Things that Break on the Tour Divide - Mechanicals Along The World's Toughest Bikepacking Race

Over the course of a 2700-mile bike race, things are bound to happen-like a nagging injury, running into a rainstorm, and yes, mechanical issues. While some of these things can be controlled, others sometimes happen by the luck of the draw. In this video, Neil asks a few folks who participated in the 2023 Tour Divide to share their experiences with mechanical issues and how they handled them.
This video was supported by 1UP USA; learn more about their bike carriers here: 1up-usa.com/?...
Outline:
Intro - 0:00
Justinas Leveika - 1:54 ( / justin.and.bikes )
Alex Howes - 2:58 ( / alex_howes )
Chris Burkard - 4:17 ( / chrisburkard )
Katya Rakhmatulina - 5:53 ( / kat__yea )
Ulrich Bartholmoes - 8:25 ( / ubartholmoes
Neil - 9:35
Takeaways - 11:17
Related Links:
Tour Divide Tracker - bikepacking.com/tracker/2024-...
All photos by Eddie Clark for BIKEPACKING.com - www.eddieclarkmedia.com/
Do you enjoy our videos, routes, and articles? Help sustain this resource by joining the Bikepacking Collective: bikepacking.com/join/?...
#bikepacking #pedalfurther
-------------
::About The Host::
Neil Beltchenko ( / neil_beltchenko )
Geometry: 150lbs, 5'9.5", 32" inseam, +2.5" Ape index

[@chrisbailey2861]

I know advertisements make this whole thing happen but I was happy to see the One Up ad....such an incredible product...love mine!!!

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

They do indeed, we are very thankful for our partnership.

[@JustMikeH]

My extremely trusted local shop actively recommends against SP brand dynamo hubs due to high rates of bearing issues especially with bikepackers. I had already purchased one when I asked them to build a wheel. They said they would build it for me, but recommended I replaced it with a SON dynamo. This was a FANTASTIC episode. Very useful knowledge.

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

if I'm not mistaken, SON is also the most efficient.

[@firsthippy]

Iirc that was an old issue, specifically with 15mm TA combined with Centerlock rotors that required the use of relatively small bearings. I've put 000s of miles on SP and my SON hubs with no issue so can't comment on failure of either yet.

[@justgettingstarted2112]

Great video! I am not a Tour Divide level rider, but I have done the Colorado Trail Race and several other multi day trips. In all my experience my #1 recommendation is.............. A & D Ointment! It does EVERYTHING! Firstly, it makes great chamois cream without causing saddle sores (I use every ride and never get them). If the develop a hot-spot anywhere (arm pits, nipples......), it will shut it down. AND Secondly, it can lube anything! Chains, forks, pumps. Not to mention the first aid applications in case of a crash. Miracle substance! Try it.

[@oilcanracer6388]

Pinion gearbox!!!!!! For the win!!!! I got 75,000 miles on mine so far in all conditions. Pinion wanted my gearbox back at the factory for a inspection, not because it had any problems. And it was perfect inside. I add a little oil every 2 months and change every 6 months due to high mileage.

[@Bartem_]

That's cool! What bike are you running it with? And what do you use it for that you rack up so many miles?

[@Paksusuoli95]

It better, for what they charge.

[@HD46409]

I'm surprised that more people don't use them particularly now that they have electronic shifting. I know there is a slight increase in mechanical drag, but you can't beat the range and durability.

[@braden268]

I've been interested in a priority 600hxt. The pinion seems awesome. Is the drag noticeable?

[@Paksusuoli95]

@@HD46409 Surprised that people don't use a gearbox that is more expensive than most bikes, while requiring a proprietary frame?

[@BewilderedDuck-e5l]

Build it strong, make it comfy, use Loctite. Mike C had it right all those years ago. TD is probably not the place to try out the latest light kit. To finish first, first you must finish.

[@Mike-vd2qt]

On a road tour across the U.S. my newly installed BB seized up. Shimano threaded outboard bearing set replaced by shop before trip. They can fail if over tightened, so my advice is use a could mechanic that uses a torque wrench, and cares about the work. Re wheel failures, for the Divide I would stick with standard i30 rim, 3X spoke pattern, 32 DT spokes with brass nipples, and take a few extra drive side spokes. Happy trails!

