntace. Middleburn cranks spin on a Hope bottom bracket, with a 5Dev Ti chainring, XTR cassette and XTR chain providing the transmission. Gear changing is by SRAM GX derailleur with Ratio Technology cage and SRAM Red AXS roadie plus TT shifters. Juin Tech GT hybrid calipers provide the braking. 700c x 55mm Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge Endurance tyres, wireless SRAM AXS 32t x 10-51t shifting, Dynamo hub.
BAGS: 2x10L Tailfin mini panniers, frame bag and top tube bag. Restrap Cannister bag and hike a bike harness. Revelate Designs feed bags x2 for trail snacks. Albion visibility cargo vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Son Dynamo with KLite headlight/flasher rear light/USB charging. Li-ion battery provides power to a secondary headlight (Lupine Pico), and a bright rear light (Lupine C14) but can also be used to power SRAM AXS and Garmin Edge. Navigation by Garmin eTrex Solar with Garmin Edge 1040 solar to log the miles and provide nav backup. A Crank Tank 3L provides hydration, but the bike has the capacity for another 2L when required. The sleep system is an Alpkit Elan hooped bivy and PrimaLoft sleeping bag with a Nemo mat.

Jason Bryant

Age 54 / Tamaki Makarau/Auckland (New Zealand)

BIKE: I’ll be riding, hopefully racing, my Trek Crockett 5 mongrel. It’s a bitsa, a bit of this, and a bit of that. An aluminum frame, but with Sram RockShox gravel fork and dropper post. 27.5 x 48mm” Rene Herse Pinnacle Ridge, 1×12 SRAM AXS X01 RD with Rival shifters and GRX 4iiii power meter crankset, SP Dynamo.
BAGS: Thanks to Amy of Paperroads Aotearoa for swiftly making my full framebag. I’ll also be using a Tailfin Aeropack and top tube and downtube bag. This is coupled with a Restrap aerobar bag and Revelate designs jerry can and food pouch.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My prized gear highlights will undoubtedly be my kLite dynamo lighting system, paired with an SP Dynamo hub. Backup lighting will be an exposure joystick helmet light. I’m also attaching the Restrap harness to my bike for Koko Claims and the Wall HikaBike sections. My other highlights include the Fidlock Twist Uni Connecters attached to the Tailfin rack for when I need to carry extra water. It’s an awesome concept, and it means I don’t have to carry any unnecessary bottles, and I can also add food or clothes on there as well. It can also house my bear spray once out of Grizzly Country.

Terry Byrne

Age 40 / Colchester (England)

BIKE: I’ll be aiming to race on my Salsa Cutthroat, New Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tires on Hope Fortus 26 rims with Hope Pro 5 hubs, Hope Evo crank with 34T and a 10-52T cassette. The rear derailleur is GX Eagle AXS 12-speed with Rival Etap AXS shifters and brakes.
BAGS: I’ve gone for the full Tailfin system with around 46L of capacity. 2 x 950ml bottles and a 3L hydration pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My RAB Ridge-Raider bivy combined with the RAB Ultra Mythic 600 sleeping bag. Garmin 1040 Solar for navigation.

Virginie Caspard

Age 28 / Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA)

BIKE: I’m on a 2024 Salsa Cutthroat featuring an 11-42T cassette, 36T crankset, and 2.1″ Victoria Mezcal tires on Shimano MT-400 wheels. I swapped the wide stock handlebars for 38cm bars, on which I’ve installed Zipp Vuka Alumina clip-on aero bars.
BAGS: From front to back, I’ve got two snack bags (1 liter each) nestled under the handlebars, 2.5L of storage split between Revelate Mag-Tank and Gas Tank bags on the top tube, a small Ripio frame bag (5L of storage), and a spinelock 16L seat bag. With the exception of the unpictured Camelbak Rogue backpack that will keep me hydrated and store extra food, money, and IDs, all bags are from Revelate Designs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: It’s hard to pick one favorite piece of gear when I’ve carefully chosen each to serve a specific purpose! I will give a shout-out to my astonishingly warm Spirit quilt from Mountain Laurel Designs and another one to the Mezcals. A mountain biker friend of mine recently cracked the rim on his wheel, and his Mezcal tire didn’t even flat!

Dave Clements

Age 55 / Edinburgh (Scotland)

BIKE: 2020 Salsa Cutthroat. Rotor Vegast 165mm Cranks with a 34T chainring, SRAM Force Rear Mech, 1×11 Shimano Deore 11-46T, Rockshox SID Ultimate 100mm Fork, Paul Klamper brakes, 29″ Farsports Rims with SON 28 Dynamo front Hub, DT Swiss rear Hub, 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal Tyres, Brooks Cambium C15 Saddle.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Top Tube, Restrap Frame and Feed Bags, Lomo front pack. Ortlieb lightweight rear rack and 15L dry pack.

David Crumbley

Age 63 / Auburn, Alabama (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide (ITT 29 July 24) on a 2022 Titanium Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon. The bike features a SRAM AXS 1X12 drivetrain with 32T chainring 10-52 cassette, and Reserve 30 carbon wheels with an SP dynamo hub to power a KLite. Using a Profile Aerobar attached to Fred bar with SRAM Blips on the aerobar. 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals. Will also be using a power meter (Power2Max NGeco).
BAGS: Mostly Tailfin bags. Aeropack with 10L mini-panniers, frame bag, top tube bag, and downtube bag. I have Rockgeist Honeypot feedbags upfront. Thanks to Greg at Rockgeist for “recycling” these for many more miles. I can mount bottles (bear spray) on the frame and forks and carry bottles/food in feedbags on bars. I will also be using a USWE hydration vest that can hold 2L.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My shelter will be a ZPacks Plex Solo tent. I have a Katabatic Alsek quilt, and a Therm-a-Rest XTherm mattress. For navigation, I will be using a Wahoo Roam v2, Ride with GPS on my iPhone, and Gaia GPS maps loaded to my iPhone.

Laurens ten Dam

Age 43 / Oudorp (The Netherlands)

BIKE: Specialized epic World Cup s works. Built with a mix of Shimano GRX and XTR products. 1 x 12-speed mechanical. Pro discover drop bar. Roval strong wheels. 29 x 2.1″ prototype Specialized Renegade grid tires. 36T chainring. Vap Aerobar exposure front and specialized rear light.
BAGS: Tailfin sponsored me. Carbon setup. 10L panniers. 20L on the bag. Custom 3L frame bag to fit my size medium frame. (Tailfin and the pack company Collab) a 3L downtube bag with tools and a top tube bag of 1L. I might add something under the VAP cycling aerobars for food storage.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Overal, I am happy with the setup. The frame pack is very nice and I like the stability of the rack.

Mike Davis

Age 64 / Portland, Oregon (USA)

BIKE: For the 2024 running of the Tour Divide, I’ll be riding my Tumbleweed Stargazer mostly stock build with the additions of a Redshift suspension stem and SON dynamo hub. Mix of frame bags from Revelate, Rockgiest, and Salsa. 29” wheels with (not pictured) Maxxis Rekon Race 2.35″ EXO tubeless. 1×12 SRAM mechanical drivetrain 32T up front and a 10-52T cassette. SON front dyno hub for all day and night power.
BAGS: Love my 16L Revelate Spinelock rear bag, the rear truck that fits it all. Frame bag is the Rockgeist 52Hz made for the Stargazer. Salsa Anything Cradle up front, and a Revelate Egress Pocket piercing the wind.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Wahoo Element Roam for navigation. Big Agnes UL1 tent, the warm Nemo Tensor sleeping pad (full size), Mountain Hardware Phantom sleeping bag, Tenock Down Booties, and finally found the right size pillow in the InstantCamp Ultralight. kLite Gravel Lamp, USB Charger, and always on wire loom. Two 1L bottles on the front forks, 1.5L Yeti bottle on the down tube, 4L bladder in frame bags, for 7.5L total water capacity.

