What knife to take bicycling the Great Divide?

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EricFallkniven

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May 9, 2010
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I'm not exactly sure where to post this... is there a general discussion section? I haven't seen one.
*Edit* ha never mind, I found it.

Anyway,
What knife(s) would you take on a bicycle trip down the Continental Divide?
This trip, of course, is only theoretical at this point in time because I am not in the shape for such an endeavor, nor do I have the funds or the two months off that it would require.

I did this trip on a dual sport motorcycle when I was 17 (two summers ago) so I’m aware of the length (~2500 miles) and the amount of elevation changes (It’s been compared to scaling Everest 28 times or some madness along those lines. In terms of the change in elevation, mind you). On a bicycle, it could potentially be 3-5 days (averaging between 20 and 45 miles a day) in between seeing civilization and its many benefits, so I’m not sure if it would be better to pack lightly or to pack for armageddon (in terms of knives...).

In theory, we’ll have sleeping bags, tents, warm clothing, what should be plenty of food and water, and a gas stove; so, basic survival requirements are covered.

So, would you pack a knife like an ESEE RC-5? Something that is heavy (~1 lbs./16 ounces) and thick (~.25), that is more or less ready for anything and is practically indestructible? Maybe I could pair this with an Izula or a Swiss Army Knife Adventure for finer cutting.
Or, would you pack something like a Fallkniven F1, ESEE RC4, or Bark River Bravo 1? Which are smaller (~4 inches), lighter (~6-7 ounces), and still fairly robust.

Either way, let me know what you think. Other knife suggestions are welcome. The examples I used are knives that I’ve found to be well liked and have gotten good press from pretty much everywhere. That, and part of me is simply looking for an excuse to pull the trigger and start crossing these off my list. (That is not a figure of speech, I literally have a list of knives that I need... err.. want).
Having said that, and ignoring the fact that I’m addicted and want to spend my (little) money on knives, what would you recommend?
Thanks in advance!
-Eric
 
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a junglas for the two-legged creature you might encounter :eek:

since you're on a bike you'll be on pavement most of the time, no? are you going to chop and split firewood? if no, then i'd say anything more than an izula, esee-3, or a sak is overkill. i'd pair it up with a handgun if you have a carry license. an expensive bike near the road is a quick cash for junkies passing by.
 
I'd get a Florida CCW permit and bring a pistol, a Glock 20 comes to mind. Not sure of the knife laws in those states but you could probably get by with a ESEE 3.
 
I would take an Izula and ESEE's light machete. Both are light and able to handle almost anything. Carry a multi-tool (I recommend the Victorinox Spirit) for small chores and to make adjustments to your bike.
 
JV3 said:
a junglas for the two-legged creature you might encounter :eek:

since you're on a bike you'll be on pavement most of the time, no? are you going to chop and split firewood? if no, then i'd say anything more than an izula, esee-3, or a sak is overkill. i'd pair it up with a handgun if you have a carry license. an expensive bike near the road is a quick cash for junkies passing by.
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Thanks for the responses everyone.

And probably not. Most of this ride is off road and sometimes days away from towns, cities, supplies etc. (a few days on bicycles, that is. When I did this ride on motorcycle we stayed in Hotels most of the time :thumbup:)
As far as handguns are concerned, I'm only 19 as of now. So no pistols for another 2 years and then the agonizingly long time waiting for my permit to process... I plan on it though. And I can't do this trip for at the very least another two years anyway..
 
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I think the RC-4 and a multitool/SAK would be the way to go. You don't need something as heavy as the RC-5 when weight is a consideration. The 4 is rugged enough to split wood, but still handy enough for food prep. IMO it is the sweet spot in the ESEE/RC lineup, if you are only going to carry one fixed blade.
 
I definitely like the RC-4s. The only thing preventing me from picking one up is that it is pretty similar to the Fallkniven F1 that I already have (and the fact that I'm in college and don't have a huge amount of excess cash..).
 
A HEST or Izula would fit the bill nicely-thick enough to efficiently split wood, sharp enough to handle most slicing tasks, and it'll fit in your back jersey pocket.
 
EricFallkniven said:
I definitely like the RC-4s. The only thing preventing me from picking one up is that it is pretty similar to the Fallkniven F1 that I already have (and the fact that I'm in college and don't have a huge amount of excess cash..).
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in that case i'd recommend a junglas and maybe an izula with it. add in your f1 and that covers all the areas nicely.
 
I'm not sure I'd want to carry a Junglas while riding a bicycle.
 
The Esee 4 is a good choice. I carry mine inverted on my pack strap when I hit the trails. It is a good compromise and can handle most chores. If your looking for a reason tospend money on blades, get a 6 and an Izula. They ate a great combo and will handle most things you will need.
 
Since you already have a Fallkniven F1 I'd recommend a SAK or Multitool. If you need anything more than those two things, you are probably somewhere where your bike won't make it anyway. If you think you might park the bike somewhere and head off the beaten path I might add a machete to the mix, but by all means leave that home if you are staying close to the pavement. Use the extra space/weight to bring other stuff.
 
Because of the laws and weight I'd say HEST you can baton if you have to. I mountain bike quiet a bit and being weighed down is not fun.
 
On a self supported bike trip like that, space and weight are at a premium. I defiantly Would not take a machete or 10 inch blade. I think I would lean towards the Izula/hest size. Being days away from civilization, you certainly want something substantial however riding with a pound of steel may get old. I love my RC-6 dearly but can't imagine riding thousands of miles with it.
 
bikeknife said:
On a self supported bike trip like that, space and weight are at a premium. I defiantly Would not take a machete or 10 inch blade. I think I would lean towards the Izula/hest size. Being days away from civilization, you certainly want something substantial however riding with a pound of steel may get old. I love my RC-6 dearly but can't imagine riding thousands of miles with it.
Click to expand...

I agree with that. I just pulled the trigger on an Izula to pair with my RC-6.
I also just got the Molle Sheath and accessory pocket in the mail. It's cool stuff.
I may have to pick up a HEST at some point...
Thanks again for the comments everyone!
 
I took my Izula on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike and it handled everything I threw at it very well. The only thing is that it did pick up a little rust because I didn't pack any oil and was not able to keep it dry most of the time. A little rust isn't a big deal for me - as long as you keep it off the edge by sharpening or stropping often.

If rust is a concern for you, I'd take your F1. I just got my F1 - but so far I like it very much. The bigger RC knives are nice, but I never needed one on the trail and light weight and small size was a top priority for me (as it may be for you on your journey).

Blunt
 
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