Fastest bike at Tour Divide: Mike Hall’s Pivot LES 29er
It’s rare to see such an incredible performance on the Tour Divide. Many times bad weather in the form of rain, snow and/or mud prevents racers from putting in such fast rides. But that was not the case for Mike Hall this year. Preparation and experience are also of the utmost importance, and for Hall it was a performance that has been many years in the making that all finally came together this June. Photo by Eddie Clark
The third time at the Tour Divide proved to be a charm for British endurance racer Mike Hall. Hall took his second victory in the self-supported 2745-mile race that roughly follows the Continental Divide from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, and includes nearly 200,000 feet of vertical (equivalent to ascending Mount Everest from sea-level 7 times). In 2013, Hall was on pace to set a new course record, but forest fires required an off-course reroute that negated any chances at the record. However, this time around the weather and course conditions were favorable, as was the performance of his well dialed Pivot LES 29er carbon hardtail race bike. Indeed, Hall set a new Tour Divide course record of 13 days, 22 hours, 51 minutes, breaking the previous record by 12 hours, 46 minutes. Hall’s average distance per day was 194.1 miles with total moving time of 10:14:36, with stops for rest and refueling making up the additional time. Photographer Eddie Clark was on scene and provided this up close look at the bike that got Hall to the finish line in New Mexico.
Hall’s 2016 bike was much like his second Tour Divide Pivot LES 29er with the obvious difference being the color. Technically, the big difference is this frame was built around the boost 148 hub standard. Also similar were the Shimano XTR brakes and drivetrain, however his 2016 bike received an upgrade in the form of the electronic Shimano Di2 shifters and rear derailleur. Additionally, this year Hall ran a Race Face 38-tooth chainring mated to an 11-speed 11-40 XTR cassette. Photo by Eddie Clark
Continue to page 2 to learn more about Mike Hall’s race winning bike »
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