I’ve finally assembled all the gear for this year’s attempt at the Tour Divide race. It is a source of endless discussion as to exactly how much you take on the ride. Kurt Refsnider, who won in 2011, has what I think is the singularly best view on what take. He tries to “strike a respectable balance between ultra light and well prepared.”
I err on the side of more prepared than ultralight. Yes, it means I have to move a heavier bike, but I know from experience that I don’t do well when I get too cold and wet. So, for example, I carry an tent rather than a bivy sack. I’ve made a few changes to last year’s gear, such as less spares and the replacement of my over boots with Goretex socks. The latter have worked a lot better during my testing (and are lighter!).
All up my fully kitted bike with no water or food weighs in at 46 pounds (21 kg). My hydration pack with its gear is a further 7 pounds (3 kg). I think it’s about 4 – 5 kg heavier than the most minimalist setup I could probably come up with. Not bad if you think that it needs to take me 4,418 km in (relative) comfort. Of course I’ll regret every extra gram when I’m lugging the bike through snow on some of the passes (a week before the race it was reported that there was still 1 m of snow on some of the passes in the Flathead valley in Canada and the road was closed due to snow at Union Pass in Montana).
I am using the same bags except my map case is the excellent quad map case from Carousel Design Works. Absolutely brilliant. I’ve also replaced my Revelate dry bag with one from Outdoor Research as the latter was slightly larger and easier to pack.
Some photos of the bike. At the top of the aero bars are the Ay-Up lights. Good for 12+ hours of riding. Behind it is the Garmin 800 (16 h between recharges), and then the map case with a cue sheet. I’ve used waterproof paper this year (live and learn!). Attached to the right brake lever is an old Specialized Turbo Elite cycle computer. This will be the main measuring device for the cue sheets; the GPS will be used to verify I’m on track.
Front end shot showing the brilliant Revelate system for the roll bag as well as the extra front storage bag. I’ve added an extra strap around the handlebars at each end of the roll bag. I’ve found that this helps with the stability quite a lot.
Side view showing the frame, seat and two top-tube packs. I’ve an extra strap under the seat bag, again I found it helps with stability. The small top tube pack contains all tools and the cable lock. Will hopefully seldom be used. My food will go in the large top tube bag which is behind the handlebars, hydration pack as well as the seat and roll on. I’m not riding a 29’er so the frame bag is quite small, but it holds all my rain gear and arm warmers.
For the real cycling enthusiasts:
- Frame is a titanium Motobecane hardtail. Bought the bike from www.bikesdirect.com
- Using carbon fibre Bontraeger handlebars. Yes, I know there is a risk with having aero bars on carbon fibre handelbars, but the extra shock absorption is worth the risk.
- Aero bars are Profile Design T1+
- Grips are Ergon G3 with some extra tape wrapped around them for more padding.
- Tires are Schwalbe Marathon Extreme. Running tubeless with Stan’s sealant.
- Pedals are Shimano XTR.
Here is the full gear list by location.
Qty |
Item |
Where |
Bags |
||
1 |
Carousel Design Quad Map Case |
Stem |
1 |
Deuter Compact 12 EXP |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Fuel Belt Bento Box |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Outdoor Research 35 L Dry Bag |
Handlebar |
1 |
Revelate Design Custom Frame Bag |
Frame |
1 |
Revelate Design Gas Tank Bag |
Top Tube #1 |
1 |
Revelate Design Handlebar Pocket Bag |
Handlebar |
1 |
Revelate Design Handlebar Sling for Roll |
Handlebar |
1 |
Revelate Design Viscacha Seat Bag |
Seat |
Gear |
||
1 |
Arm Warmers |
Frame |
1 |
Paramo Quito Cycling Jacket |
Frame |
1 |
Gore Cycling Goretex Rain Pants |
Frame |
1 |
Rocky Goretex Socks |
Frame |
1 |
Pearl Izumi Pro Softshell WxB Gloves |
Frame |
4 |
Spare Spokes |
Frame |
1 |
Baseball Hat |
Frame/Wear |
1 |
Action Wipes |
Handlebar |
1 |
Ay-Up Head Torch Band |
Handlebar |
2 |
Ay-Up Battery |
Handlebar |
1 |
Cassette Cleaning Brush |
Handlebar |
1 |
Chamois Cream |
Handlebar |
2 |
Garmin 800 Cycle Computer |
Handlebar/Bike |
6 |
Glad Zip Lock Lunch Bags |
Handlebar |
1 |
Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation USB Battery |
