I will cycle the GDMBR in 2025 and looking forward to it immensely. your RUclips film about trail angels was something I recognized too. I did two very long trips (both 6 months) and experienced several trail angels along both trips (TransAm and more 11.000 km and Prudhoe bay Panama City 9500 km) it was mindbogling and always unexpected. Goosebumps were all over when something like that happened! Loved your RUclips film only about this! Right after the start of my retirement I will do this GDMBR. Something that will be challenging, to say the least, but I'll be prepared! Thank you for the positive film! Menno from The Netherlands
I could not agree more. The kindness I received from absolute strangers when I rode it in 2021 still moves me to tears. Thank you for highlighting that. Despite all our differences and political rancor, Americans are extremely kind and caring people who really like to help others.
Your welcome & it was such a pleasure to share our kindness experiences. Hopefully we’ve honoured these amazing people properly in the video. Thank you very much for your kind words😊😊😊
I have experienced the same thing on road bike touring. I have been given many water bottles, a couple rides when things got bad and I even had someone offer to let me in their rv to use the bathroom! The world is full of good people.
Such a beautiful video and soo true what you say about kindness. Having race the Tour Divide last year it was lovely to relive the route and the amazing places and people you meet along the day. Thank you. 😊
Yes, there is so much kindness on the road. I love how the 4 x 4's passing on the road would offer whatever food they had--apples, water, chocolate bars that had been melted more than once, what was left of a bag of chips--they were gifts from the heart and it was all delicious. As we ride, we live out the dreams of others, this is often their way of participating in the adventure.
Linda, thanks for your comments and now that I know how to reply to a specific comment, here’s a reply. Heather The campground host at Warm River drove over to our camp site in a golf cart full of food - bread, COLD grapefruit segments, peanut butter, granola bars and I forget what else. Three of us ate it all in 10 mins. Also an Indigenous woman in NM made us fried bread and fried bread sandwiches comprised of cooked ground beef, tomatoes and lettuce. We’d met her the night before in the laundromat at Chaco Trade Centre. She came and found us on the Hwy on our way to Grants.
What a beautiful story! I, myself, did encounter similar experiences, in my two big trips ; 1 year in total and 20.000 km. No bad people in sight! Of course you can have bad luck, but that can happen in your home town too. My next trip plan is to “do” the great Divide mountain bike trail, right after my retirement. People are good by nature and this is a heartwarming experience!! From the Netherlands, Menno
I’m so glad you liked it. We are still in the beginning of retirement (this is my 3rd year and wife is on her 5th yr). We started early - my wife retired at 53 and I retired at 57. We started this journey as we entered retirement; first the 1000 km long Canadian portion in 2021 from Jasper AB to Roosville border xing. Then in 2022 once our border was open we wanted to complete the classic route from Banff to antelope wells. You will love it. That’s a guarantee. There will be moments when you’ll be in pain or want to quit but that does not last long. We met a ton of Bikepacking people from all over the world including the Netherlands. In fact there was more Europeans than North Americans on the route. DM us next year & we’ll see if we can get out to Banff from Calgary to say hi. It’s an easy drive & Calgarians do it all the time so no big deal. Cheers!!
Excellent video. We had the same experience on the Lewis & Clark route a few years ago. We were invited into Rvs during a lightning storm, a church basement in a tornado, given rides to bypass weather.... So much generosity and kindness.
Great video, very well documented. I find it so heartwarming to bump into good kind people when I’m on my travels, it restores my faith in this seemingly cold and cruel world. Cheers 👍
What a fantastic trip and video. Thanks for putting a lump in my throat while I drink my morning coffee. What was your starting and ending date for the trip, saw some snow. I'll be starting the route around the beginning of July, how were the mosquitoes?
Thanks for the kind words. We started the trip from Banff on June 28th. We arrived at Antelope Wells on Aug 18 so 50 days total which included 7 down days due to bike tires repairs, illness & scheduled days off at a couple of national park campgrounds. We bypassed the flathead alternate east of Fernie since Fernie search & rescue did not allow any more riders into the area after doing many TD rescues. We had a bit of hike-a-bike snow at Red Meadows pass & that was it. Overall, it was good biking temps but it rained a bit so be prepared. Mosquitoes were not an issue. Bears were definitely out & active in Alberta & Montana but seemed more interested in eating grass than us humans. There was a problematic griz along a portion of the trail in mountains between Eureka & whitefish, Montana. But rangers had good signage up & eventually closed a campground on the route due to bear causing issues. Definitely keep bear spray in accessible spot. The main challenge for us last year was dealing with monsoon rains & lightning storms. They seem to roll in every afternoon once in Colorado & NM and always when cresting passes. And with the rain, you unfortunately got the mud. Flooding & lightning storms & peanut butter mud forced us to take an alternate route on road from Del Norte to Abiquiu & again from Cuba to Grants so look at forecasts & be flexible. Also had a lot of issues with delamination of rear tires. We rode on Santa Cruz Chameleon hardtails which performed great but our various Maxxis tires sucked. We went thru 3 sets of rear tires which all delaminated. This was a common theme among other riders and with Maxxis rites. Good news, cycle shops cater to GDMBR riders and prioritize your needs when you pop in. All bike shops we used (4 in total), all rocked!!!
