Get a seat bag? A larger drybag? An extra pocket for use with the rack drybag? A small backpack? Feed bags? A long top tube bag?

I'm not wild about fork baggage, so I would work it out else-wise, but if fork bags are for you it's not too hard to work out a solution like these guys above did. Default to overbuilt and it'll work fine.

A chunk of the southern AZT would have my attention.

The Great Divide in New Mexico would be fun from Cuba, Grants or Pie Town going south, but has some 8000' riding on it, so would depend on conditions. Paved ride-arounds exist for much of this part of the Divide.

SoCal Crescent hits some optional 6-8k' summit singletracks en route from Hemet to Palm Springs, but also includes the Palm Canyon Epic (or easier variations of it). I rode it for four days a year or two ago and had a blast. No bikepacking route in SoCal will include as much choice ST as this route, but you might be a tad early for some of the goods.

I've had success using panniers. Also using more current "bikepacking" bag designs. Also using a combination. They all work; all have pros/cons.

I think Hayduke is on it with asking the question about how much one wants to bring. You will bring/carry more stuff with panniers, simply because you can. Nothing wrong with that. If you want to go farther in a day or get your mileage with less effort, light is right. If you want to easily load up with a week's food without killing your ass, panniers are the way to go IMO.

I've found that I prefer to wear a small pack. I can set down my bike and take a break away from it with water, food and a clothing layer already on my person. This little pack also takes temporary cargo overflow. That's my answer to the extra space/weight of panniers and a rack. (And I'm in no way any-pannier.)

Hey, riders,

I'm making my way down the US portion of the GDMBR, presently on my seventh day. I'm in Helena where Great Divide Cyclery just put more gears in my bike. Gonna head back out shortly. You can check in on me here:

Ramblings on the Divide


Cheers!

[and frame bag]

A few buyers in the queue. Stock bike plus Alternator dropout and frame bag will be back up for sale around end of September. Sorry for the hem/haw...new bike delayed, so I have to ride the El Mar for a few weeks.

Gorgeous!

What bikeny and Spec44 said.


I think the difference in sensation is more pronounced using a rigid fork. But sure, payload smooths the ride on any wheeled vehicle.

When it breaks? Be glad you had the time to ride it that much. Then get a new one to break

Awesome, Joe...have fun counting down.

August sounds good to me. Three years ago in June there was some hefty avy debris around Whitefish divide that was a pain to get over; I presume that won't be a problem this time. There will be less ground water overall, which might come to bear, but the intermittent sources were pretty dry in June/July anyway. Afternoon monsoons will be a factor, but I've dealt with that on the CT and parts of the GD. Bring it...

Cheers! 

Power to ya, Joe!

You might enjoy knowing someone will be starting in Roosville even later than you I'm sure I won't be catching you, as my start date will be ~10 days after yours. I'm psyched to hear somebody else starting in MT in August.

Are you gonna layover at Whitefish Bike Retreat? Tell Cricket I'm coming, save me a patch of dirt...

Woohoo!

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15120

I've used one very similar to this for a many days of riding. Small, light, economical, works as advertised. The only possible down side is that it is not quick to recharge fully.

Maybe your bike was reminding you that crosswalks are for pedestrians

Summer doldrums can be tough to break out of. Good job loading up and heading out

7/31/16

This bike is still available.

Lighter and more packable.

A light hard shell with a hood in a generous size with generous pit zips. Light is key when you use it as bug pro, and for the same reason a hard shell finish is useful. Something like Marmot Precip or Patagonia Super Cell works well, is reasonably light and is not terribly pricey. I'm sure there many products that would meet the criteria.

Sounds like you have it pretty well sussed.

No specific info on that tent.

But curious why one would opt for a coffin-style tent when a true 1P tent can be had for the same weight and lower cost. Is it all about the packing size? Smaller footprint? Having used both, I'm opting for a true tent in which I could sit out a poor weather day without being forced to lie all day.

Congrats on getting to a setup that works for you, Aus. 

I'm still in love with both the Mag V12 and Crux, fwiw. If you get a chance to use shoe covers, I think you'll be happy with the fit. My Impact Lows were a pain to get covers on and off of; the sleeker profile of the Crux cured that issue. In copious wet weather, the exterior of the Crux got a little damp, but never saturated through.

I'm close to heading out for a several-week spin on the Divide and will again use Crux (the new pair). I wore this pair on a three-day big wall climb (a notorious activity for destroying footwear) a couple months ago, and I was somewhat shocked to note that there was zero discernible damage or wear on the shoes. None at all! Their durability and lack of any trace of delamination is, to me, astounding – especially for such a lightweight shoe.

Happy feet, happy trails!

Sale is pending.

Good question. Some of us like foam pads versus anything else.

First, I use a well-used pad so it's not as thick. Then I cut it down to a length that will just protect shoulder thru hips. Radius cut the corners, and think about narrowing the width. Mine rolls up to fit in a front drybag along with a 1p tent, and still room for other gear in it.

I think trimming down the overall load will get ya there. Go spare enough that clothing and other items which might have been in the drybag get offloaded to other packs.

I don't care for wearing a pack, but If I do, lashing the pad outside of it works fine if no technical riding.

I haven't tried, but I'm pretty sure a pad could be lashed to a fork leg successfully.

Sold.



Love it, but gotta get "back" on suspension. Thanks for looking.

http://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/2015-el-mariachi-singlespeed-large-750.4719/