What an epic ride! There were a couple of lows, but seeing how exhausted you must have been both physically and mentally, that is some serious mental fortitude. You are one tough cookie. Well done Katie, what you did all on your own is amazing, you should be so proud of yourself..What an accomplishment! I am in awe of your tenacity. Best wishes from the UK😊
I like that you talk about stuff no one talks about. Wet wipes and road side diarrhea. Oh the stories I could tell. Also, your video is one of the best I’ve seen since sweary Dave.
Thanks for giving your accounts of the ride. Seemed like more bad weather than good. Nothing speaks of developing character better than when folks tackle adversity through biking. I, as many hopefuls, plan on doing this ride soon. Great information you've passed along that gives us all confidence enough to do this ride. Thanks again young lady. You are most definitely an inspiration.
Katie, what a great recap of your TD race experience. You are so honest in showing the realities that you faced daily. My wife and I always follow you and Andrew when you are racing, you both had amazing results. You are not only a super athlete but you are so brave in the face of adversity. Thanks again for sharing
I have to tell you this, you and Andrew's 2018 vid was my motivation for wanting to ride the Tour. Finally after covid I was able to do so this year and even had the pleasure of meeting Andrew in Brush Mountain lodge (he had finished long before). I explained this to him as well and he asked what was special about your vid to which I replied: you made it real, you showed the things that went wrong, the flaws and it is those parts that made it so compelling. This is the same with your video above, you show the truth and that is what creates the interest and the drama, thank you for sharing. Hi Andrew, it is Lee the Brit here, hope you are well and all the best for the future.
Everytime I see Katie and Andrew slamming their SS up in the Rockies I grab my bike, swap off the cassette, go for a single speed ride and feel fabulous. You guys are a match made of steel
Katie - I just love your video and have shared it with a lot of friends. I'm doing the Divide in June and have some medical issues - you give me hope as you rocked it on a single speed. The pure, raw, reality that you captured on your ride is just epic!
LOL I love watching you go through the emotional highs and lows. I get tearful too when I am exhausted. Thanks for such a great recap of the divide.. wow just wow!
Just came across y’all’s channel. Subscribed. Can’t wait to check out more content. Katie, I really appreciate you sharing what you were really going through out there. It was intense and powerful!
Just happened upon your RU-vid channel and found this epic ride. You showed the reality of biking, the good the bad and oh those thunderstorms. Great job and a big congratulations to you!!
Great video. I passed you by on the road between Elk Pass and Koko. You were grinding up a little hill and I was stunned anyone would want to do this on a singlespeed, but you got there faster than me, all while filming these awesome video fragments, so kudos to you!
Those mountain views are just absolutely beautiful. I ride here in Florida but I would love to ride CDT at some point, least part of it, but looks like I need mountain bike for that. It's hard and takes lot of will power too.
This is hands down the best and most beautiful vid I’ve seen from the tour divide. Holy heck the storms were relentless. Inspired seeing you carry on in the face of real danger. What a legend.
Thanks for the vid Katie. I hate the electrical storms too. It was chilling to see you in the storm you described at Brush Mountain.. The climbing, wildlife, rain, headwinds - you are hardcore mate.
After watching this i will never complain about riding on "crushed stone" when the trails change from smooth and paved. And i thought RAGBRAI was tough. I will hold your beer Katie, wow, what you guys accomplished was amazing.
Really fun video to watch! Great job. You are a badass, tough-as-nails, independent woman who knows how to really work hard. Who did you learn those great characteristics from - your mom, your dad, or? I’m guessing your dad. Props to both your mom & dad for raising you up right.
You come across the odd person on youtube who seriously blows you away by their love/dedication/commitment/plus entertaining to watch and YOU Katie are up there with the best in the world after watching this.
That was a hellacious looong ride w killer lightning storms & bears, but you kept on, grace under pressure, tenacious and courageous. Thanks Katie for showing me how to set bigger goals and go for it!
Great video thanks, we passed each other going the opposite way as you were bombing downhill near Abiquiu reservoir. that was a soggy few days! Phenomenal effort from you on a single speed.
Thanks for this awesome video!! Appreciate hearing about all your adventures bike racing and touring. Was curious about how you adjusted your cleats to help with pain? Thanks for any tips!
Great video full of candid realities - you made lots of smart choices on the way. I especially liked the picnic table turned tent . Bravo for pushing through all that rain and snow in the first week - ugggh, that's tough mentally.
Hi Katie..Your video is one of the few that I have wifey sit down and watch. Thank-you for that. Just curious, what gear inches, front and rear teeth combo, crank length are you riding? Do you watch your rpm and at what rpm do you usually get off and walk? Thanks again.
For Tour Divide I used 32x17, 165mm cranks. I don't have a rule about when I walk, but I'll get off the bike when it feels like I could move faster while walking or if I'm using too much energy to keep pedaling.
Watching this makes my heart ache to be back out there again. Even the crappy weather makes me think about how alive the whole adventure makes you feel.
Badass! Very cool that you took the time recording bits of your journey. Thanks for sharing! I have to ask, did you end up having to buy lights since your Dynamo light died? Or maybe you already had a light on hand. Congrats on finishing the divide! This really seems to show some of the highs and lows of your adventure. Quite amazing all around!
Great video! I never really know what all you riders go thru. 22:25 just before Ute Pass hope you got some water from blue cooler at road, know many have or atleast 15 cases so far this year, met a bunch of wonderful folks here now. Ute Pass Steven.... Opps, was white cooler 2022, blue 2023
It's a Chumba Sendero (mountain bike). I toured the route in 2018 on a rigid mountain bike and chose a suspension fork this time. My hands and wrists were grateful! The general consensus is that 2.2" tires are ideal for this route. If you really wanted to do it on a gravel bike you could, but it would definitely be less comfortable.
Well I guess if youwant to do personal record and make the great divide a race the time to do it is when your younger, fort me personally I would stop in the towns take in a social and historical scene leave with some memories rather than gas station food , get good sleep and then move on and take pictures take the moment to really enjoy some scenary because in the end of it is a a beast of a suffer fest.,.. well I guess it serves no purpose other than to satisfy the ego ..,.. I do know one thing about this kinda experience is that no one will care about the ride or how fast you did it more than you do and will forget the event within a week it will just your journey and nothing more to remember.
I'm lucky to have toured the Great Divide route too! Racing is just a different way to experience the route. I have some incredible memories from both. Both are worthwhile experiences, but if I had only one chance to ride the Divide, I'd definitely go with touring. I hope you get the chance to ride the route the way you'd like someday.