Handlebar |
1 |
Toilet Paper |
Handlebar |
1 |
Webbing – Spare |
Handlebar |
1 |
Specialized Gel Cycling Gloves |
Handlebar/Wear |
1 |
4 x USB AC Adapter |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
3.0 L Hydration Bladder |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
1.0 L Hydration Bag |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Apple Shuffle MP3 Player |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Asthma Emergency Pills |
Hydration Pack |
3 |
Asthma Inhaler |
Hydration Pack/Handlebar/Seat |
1 |
Bear Mace |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Bear Whistle |
Hydration Pack/Wear |
1 |
Cash |
Hydration Pack |
2 |
Credit Cards |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Dental Floss |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Respro Techno Dust Mask |
Hydration Pack |
2 |
Ear Plugs |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Hand Sanitizer |
Hydration Pack |
30 |
Katadyn Water Purification Tablets |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Kinesys Lip Balm SPF 30 |
Hydration Pack Hip Bag |
1 |
Micro USB Cable – Cell |
Hydration Pack |
2 |
Micro USB Cable – GPS |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Micro USB Cable – MP3 Player |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Microfleece Towel |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Microtorch |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Mini-Toothpaste |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Mosquito Repellant |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Nisita Nasal Lotion |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Passport |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Prescription Glasses |
Hydration Pack/Wear |
1 |
Sleeping Mask |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Sony Cell Phone Spare Battery |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Spot GPS |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Sunglasses |
Hydration Pack/Wear |
2 |
Small Kinesys Sunscreen SPF 30 |
Hydration Pack/Handlebar |
1 |
Titanium Spoon-Fork |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Toothbrush |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
Sony Xperia Active Cell Phone |
Hydration Pack Phone Bag |
6 |
AAA Spot GPS Batteries |
Hydration Pack/Handlebar |
1 |
Mophie Juice Micro USB Cable |
Hydration Pack |
20 |
Tylenol |
Hydration Pack |
20 |
Voltarin 100 SR Anti-Inflammatory |
Hydration Pack |
1 |
2XU Compression Longs For Sleeping |
Roll |
1 |
Klymit X Frame Sleeping Pad |
Roll |
1 |
Macpac Sleeping Bag |
Roll |
1 |
Sierra Design Lightening HT1 Ultralight Tent |
Roll |
1 |
T Shirt |
Roll |
1 |
ACA Map Cues |
Seat |
1 |
ACA Map Set |
Seat |
1 |
Ay-Up Recharger |
Seat |
7 |
Cable Ties |
Seat |
1 |
Disc Brake Pad Kit |
Seat |
1 |
Mont-Bell U.L. Down T Vest |
Seat |
1 |
Drymax Cycling Socks |
Seat/Wear |
1 |
Duct Tape |
Seat (on pump) |
1 |
Adventure Ultralight 1 Medical First Aid Kit |
Seat |
1 |
Ground Effect Cycling Shorts |
Seat/Wear |
1 |
Ground Effect Summer Riding Shirt |
Seat/Wear |
2 |
Ground Effects Merino Cycling Socks |
Seat/Roll/Wear |
1 |
Leg Warmers |
Seat |
1 |
Merino Wool Base Layer Shirt |
Seat/Wear |
1 |
Pump |
Seat |
3 |
Respro Dust Mask Filter Replacements |
Seat |
1 |
Shifter Cable |
Seat |
1 |
Spare Cleat |
Seat |
2 |
Spare Tubes |
Seat |
1 |
Thermal Hat |
Seat |
1 |
Orca Triathlon Shorts |
Seat/Wear |
1 |
Tyre Lever |
Seat |
1 |
8 mm Allen Key |
Top Tube #2 |
7 |
Cable Ties |
Top Tube #2 |
4 |
Chain Links |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Chain Lube |
Top Tube #2 |
4 |
Chain Super Links |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Derailleur Hanger |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Fibre Fit Spoke |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Heavy Duty Dental Floss |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Leatherman Squirt PS4 Tool |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Lock/Cable |
Top Tube #2 |
2 |
Needles |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Patch Kit |
Top Tube #2 |
2 |
Shrader-Presta Adapter |
Top Tube #2/Handlebar |
1 |
Tulio Multi-Tool |
Top Tube #2 |
2 |
Park Tyre Boot |
Top Tube #2 |
1 |
Specialized Cycling Shoes |
Wear |
1 |
Road ID |
Wear |
1 |
Trek Cycle Helmet with Light on Back |
Wear |
that’s a mighty small bag for 7000 calories a day! You won’t be much fun to cuddle by the end of this 🙂