Chris Drummond

Age 40 / Torquay, Victoria (Austarlia)

BIKE: I will be riding a 2023 Sour Purple Haze with an SRAM Rival XPLR electronic drivetrain, 32×10/44T, and 29 x 2.1″ Vittoria Mezcal tyres.
BAGS: Full custom set of bags and bivy made by Evan of Terrarosa Gear in Melbourne. 1/2 frame bag, saddle bag, 2x fork bags and 2x feed bags. Skin Grows Back large lunchbox under the handlebars
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Favourite bits of kit are the custom Dyneema bivy from Terra Rosa Gear and the safety/hydration vest from Albion Cycling.

Andrew Drury

Age 33 / Nashville, Tennessee (USA)

BIKE: I am riding a custom Amigo Bugout driven by SRAM Force/Transmission XX AXS. Loading capacity made only possible by the wizard, Zach Smith, of South City Stitchworks. Cane Creek Esilk stem for the hands, Ergon SMC Core for the booty, Zipp Vuka aero bars with etap buttons for the naps. I9 UL250s wrapped with 29 x 2.1″ Vittoria Mezcals, AXS Drivetrain with 36T chainring and 10-52T Cassette.
BAGS: South City Stitchworks Full Top Tube, 1L Larbarski, Custom Trunk bag and Race Panniers, 1L repair dry bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The frame was custom made by Zach Small and bags custom by Zach Smith, see the trend? I cannot say enough about the ingenuity that both brought to the table to make this bike feel at home and ready for any task. Lastly, my Mountain Laurel bivy and Vesper Quilt for those nights under the stars.

Christian Dupraz

Age 47 / Thun, Berne (Switzerland)

BIKE: Another Salsa Cutthroat (sorry, seemed the most economical solution at the time), frameset bought from Shona Oldfield, hand-built wheels using DT 240 (rear) and DT 350 (front) hubs and a Shimano crankset with SRAM drivetrain with 34T chainring and 10–50T cassette (new), actuated by a Microshift bar end shifter. Brooks Swift saddle. Drop bar and the trusty XXS aerobars I used at the Hope 1000. TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes. Vittoria Mezcal 2.1” tires and despite some issues at AMR, for the second time in my life I’m running tubeless. For comfort I have an eeSilk seatpost and stem. Front light is a Cateye gvolt25c and I hope for a full moon. A loud cycle bell and not so loud bear bell should warn the bears. It’s my first time in the US, so I hope your strange 2L soda bottles fit in my bottle cage.
BAGS: Mainly Apidura and one Revelate Tangle frame bag, plus a simple DIY burger pouch (front).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nemo Hornet tent, two sleeping pads, and a Cumulus Xlite 400 should reduce hotel stay. My Exped poncho should keep me dry during showers.

Ian Dusome

Age 34 / Calgary, Alberta (Canada)

BIKE: My trusty steed for the 2024 Tour Divide will be a Bearclaw Thunderhawk, built up fully rigid (unless you count the Redshift ShockStop stem) and rolling on WeAreOne rims laced to DT240/Son28 hubs. I’m running mismatched rubber with a 29 x 2.1″ Vittoria Mezcal up front and a 700 x 48mm Rene Herse Oracle Ridge in the rear. My drivetrain continues the mullet theme with wireless SRAM Force AXS brifters paired to a GX Eagle rear derailleur and a 34T absoluteBLACK oval chainring spinning a 10-50T 12-speed cassette. For light and power, my Son28 dynamo is wired up to a Sinewave Beacon.
BAGS: Holding all my stuff, I’ve got a Thief frame bag custom-made in Jasper, Porcelain Rocket MCA handlebar bag and harness system, Oveja Negra gas tank and med bag, Wayward Riders Louise saddle bag harness, Zefal Z-Box storage bottle and a couple King Cages Manything Cages for extra water capacity when needed. I’ll also be wearing a Salomon ADV 12 vest for water and easily accessible layers.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be sleeping out most nights in an OR Helium bivy with an Enlightened Equipment 5C/40F synthetic quilt and Therm-a-Rest X-lite 3/4 pad. It’s not the flashiest piece of kit on my bike, but my Porcelain Rocket bar bag/harness has been with me on every bikepacking trip I’ve ever done and has to be my favorite. It’s been through white-out blizzards in Alaska, gnarly bushwhacking in Northern BC, unrelenting desert sun in Mexico, and still just works so well.

Peter Fitzgerald

Age 60 / Perth, Western Australia (Australia)

BIKE: I’ve built a large 2018 Salsa Cutthroat from the bare frame up (huge shout out to John Hertel for the frame). I love the strength of my WTB Proterra Tough i30 wheels wrapped with Vittoria Mezcal 29” x 2.25” tires and the day-after-day comfort of the Ergon SMC Core saddle. After reviewing drivetrain comments from previous riders, I decided to install a mechanical Shimano GRX 810 2×11 with Deore XT 36/26 T front chainrings and 11/42 rear cassette. I’ve tried and trued the comfort of the co*ckpit setup: 46cm Salsa Cowchipper bar with Redshift top and bottom bar grips wrapped in Ergon 3mm thick gravel tape, gloriously comfortable. A Fred Bar brings the Profile Design Aero Bars back a bit so I’m not stretched out too far and the lift of the 60mm risers brings them up to a super comfortable height – gone are the aching wrists, tingling fingers and sore neck and back. No dynamo, opted for Anker 20,000 mAh 200W battery pack for all electrics charging en route plus 2 Anker 140W wall chargers for fast charging at town stops. Huge shout out to John Hertel for the frame, and to Katya & Rabiab from Cool Cat Cycles Katy, Texas for gear and advice.
BAGS: A superbly stable Tailfin Aero Pack with an extender bar and 5L panniers completes the rear. In the centre is a super stable 1.1L Tailfin zip Top Tube Bag, a Blackburn Outpost frame bag and although technically not a bag, a 3 litre Crank Tank (plus a 1.4L Nalgene bottle on a Tailfin Cargo Cage on each fork) makes up my water carrying capacity. Up front is a Salsa EXP Anything Cradle holding a 12.7L top entry bag that my tent sits comfortably behind.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For the wet, windy, cold and insect infested nights, my Nemo Hornet 2 is my safe space. All my sleeping gear is Sea to Summit – Comfort Plus mattress, Aeros Down Pillow, Trek 650 Down sleeping bag – all tested in sub-zero temps. My Garmin 1040 with Climb Pro and some other features disabled has 61 hrs battery for navigation, backed up with the full set of ACA Tour Divide maps, and an older Samsung smartphone with Ride With GPS (and doubles as a video camera on a Quad Lock mount up front). A Ravemen PR2400 USB C rechargeable front light (20 hrs on flash/solid mode) and Ravemen CL06 rear light (12 hrs on flash) keep me visible on pavement roads night and day. A Zefal Z Box Drum Tool Holder holds everything I’ll need for bike maintenance. Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer 2 down jacket and 7 Mesh Skypilot rain jacket with Gore waterproof pants complete my cold and wet ensemble.

Tyler ‘Mac’ Fox

Age 35 / Thousand Oaks, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, a modified 1×11 drivetrain with a 32T chainring, and a 10-50T cassette.
BAGS: My large bags are from Rogue Panda: Frame Bag, Ripsey Seat Bag, Blue Ridge Handlebar Harness, and Gila Dry Bag. The bike also features a Tailfin Top Tube Bag (Flip) with Rockgeist Honeypot Feedbags. Three water bottle cages—either side of the fork and downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A SlingFin SplitWing shelter with a Katabatic Flex 40°F Quilt and Therm-a-Rest XLite NXT sleeping pad. I have a custom Alpha Direct Houda Trail fleece for layering with a Feathered Friends Eos Vest.

Brandon Gabel

Age 40 / Wenatchee, Washington (USA)

BIKE: Tumbleweed Stargazer, mostly stock build. Paul Klamper brakes, Redshift suspension stem and aerobars, Brooks B17 saddle, 52-30T drivetrain, Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2″ tires. A couple of double bottle adapters allows the front fork to hold a pair of Widefoot Cargo mounts and two bottle cages. A Twisted T-Bar from Swood Cycles keeps the handlebar bag in place.
BAGS: Rouge Panda gas tank and frame bag with 1.5L Adipura water bladder, BagxBird Piccolo handlebar bag, Oveja Negra Gearjammer seat bag, Revelate Designs top tube bag, two Sea to Summit dry bags on the front fork, and a Salsa Keg underneath the down tube for tools.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My trusty Zpacks Hexamid shelter (now 11 years old) is still going strong, so it’ll help save some weight that a steel frame doesn’t. The rest of my gear is probably fairly normal these days. I try not to carry too much stuff.

