The Tour Divide is one of North America’s most iconic bike events. Take Race Across America, make it a northtosouth route—on dirt roads— and make it selfsupported with no crew, and send it through ecosystems from alpine environs to high chaparral to low desert, going from within Canada (Banff, Alberta, to be precise) to the border fence with Mexico (in Antelope Wells, New Mexico). Add one or two gas station stops for food, some interesting sleeping arrangements, and there you have it: The Tour Divide.

This past June, Litespeed ambassador (and Chattanooga, Tenn. native) Matt Schweiker added the Divide to his already impressive bikepack racing palmares, and made the jaunt from well within Canada across the border into Montana, then south into Colorado, and onward into Antelope Wells, New Mexico to the border with Mexico, finishing 22nd overall in a wildly impressive 18 days, 12 hours and 23 minutes.