On its last EDT ride, I took it on a loop from Davis to Cass, West Virginia, then northward back to Davis via another route.
It’s a drop-bar 29er at heart, with the confidence and poise of a mountain bike, the stance and pedal feel of a stout gravel rig, clearance for 2.4” tires, and a comfortably compliant fork and seat stays. However, I got the Cutthroat specifically for scouting this route, which was a great choice. That’s partially due to the fact that I’ve had this bike in my possession longer than others. This Salsa Cutthroat has seen the most EDT miles out of all the bikes listed here, and to this date, more than any other bike. Check them out below, then read on to find a few other examples and the “dream bike” for the EDT. To better illustrate this, here are five bikes that I’ve used in the scouting process, with some highlights and details about each, what worked, and what didn’t. There are even some sandy sections once you get to the southern tier. The entirety of the route is nearly 70% unpaved, and the off-tarmac sections range from smooth gravel and kitty litter bike paths to chunky doubletrack and “class IV” roads to the occasional stretch of rooty or rocky singletrack and everything in between. The result is a long-distance route that takes in a smorgasbord of regionally changing surfaces. Most of them provide a riding experience that uses a wide variety of surfaces and terrain, which makes it all the more interesting. Embracing that fact was a defining principle in the creation of the EDT. We’ve been riding and making routes in the Appalachians and the surrounding foothills for the last decade, and in our experience, routes in the east have their own style. The East Coast is unique from a bikepacking perspective. This guide will cover each of those rigs, mention a few others that my riding companions and fellow Route Scouts have used, talk about what makes the best bike for this route, finally sumarizing “the ultimate Eastern Divide Trail rig.” In doing so, I’ve ridden several bikes over a lot of miles and used a ton of gear. I’ve also re-ridden spans from the Georgia-North Carolina border up through Vermont-multiple times in some places-to scrutinize the options and figure out the best possible routing scenario. At this point, I’ve pedaled from the Canadian border to Tallahassee, Florida. I’ll outline what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d change, all in effort to help prospective riders effectively plan their trip on this epic route.
Of course, colour choice is personal preference.As we put the finishing touches on the 5,900-mile Eastern Divide Trail (EDT), I wanted to take time to reflect on the bikes and kits I’ve used in the scouting process. Cork or leather tape will give any build a retro flavour, while thicker tape might look out of place on a classy steel bike.īar tape also comes in a range of colours and patterns and can give any build a personal touch, but one thing many cyclists will insist on is bar tape matching the colour of the bike’s saddle. If you are wrapping particularly wide bars, say on a gravel bike, then you will have less material to play with. The length of bar tape can also impact wrapping. When it comes to wrapping, some synthetic bar tapes are high-stretch, making it easier to wrap the tape around brake levers and hoods. This can make wrapping or removing bar tape a tricky affair, but it does hold the tape in place. In some cases, bar tape comes backed with adhesive strips. Maybe you are riding on gravel and want as much vibration to be absorbed as possible, or you ride with cycling gloves so prefer a thinner bar tape. Thickness and backing of bar tape often come down to personal preference. New handlebar tape is a sure-fire way to give your bike a new lease of life.
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