Jason Gaikowski

Age 54 / Longmont, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be tackling the Tour Divide Route on a 2024 Esker Lorax with a modified GRX 2X drivetrain running 30-46T up front and 11-42T out back. She’s rolling on a fresh set of 29 x 2.2″ Conti Race Kings mounted to Light Bicycle wheels with a SON Dynamo hub. The co*ckpit is a set of Ritchey Comp Corralitos with a Fred/Profile aero setup. A carbon eeSilk seatpost and Fox 34 fork round out the mix.
BAGS: Custom rack, frame, and top-tube bags from Andrew at Dispersed along with a Revelate Designs Pronghorn and feed bag. A CamelBak Chase 8 with a 3L bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Mont Bell sleeping bag cover and Big Agnes pad provide my core sleep system. I’ll be navigating via the Garmin 1040 Solar with the ACA App and RideWithGPS on my phone as a backup.

Lucas Gallagher

Age 39 / Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: Santa Cruz Stigmata with SRAM Force shifters, GX transmission, and a 36T chainring. Handbuilt wheels with Light Bicycle rims, 700 x 50mm Vittoria Terreno Dry tires, on a DT Swiss 350 rear hub and a Shutter Precision dynamo.
BAGS: A mix of bags that I already owned (Apidura, Randi Jo Fab, Outershell) except for a new custom framebag made by my friends at Field and Forest that fits my Apidura 3L bladder and a lot of food.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: In frame storage for my tools and 180mm rotors are the standouts to me.

Sam Garre

Age 60 / Highland, Wisconsin (USA)

BIKE: 2019 Salsa Cutthroat Force 1×11 34T/9-46T, WTB i30 wheels, Maxis Ikon 29 x 2.2”, SON Dynamo & kLite system, BarYak Expedition and Profile flip up arm rests, Brooks C17 carved saddle, Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedals.
BAGS: Revelate Designs and Ortleib dry bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin eTrex 30x, inReach Mini 2, Olympus TG-6 camera, REI Quarter Dome tent, 30° Magma bag, Klymit X-Frame pad, and Sea to Summit pillow, MSR Pocket Rocket for morning coffee and afternoon hots, max water capacity is 6L, packing the ACA map set.

Rob Givens

Age 55 / Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

BIKE: 2019 Specialized Epic 29 HT, Specialized clip-on TT bars, Surly Corner bar 54 cm, Widefoot Cargo Mount. Mason Hunt Search 29 MTB SON Dynamo Wheelset, 29 x 2.1″ Vittoria Mezcal, Vittoria Airliners. SRAM GX Mechanical 1×12 with Absolute Black 36T elliptical drivetrain, kLite ULTRA Racing Lighting w/USB Charger, 26k Powerbank, Ass Savers Win Wing fender, Garmin InReach Mini 2, Garmin 530.
BAGS: Apidura Expedition Saddle Pack 14L, Rockgeist Cache Large, Revelate Ripio Frame Bag Medium with 3L water bladder, Custom Harness with Outdoor Research bag 12L, Swift Industries Kestrel Bar Bag, two Decathlon Water bottle bags, RockBros Cache for tools.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Vittoria AirLiners help with supporting the weight of the bike at a lower air pressure for grip but roll easy. The Corner bar provides many hand positions.

Martin Grethe

Age 52 / Wellington (New Zealand)

BIKE: 2019 Salsa Cutthroat. I’ll be fast-touring the Tour Divide for the second time on my rebuilt Salsa Cutthroat. Running SRAM Force 1 drivetrain with 10-42T cassette and 32T AbsolueBLACK Oval chainring. Tyres: Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.24″. Wheels: Alloy DT Swiss rear and front Wheelworks wheels with a SON 28 Dynamo hub and kLite lighting system. Running a suspension fork this year with SID SL Ultimate fork paired to Salsa Cowchipper carbon bars with double bar-tape. Sitting on a Fizik Arione open saddle and using XT pedals.
BAGS: Mostly Revelate Designs and Stealth front harness with Paperoads roll bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Navigation with Wahoo Element Roam. For my Shelter and Sleep system I will be using a MSR Hubba 1-person tent, Kiwi Ultralight down quilt, Exped mat and Sea to Summit pillow. I’m also carrying small titanium burner and ti Snowpeak cup for morning coffee and emergencies. Favourite bits of kit my Snowpeak Titanium spork and angelic glokenspeil Spurcycle bell. I am also planning to shoot GoPro footage of the trip and coverage to be found at Scouse Racing.

Derek Gross

Age 24 / Springville, Indiana (USA)

BIKE: My trusty steed to race The Tour Divide is a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat. With the carbon frame and alloy wheels, compliance on washboard shouldn’t be an issue. I have also opted for a mechanical GRX groupset for a repairability aspect. Some notable additions are aerobars (for comfort) and the rear Tailfin rack. 29 x 2.25” Vittoria Mezcals, 1×11 Mechanical (36T x 11-42T GRX600), no Dynamo, 10 kmAh charger.
BAGS: I opted for Ghost Cat Bags (Josh) to custom-make most of my bags for me. These bags are the most durable bags I’ve ever used; they will carry everything from tools to water to lighting. Attached to my Tailfin rack, I have two Anything cages that will both be sporting anything cage bags. These bags will carry jackets, clothes, and any other clothing. Lastly, I am using an Anything Cradle for front storage that will be equipped with a Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bag. This will hold my entire sleeping kit.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleeping kit will include an Outdoor Research Helium Bivy. Inside my bivy will be a Mountain Hardwear Phantom 30deg Sleeping bag, along with a Klymit Static V Short sleeping pad. My navigation will be a Wahoo Elemnt Roam.

Meaghan Hackinen

Age 39 / Kelowna, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2018 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike features Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2” tires, a 1×11 SRAM Force drivetrain with a 34T chainring, and Light Bicycle wheels with a SON Dynamo hub up front. I’ve added a Redshift ShockStop Stem to help cushion the bumps and washboard.
BAGS: My Apidura Backcountry bag setup consists of a saddle pack, long top tube pack, downtube pack, food pouch, and full frame pack with hydration bladder. I’m also carrying Apidura’s tiny packable backpack that expands to 13L for those longer stretches between resupply.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleep setup consists of a SOL emergency bivy paired with an ultra-light down sleeping bag and DIY sleeping pad (attached to the seatpost pack) for quality dirt naps. I’ve also mounted a Kermode bear spray holder from Ghostrider Equipment on my front fork.

Aaron Hall

Age 38 / Gold Coast, QLD (Australia)

BIKE: I’m riding a well-used and loved Bombtrack Hook EXT. She has already seen 20k kilometers of dirt, so is a familiar and comfortable place to spend the long days to come. 2017 Bombtrack Hook EXT, 27.5 x 2.35/2.25” Vittoria Mezcals, SRAM Rival 1×12 mullet mechanical, 30T chainring, 10-52T cassette, Hy/Rd brakes, SON dynamo, KLite Adventure light, Profile Design Aerobars and Redshift Suspension stem and seat post.
BAGS: Restrap Race bags up front, top tube and saddle, Topeak frame bag and Rhinowalk feed bags. Quad bottle cages, one for tools/spare jar plus 5L backpack for additional water/food.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Additional Fenix headlamp for any more technical night riding. Down pants, booties, and jacket for a sleep system in Sierra Designs Bivy with a Seat To Summit insulated mat, plus the luxury of a small inflatable pillow.

Warrick Heald

Age 44 / Sydney, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: Heading south on a Salsa Cutthroat GRX600 with precision handbuilt Wheelworks wheels and rims. A 34T chainring and an 11-46T cassette for the gearing. 29 x 2.2″ Continental Race King tires front and back, 1×11 mechanical, SON Dynamo.
BAGS: A set of Profile aerobars suspend a Cycl*te bag upfront (kitchen), the frame is full with a roll-top Rockgeist Mt 52Hz bag (wardrobe), and an alloy Tailfin sits at the rear (bedroom).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The kLite system will brighten the road ahead and keep the Wahoo charging mounted on a custom aerobar bridge. I added the Selle Anatomic saddle to the build and what a revelation! To double down on downstairs comfort I added a Cane Creek e-silk+ seat post suspension system. Some Arundel Looney Bin ratchet bottle holders will secure the hydration bottles. A single pole tent, a Sea to Summit Ether lite XT mattress, and an Ember II quilt will hopefully allow some rest in most conditions.