[@Pesmog]

I often carry a spare bottom bracket as they can be unreliable. They are very light and easy to fit if you have the threaded version. As I use a flat MTB bar, I carry spare spokes inside the handlebar tube. Considering what they have to put up with it surprises me how resilient wheel bearings are. Me and the bike are well over 120kg but I don't think I have ever had a wheel bearing fail on any bike ever, a hub failure certainly (more than once) but never the bearings.

[@CycleXplorer]

Amazing to think that bikes that complete the Tour Divide probably do more miles that many bikes do in their total life time. So getting to the end with no or minimal issues is a super outcome

[@madisondeans5566]

All great advice!especially nix the electronic shifting s no brainer!!😂😅

[@ivarbrouwer197]

Sadly, hydraulic brakes are just too good, if else one would consider cable actuated disc brakes…

[@Plast_and_Cars]

Square bottom bracket and 8 speed drivetrain is most reliable. If it fail you can buy it anywhere.

[@thebr0wnhornet]

That’s what I’m thinking. All of these problems seem related to using lightweight race-spec drive trains on a long distance mtb race

[@Plast_and_Cars]

@@thebr0wnhornet Especially electronics shifters

[@xuchenglin6256]

This is so revelating. Next maybe make a video about how to avoid/prevent these failures? Would like to run through such a check list before my long distance travel so that I won't have such moments.

[@ShootsProductions]

Things break. That’s it.

[@marnig9185]

Next TD : would see Linkglide;)

[@BodyKnight]

I get the UB point. But would you trust everything brand new from the start with not at least 100 km on it to see if that thing is tight enough or of they didn't forget to grease the bearings or if the rings in the fork are properly installed?

[@CWGable]

Great video. Good advice. I finished SOBO in 2022 (which had a lot of bad/wet weather the first week, and mud in NM) with only a front brake line failure due to catching on a branch of a downed tree (Wigwam river section of Canada). That got fixed in Whitefish MT (Thx, Glacier Cycle). I got a new chain and brake pads in Steamboat. Other than that just clean the bike when I could and keep the drivetrain lubed (Squirt dry lube mostly, but wet lube in Canada when raining and snowing). While my Salsa Cutthroat had 5000 miles on it when I started I changed wheel bearings, bottom bracket, headset, entire drivetrain, about a month before the start. Lucky perhaps but I also think you make your luck.

[@user-gw9dy2nc2v]

dude thank you for posting this, Kiki and me are getting ready for a 435+ mile dog packing trip in Colorado and this first hand information is very helpful.

[@barrybogart5436]

I was doing a ride from Cowichan Lake toward Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, part of the Great Trail across Canada. I was using my venerable Rando bike with BP bags, just as a trial (I later got a real gravel bike). When I approached Kinsol trestle my trusty Deore rear derailleur came apart. One of the four axle pins in the pantograph just fell out. So the derailleur swung sideways! The pin was nowhere in sight. Then I realized I didn't have ANY chain rivet tool so I couldn't even rig a single speed. Fortunately Kinsol Trestle is a tourist mecca so I could hitch hike to a bike shop and buy a tool. Now I carry a pair of them! I carry two pumps too. And spare spokes (with the required tools).

[@pedalscript]

Tolga, the hometown of Justinas, is not in Lithuania, but in Norway. Just as a heads-up as I noticed that on the banner at the bottom of the video in the introduction part.

[@dyadyaBOB]

Alex had to sew his tires couple of times too. Just incredible how he did it on a gravel bike

[@ifell3]

I'm actually thinking that the older technologies might be more robust 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@carlosgaspar8447]

like adding a few extra spokes to a touring wheel back in the old days. many of these stories just sound like 'stupid is as stupid does'. many frames even came with slots for extra spokes.

[@dtbrooks7325]

@@carlosgaspar8447 Just me -- I''d prefer rim brakes; in fact, I did the Colorado part with rim brakes.

[@thebr0wnhornet]

Steel cassettes

[@carlosgaspar8447]

@@dtbrooks7325 as much as disc brakes are better for mud and snow, the biggest obstacle for me at least, would be to stay upright.

[@imcbocian]

Survivor bias

[@JBean_COCR]

Great stuff as usual, as I watch the tracker at 9:30PM MDT, Justinas is 100 mi from finish, will he keep going to finish under 13 days, or??? Amazing!

[@shuarms]

500 miles on a spindle, insane!