Great video Ken and Heather! My friends and I were also impacted by the kindness we felt while riding the divide last year. We met plenty of great people and I interviewed most of them, two of which were you! It was a pleasure meeting you and chatting at a small store in WY. I made a movie about our trip as well and your interviews made the cut, take a look and I hope you enjoy😎. Be well and stay safe out there and see ya again someday on a trail! The interviews start at 1:00:33 ruclips.net/video/yklePjgRA-8/видео.htmlsi=sNEhEOCx65SjTfnV
Sean, it’s great to hear from you. Love your video. It gave us a chance to follow the parts of the journey we weren’t with you guys. Man, you guys were killing it when we were leap frogging with you guys. We couldn’t keep up going up Union Pass. We ended up meeting Hector & Catharine who you also interviewed on downside of Union (they got a ride up on a trailer like they were on a parade float since Hectors back tire was problematic). We camped in Whiskey Grove CG about 30 miles from Pinedale then saw you guys again. You interviewed Hector & Catharine for your video- they are the California couple. Fuck NM was tough. For us the toughest & most challenging. The section from Abiquiu to Cuba was the worst. The first 3rd ok but that middle 3rd going up to top of Mesa then that brutal rutted out part of downhill wrecked my bike. Rear rack snapped in two, my pannier hanger cracked off & I wickedly warped my front tire. We hitched a ride down with guy & his dog. Thank god because not sure how we would have made it. Did you guys finished the route this year? Hope all went well for you guys on the route. Hope you missed the peanut butter mud & flash flooding that we dodged around last year. We texted Hector & Catharine to watch your video & check out their interview. One thing, after we watched your video it wouldn’t load up again & same happened to Catharine when they went to watch it. Maybe check it out to make sure no weird RUclips glitches. We wish you guys & your family all the best & definitely contact us if you are up here in Calgary. You have a place to stay with us. No big rides for us this summer. Heather focused on her veg gardens & I’ve been tackling sanding down our deck. Back on the bikes next year I think. Might tackle the BC Trail from Banff to Fraser Valley (not far from Vancouver). It’s about 1200 kms or so. Then in 2025 three riders we met on Great Divide are coming up to ride us from Jasper to Roosville on Great Divide route. We rode the route in 2021 but will do it again. Also plan to bikepack in UK & Belgium in future. I was in UK and France this year shooting a doc video of my great uncle’s service in Canadian military during WW1. Had an amazing time met & interviewed super cool people (military experts & historians, museum directors & national monument staff). A huge educational experience to learn what soldiers endured & experienced. Also very emotional given it was a family member and we were able to find his military gravesite. That’s all for now, stay safe!!
@@conquerthedivide2021 Ha - I remember seeing Hector and Catharine on the flatbed, when we ran into them, they were great and they lifted our spirits right when we needed it (he was awesome in the video), please thank them for us. I'm not sure what to say about the glitch, its the first I heard of this feedback, thanks, and I will be sure check into it -please don't let it stop you from sharing the hell out of it tho! NM broke us - yes we did get caught in a storm and subsequently the mud. But as our film says -we will be back to finish it out - hell, I wanna do the whole thing again! Robin and I are doing the PA portion of the Eastern divide in October so I'll be working on another video as well as a few other ideas. I love your story about your uncle in WW1 - look forward to seeing it, I'll be sure to subscribe. Glad to catch up, great video you made, and so glad to meet you and share such a positive experience on different levels. Stay in touch and see ya on a trail again someday 😎
I’ve been in many countries and experienced some great things, one of them was in PINEDALE. Thank you so much for this great travelogue with its emphasis on good people.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I will cycle the GDMBR in 2025 and looking forward to it immensely. your RUclips film about trail angels was something I recognized too. I did two very long trips (both 6 months) and experienced several trail angels along both trips (TransAm and more 11.000 km and Prudhoe bay Panama City 9500 km) it was mindbogling and always unexpected. Goosebumps were all over when something like that happened! Loved your RUclips film only about this! Right after the start of my retirement I will do this GDMBR. Something that will be challenging, to say the least, but I'll be prepared! Thank you for the positive film! Menno from The Netherlands
Thank you for watching the film & your kind words. Hope you get a chance to ride the great divide - you will love it!!