Josh Hill

Age 21 / Adelaide, South Australia (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on my Norco Search steel frame set that I built up on to DT Swiss GRC 1400s with SRAM brakes and 11-speed shifter converted to 12-speed. 1×12 SRAM chain and cassette with a 36T oval chainring from Absolute Black on to Praxis carbon cranks. Gravelking SK plus 700 x 50mm tires. No Dynamo just an Exposure 6 pack light.
BAGS: Custom frame bag and top tube bag from TreadLite. Saddle bag from Outer Shell and a Topeak handlebar drybag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Inside my handlebar bag I’ve got my sleeping system, bivy, lightweight sleeping bag and mat. Saddlebag has all my clothes, and frame bag has all my food and where I’ll keep my tools and spares.

George Hollerbach

Age 68 / Newtown, Pennsylvania (USA)

BIKE: 2022 Lauf Siegla, SRAM 1×12, Vitoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25″ tires, Bar Yak Expedition, Old Man Mountain rack.
BAGS: Mostly Revelate Designs, but also a BroadFork Stem Cell Top Tube Bag and a Sea to Summit dry bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Enlightened Equipment 20° quilt, Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad, and a Durston X-Mid Pro 1 tent. Navigating with Garmin 1040 Solar, phone, and old school maps.

Gary Holton

Age 59 / Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on a Why Cycles “Squidward” (Wayward frame with Oddity Cycles truss fork) set up with drop bars, TiCycles seatpost, SRAM AXS with 34T front, 10-52T cassette. Rolling on Astral Outback rims with Mezcal 2.35” tires. Onyx rear hub and SON dynamo in front. Hope RX4+ calipers.
BAGS: Rockgeist custom frame bag and Mr. Fusion seatpost bag. ATM fork bags. Front roll strapped directly to aero bars.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ve opted for camping comfort, so I will be carrying a Hyperlight Mid 1 shelter (strapped to aero bars) and stove/pot strapped to the downtube. I’ve found it’s a small weight penalty over the bivy + cold food option. Enlightened Equipment quilt and Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xlite pad round out the camp gear. For water, I’ve got 1.5L on the down tube, plus another two 1L bottles in feed bags (not pictured).

Tim Hunt

Age 32 / Berkeley, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Why Cycles (now Revel) R+ on 650b wheels. It’s a nice balance of supple and spunky. A tad racier than ideal for the Divide, but I already own, trust, and love this bike, all good reasons to bring it. Mostly stock SRAM Rival mechanical build. TD-specific mods include a Wolf Tooth 28T chainring with 9-46T e*thirteen cassette, Sinewave Beacon, riser stem for more stack, highly technical electrical tape bottle cage mounts on the fork, and 70mm aero bar risers for ~fashion~ and for my back, which seems to be aging faster than the rest of my body. 650b x 55mm René Herse Umtanum Ridge tires, SRAM Rival Mechanical 1×11 drivetrain, SON Dynamo on the Hunt (no relation) 650b Adventure Dynamo wheelset.
BAGS: I sewed all my own bags with Challenge Ultraweave 800TX and Ecopak EPX200 accents in Lilac. The TX version of Ultra has a ripstop backer for better seam slippage. This fabric is bomber and totally overkill but I’m hoping the extra durability will compensate for my middling sewing skills. Rear dry bags are mounted on a Tumbleweed T Rack with Wolf Tooth Morse Cargo Cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I work for SlingFin, a tent company, so I had to go overboard on my shelter with a prototype of our upcoming 4P pyramid tent, the Cinder Cone. It’s big enough to fit me and my bike so I don’t have to pack/unpack in the rain and it has more headroom than a porta potty. Other highlights include a sweet custom “Tiempo” vest pack from the fine folks at Nashville Pack & Equipment Company (for water and food overflow), a squeezy UL bidet, and color-coordinated purple toenail polish.

Jonathan Izen

Age 33 / San Francisco, California (USA)

BIKE: I will be riding the Tour Divide on a 2024 Specialized Diverge Sport Carbon. Small frame size at 44. Parts are generally stock with DT Swiss G540 rims, Shimano pedals, an Ergon SR saddle for comfort, and Zipp Aerobars. 700C x 48mm Rene Herse Oracle Ridge Endurance Plus tubeless tires, future shock suspension, Shimano SLX, M7100, 12-speed with a 46/30T chainring.
BAGS: Revelate Design bags all around, including a Pronghorn handlebar bag, Spinelock 10L seat bag, 2X Mountain feedbag, Rifter frame bag, bolt-on Mag-Tank 2000, and Jerrycan.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 tent, Klymit Inertia X Lite pad, Western Mountaineering Summerlite bag for sleeping. Garmin 840 Solar for navigation. NightRider Lumina Micro 900 headlight and Black Diamond headlamp for illumination. POC Column VPD bag for easy hydration.

Ana Jager

Age 27 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)

BIKE: Salsa Cutthroat Rival GX AXS Transmission. 29 x 2.2″ Teravail Rutland tires, SRAM AXS 1×12 (34T chainring, 10-52T cassette), SON dynamo hub.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Pitchfork aerobar system, Mountain Feedbag x2, Magtank 2000, Rifter frame bag, and Spinelock seatpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleep kit is an inflatable pad, down quilt, and a tarp. Lighting with Sinewave Beacon, navigating with a Wahoo Elemnt Roam. I couldn’t do this without the help and support of so many folks in Anchorage and beyond to get me organized and dialed—too lucky. Can’t wait to roll!

Marty Johnson

Age 69 / Wichita, Kansas (USA)

BIKE: My bike for racing the Tour Divide is a medium 2024 Chumba Yaupon (yo-pon) Ti. I’m going with a SRAM mullet drivetrain. Force AXS shifters up front and XO Eagle 12-speed 10-52T in the back. Cane Creek eeWings 170mm cranks paired with a Wolf Tooth 32T front chainring. I’m running a SON dynamo front hub on a Raceface ARC 30 rim and a DT Swiss 350 rear hub on a Whisky No. 9 Carbon rear rim. Mezcal 2.25″ tires. RockShox SID 120mm front fork. BarYak expedition bars mounted on a Salsa 44cm CF bar with kLite front and rear lights.
BAGS: The Bags are primarily from Joe at JPaks. The custom FramePak is bolted to the frame as is the 15” FarvaPak SnakPak. I’m putting Joe’s new SeatPak and Harness prototype to the test. Joe’s Refugi harness will hold his large drybag and the BattPak to hold tools and parts under the downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Gear includes the new MSR 2 person Hubba Hubba bikepacking tent, a Western Mountaineering 35° bag and Sea to Summit insulated sleeping pad for my sleep kit. For navigation I’ll bring maps as well as using a Garmin 1040 Solar computer. I’ll be bringing 1 team Iron Chilehead kit to wear in addition to a short sleeve merino t-shirt, a Rab puffy hoody, Rab rain jacket and pants. Running shorts for off the bike and trail running shoes for hike-a-bike sections. Three of us are riding the divide for HumanKind to raise funds to help those experiencing homelessness in the Wichita area.

Jack Keogh

Age 29 / Canberra (Australia)

BIKE: Hunt Bikes Landcruiser v2. SRAM AXS drivetrain with White Industries MR30 Cranks. Running a 34T on the front with 10-52T on the rear. Klite lighting setup and navigation powered by Dynamo hub. I’ll be running the ol’ faithful 2.2” Maxxis Ikons.
BAGS: Custom Hungry feed bags, Porcelain Rocket seat bag, Apidura top tube and frame bag, DIY front roll setup.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My favorite bits of kit would have to be my tent and filming setup. I use a Zpacks Solo tent which makes for a roomy sleep and super light carry weight. As an adventure filmmaker I also love to bring along my cameras. I created a film on the route in 2023 and aim to do that again in 2024.

