If adventure bikes need a thorough shakedown, then where better to put three prototype bikes to the test than the Denali Highway?!
The Denali Highway is a 135 mile stretch of unpaved and minimally maintained road, southeast of Denali National Park in central Alaska between Cantwell and Paxon. It’s an area that words don’t do justice. The Denali Highway is incredibly remote, off-grid, bumpy as all hell, and mesmerizingly beautiful. Before we told the world about the GT-X, we did our due diligence by nerding out on bikepacking gear, loading up, and heading to the Last Frontier for a few days in the wild to see what this adventure riding gig was all about. Needless to say, we’re hooked.
In an environment as remote and unforgiving as Alaska has a reputation for being, having the right gear was absolutely crucial. With a few “phone a friend” type calls, and a last-minute request to our friends at Orucase for some custom framebags, we had three very different, but very capable machines ready for Denali. Here’s what we rode:
Mark’s Gold GT-2X
Frame: Mosaic GT-2X
Fork: ENVE Adventure Fork
Drivetrain: Shimano GRX Di2 1x // 42t Chainring // 11-42 Cassette
Wheels: ENVE AG25
Tires: WTB Riddler 29×2.25
Cockpit: ENVE Stem, ENVE Seatpost, and ENVE G-Series Handlebar
Frame Bag: Orucase Custom Frame Bag
Handlebar Bag: Orucase Smuggler XL
Saddle Bag: Orucase Saddle Bag 25
Fork Cages: Topeak Versa Cage w/ Nalgene Bottles
Saddle: Brooks Cambium C13
Liz’s Green GT-2X
Frame: Mosaic GT-2X
Fork: ENVE Adventure Fork
Drivetrain: Shimano XT/GRX Mashup
Wheels: ENVE AG25
Tires: WTB Riddler 29×2.25
Cockpit: ENVE Stem, ENVE Seatpost, and ENVE M5 Handlebar
Frame Bag: Orucase Custom Frame Bag
Handlebar Bag: Orucase Smuggler XL
Feed Bag: Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbag
Fork Cages: Salsa Anything Cage & Anything Bags
Saddle: Brooks Cambium C13
Aaron’s Factory Finish GT-1X
Frame: Mosaic GT-1X
Fork: ENVE Adventure Fork
Drivetrain: Shimano XTR 12 Speed
Wheels: ENVE AG25
Tires: WTB Riddler 29×2.25
Cockpit: ENVE Stem, ENVE Seatpost, and ENVE M5 Handlebar
Frame Bag: Orucase Custom Frame Bag
Handlebar Bag: Orucase Smuggler XL
Fork Cages: Salsa Anything Cage & Anything Bags
Saddle: Brooks Cambium C13
Bell: Woody the Woodpecker.
