We sat down with Eric for an in-depth look at his gear, mindset, and why he’s ready to ride it again tomorrow.

Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you been riding, and how did you get into it?

Cycling hit my radar a bit later in life. It wasn't until my mid-20s that I discovered mountain biking—ironically, soon after moving to the mountains. Once I found my local cycling tribe, I fell hard for cross-country mountain biking and racing.

What made you decide to do the Tour Divide?

I was introduced to the Tour Divide by a cycling buddy. After following the race online and meeting a few participants, I was captivated, and the desire to take on that challenge took root. I'm often drawn to challenges that sit just at the edge of what I believe I'm capable of. I knew I could most likely finish it—but how fast could I do it? That became a driving factor.

How did you prepare for it physically and mentally?

Physically, I started commuting to work, which involved a one-hour descent into the valley and then a four-hour climb back home. Every so often, I’d plot a route on the map and head out for a quick overnighter somewhere local. I also participated in other, shorter bikepacking events such as the AZT 300 and Stagecoach 350.

Mentally, I began putting myself in all sorts of worst-case scenarios. I’d choose routes I wasn’t sure I could complete, head out with minimal food and water, and leave my phone behind to sever any easy exit options. I wanted to make things difficult and make quitting as difficult as possible. Getting out of a tough situation—mentally or physically—was going to have to be my own doing. Experience is a useful tool to carry in the jersey pocket.

What gear did you need?

Bike and component choices were driven by reliability and simplicity—the fewer moving parts, the better. I rode a steel hardtail with a rigid steel fork and mechanical brakes. A handlebar bag stored my bivy sack, sleeping bag, and pad. The frame bag carried a water bladder, tools, and spare parts. My seat bag held insulating clothing and foul weather gear. Any extra space served as my food pantry. A battery-powered GPS unit and lights made recharging as simple as picking up more AAs. Nothing fancy, comfy, or complicated.

What was it like? Were there any highlights? What part was the most challenging?

Beyond the enormous views and complete immersion in nature, the simplicity of purpose and the challenges of self-reliance were some of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

recs

Would you do it again?

In a heartbeat. Let’s go tomorrow. Somebody else will have to break the news to my boss, the bills, the kids, and my partner, though.