Jason Kiefer

Age 41 / Niwot, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Mosaic GT-1 XD, Rockshox SID Ultimate 110mm, SRAM XXSL Transmission w/ 36T chainring & 10-52T Cassette, SRAM Force AXS Levers w/ Level Ultimate 4 Piston Calipers, Ergon CF Allroad Seatpost, ENVE Stem, Tumbleweed Big Dipper Bar, HUNT Proven w/ SON Dynamo Hub wired to front & rear lights.
BAGS: Tailfin rack, Custom JPaks bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A prototype Mosaic GT-1 XD titanium frame, designed and built with custom geometry and tailored specifically for this Tour Divide attempt. Custom bags were designed and fabricated in collaboration with Joe Tonsager at JPaks, and Jason is using a first of its kind Hunt Proven / SON Dynamo Wheelset.

Don Kosker

Age 53 / Latrobe, Pennsylvania (USA)

BIKE: Racing my stock 2024 Salsa Cutthroat. Riding from Las Vegas to Banff and changing tires to Vittoria Mezcals before the race. Bontrager Aero bars. 29 x 2.2″ Vittoria Mezcal tires, mechanical shifting, Sinewave Beacon 2 Headlamp. SP Dynamo, three bottle holders and two Salsa Anything Cages on the fork.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Spinelock and Feed Bag, Ortlieb Frame Bag, Front Roll, Gas Tank, and Front Bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system is SOS Emergency Bivy with Uberlite sleeping pad and Sea to Summit Spark 40° sleeping bag. Wahoo Roam.

Aidan Lampe

Age 27 / Adelaide, South Australia (Australia)

BIKE: Salsa Fargo built with SRAM Rival levers with Ratio 12-speed internals for a 1×12 Eagle drivetrain, 36T Absolute Black chainring. Rolling on custom built Curve Dirthoop rims with SP dynamo front hub and Halo Supadrive rear. Hope RX4+ brake calipers and rotors. 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tires and kLite dynamo lights.
BAGS: Custom Treadlite Bike Bags, modular main triangle bags for different setups made to fit perfectly in the frame, 2x feed bags, saddle bag, and oversized handlebar bag. Rear pack is the rock solid Porcelain Rocket Mr. Fusion pack and front roll is from Restrap.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My highlight is the co*ckpit setup, it’s evolved over several years and recently with new lights and minor gear adjustments, it’s looking clean and functions exactly as I like. Also can’t forget to mention the frame bags, Scott and Mary at Treadlite have made several bags for me now for different bikes and they always fit perfectly, performed flawlessly and look amazing.

Richard Lindsay

Age 55 / Rangiora (New Zealand)

BIKE: 2019 Salsa Cutthroat. Wheelworks rear and Hunt front wheels. 29 x 2.35″ and 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals, SRAM 11-speed, Sinewave Beacon dynamo setup.
BAGS: Stealth Heaphy Harness, Paperroads Front Bag, Revelate saddle bag and frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have graduated to using a pillow on trips.

Dennis Loewen

Age 48 / San Jose, California (USA)

BIKE: This green snot rocket ship is a Salsa Cutthroat. 1 x 12 SRAM RED AXS brakes, levers, and derailleur, Wolf Tooth 36T chainring, 10-44T cassette. DT Swiss Rims. SON Dynamo front hub. Sinewave front headlight. Strategic old man parts including a bougie Ritchey Carbon WCS seat post, electronic shifting, Ergon saddle, and Rockshox SID SL Select front fork. Profile Designs aero bars.
BAGS: Salsa Branded Relevate Feedbags, Main Triangle, and Gas Tank. Tailfin Carbon Back Rack and Luggage Bag. Rockgeist harness with Sea to Summit compression bag on the aero bars.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Titanium spork and laminated pictures of Sylvie, Indiana, and Alexis (wife and daughters) to remind me why I do hard things.

Rob Maple

Age 53 / Fredericksburg, Virginia (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the 2024 Tour Divide on a 2023 Titanium Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon sporting the Ramhorn Gravel Boost Carbon Fork. The bike features a pair of Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25” tires, SRAM Force eTap AXS shifters, and the drivetrain consists of a SRAM X01 Eagle Dub Crank with a 34T Oval Absolute Black chainring and a SRAM GX Eagle AXS 10-52T derailleur and cassette. The wheels are Whisky NO.9 36W with a SON Dynamo hub up front and an Industry Nine Hydra BOOST on the rear. The saddle is a Brooks C17 and the co*ckpit is decked out with a Ritchey WCS VentureMax Drop Handlebar, a Bar Yak Expedition for mounting bags, technology, and lights without losing precious handlebar space. Profile Designs Sonic Ergo 35A aerobars and 50mm risers were added to provide some extra lounging space.Lighting is Dynamo powered by kLite Race Lighting and Charging System Kit and a kLite QUBE Dynamo Powered Rear Safety Blinker. Huge shoutout to Bike Works in Fredericksburg, VA for this expert build! Lastly, the name of my rig: ”Lil Ti-Red.” It’s not so little, it’s Titanium, and it has a lot of anodized red parts and features…but maybe it just that I will be a “little tired” on this epic adventure.
BAGS: The centerpiece of my bag setup is a custom Rockgeist frame bag. I am also running a Tailfin alloy rear rack, Tailfin gas tank, 2 Revelate Designs feedbags, a Brooks harness for my sleep system, and a Revelate Designs Egress Pocket. Also pictured with water bottles mounted to the fork and Salsa Anything Cages on the rear, but game time decisions may alter these choices.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 will serve as my shelter along with and Big Agnes Torchlight UL 30° Sleeping Bag and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Air Mat. I’ll also be carrying a Garmin inReach Mini and a Garmin 1030 for navigation. The rest of my gear with be in place to support all 6 seasons and some type 2 fun.

Nick Marzano

Age 42 / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on Jem, my trusty 2019 Salsa Cutthroat. On the wheels: 700×55 Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge Endurance+ tires, a SON dynamo, and SRAM hydraulic brakes. Running 1x with a 34T in the front, 10-50T Eagle in the back. Comfort bits include Redshift stem (Philly based!), Brooks saddle, aero bars. Sinewave Beacon for night climbs and impromptu strobe light parties.
BAGS: Feeling the Easter egg vibes with a powder blue Rockgeist frame bag and Oveja Negra top tube. Apidura Expedition bags on the bars and seatpost do a great job keeping dry things dry. On the stem, a Hoagie Hauler bag from, sadly now a relic from closing Philly-based bag maker RELoad.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The OR Helium bivy kept me plenty dry in 2022 when I accidentally slept under the sprinkler system in Del Norte. Excited to bring eminently packable Pogie Lites instead of bulky lobster gloves this time around. Favorite item: Shokz bone-conduction headphones. They hold a magically long charge and re-up in no time.

Peta McSharry

Age 57 / Bern (Switzerland)

BIKE: Open U.P., Enve Adventure Fork, Redshift suspension stem and seatpost. Continental Race Kings 27.5 x 2.2” front and 27.5 x 2.0” rear, SON Dynamo with Exposure Revo light, SRAM Eagle Mullet setup, road shifters with MTB cranks, 1×12 speed. 30T x 52/10T gearing.
BAGS: Tailfin Aeropack with large panniers, Tailfin tool roll, Alpkit custom frameback, Revelate Gas Tank (2013 – still going strong), Revelate Feed large bags, Carbo bag under TTBars for tent. Salomon Adv Skin 12L bladder pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The SMP Trk Gel Saddle. Van Ryzel gloves and aero helmet. Castelli Cargo bibs. Specialized MTB shoes. Taking care of all the contact points in the hope they hold up well. My sleep system is the Big Agnes tent, with a PHD down bag to -10°C. A luxury item is the Jetboil to give flexibility (comfort) between resupply points.

Alan Millar

Age 69 / Durango, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I am racing the Tour Divide on my 2023 Salsa Cutthroat. I am running a SRAM Apex mechanical 1×12 drivetrain with an Eagle 10-52T cassette and 34T chainring up front. My coolest piece of kit are the Appleman cranks in a 165mm length to help with knee pain. The bike has Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge Tires in an Endurance casing, Hunt XC Wide wheels, and Profile Designs Aero Bars with 70mm shims mounted on Ritchey Venturemax XL bars. I have a sweet Transx dropper post, thanks to my LBS, and a bar extension for lights and mounts.
BAGS: I have a giant Salsa frame bag that will hold anything. I use a Tailfin rack and Aeropack with two Ortlieb gravel panniers. I have a Tailfin top tube bag, and for this trip, I have added an Ornot Handlebar bag to provide some more room to cram food in my center bag without stressing the zippers. I run one Salsa feed bag and three large bottles on the fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I need coffee to function properly, so I will carry a cooking setup as well as the floor and fly of a Big Agnes Fly Creek tent, and a Wahoo Roam for navigation.

