User:Wrentit

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is a continuous long distance cycling route from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA. As of 2010, the route is 2745 miles (4417 KM) long; its length is likely to change over time as the GDMBR is continually being refined to improve it. The GDMBR was developed by the Adventure Cycling Association, from whom route maps are available.

Following the Continental Divide as closely as practicable and crossing it 31 times, most of the GDMBR is on unpaved roads and trails and requires off-road riding skills to complete. The unpaved portions of the route range from high quality dirt or gravel roads to short sections of unmaintained trails which may not be possible for most people to ride at all. The GDMBR has over 200,000 feet (60960 meters) of elevation gain and loss for the rider to contend with. Logistical issues also complicate traveling the GDMBR as food and water sources may be separated by multiple days of riding. Unpredictable mountain and desert weather can bring snow, rain, high winds, and temperature extremes at any time of year. Due to deep snow in the mountains and monsoon rains in New Mexico, the riding window is normally late May through the end of September. Most people ride the route north to south. As much of the route is not signposted, good navigation skills are also required. Riders must be self-sufficient and carry camping equipment as commercial lodging is not available for long stretches of the route. It is also necessary to be skilled in bike maintenance and repair. It is also not uncommon to encounter large and potentially dangerous mammals including Grizzly and Black Bear, Moose, and occasionally Mountain Lion.

A few people through-ride the GDMBR every year and trip reports written by some of these riders are available on the ACA website. Typical times to ride the entire route range from six to ten weeks. A few larger towns are encountered, including Helena and Butte, Montana, Pinedale and Rawlins, Wyoming, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Salida, and Del Norte, Colorado, and Grants and Silver City, New Mexico. Otherwise, only extremely small towns will be ridden through, which limits the variety of goods and services available,

There are also two entirely self supported races every year on the route. The Tour Divide follows the entire route, while the Great Divide Mountain Bike Race follows the US portion only. In these events, the race clock runs 24 hours a day and the riders are allowed no outside support other than access to public facilities such as stores, motels, and bike shops. The current record time to complete the Tour Divide is around 17 days, 21 hours.