Chapeau ,I to received many acts of kindness when cycling on the Trans-Am .
I have experienced kindness from many people (especially, including motorists) during my bicycle travels.
Yes motorcyclists even helped us out in the Yukon when we got double flats at the same time, with our car. RV's, pickups, and cars just kept going.
I could not agree more. The kindness I received from absolute strangers when I rode it in 2021 still moves me to tears. Thank you for highlighting that. Despite all our differences and political rancor, Americans are extremely kind and caring people who really like to help others.
Brought me to tears many times.. thank you
Us as well, happy tears!!
Absolutely moved. Thank you so much.
So glad!
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. Yes, kindness is a superpower.
Your welcome & it was such a pleasure to share our kindness experiences. Hopefully we’ve honoured these amazing people properly in the video. Thank you very much for your kind words😊😊😊
Yes, people were kind to me in a two week bicycle tour around Washington state in 2003.
Bom dia amigos. Ótimo vídeo! Ainda existe bondade, amor e parece que supera........
I have experienced the same thing on road bike touring. I have been given many water bottles, a couple rides when things got bad and I even had someone offer to let me in their rv to use the bathroom! The world is full of good people.
Equally as awe inspiring as the scenery.
Such a beautiful video and soo true what you say about kindness.
Having race the Tour Divide last year it was lovely to relive the route and the amazing places and people you meet along the day.
Thank you. 😊
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you liked it!!
A great video. Thankyou for the opportunity to follow your journey
Our pleasure!
Thank you for making the great video!!
You are most welcome & thank you for watching it!!
Yes, there is so much kindness on the road. I love how the 4 x 4's passing on the road would offer whatever food they had--apples, water, chocolate bars that had been melted more than once, what was left of a bag of chips--they were gifts from the heart and it was all delicious. As we ride, we live out the dreams of others, this is often their way of participating in the adventure.
Linda, thanks for your comments and now that I know how to reply to a specific comment, here’s a reply.
Heather
The campground host at Warm River drove over to our camp site in a golf cart full of food - bread, COLD grapefruit segments, peanut butter, granola bars and I forget what else. Three of us ate it all in 10 mins.
Also an Indigenous woman in NM made us fried bread and fried bread sandwiches comprised of cooked ground beef, tomatoes and lettuce. We’d met her the night before in the laundromat at Chaco Trade Centre. She came and found us on the Hwy on our way to Grants.
What a beautiful story… both in recounting your own adventure and the greater message of the goodness in humanity. Thank you for sharing!
I’m glad you found the message meaningful!
What a beautiful story! I, myself, did encounter similar experiences, in my two big trips ; 1 year in total and 20.000 km. No bad people in sight! Of course you can have bad luck, but that can happen in your home town too. My next trip plan is to “do” the great Divide mountain bike trail, right after my retirement. People are good by nature and this is a heartwarming experience!! From the Netherlands, Menno
I’m so glad you liked it. We are still in the beginning of retirement (this is my 3rd year and wife is on her 5th yr). We started early - my wife retired at 53 and I retired at 57. We started this journey as we entered retirement; first the 1000 km long Canadian portion in 2021 from Jasper AB to Roosville border xing. Then in 2022 once our border was open we wanted to complete the classic route from Banff to antelope wells. You will love it. That’s a guarantee.
There will be moments when you’ll be in pain or want to quit but that does not last long. We met a ton of Bikepacking people from all over the world including the Netherlands. In fact there was more Europeans than North Americans on the route.
DM us next year & we’ll see if we can get out to Banff from Calgary to say hi. It’s an easy drive & Calgarians do it all the time so no big deal.
Cheers!!
Excellent video. We had the same experience on the Lewis & Clark route a few years ago. We were invited into Rvs during a lightning storm, a church basement in a tornado, given rides to bypass weather.... So much generosity and kindness.
Great video, very well documented.
I find it so heartwarming to bump into good kind people when I’m on my travels, it restores my faith in this seemingly cold and cruel world.
Cheers 👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was a great story, adventure, and video. Thanks for sharing your experience ✌
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Tony!!
What a fantastic trip and video. Thanks for putting a lump in my throat while I drink my morning coffee. What was your starting and ending date for the trip, saw some snow. I'll be starting the route around the beginning of July, how were the mosquitoes?
Thanks for the kind words. We started the trip from Banff on June 28th. We arrived at Antelope Wells on Aug 18 so 50 days total which included 7 down days due to bike tires repairs, illness & scheduled days off at a couple of national park campgrounds. We bypassed the flathead alternate east of Fernie since Fernie search & rescue did not allow any more riders into the area after doing many TD rescues. We had a bit of hike-a-bike snow at Red Meadows pass & that was it. Overall, it was good biking temps but it rained a bit so be prepared.