Patrick Moore

Age 38 / Duluth, Minnesota (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a Salsa Cutthroat Apex 1. 29 x 2.2″ Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, a 1×11 drivetrain with a Wolf Tooth 26T chainring, and DT Swiss x1900 wheels, no dynamo.
BAGS: The bike’s bags include the following bags from Cadaero: frame bag, top pack, two Devil’s Kettle packs, Wedgie pack, and a Revelate 16L saddle bag. Up front is my bivy and sleeping bag strapped to the aero bars in a dry bag.

Eric Neville

Age 60 / Oak Park, Illinois (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Tour Divide on my Salsa Cutthroat, featuring 1×11 E*13 9/46T rear cassette, SRAM Rival components, a 36T Wolftooth Chainring, Crank Bros Stomp 7 flat pedals, 29” Bontrager Wheels with Tubeless Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2 tires.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Terrapin 14L, Rockgeist Frame Bag 16L, Ortlieb 10L front bag hanging from my Baryak aero system.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will be using a Garmin 1040 Solar for navigation, Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent, with an REI Magma 30 bag, and carry a 24,800 mAh battery to power my other electronics.

Tero Niemela

Age 34 / Ilmajoki (Finland)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a 2020 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike features a new pair of Continental Race King 29 x 2.2” tires, a modified 1×11 drivetrain with a 34T chainring, and DT Swiss wheels with a SP Dynamo hub up front.
BAGS: Seatbag IS Revelate Designs Terrapin and top tube bag Revelate Designs Mag-Tank 2000. I made the other bags myself from Ultra 200 fabric.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I really like my lightweight camping gear, which includes a Lanshan 1 Pro tent, Cumulus X-lite sleeping bag, and Therm-a-Rest Uberlite sleeping mat.

Riley Osgood

Age 27 / Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Formerly a 55cm canti Crust Romanceur. I broke the downtube in half racing North-South Colorado last year. Had a new, beefier downtube brazed in by Good Grief bikes in Colorado Springs. Still a Romanceur but now dubbed the “Bad Romance”. Cuz ya know, it broke. Get it? Paul cantis, titanium rail brooks, towel racks with Red Shift bar inserts, Campi non aero brake levers, bar end shifter for the rear, single downtube shifter for the front, Chester’s, Widefoot liter cage, King Cage titanium cage, old specialized quill stem, Zefal pump, parts bin front rack with some added brazes by me. 650B x 55mm Rene Herse tires. Friction 2×10 drivetrain with a titanium cassette and TA cranks. 26-42 up front, 11-36 in the rear. Dynamo? God, no, way too expensive for me, so I’ll be running with battery banks.
BAGS: A slightly modified Carradice Nelson, Swift rando pouch, M Oveja Negra frame bag, Oveja Negra top tube bag, Sea to Summit dry bag strapped to Carradice Bagman, two milsurp molle pouches strapped to the front rack like micro panniers, these are pretty much just dump pouches for rain gear. Not seen is an Oveja Negra stem bag as well as a Swift Industries fanny pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MLD FKT bivy as well as just the tarp from a Mier Lanshan 1-person tent, best of both worlds, love me some Chinese knock-off tents. Sea to Summit sleeping pad, a JBL speaker, Ripton jorts and merino undies, a sack for food, a sack for clothes, a sack for EDC types things, plenty of extra space for food, layers, and water. Rain Jacket, rain pants, rain mittens, merino gloves, bedrock sandals, approach shoes. Oh, and a lil Blue Lug Koma light. Aiming to finish in 25 days or less.

Kraig Pauli

Age 57 / Milwaukie, Oregon (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the 2024 Tour Divide on a 2024 Pivot LES. The bike was custom built by Cyclepath PDX of Portland, Oregon. 29 x 2.2” Continental Race Kings, 1×12 mechanical, a SON 28 dynamo, and Ceramic Speed throughout.
BAGS: A mix and match selection including a custom frame bag from Rockgeist, an Ortleib seatbag, Apidura top tube bag, and a Cycl*te handlebar bag. I’ll also be using an Apidura hydration pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Several items from my Trans Am racing adventures including a SOL Emergency Bivy for those refreshing ditch naps, and an Exposure Joystick to help light the way during those late night pushes.

Ed Pickup

Age 33 / Alexandria, Virginia (USA)

BIKE: I’m riding the Tour Divide on my Curve Big Kev. It’s built up with a SRAM mullet drivetrain combining Force and XO components. The wheels are Curve Dirt Hoop rims laced to an i9 hub in the rear and a SON dynamo hub up front. I’m using a Cane Creek suspension seat post and stem to take the edge off the rougher parts of the route. And an Infinity saddle keeps my rear end happy. 29 x 2.2” Continental Race King Protection tires.
BAGS: My setup combines a Tailfin AeroPack (sleep kit and some spare clothes), Tailfin top tube bag (food), an Oveja Negra 925 handlebar (rain gear and quick-access items like gloves), a tool bottle on the down tube, and a huge Rockgeist frame bag (food, water, electronics, personal hygiene etc.).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleeping kit is a Nordisk Lofoten super-light tent, Western Mountaineering SummerLite bag, and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite pad. That setup should let me get quality rest without relying on hotels.

David Quinn

Age 41 / Sand Springs, Oklahoma (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on a Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon. The bike rolls on Mezcal 2.35″ tires and is propelled by a SRAM wireless AXS Eagle XX1 mullet 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T chainring and 10-52T Cassette. The wheels are Noble Carbon 32 hole with DT Swiss 240s. Redshift suspension seat post and stem. Lighting is by Exposure Lights with the Diablo MK12 on the helmet and the Toro MK12 on the bars.
BAGS: Tailfin Carbon Rack with pannier mounts hold the bulk day to day and repair items. The bar bag is a Sea to Summit eVent compression sack squeezing the sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and tent down to travel size. In the frame is a Rouge Panda 3/4 pack, mostly for food, electronics and water. Feed zone pack and bear spray holster are both Revelate Designs feed bags attached to the bars.

Sonny Rasmussen

Age 47 / Sioux Falls, South Dakota (USA)

BIKE: 2024 Otso Waheela “Olivey” with 1×12 drivetrain SRAM mullet, Force AXS Shifters and Power Meter Crankset, Wolf Tooth Oval 32T, 10-52T Rainbow Cassette, GX Eagle AXS Rear Derailleur. Whiskey No.9 30W rims, Chris King Rear R45D Hub with SON 28 Dynamo Hub with Mezcal XC Trail 2.1” Well-Upholstered Brooks B17 Seat.
BAGS: Apidura Full Frame Bag 7.5L, 2x Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbags, and JerryCan, Tailfin Top Tube Bag 1.5L Zip.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: BarYak Expedition with the XL Add-On, BarYak Triple Crown Navigation, Profile Design Flip Up armrest, BarYak Custom-fabric Expedition Harness, Talon Nano Bag and Custom BarYak Marsupium Seat Harness with Waterproof Seat Bag. BarYak Custom Engraved my Sinewave Beacon “SR” (dot follower) Trackleader logo.

