Baja Divide
In 2012 the German couple Franzi and Jona (“Tales on Tyres”) quit their jobs and went for a global hiking tour starting in New Zealand before crossing to India and Nepal. Soon they got tired of walking, organised some bikes and continued on two wheels through Iran and Mongolia. After working in Canada for a year to replenish their funds, they started their current trip zig-zagging from Alaska to Patagonia. After completing “The Great Divide” they realised the bikes they were using couldn’t withstand the conditions they were encountering – and that’s how we came on board. We met up with Franzi and Jona in the Sierra Nevada in September last year and provided them 2 of our Beyond+ bikes. After getting them loaded up Franzi and Jona headed south, to take on the “Baja Divide”.
The “Baja Divide” is a new but already established 2.735km long off-pavement bikepacking route, starting in San Diego, USA and following the length of the Baja California Peninsula all the way to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.
It crosses the Peninsula several times, connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. On it ’s way cutting through beautiful backcountry deserts and major mountain ranges. Using already existing roads and tracks, of which more than 95% are unpaved, the Baja Divide leads into the remote wilderness of Mexico’s Peninsula. This often requires the rider, to carry 2-3 days of food and up to 12 liters of water. The condition of the route varies, between graded dirt roads to rocky or sandy jeep tracks and this makes the riding tough and sometimes technical. It ’s essential to pack light and make use of the warm, dry climate between November and March.
Finishing the Great Divide in the USA, Franzi & Jona not only wanted to explore more bike packing routes on their way to South America, but also to ride something even more challenging. Excited to test out their comfort zones and physical boundaries, they started the Baja Divide at the beginning of November, as one of the first ones ever riding the route. It took them more than seven weeks to ride from San Diego to La Paz, the covered daily distances varying between 50 and 80km.
The riding was tough, beautiful and breathtaking in every way. They enjoyed being surrounded by vast desert landscapes and days, passing without coming across towns or many other people. The Baja Divide is mainly about being in the backcountry, but nonetheless specially in the south part of the route, they passed through small Spanish mission towns, with an abundances of history, palm trees and charm, basic fishercamps or bustling highway towns, Which give you the opportunity to refill your resources and enjoy some worldy comforts. The Baja Divide felt raw and bold to them and they can only recommend to take on the challenge and ride it.
Be aware, that this Route requires special equipment and some previous bikepacking experience, for more detailed information head over to www.bajadivide.com