Divide

In between journeys or long stretches of travel is a great time to reconstitute and reset your bicycle and kit. It’s an excellent time to tweak your setup for better, improved pedaling down the road.

Bike and gear reconstitution and reset is an essential parts of any adventure, either after returning home or when taking an extended pause on the road. Once you’ve got your bike and gear reset, it’s important to tweak your rig a bit with a short trip or two before striking out for the horizon again to minimize future mechanicals. As Murphy once said, “If something can go wrong, it will go wrong, and often at the most inopportune time.”

After pedaling down the U.S. Pacific Coast last summer and getting resettled in the U.S., I’m preparing to perform a late winter/early spring deep maintenance service on my trusty Co-Motion Divide to reset it and my kit for future trips later this year. The Divide is a tried and true rig that has provided tens of thousands of trouble-free traveling kilometers across several countries and after five years is still going strong.

Proper care will keep the bike rolling along for many years to come. In addition to a comprehensive service, I’m using the opportunity to upgrade my setup with some of the things I’ve learned rolling down the Pacific Coast and across the shifting sands of Xinjiang in Western China.

Deep Cleaning, Inspection, and Maintenance 

First, I begin the rig’s reset with a detailed cleaning to remove any dirt or corrosion, which includes scrubbing away any rust and spot painting any chips on the frame. The same goes for any gear, which I did last summer at the end of the ride before storing. To get at all the dirt and corrosion, I remove all the panniers, bags, and racks. I also mark for ease of reassembly, all major bike components.

As part of the process, a detailed inspection follows the cleaning. Each piece and part is inspected and checked for serviceability. Zippers are cleaned and lubricated. The oil in the Rohloff hub is changed, and the axle seals are inspected for leakage.

The hub shifter and brake cables and housings are replaced and adjusted, which makes the bike feel like new. Brake discs are inspected, and pads are replaced if worn down. Otherwise, I will replace the pads just before any long trips. If worn, replace the tires, but I generally try to hold off until just before embarking on a long journey. The same goes for the tubes.

Zippers on the frame bag and pouches should be cleaned and lubricated. As extended exposure to the sun and dust will wear out. A good cleaning and lubrication keeps zippers operating smoothly and trouble-free.

I do the same cleaning, inspection, and maintenance for each piece of gear I carry with me. This includes laundering the sleeping bag, cleaning the stove, etc. It’s a pain dealing the unforced error of not checking your kit out before hitting the road and something breaks. I try to get good gear, so if it breaks or fails, it’s usually my fault.

A Little Help from My Friends

I do most of the maintenance on the Divide, but somethings, I leave to the professionals. A competent mechanic from a trusted local bike shop will true the Divide’s wheels true up the wheels and properly tension the spokes. He will also check the front and rear hub bearings too.

Both of the wheels are still running true, but a French cyclist on a sweet Koga sporting Rohloff hub, I’d met on the Pacific Coast, inspected the spokes on the Divide’s rear wheel, and thought they might not be up to tension. He told me he’d spoke with a rep at the Rohloff factory in Germany, who’d told him it was essential to ensure the spokes on the rear wheel were tensioned correctly to avoid breaking the flange on the hub. I checked out the spokes on the Kona’s rear wheel, and they were noticeably stiffer. So just to be safe, I’m going to get the wheels checked out too.

Sustain What Works

I’m sticking with my current rack and pannier set up. I’ve found them more functional than other setup configurations. I’m only making two changes with the Divide’s present luggage set up, which is replacing the Ortlieb Classic Roller Plus pannier I used on the front rack with a second pair of new Ortlieb Gravel Packs. The older Ortlieb’s are arguably nearing the end of their lives, and I got a sweet deal on a new pair of Gravel Packs. I couldn’t resist. Plus, all four panniers will match.

Running four bags creates a scaleable luggage system that can be sized to suit various requirements. If you are running light on a shorter trips, you can take only one or two bags. For more extended forays afield, especially if you are primarily camping and cooking, a second pair can be added to the front rack to accommodate the additional gear and spare parts.

Second, I’m swapping out the Porcelain Rocket Orbiter frame back with a Revelate Designs Ripio bag, once it returns from a zipper repair. Both are great bags. I just prefer a compartmented frame bag rather than a single compartment of the Ripio. The single compartment of the Orbiter tends to bulge out in the center when loaded. Plus it makes fishing out gear more difficult. The only drawback of the Ripio are the zippers. They are sturdy, but eventually wear out, which is something to consider.

Final setup for the U.S. Pacific Coast journey. Note the camera backpack and tripod mounted on the rear rack.

Change What Doesn’t Work

Like most other riders, I take continually note of things that didn’t work out so great and either replace or eliminate them during or after the trip. After numerous long rides and time in the saddle, I’ve assembled a pretty stout rig. Most of my kit works and is reliable, so it’s mainly a matter of deciding what capabilities are essential, and what ones I can go without, which changed from trip to trip. Gear replacements are less and less. 

Getting the ideal touring rig is an evolutionary process. Each adventure provides me with better ways of setting my bike and gear up. It’s always a balancing act between comfort and capability. I’m a firm believer that a lighter bike is more straightforward to ride than a heavier one. I spend most of my time on my bike and am willing to give up more creature comforts for a lighter bike, especially when there’s a lot of climbing involved. There’s nothing like grinding up a steep road on a heavily laden bike — not fun. I’m always looking for ways to trim the grams wherever possible. However, there is a point where one enters the zone of “stupid light.” Shedding weight is always a challenge. Take what you really need and disregard the rest. Don’t be afraid to adjust your load, for less or more, down the road. 

Adding New Gear

For new gear, I’m going to fabricate a new custom rain cover for the Divide and my photography gear. I’ve acquired a sewing machine, so I’m now able to make or modify kit to better suit my needs. More blog posts to follow. I’m also fiddling with the camera pouches a bit. I need a better set up to access my plate filters. I’ve upgraded my photography backpack and am installing a set of strap bands to tame loose strap ends. Plus, I’m going to tweak my hydration set up too. Building the “ultimate” expedition rig is an adventure in itself. 

Wrap-Up

If you take care of your bicycle and kit, they will take care of you. Take the opportunity and reset the bicycle and gear during downtime. You and your bike will thank you for it farther down the road.