This summer, Lachlan Morton set out on an Individual Time Trial (ITT) on the Tour Divide. He reached the finish in Antelope Wells in 12 days 12 hours and 21 minutes, but due to the presence of a media crew his time is not officially recognized. Watch the film, The Divide, to follow his 2,671-mile journey.
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Congratulations to Lachlan Morton for Completing the Tour Divide in 12 Days 12 Hours and 21 Minutes
In the dark hours of Sunday September 10, 2023 Lachlan Morton reached the US/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, NM at 9:24pm. According to his sponsor E.F. Education-EasyPost’s recap on Instagram, his individual time trial (ITT) on the Tour Divide Route was about pushing himself in a sustainable way and during his 12day 12hr and 21min run down the divide, he stopped to rest for 12 hours out of every 48. While it is unlikely that his ride will be counted as the official record given the presence of a media crew, it should be noted that he went nearly a day-and-a-half faster than the late-great Mike Hall (13:22:51), with neither rider going over the now-notorious Koko Claims hike-a-bike section (Lachlan being forced to reroute due to wildfires in Canada).
Reportage
The Tour Divide on Fabric Spokes: Brian and His Rare Earth Cycle Craft Touring Bike
For framebuilders, there’s no better test for their product than a long bike tour. When I last saw Brian, he had just completed the Baja Divide on a bike he built. At the time, he had just left the outdoor industry and hoped to transition into building frames full-time under the Rare Earth Cycle Craft banner.
His hardtail was one of my favorite bikes I documented this year until I saw his Tour Divide bike…
Radar
Alexandera Houchin Reflects on the 2023 Tour Divide
It’s Monday. While you’re sitting at your computer, hit play on this video from Chumba Cycles on Alexandera Houchin‘s 2023 record-setting run!
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The Search for ATB Episode 2: Howes Divided on the 2023 Tour Divide
In Episode 2 of the Search for ATB: Howes Divided on the 2023 Tour Divide, a lot of questions are asked. Tune in to this episode to see if any of them are answered…
Radar
The Search for ATB Episode 1: Howes Divided on the 2023 Tour Divide
What is the “Spirit of ATB?” And how/why should we catch it, assuming we want to? Those questions and more will be answered in a new series that we’ve partnered with our friends at Mythical State Of to create called The Search For ATB. A little bit Parts Unknown, a little bit Alone, a little bit Donut Media, and a little bit National Geographic, The Search For ATB will explore the people, places and things that make all-terrain culture so compelling and inspirational. And FUN. From underbiking and the art of pushing your bike, to interviews with legends and questionable infographics, The Search For ATB begins now!
Radar
Radar Roundup: SBTS Meerkat Klunker, Sim Works Bars Return, Hope Tech 4 V4, Wolf Tooth for SRAM T-Type, The Tour Divide – Then and Now, Questionable Choices, and The Last Rider
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Weis Stems, Crust Stems, Team Slingshot, Reflections on a Journey, and Tracing The Divide
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Reportage
Ruta Del Jefe 2022: Pearly’s Salsa Cycles Ti Fargo Touring Bike
Today we’re continuing our week of Ruta Del Jefe stories with a story about new friends, bike events, and how John stays engaged with this job over the years… Oh yeah, there’s a sweet Ti Fargo awaiting you below!
Radar
Bikepacking 1,300km on the Great Divide & BC Trail | Part 2
We posted part one of this video series a week or so ago and here’s part two!
Three friends bikepack 1,300 km over 3 weeks through BC and Alberta on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) and BC Trail in snow and record-breaking heatwave. Follow @Sir.Bikes.Alot on Instagram for more!
Reportage
Searching for Positivity and a New Fork on the Tour Divide
“Well, what the hell now?” I thought to myself as I stared down at my carbon fork now resting on the ground in three separate pieces. A curb-sized, unassuming jump on a wooden arch bridge outside Breckenridge had taken me down, imploding my bike with me. The front brake cable was the only thing connecting my front wheel to the rest of my bike. I had never experienced a mechanical problem like this trailside. That’s it, game over. All the planning and anticipation, just to make it halfway through the Tour Divide.
Radar
Rapha Gone Racing Lael on the Tour Divide
This one from Rapha and Lael is not to be missed!
“Crisscrossing the Continental Divide for 2,450 miles between Banff in the Canadian Rockies and Antelope Wells on the Mexican border, the Great Divide is one the world’s most iconic long distance mountain biking routes. On this sky high trail, there’s no such thing as a regular ride. But even by ultra cycling standards, Lael Wilcox’s history on the route is a colourful one.
In 2015, Lael raced the Tour Divide – an event that follows the route – and set a new women’s course record despite having to ride herself to an emergency room en route to deal with a persistent breathing issue. But rather than celebrating her achievement, Lael set out to better it. Just two weeks later, she rode to the start from her home in Alaska, took on the trail for a second time and lowered her own record by another day and a half.
