See Dee Tee Bike

In just a few short days, we’ll be back out on the trail! This time for something bigger and more challenging than anything we have attempted before.

The Continental Divide Trail (CDT).

“Oh, you guys are doing Ride the Divide? No way!”

😉

Not quite. Though we will be riding some sections of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, for certain.

CDT in New Mexico

My TopoFusion screen is perhaps seeing the biggest tangle of GPS lines it ever has. There are many, many unknowns. And that’s just the way we like it.

According to the CDT Coalition, the amazing group that is working to complete, promote and sustain the CDT, the trail is about 70% complete at this time. Some sections dead-end in the middle nowhere. Others have no tread at all, only cairns and blazes. There are a myriad of routes that have cropped up to detour around unfinished sections, or to attempt to hit highlights like major peaks and hot springs. It’s a true ‘choose your own adventure’ style of trail (at least at this time).

And then there’s the issue of (cap “W”) Wilderness, and other areas that bikes are not permitted. As far as we know, no one has attempted to thru-ride the CDT. There are no suggested bike detours. There’s the GDMBR, that we know is open/viable, but that’s about it.

It reminds me of exploring and riding the AZT, 10 years ago, before it was complete and when there were many similar unknowns. The difference? The AZT is ~800 miles, and the CDT is somewhere around 3000! That is an incredible amount of map work. It’s pretty overwhelming, really.

Luckily we are going to take an ‘all summer’ approach to it. I need to be holed up and internet-connected for a few key events (such as Tour Divide), so we are shipping laptops ahead of us. We’ll take some downtime to rest and plan/research the route ahead.

So first up is New Mexico. Probably the most unknown and unfinished state on the divide. Then we get Tour Divide going, and plan ahead for Colorado. Colorado will be the most known state for us, since the CDT shares much with the CT, and then follows other sections we are familiar with (and can’t wait to ride!). Then it’s on to Wyoming and Montana!

It’s been quite a project getting ready. I needed to figure out how to be a little bit more ‘connected’ while on the bike, since I have 3 websites to run, and a tracking company that is hard to keep up with even at a full time+ effort. So I finally got a smart phone. I got a semi-capable laptop to ship along. We’ll see how that all goes.

My bike has also seen a nearly complete overhaul since AZT. I was sweating the arrival of some items, but thanks to SRAM and Mike Curiak, the bike is running smoothly now, and is ready for a huge ride! Then there’s the issue of what to do with house and belongings (what meager we have). But it’s all coming together.

We are aware that there are those that would like to see the CDT closed to bikes. Apparently it is a bit of a hot issue right now. Currently most of the trail is open to bikes, so we are going to ride as much as is open, and as much makes sense. One goal of the trip is to come up with a viable bike route for the CDT, so others can enjoy the trail by bicycle, too. We hope to raise some awareness about cycling on the CDT, to help show that bikepacking on the CDT can be done, can be enjoyable, and should be done. I have seen firsthand how successful the shared-use model employed by the Arizona Trail has been. Mountain bikers have been in on the ground level on so much of the construction, maintenance and support of the AZT. It has been a win-win partnership, and an excellent example of how bicycle use and support on a National Scenic Trail can be a huge success.

Of course, you can follow our trip on trackleaders: http://trackleaders.com/cdtbike14

I’ve been dreaming of attempting a thru-trip on the CDT for many years. Ever since I scratched my racing itch, wiping myself out with GDR/AZT750/AZT300/KTR/GLR in a 12 month period. I’ve always felt that summers are for playing and getting out, but have never had a willing, available, capable and excited partner for such a huge singletrack trip. I can’t express how lucky I am to have Eszter, and that we are both in the place in our lives where this trip is possible, and makes sense.

We should be on the trail this coming Monday. Hopefully posting photos, updates and blog posts as it goes.