Gabriel Rancourt

Age 37 / Quebec (Canada)

BIKE: A Salsa Cutthroat converted to Shimano GRX 1×12, with a 30T chainring in the front. It features a Profile Design aero bar with a 60mm riser, a Redshift ShockStop Pro suspension seatpost, and Cruise Control drop bar grips. The bike is equipped with a Fox 32 SC 100mm fork with a remote lockout, an Infinite Saddle Adventure Series A1X, and 165mm cranks for better clearance and reduced strain on my knees.
BAGS: I have a custom full frame bag from Rogue Panda, a Tailfin Aeropack with two 10L bags, and a Tailfin 1.1L top tube bag with flip. Additionally, I use two Apidura Backcountry Food Pouches (1.2L each) and a Two Wheel Gear Dayliner Mini Handlebar Bag (3L).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My favorite aspect of my rig is the ability to bring some luxury items without adding too much weight. I’m carrying a Dewalt Bluetooth speaker, a Helinox Chair Zero, and some extra clothes to ensure my feet and hands stay warm due to my Raynaud’s syndrome. The front suspension and seatpost help save my back and provide more confidence when riding downhill. I also sweat a lot, so I’ve made my water easily accessible with a hydration system in the front. The rig features a Son 28 dynamo hub in the front, custom Stan wheels, and an i9 101 hub in the back. I use a Shimano MTB rotor for extra braking power and a Wahoo Bolt V2 for navigation. Sinewave Cycles Beacon 2 light.

Scott Ross

Age 31 / Rockport, Texas (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my trusty Salsa Cutthroat. I have a fresh set of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 700c x 55mm tires, Deda Parabolic aero bars, Crankbrothers Eggbeater pedals, and a Prologie Seat.
BAGS: My frame bag is Rogue Panda. I will also be using a Tailfin Aeropack, 2 Revelate Designs feedbags, a Fjallraven top tube bag, and a Sea to Summit compression dry bag with Voile straps. I will also carry an Osprey Raptor backpack for hydration and quick access items.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Quality sleep will be my focus for this race, so I will be carrying a Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent, a Sea to Summit 20-degree mummy bag, and a Sea to Summit air pad. All of my electronics for the trip are Garmin, and I will use A 540 for navigation.

Alex Schultz

Age 30 / Marquette, Michigan (USA)

BIKE: I will be racing on a 509 Cycles Up An’ Atom titanium 29er hardtail. I have a reverb AXS dropper post and a Fox 32 100mm fork on the front. I am running Berd XC 25 wheels, 29 x 2.2″ Maxxis Ikon tires, and a SON dynamo hub.
BAGS: Morrow Packs, with a mix of others, including a few from Apidura for accessories.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This will be the first time I have raced with a sleeping pad. I am excited for some extra comfort. This is also my first time using a dynamo hub. Excited for it to power my Sinewave light.

Chris Smith

Age 47 / Medfield, Massachusetts (USA)

BIKE: No need to reinvent the wheel. I’ll be riding a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat with SRAM XX1 AXS, 10-52T cassette with a 34T oval Absolute Black ring and Quard power meter. I’ve added a RockShox SID SL fork with 100mm of travel to the front. Wheels are TR33 from NOBL, built with a DT Swiss 240 in the rear and SON 28 Dynamo in the front. Tires are 700 x 2.1″ Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge with Endurance Plus casing. The saddle is a Brooks b15 Swallow, mounted on a Cane Creek eSilk+ seatpost. Handlebars are 48cm Salsa Cowchippers wrapped in Ergon BT Gravel with Fizik gel pads. A BarYak Expedition rack is clipped on and and Profile Design flip-up arm rests are mounted on a Fred bar.
BAGS: Carrying my stuff is a Tailfin Aeropack with two 16L panniers. In the frame is a Rogue Panda frame bag, below is a Tailfin cage bag for spares, and on top is a Rogue Panda top tube bag. There are two Revelate Designs Mountain Feed Bags and a Baryak harness with Rogue Panda handlebar bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Racing in luxury with a full camping setup including a NEMO Dragonfly tent, Sea to Summit Etherlight pad, 20°F bag, and pillow. Jetboil MiniMo with french press to get going in the morning and a NEMO Moonlite Elite chair for the end of the day. There’s enough camera equipment to ensure the climbs will be a chore and the descents zippy. Starry, my guide dog, will make sure we find our way to Antelope Wells.

Zach Stirling

Age 39 / Austin, Texas (USA)

BIKE: This is my first time riding the Tour Divide. It is something I have spent the last few years thinking about. Last summer, I purchased a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat and the itch got bad! I am a diehard fan of Teravail Tires and will be riding new Teravail Rutlands on WeAreOne Revive wheels, running i9Hydra hubs. The drivetrain is a SRAM 1×12 (34T, 10-52T) electronic GX derailleur with Rival shifters. Full carbon setup except Profile Design aerobars.
BAGS: Rocking an assortment of bags, including custom Nuke Sunrise Bike Bags frame and stem bag (highly recommended), Revelate Design Spinelock 16L, Feedbag, backward Gas Tank, and Sea to Summit compression bag. The compression bag is supported by the Restrap Bumper Bar.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Major upgrades to my bikepacking gear were made for this route, including but not limited to the Durston X-Mid-Pro-2 tent, Enlightened Equipment 10F quilt, and three new pairs of socks. The total water capacity is ~8.4L with 5 of those being compressible bags for easy storage. See you on the trail. Photo by Steve Shumate.

Tyler Stutzman

Age 51 / Wichita, Kansas (USA)

BIKE: I’m a rookie riding a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat, mostly the stock GX Eagle AXS version with dropper post. 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal rear/Barzo front, GX Eagle AXS 1×12, no dynamo.
BAGS: I was lucky enough to find a used Salsa bolt-on frame bag, Revelate Mag-Tank 2000 bolt on top tube back, Arkel Dry-Lite panniers, Sea to Summit Big River dry bag, still tinkering with downtube and fork bag and feedbag options.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love my Ortlieb Quick Rack and Arkel panniers; use them every week for bike commuting. I won’t ride anywhere without an abundance of lights, mostly to make myself more visible to traffic. Garmin Varia and small Fenix taillights, Outbound Lighting Detour and Fenix headlights. Big Agnes tent, pad, bag, Garmin 840, Apidura 3L bladder, some recently added Profile aerobars with risers and Redshift comfort grips and Silca Cuscino bar tape to help my hands not fall asleep. I don’t do well in heat, so taking up some room with a 1L Zojirushi vacuum insulated thermos to maintain cold water to revive me in the heat.

Edyn Teitge

Age 15 / Hailey, Idaho (USA)

BIKE: I will be riding a Rodeo Labs Traildonkey 4.0, it is set up with a SRAM 10-52T cassette in the back with a 38T chainring in the front. For tires, I’m running 700 x 50mm Maxxis Ramblers mounted on a Rodeo Labs 2.0 wheelset with a SON dynamo in the front.
BAGS: Sweet custom Tailfin R&D frame Bag, Handlebar bag, aeropack, and top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For my sleep system, I’ll be living in luxury with a Zpacks Plex Solo Tent, a Big Agnes Zoom UL pad, and a Big Agnes Pluton UL 40° sleeping bag. As far as water I have a 3L bladder in the frame, a 2L bladder on my back, and a bottle zip tied to my top tube. And my dynamo is routed to a kLite wiring loom.

Sam Thackston

Age 24 / Spokane, Washington (USA)

BIKE: For your viewing and my racing pleasure, I present a very generic TD rig: Salsa Cutthroat V1 with 1×11 Rival drivetrain, 30T x 9-46T. 100mm Rockshox SID up front, Profile Design “aero” bars with the tallest risers I could find, and a Selle Anatomica saddle. Wahoo Bolt V1 + InReach Messenger will keep me on the route and on the map. Ardent Race 29 x 2.35″ in the front, Continental RaceKing protection 2.2″ in the rear. No dynamo, just a couple of hefty battery caches.
BAGS: Tailfin in the rear, Revelate Designs frame bag, top tube bag, and god-willing a Pitchfork up front. Camelbak Chase hydration pack (1.5L) on my back, and 3L of water bottleage on the Tailfin arch.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Full rain kit, sleeping pad, quilt, bivy, and a rain tarp if needed. Finishing kit includes Trader Joe’s almond butter tool storage as well as stickers of my girlfriend strategically placed for maximum racing motivation.

Jake Tveite

Age 29 / Mount Vernon, Washington (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Tour Divide for the first time on my stainless steel Otso Fenrir. Up front, I’ve got an ENVE mountain fork with bottle cages and Wren perseverance bars with armrests. I’ll be rolling on Whisky rims with 2.35″. Specialized tires (I’ll be changing them out before the race to a Fast Trak in the front and a Renegade in the rear). The bike is set up single speed 34x18T with a Paul WORD hub, a White Industries freewheel, and an Absolute Black chainring on my 5Dev cranks.
BAGS: The centerpiece is my custom frame bag from Bedrock Bags. Swift
Industries Zeitgeist out back and one stem bag from them as well, top tube bag and the other stem bag from Oveja Negra.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep kit is an OR bivy, lightweight sleeping bag, and a puffy. I’ll be navigating with a Garmin Edge 530. I’ve got the kLite Adventure setup for lighting and charging.

