Kurt Williams
Great Divide
Silverthorne, CO
Time for filming. We left Boulder and Blackburn and the filming crew met us in the South Platte for some movie making. Since Blackburn had put all this together, and invested a lot into us, it was nice that this was all going to be documented. We were both stoked that Dom and Nadia were experience cinematographers for outdoor videos, and really excited that they would climb with us and film! It's sort of surreal having a camera pointed at you, and also really strange. It really makes you uncomfortable and all you want to do is be yourself, genuine, but what you end up looking like is a dweeb. I think we did alright and with the help of Dom and Nadia, they made us comfortable and knew all the right questions to ask in our interviews. I'm excited to see the results and I hope the people out there watching the ranger program like the video.
Those few days went by quick, and before we knew it they were gone, and we were alone on the trail again. Kinda nice actually. I love when we have a few days in between towns and it's just me and Sam riding through the high desert. It's really relaxing despite all the hard riding. We usually just put some music on and ride, nothing more, nothing less.
Southern Colorado was beyond my expectations and maybe one of my favorite places so far. The mountains were stunning, and I just love the desert and all the plants and animals that bring it to life. To me it's such an alive place, and also place where your mind can be clear. To me the desert is therapy and I always leave feeling new.
It's turning out that this trip is much more than just cycling. I'm learning new things every day, about myself, my friendship with Sam, and existing as a human on this planet. I'm even getting better at all this outdoor stuff, you can never know enough.
- IMAGES OF THE ROAD -
Kurt Williams
Gear List
- My Blackburn Gear -
- My Bike Specs -
- • FRAME-Salsa El Mariachi Frame size: M
- • CRANK-SRAM S1000, 26/39T, GXP (make, model, length, chainrings) BOTTOM BRACKET: SRAM GXP
- • SHIFTERS-SRAM X-7 Trigger
- • TIRES-Front Continental X-King Rear WTB Nano both Tubeless (front and rear, make, model and size)
- • STEM-Salsa
- • FORK-Salsa Fargo Forks
- • PEDALS-Cheap flat pedals with straps
- • BRAKES-Avid Elixir 5
- • SEAT POST-Salsa
- • HANDLEBAR-Salsa Pro Moto 2, Salsa Juegos de Fuegos (aerobars, grips, bartape, etc)
- • HEADSET-Cane Creek
- • CASSETTE-SRAM 12-36T
- • WHEELS-29”, Formula Hubs, Stans Arch: (size, hub, rim)
- • SADDLE-Brooks
- • SPARE PARTS-Chain, tubes, shifter cable, spare bolts, patches
Kurt Williams
- FROM: Jaffrey, New Hampshire
- DOB: 1986-02-11
- Single
- OCCUPATION: Dirt Bag
- What was the genesis moment or inspiration for your upcoming adventure? A few years ago I was touring through Central America and through the internet heard about the Great Divide Route. Since then I always wanted to do it, but it wasn’t until I ran across the Blackburn Ranger Program that I started to take it serious. I figured why not apply and see if it was meant to be.
- Have you traveled by bike in the past? I have, done a few shorter bike tours in Oregon. Then, one trip from Denver back to Portland, OR. My most ambitious trip was a few years ago when I biked from California through Central America to Panama, that was a pretty eye opening trip to see where a bike can take you.
- What is your goal for the route? To have fun with my buddy Sam!
- What do you hope to get out of this journey? I hope to successfully bike tour with climbing gear and to use the bicycle as a means to get to climbing locations. A climbing trip completely fueled by bike touring!
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What’s in my bag
1. Cat food alcohol stove - Always works, fuel is super easy to find in any location.
2. Giro long sleeve button up shirt - Super excited to have this, I’ve always bike with a casual shirt. Versatile and also makes you not look like a cyclist, which helps you connect with people along the route.
3. Blackburn Oversized Bottle Cages - Really happy to be using these prototypes! Forget the racks, use these!
4. Tobacco Pipe - For lookin’ cool.