Mosquitoes were not an issue. Bears were definitely out & active in Alberta & Montana but seemed more interested in eating grass than us humans. There was a problematic griz along a portion of the trail in mountains between Eureka & whitefish, Montana. But rangers had good signage up & eventually closed a campground on the route due to bear causing issues. Definitely keep bear spray in accessible spot.
The main challenge for us last year was dealing with monsoon rains & lightning storms. They seem to roll in every afternoon once in Colorado & NM and always when cresting passes. And with the rain, you unfortunately got the mud. Flooding & lightning storms & peanut butter mud forced us to take an alternate route on road from Del Norte to Abiquiu & again from Cuba to Grants so look at forecasts & be flexible.
Also had a lot of issues with delamination of rear tires. We rode on Santa Cruz Chameleon hardtails which performed great but our various Maxxis tires sucked. We went thru 3 sets of rear tires which all delaminated. This was a common theme among other riders and with Maxxis rites. Good news, cycle shops cater to GDMBR riders and prioritize your needs when you pop in. All bike shops we used (4 in total), all rocked!!!
Great video Ken and Heather! My friends and I were also impacted by the kindness we felt while riding the divide last year. We met plenty of great people and I interviewed most of them, two of which were you! It was a pleasure meeting you and chatting at a small store in WY. I made a movie about our trip as well and your interviews made the cut, take a look and I hope you enjoy😎. Be well and stay safe out there and see ya again someday on a trail! The interviews start at 1:00:33
ruclips.net/video/yklePjgRA-8/видео.htmlsi=sNEhEOCx65SjTfnV
Sean, it’s great to hear from you. Love your video. It gave us a chance to follow the parts of the journey we weren’t with you guys.
Man, you guys were killing it when we were leap frogging with you guys. We couldn’t keep up going up Union Pass. We ended up meeting Hector & Catharine who you also interviewed on downside of Union (they got a ride up on a trailer like they were on a parade float since Hectors back tire was problematic). We camped in Whiskey Grove CG about 30 miles from Pinedale then saw you guys again. You interviewed Hector & Catharine for your video- they are the California couple.
Fuck NM was tough. For us the toughest & most challenging. The section from Abiquiu to Cuba was the worst. The first 3rd ok but that middle 3rd going up to top of Mesa then that brutal rutted out part of downhill wrecked my bike. Rear rack snapped in two, my pannier hanger cracked off & I wickedly warped my front tire. We hitched a ride down with guy & his dog. Thank god because not sure how we would have made it.
Did you guys finished the route this year? Hope all went well for you guys on the route. Hope you missed the peanut butter mud & flash flooding that we dodged around last year.
We texted Hector & Catharine to watch your video & check out their interview. One thing, after we watched your video it wouldn’t load up again & same happened to Catharine when they went to watch it. Maybe check it out to make sure no weird RUclips glitches.
We wish you guys & your family all the best & definitely contact us if you are up here in Calgary. You have a place to stay with us.
No big rides for us this summer. Heather focused on her veg gardens & I’ve been tackling sanding down our deck. Back on the bikes next year I think. Might tackle the BC Trail from Banff to Fraser Valley (not far from Vancouver). It’s about 1200 kms or so. Then in 2025 three riders we met on Great Divide are coming up to ride us from Jasper to Roosville on Great Divide route. We rode the route in 2021 but will do it again. Also plan to bikepack in UK & Belgium in future. I was in UK and France this year shooting a doc video of my great uncle’s service in Canadian military during WW1. Had an amazing time met & interviewed super cool people (military experts & historians, museum directors & national monument staff). A huge educational experience to learn what soldiers endured & experienced. Also very emotional given it was a family member and we were able to find his military gravesite.
That’s all for now, stay safe!!
@@conquerthedivide2021 Ha - I remember seeing Hector and Catharine on the flatbed, when we ran into them, they were great and they lifted our spirits right when we needed it (he was awesome in the video), please thank them for us. I'm not sure what to say about the glitch, its the first I heard of this feedback, thanks, and I will be sure check into it -please don't let it stop you from sharing the hell out of it tho!
NM broke us - yes we did get caught in a storm and subsequently the mud. But as our film says -we will be back to finish it out - hell, I wanna do the whole thing again!
Robin and I are doing the PA portion of the Eastern divide in October so I'll be working on another video as well as a few other ideas. I love your story about your uncle in WW1 - look forward to seeing it, I'll be sure to subscribe.
Glad to catch up, great video you made, and so glad to meet you and share such a positive experience on different levels. Stay in touch and see ya on a trail again someday 😎
I’ve been in many countries and experienced some great things, one of them was in PINEDALE. Thank you so much for this great travelogue with its emphasis on good people.
Pinedale was one of favourite stops on the GDMBR!! Very cool town!!