Anders Waiker

Age 54 / Wellington (New Zealand)

BIKE: Crucial Custom Cycles custom-made steel frame ridden by the frame builder. Columbus Zona tube set with Paragon Machine Works rear dropouts. Brazed on rear pannier rack for 2x Anything bags and tent. 29 x 2.25″ Mezcal tires. Salsa carbon forks, Velogical bottle dynamo for USB charging and Fr/R lights, 11s GRX drive train with White Industries M30 cranks, Paul Components Klamper brakes, Paul Components Tall & Handsome seat post, Red Shift Kitchen Sink bars, Brooks B17 Ti saddle.
BAGS: Stealth custom made frame bag, Paragon Machine Works 2x steerer tube bottle holder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Brazed on rear rack with internal cable routing for Son rear light, Silca pump fixed to downtube, full cable routing down the side of the down tube to free up room for a bottle cage.

David Wall

Age 56 / Richmond, Maine (USA)

BIKE: 2023 Salsa Cutthroat with Fox 32 step cast fork, Dajia Far Bar drop bar, Profile aero bars with 70mm risers, Redshift Shockstop suspension seat post, Brooks B17 saddle, Crankbrothers Eggbeater pedals. 29 x 2.35” Vittoria Mezcal XC Trail tires (tubeless), 1×12 SRAM GX Eagle AXS derailleur, 34T x 10-52T gearing
BAGS: Mix of Rogue Panda, Revelate Designs, and Tailfin bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 tent, Sea to Summit Ether Light XT insulated pad, Marmot 15° sleeping bag with bag liner, Apidira 3L frame bag bladder, fork mounted Tailfin Cargo Cages, Wahoo Elemnt Bolt computer for navigation and stats, Garmin InReach Messenger, two Lumina 1200 Boost headlights, and three heavy cache batteries (5K, 6K, and 10K mA) for keeping electronics and phone juiced up. And I’m overly proud of the top tube strap handle that I hand-stitched from an old nylon backpack strap, and that I now find indispensable.

Joey Wallick

Age 29 / Fernie, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: Another Salsa Cutthroat! GRX600 build with some minor changes. Shaka frame bag and Wildwood fork cages and bottle adapter, which are all BC built. Thank-you Ski Base and Straight Line for the expertise and assistance! 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tires. Mechanical 1×12 with a Garbaruk RD cage to reach the 52T cassette. 36T chainring. No dynamo.
BAGS: Restrap on the seat and handlebars. Tailfin on the top and bottom tubes. Custom Shaka frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin Edge 840 and a family photo on the dash.

Jeff Webb

Age 53 / Huntsville, Ontario (Canada)

BIKE: Fara Cycling F/Gravel with Fara’s Modular co*ckpit, SRAM Mullet 36 x 10x52T, fulcrum RapidRed Carbon wheels with Pirelli Gravel M 50mm tires.
BAGS: A mixix of Apidura Full Frame and Race Bolt-on TopTube bag with Fara’s Integrated saddle pack and Handlebar bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m riding a gravel bike with ridiculously little tire clearance because thats what I have and thats what I always ride. Its gotten me through Badlands and Italy Divide but the peanut butter mud is a different story. Running Exposure lights and no dynamo. I’ll carry a bivvy, pad and down pants but won’t use them til I get further south out of bear country! I’m going to try Lachlan’s strategy: ride hard and rest hard (just not as fast as him, obviously) So if you see me stuck in the mud, say hi when you go by.

Courtney White

Age 25 / Canberra (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the cutest of pink bikes, a Curve GMX+ with SRAM AXS drivetrain and big ol’ 2.6” Mezcals. A Dynamo hub and a Klite setup will keep me powered and well-lit.
BAGS: Bags include an Apidura top tube and half frame bag, a front roll harness and dry bag, and a Porcelain Rocket seat bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: When it comes to comfort for all terrain, I rely on my Specialized Rime 2.0 shoes, which have been put through the wringer and are still kicking. I’m also super excited to be filming this year on both a GoPro and DJI pocket 2, which are super compact and great for the bike.

David Whitlock

Age 52 / Kingston, Washington (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be “touring with intent” the 2024 Tour Divide on a 2022 Trek Supercaliber. It has been converted to drop bars and has a Fraken mullet SRAM Rival shifters, GX AXS derailleur, G2 Ultimate 4 piston brakes setup. An E-13 9-52T cassette, Shimano XTR crankset, 30T chainring, and Enduro Maxhit bottom bracket make up the drivetrain. Tires are Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25″ front and 2.21″ rear on custom Light Bicycle rims with DT Swiss spokes and 240 hubs (built by Night Owl Cycling). Fork is a SRAM RS-1 100mm.
BAGS: Front bag is a Restrap Race Aero setup with an XS Sea to Summit dry bag. The 5L panniers, top tube bag, and rear rack/bag are all from Tailfin. Feed bags and the frame bag are custom by LOAM Industries, Bellingham.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For protection from the elements, I’ll be in a Black Diamond FirstLight 2p tent with custom (by me) Aero-bag friendly carbon poles. For sleeping I’m using a Therm-a-Rest Ohm 32° bag and NeoAir pad. Lights are a Bookman Volume 800L mounted to my aero bars and a Black Diamond 600L headlamp on my helmet. Navigation is a Garmin 1040, an iPhone 13 Mini as backup, and an InReach Mini2 for tracking. Extra Food and water will be in my Black Diamond Distance 15L running pack.

Mark Williams

Age 40 / Queenstown, Otago (New Zealand)

BIKE: I’m riding my inaugural Tour Divide NOBO on a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat 56cm, built up (obsessively) with Sram AXS wireless drive chain (GX mech with XX 11-52 cassette and GX carbon crank 36t, Force shifters/brakes with Roval Control Carbon wheels and a SON Dynamo front hub. Running a 100mm Sid Select SL fork, 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals, and Cane Creek eeSilk post.
BAGS: Mostly Revelate Designs, including a Ripio framebag, Pronghorn M with Egress Pocket, Mag Tank 2000, Jerry Can, Spinelock 16l. Apidura Expedition downtube pouch and Tailfin 3l drybags on fork leg cargo cages. I’ll carry a 1L bottle on each fork leg, 1.5L in the frame bag and capacity for another 2.5L in a Salomon hydration vest for long stretches between resupplies.

GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m going to carry a Nemo Hornet Osmo tent for comfort, with Sea to Summit Ether UL mat and Spark II bag. Navigation duties will be with an Edge 1040 Solar and recharge via Sinewave Beacon II and Voltaic power bank.

Misha Zatsman

Age 45 / San Francisco, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Tour Divide on a 2023 Giant Revolt Advanced 0 with Rene Herse Oracle Ridge endurance 48mm tires. I swapped the cassette for 11-40T (thanks for the video Neil!) to help with the climbs and swapped the front wheel for one with a dynamo, otherwise it’s all stock. I love this bike and how versatile it is!
BAGS: I have a custom Rogue Panda framebag, Tailfin carbon rack with 64 liters(!) of bags, a Jandd Mountaineering touring handlebar pack and an REI stem bag for my water bottle. I’ll carry a couple liters of water on the fork and a 3L Apidura bladder in my frame bag for when conditions get dry.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Teva sandals: I started bikepacking in these and now use them for all my rides, including PBP last year. Hope I still remember how to ride in the sneakers I brought for cold days! I’m rocking a Sinewave Beacon 2 for lighting and charging, Da Brim Rezzo Visor to minimize sunscreen, a Timber Yew bell to avoid surprising bears, an Enlightened Equipment quilt to stay warm and Merino everything to manage cold, sweat and odor.

Check out the 2024 Tour Divide Tracker page to follow along on the live tracking map, find our Rigs of the Tour Divide roundups, and stay tuned in for more event coverage. Find it here.

Further Reading

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