ADT 2011

[Mezagog]

June 1, 2011 is my goal to start this trail.  I plan on going west to east, so why would I post an idea, well because I am seeking advice for water filtration systems, and so on.  This obvisously is longer than the normal overnight trip, I need to re-think my packing list, hence the reason why I am posting this 26 months in advance.  Also if anyone wants to join me on my little venture then this will give you time to plan as well.

Now here is the final kicker.  My plan is to grab a touring frame throw a suspension for on it and a suspension seat post and continue on the build up from there.  This way I have the luxury of a longer wheel base for paniers if it comes to that but my forty one (age at the time of the ride) year old bones wont feel it, well they will feel it, but you know what I mean.

So on that note, let the advice and heckling being.

[Rob]

http://www.gunnarbikes.com/rocktour.php

What frame were you thinking of using? 

On water filtration, I'm looking for opinions on that too.  I was considering using one of the bladder/inline filter units. Like the MSR Hyperflow. 



http://www.msrgear.com/watertreatment/hyperflow.asp

Weighs only 7.4 oz

[Mezagog]

Nashbar's Double Butted Aluminum's Touring Frames, it has a 1 1/8 headtube, V-Brake Bosses, and Three bottle holders, and its affordable enough that I don't have to do excessive amounts of begging with the wife.  Then grabbing a Marzocchi Bomber 80 to 100mm of travel, then grabbing an x.7 or x.9 build kit.  I will be going back to traditional spoke wheels for this trip, I have never had a problem with Mavics Cross Rides, something about a 6000 mile trip and there being that "one time" I would loose a spoke, but then again I could order the replacement spokes before I left and just carry them.

[Slim]

If you put a suspension fork on a bike designed for a rigid fork you will jack up the front end and BB height, and slacken the HA by a lot. It sounds like you want to use a MTB fork, wheels and drivetrain, why not just buy a HT MTB? There are ton's of them, they have good geometry and they are affordable.

[Mezagog]

Agreed, although last time I put a rack and bags on a HT was a Trek 6700 and was constantly smacking the bags with my heel, which for a three day trip is livable, not quite sure about a 30-60 day trip   With that being said though I have started looking at gunners HT's, They look nice and have noticed that several bikepackers have utilized them.  Fork selection will be based on how close to the original fork legnth I can reach.

[Slim]

Agreed, although last time I put a rack and bags on a HT was a Trek 6700 and was constantly smacking the bags with my heel, which for a three day trip is livable, not quite sure about a 30-60 day trip   With that being said though I have started looking at gunners HT's, They look nice and have noticed that several bikepackers have utilized them.  Fork selection will be based on how close to the original fork legnth I can reach.

To combat the heel smacking you could use a rack with some more set-back, so the Panniers sit further back from the bike. Or try a 29er, that whay the chanstays are a bit longer to begin with.

[Mezagog]

I hadn't thought about the 29 option.  Are 29's being carried by more stores?