An explorer's dream.

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is a myth for cycling and bikepacking enthusiasts. At 4,400 km from Canada to New Mexico , it's the longest mountain bike route in the world. Thousands of kilometers of dusty trails, mountains stretching as far as the eye can see, the horizon cut by the Rockies.

For Axel Carion , explorer and founder of BikingMan, this crossing was not just a sporting challenge. "It's a legendary American route that I absolutely wanted to achieve." A childhood dream, a call to adventure, and a dive into the heart of America, far from the clichés. In 2025, Axel took on this extraordinary challenge alongside ultracyclist Grégory Girard (eight participations in BikingMan).

Endless tracks and inhabited silences.

Riding the Great Divide means accepting total autonomy . Sometimes 200 km without refueling. It means learning to count every sip of water, every ration. It also means encountering furtive presences—a bear, a deer, the howl of a wolf in the distance—and remembering that you are never alone, even in the vastness.

And then there are the silences. The ones that settle in when the asphalt has long since disappeared, when the tires bite into the earth and the breath falls into step with the rhythm of the mountain.

Prepare for the unpredictable.

To tackle this demanding route, Axel and his traveling companion, Grégory Girard, spent months preparing. Test expeditions in Bolivia and Colombia, a training weekend in the Vercors with a fully loaded bike, adapting to the altitude (over 2,000m over nearly 4,000km)...

Because the Great Divide is unforgiving. One equipment mistake, one misplaced breakage, and the adventure ends. Here, you have to be able to count on every piece of equipment.

What equipment for the Great Divide?

The choice of equipment is decisive . Axel and Greg rode with:

  • a robust hardtail mountain bike ,

  • tent, sleeping bag, mattress and stove for self-sufficiency,

  • equipment thoroughly tested before departure.

“On the Great Divide, you have to choose your equipment carefully because once you're there, it's you, your bike and nothing else!”

👉 Discover the full details of Axel's equipment in video

The best moments of the expedition.

While the course doesn't present any major technical difficulties, it does require endurance and vigilance. For Axel, the most emotional moment remains arriving at the Mexican border alongside Greg:

“Seeing him realize that he had completed this crazy journey at a very (very) intensive pace, is an emotion that will remain etched in my memory!”

Axel Carion's tips for successfully navigating the Great Divide.

  • Do your research in advance : know the route, the risks, the supply points.

  • Train on the field with loaded equipment.

  • Choose your equipment carefully : prioritize reliability and autonomy.

Why this adventure inspires Go'Lum.

At Go'Lum, we share this belief: a great adventure can only be achieved with reliable equipment . Like Axel, we know that in the heart of the Rockies or during an ultra, equipment must be an ally. That's why our headlamps, like the Piom3 , are designed to offer autonomy, reliability and comfort in the most demanding conditions.

Conclusion

The Great Divide is more than a cycling route. It's a human and athletic adventure , an immersion in the great American outdoors, and a school of resilience. Axel Carion's story reminds us that to undertake such a challenge, you need preparation, mental strength... and equipment that never lets you down.

👉 Discover the Go'Lum Piom3 , the headlamp designed for demanding explorers.

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