Today, the outright course record is held by the late long-distance legend Mike Hall, whose time of 13 days 22 hours and 51 minutes has stood since 2016. Inspired by Mike’s methodical approach to managing the mileage but convinced she can beat the record, Lael is returning to the Rockies with unfinished business. In the latest episode of Rapha Gone Racing, we document her latest record attempt and follow her as she runs into issues much bigger than any bike ride.”
Reportage
Josh Uhl’s 2019 Triple Crown Attempt: A Personal Journey
The beauty of bikes is in the people who ride them—and how they all have a story. I have little doubt that everyone—serious riders, aeroed and grimaced, and carefree cruisers alike—have experienced that epiphanous fresh-air feeling of freedom that accompanies spinning your legs astride two wheels. Sometimes we just enjoy it at the moment—letting the short-lived wave of release and clarity wash over us during a weeknight burrito run, or a trip to the coffee shop. Other times we chase that feeling down with the hope that, somehow, it might change our life.
What first intrigued me about Josh Uhl was, however, not his history with bikes but his podcast Here For Now, which he started in February of 2021. Josh uses this platform to have intentional and intimate conversations with his guests about motivation, struggle, and the big whys of life. Listening to an early episode with Peter Hogan, where the recovering addict asserts that “Bikes aren’t God,” and to a later episode where the writer Zoe Röm reflects on the delusion of “authenticity” on social media, I found myself frequently nodding along. Yes, exactly.
Reportage
Tour Divide: Why Not? – Arya’s Account of Her TDR Attempt
On June 11th, 2021, I became the first Tibetan person to race the Tour Divide (if that kind of thing matters, really). Though I didn’t reach my goal of finishing this year, I did bite off a good 1,300-mile chunk of it, offering pieces of myself to the land along the way. Here’s what I experienced.
Radar
The Bike That Flew: Sarah Swallow on the Tour Divide
Over at Rapha, Sarah Swallow shares her story about how her Tour Divide almost ended before it even began:
The journey began with a three-day drive from my home in Colorado to the start line in Montana. My partner Adam and I were wrapping up a long day of driving and looking for a place to camp south of Seeley Lake, Montana when we drove over a large bump in the tarmac at 60 mph. The entire truck bounced like a sea-saw, causing us both to cringe when we heard a snap and saw something in the rearview mirror.
“What was that!?” I yelled.”It was a bike…” Adam answered.”Was it your bike?” I asked desperately.”I think it was your bike…” he responded.We stopped the car, and I got out to confirm that my Tour Divide bike lay one hundred yards down the road. I ran toward it hysterically like it was a loved pet that had just been run over.
Head on over to the Rapha blog to read more!
Reportage
Tour Divide Bikes: Arya’s Tour Divide 2021 Crust Bikes Romanceür Tourer
This bicycle named Lil Romeo was chosen for my first attempt at the Tour Divide based on trust built over the years of adventuring together. A Reynolds 853 steel Crust Romanceür that I’ve ridden for 4 years in 4 different United Nations recognized countries. The custom frame bag that held food, 3 liters of water, and often a can of nitro coffee has the Tibetan national flag that is not recognized by the United Nations. I love this flag almost as much as I love this bike. Not for the sake of Nationalism, but for the sake of Beauty. Lots of parts on this bike were selected for beauty, practicality, and nostalgia.
Radar
Jambz Interviews Sarah Swallow Post-Great Divide
@jambi_jambi, Sarah’s stand in influencer during the Tour Divide 2021, interviews Sarah after the race has finished with some of her own questions as well as answering some viewers questions.
Discussing mental strength, equipment, working with each other, hygiene on tour and more.
Radar
How Sarah Swallow is Preparing for the Tour Divide
Our friends Sarah and Jorja pulled together this video, showcasing how Sarah is preparing for the Tour Divide this year:
Sarah Swallow, professional adventure cyclist, cycling the 2021 Tour Divide Route. In this video we find out more about; 1. Who she is 2. What she is setting out to achieve 3. Where she is at with her preparation for the 2021 Tour Divide 4. and answers some questions from friends and family Check out her GoFundme for the Cairn Project here;
“For this challenge, I am teaming up with The Cairn Project to fundraise $5,000 to provide outdoor opportunities for more young women and girls. I have had the incredible privilege and opportunity to make my passion for adventure cycling as my work. I want to help create accessible pathways for more young women and girls to pursue a similar lifestyle, adventure goal, or profession. I never knew this life of mine was possible or even an option. If young women and girls could feel inspired by what I do and see that they could do it too, or to get exposed to what they love to do outdoors at an early age, I think it could make a positive impact on their lives, and the lives of others around them. Over the next few months, I’ll be fundraising for The Cairn Project by sharing my story as a young girl and how I found purpose in life through riding my bicycle as I prep my mind, body, and equipment for one of the most significant endeavors of my life. To learn more about my trip, read my blog post. To follow my journey, follow me on Instagram.