[@carlosgaspar8447]

it's the norm in africa

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

@@carlosgaspar8447 in ultra-endurance sports, smallest issues become such a big headache very quickly. 500 miles in one go is different than short rides and plenty of rest in-between.

[@carlosgaspar8447]

@@SonnyDarvishzadeh yup, sounds like another first world dilemma.

[@barrybogart5436]

@@SonnyDarvishzadeh As a Randonneur for 30 years, I only broke a few spokes. But touring, a bit more! I had a pedal/crank thread fail halfway along the ice Fields Parkway in Alberta. Had to pedal very lightly on one side to get to Jasper.

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

Recently I watched a mechanic shop video where he showed the cyclist was using the wrong chain for the cassette (linkglide vs hyperglide) and it wore down the cassette way faster.

[@anthonidanowski9404]

love that this video about mechanical failures features an ad with a porsche suv, because lol they break. alot.

[@thomasseymour4190]

They’re a lot more robust than you think.

[@anthonidanowski9404]

@@thomasseymour4190 i worked as a porsche tech for a few years. i have been through hell and would never own one as i work on my own stuff.

[@user-tt8eo7kg1x]

After watching this video I'm more convinced to get a Pinion gearbox. How come that isnt talked about more? Is it the weight concern? Non traditional?

[@pumpvolumes]

5-600 miles riding on the pedal spindle is outrageous 😂

[@cyrusf.4039]

Sounds like pinion belt drives might thrive in this kind of race despite their weight.

[@TrekMTBikeRider]

Two of the biggest takeaways for me… don’t use new tech and don’t use odd spec’d equipment.

[@jackjr1]

How many of the riders are using tubes instead of tubeless?

[@kai_v_k]

I wouldn't go for a Shutter Dynamo Hub. Either get a moderately expensive Shimano or got directly with a SON hub. Speaking to a tiny German Bike Manufacturer, they never had any issue with SON, but a few returns on the Shutter. (SON Dynamo Hubs bearings can and will break at some point, but I have heard of them replacing bearings for free after 50000 (onroad) km, since they wore out prematurely,)

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Thanks for sharing, that's what I've heard. I have a SON now, and have had no issues, but it has not seen the miles my SP did in 2015.

[@anthonidanowski9404]

yeah my less than a year old sp dynamo needs bearings and to my surprise you have to delace the wheel to replace them. garbage.

[@kai_v_k]

@@anthonidanowski9404 The same is true for the SON 28 though. I think you can only avoid this with Shimanos, but those are notorious for breaking when trying to replace the bearings. Additionally, it is hard to adjust the preload with a cup-and-cone dynamo hub.

[@janiszulis267]

Wondering why people don’t use mini front mudguards to protect expensive forks a little bit?

[@nj-zl7ot]

Probably because mudguards would get clogged with mud and potentially pitch the rider over the handlebars.

[@saddleweary2777]

I'm wandering which is performing better this year with electronic Sram or Shimano

[@wazzup105]

Apart from batteries dying I heard someone who couldn't shift when it was too cold because of battery... Gimme shifting cables please.

[@wazzup105]

Anyways I found my derailleur sticking through my wheel after a crash. Bent it back by hand and got it to a decent single speed (well 2-speed, because I could still shift with my front derailleur so I could even do the hill that stood between me and the end of the ride)

[@anthonidanowski9404]

xt square taper with a wolf tooth 1x and a spare un300 bb. you will make it.

[@GeekonaBike]

Another pro tip, Don't us the big rear cog (aka granny gear) in PB mud, that's unless you wanted to buy a new rear derailleur & wheel anyway ; -)

[@neilburrows6670]

Awesome content. Background music is distracting.

[@Paganiproductions84]

Shimano XT 1x11 or Xt 1x12 work fine none di2 versions

[@morvedra]

Is it really the toughest bikepacking race...? Just asking🤷🏼‍♂️

[@C4Faute]

Why are the spokes breaking on such expensive bikes?

[@thebr0wnhornet]

Prob only 28 spoke wheels for lightness

[@user-ik6mz3qf2o]

Has everybody forgotten about Rohloff?? Electronic modern garbage failing prematurely. Not sustainable

overpriced toys are useless

[@lazyac_]

to sum up, stupid riders riding expansive bikes without knowing how they works. a bit pretencious but riding at this level without able to manage these issues is big mistakes. And they brag about brand sponsorship on instashit and so... to make you buy this.