Portraits of People: Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
We started our bikepacking journey in Ushuaia and have travelled over 10.000 miles since. After 1,5 years across South and Central America, we’re now in the United States for a true highlight of the trip: Riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. These are some of the faces of riders, trail angels, and other angels who we’ve had the honour of meeting.
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Riding the GDMBR with Preston
We met Preston in Pie Town, New Mexico. Even though he was a faster rider than we were, we got lucky and were able to spend some days riding and camping together across New Mexico.
Preston is super knowledgeable about bikes, routes and choosing the right gear. He rocked a great, light set-up, and was able to make some impressive mileage. Besides bikes, we appreciated his great sense of humour, grounded presence and all-around camaraderie.
If we ever get to visit New York, Preston will be the first person we’ll give a ring!
Australian Angel on Wheels: Greg
Somewhere in Routt county, Colorado, mere minutes after leaving the mystical Brush Mountain Lodge, we met Greg.
Greg’s from Australia, and came all the way out to the States to ride the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. He is good pals with Hannah (picture below), and they had been riding together on-and-off since the early days of their northbound adventure.
Many conversations with fellow cyclists are about gear, planning, schedules. But talking to Greg was different. It was clear that he spoke straight from the heart. He obviously treasured his connection with other riders, taking his time to admire the landscapes and take photographs. We agreed that we were in the same boat; we, too, prefer to smell the roses. 🌹
Smiles, not miles. And that is why we still remember Greg so fondly.
Hugs and High Respect for Hannah
We met Hannah in one of the GDMBR's famous and beloved rest stops: Brush Mountain Lodge in Colorado. Hannah rolled in, feeling quite overwhelmed and ill, after surviving the brutal slog of the Great Basin.
Fortunately, hugs have healing powers, and talking with Hannah was just an absolute delight. This route was Hannah's first big bikepacking trip, and no doubt about it, she's tackled it with so much courage and grace. You can find her writings about the GDMBR here.
Meeting Matt and Kyle
Matt and Kyle were our first friends we made on the Great Divide. For that reason alone, they’re special 🤎 We had some really fun days of riding and camping with Kyle, our dearest Gen Z from Nevada with an old soul, gentlemanly manners, and impeccable taste in culture and literature. Matt stuck to his own schedule (read: very early mornings), but we were always grateful to bump into him in the evenings. Matt is a great and openminded storyteller who has managed to trade obesity for a life full of cycling and family time.
Ryan’s Crazy 40th Birthday Party 🥳
Once upon a time, in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming, we asked some folks having a barbecue if we could fill up our water bottles.
Fast forward three hours later, and we are happily eating asado and esquites, drinking many Modelos, and dancing around the campfire with this group of painters and construction workers.
At midnight, we all sing together for Ryan’s 40th birthday. We are forever grateful to Benjamin (Chile), Manny (Mexico), Dustin (US), and the others.
Beers and Brotherhood with “Trucker” Dave
What started as “just one beer” 🍺 on our rest day, quickly became one of the best evenings of our trip. Outside a local bar in Butte, Montana, we got invited to join a group of drinking locals, and that’s when we met: Trucker Dave !
He started out trucking around the country, and now works in the town’s copper pit. He took us under his wing, showed us around his place and played pool with us in his favourite pool bar. Besides that, he was so supportive of our trip and dreams. Speaking of a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy— that’s Dave in a nutshell. And we hope that all his dreams & hopes may come true.
Thruhikers on the Continental Divide
After a strenuous night and near-death experience in the Great Basin in Wyoming - more on that later - we stumbled into the town of Atlantic City, population 33.
Adorned with dubious extreme-right flags and posters, this small mining town is an interesting place to say the least. While drinking a beer in the local pub — and yes, that is a grizzly with a cowboy hat in the background — Jimmy and Danni walked into the bar. Hiking the Continental Divide Trail northbound, they were quite hungry!
Jimmy is a fellow Belgian from Ghent, and Danni lives in Germany. The challenging Continental Divide Trail often overlaps with the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, following the same mountain ranges, but they’re going places that bicycles simply can’t reach. These hikers are absolute troopers, battling extreme heat, desolate stretches and long food carries. 💪
A Honeymoon Adventure 💍
Ilse was a few miles ahead when Ryan met this Swiss couple, riding the Great Divide as part of their honeymoon! He loved their energetic energy, and their similar riding attire. Twinning is winning!
He did forgot to take down their names — if anyone recognises them, feel free to message us and we’ll try to get this picture to them!
A Round of Applause for Kirsten!
If you know, you know. I don’t want to spoil too much, because a visit to Kirsten’s famous Brush Mountain Lodge is something you need to experience for yourself. You won’t find any videos of the Lodge on Youtube, and for good reason. Let’s just say that the Lodge offers a wealth of peace, wisdom, friendship and fun. And that’s thanks to Kirsten. Go say hi, ride a bike, donate. 🚲
