The Bicycles Of The Ruta Maya

 

Becky Timbers is the Content Creator on the 2023 Ruta Maya. She takes a close look at the variety of bicycles that the riders brought to the trip.

Choosing a bike for a TDA adventure tour is no minor task. It must be rugged enough to handle all variety of roads from smooth pavement to loose and chunky gravel and comfortable enough to tolerably withstand long days in the saddle. Speed and efficiency are also factors, of course, but not as important as you might think. If you’re new to cycle touring, it’s better to view these kind of trips as a marathon instead of a sprint. A durable, comfortable bike is almost always a better option over a lightweight and speedy one.

For the 3,065km Ruta Maya tour from Costa Rica to Mexico, TDA recommends a wide tire mountain bike with front fork suspension because much of the route is on gravel roads and questionable asphalt. With the first week of the Ruta Maya behind us, the riders have gotten a feel for how their bikes handle these roads and changing conditions. Since the bikes are an integral part of the trip, they deserve their own mention – below are the bikes of the Ruta Maya!

Sally Weatherald (Australia) 1st TDA Tour

BIKE: Liv Devote aluminum fully rigid
GEAR: Ortlieb handlebar pack, Topeka saddle bag, Panaracer Gravel King sk+ 700 x 38c tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Australia
THE VERDICT: Love it! Designed to be a rugged and durable gravel bike that is ready for anything – perfect for the Ruta Maya.

Merrill Furlow (USA) 4th TDA Tour

BIKE: Specialized Fuse
GEAR: Topeak saddle bag, Rapha handlebar bag, SKS X-TRA-DRY XL rear fender, Selle leather saddle, Giant 27.5 x 2.1 tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: The Ruta Maya tour is its first adventure!
HOW IS IT DOING? Too soon to tell.

John Archibald (UK) 1st TDA Tour

BIKE: Specialized Diverge STR carbon dual suspension
GEAR: 40/50 1x gearing, 30 mm rear shock and 20 mm front fork, evoc saddle bag, Tailfin top tube bag, Redshift ShockStop suspension stem, Schwalbe G-One AllRound 700 x 45c tires and Schwalbe Pro One TLE 700 x 34c tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: The Ruta Maya is its first trip!
THE VERDICT: Really happy with the gearing, front and rear suspension helps smooth out rough patches.

Catharine Archibald (UK) 1st TDA Tour

BIKE: Open WI.DE carbon fully rigid
GEAR: 40/50 1x gearing, Apidura saddle bag, Apidura frame and top tube bag, 2 Moosetreks water bottle/snack bags, Schwalbe G-One AllRound 700 x 45c tires and Schwalbe Pro One TLE 700 x 34c tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: Lands End to John O’Groats, All over the UK, Madeira
THE VERDICT: Really happy with the gearing, but challenging on the gravel. It would be nice to have a mountain bike.

Andrew Brink (Canada) 2nd TDA Tour

BIKE: MEC Cote steel fully rigid
GEAR: Lezyne top tube phone case, Scicon saddle bag, Panaracer Gravel King sk+ 700 x 43c and 700 x 28c tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: Africa, daily commuter to work
THE VERDICT: Not ideal on this terrain, could use easier gearing.

Dick Buter (Netherlands) 2nd TDA Tour

BIKE: Van Nicholas titanium hardtail
GEAR: Rohloff Speedhub and belt drive, Vaude Trailsaddle, Zéfal top tube bag, Ergon GP2 grip, Continental Terra Speed 700 x 45c tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Europe, South America
THE VERDICT: Great! Maintenance-free drivetrain is working well.

Kate Dunster (Australia) 1st TDA Tour

BIKE: Trek Fuel Ex Carbon dual suspension
GEAR: Apidura saddle, Ergon GP3 grips, Schwalbe Racing Rays 27.5 x 2.25 tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: The Continental Divide in the US
THE VERDICT: Wouldn’t bring a full suspension next time, but it is nice for the steep, loose downhill sections.

Sarah Gates (USA) 1st TDA Tour

BIKE: Rodeo Labs Flaanimal Steel fully rigid
GEAR: Redshift ShockStop Seatpost, Redship Kitchen Sink Handlebars, Tailfin top tube bag, fi’zi:k Vento Argo Saddle, Knog fender, 2 Tailfin fork cages and dry bags, renéHerse Umtanum Ridge 650b x 55 tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, Gravel Royal Race in Canada, all over the Western US, Vancouver Island
THE VERDICT: It’s comfortable and can handle all the diverse terrain the Ruta Maya has thrown at us.

Jeanine Hartnett (USA) 4th TDA Tour

BIKE: BMC Two Stroke aluminum hardtail
GEAR: Saddle bag, Bontrager palm support grips, Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour 700 x 38c tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: This is its first trip!
THE VERDICT: Nice to have front fork suspension.

Ted Malden (UK) 2nd TDA Tour

BIKE: Marin Team Marin aluminum hardtail
GEAR: Topeak saddle bag, Topeak Defender m2 (rear), Topeak Tetrafender (front), Schwalbe Marathons and Maxxis Tomahawks 29 x 2.3 tires, Restrap handlebar bag W
HERE ITS BEEN: First big trip! Some mountain biking around London
THE VERDICT: Great gearing, good for this type of terrain.

Wendy McDonald (USA) 2nd TDA Tour

BIKE: Moots Routt ESC titanium hardtail
GEAR: Rhinowall top tube case, Moots half frame bag, Cinturato Pirelli gravel 700 x 45c tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: The Ruta Maya is its first trip!
THE VERDICT: Perfect for this kind of terrain.

Justin Ripley (USA) 2nd TDA Tour

BIKE: Moots Routt ESC titanium fully rigid
GEAR: Rhinowall top tube case, Moots half frame bag, Cinturato Pirelli gravel 700 x 45c tires
WHERE ITS BEEN: The Ruta Maya is its first trip!
THE VERDICT: Good for this type of terrain, but would be nice to have front suspension.

Cindy Rogers & Jim Tory (Canada) 2nd TDA Tour

BIKES: Canyon Exceeds carbon hardtails
GEAR: Revelate Designs feed bags, Apidura/Ortlieb saddle bags, Ergon GP2 grips, Panaracer Gravel King sk+/ 700 x 50c (rear) and Vittoria Terreno (front) 29 x 2.25
WHERE THEY’VE BEEN: The Ruta Maya are they’re first trip!
HOW ARE THEY DOING? Bought for this trip and so far they’re doing great.

Hubert Schanne (Germany) 3rd TDA Tour

BIKES: Cube LTD aluminum hardtail
GEAR: Thudbuster seat post suspension, Ergon palm support grips, Schwalbe Marathon 365 28 x 2.25
WHERE ITS BEEN: India
THE VERDICT: Bought for 500 Euros in 2015 and will donate it in Mexico – this is its last hoorah!

Sjoerd van Berkel (Netherlands) 1st TDA Tour

BIKE: Merida Big.Nine carbon hardtail
GEAR: Topeak top tube case, Topeak saddle bag, rear fender, Schwalbe Racing Ralphs 29 x 2.25
WHERE ITS BEEN: Kenya, Austria
THE VERDICT: Great bike for this trip.

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