Hi there - loop with some good fishing potential would make me horny...

Some locals might want to warn the fish that this guys coming.

Sorry I just couldn't resist...........

And as has been pointed out recently this site could use a little humor.

Yea hahaha I know it is definitely a touchy topic, but I haven't been mountain biking in a while and I want to get the inside scoop on what the pros and cons are of each type specifically for bikepacking

You'll want to ride what all of the cool kids are riding obviously.

Here in AZ that's 29r Scott M and Chad B both race directors here AZTR and AES are both on 29rs as well as both finishers of the AZTR last year. Its all about being trendy don't cha know.

why would I need 4 compressed towels?

One for each condom and one for some other unmentionable indecent. Think leakage. But why only one disposable bag.

I have used my 100 oz camel bladder in mine several times but I can only get about 2 liters in it. It's only one compartment and leaves room in the frame for a bottle. I don't like to put powders in a bladder so I like having a disposable bottle for drink mixes. I just buy a 1 liter bottle of water and then throw it away every now and then for a freshy.

Never have ridden with it half full I usually wait for the 100 oz MSR in my pack to get used up and then transfer some to that and refill the bottle.

Also if I don't need to carry as much water I will take the bladder out of the frame bag so I can use it for food and then just slide the extra bladder in with my main bladder in the pack. That way it's out of my way until I need it.

I have an Talon and if need be I can get both bladders full into it but it is rare that I would want to carry 7 liters. But it is an option. Never needed a back up but JF's post makes me realize that it's always a possibility.

Hey, lighten up. None of the comments in this amusing thread attack or demean anyone. They may not be compatible with your sense of decorum and taste, but that is no reason for anyone to stay home.

You tell um Toby you have certainly taken a few licks on this site but never once have you cried foul. Well maybe once but at least you don't let anything stop you from posting up from your perspective.

This is a big site but with no specific regional audience and there aren't as many of the usual petty squabbles that seem to be the major part of other MTB oriented sites. 

That's about the only thing missing from this site a forum where bikepackers discuss outside topics amongst ourselves. Not that there is any real reason for one. But it is always funny to see someone asking off topic questions at MTBR's 9er forum as if they feel it is only the opinion of other 9er riders that count. Then again it really is only the opinion of other bikepackers that matters on any subject.   

That depends, is Oracle ridge still in there? If so that section of trail Sucks, lots of hiking. Otherwise there is a fair amount of good bench trail that is smooth and fast. Man, Oracle ridge is a doozie! I wore running shoes and flat pedals last year and was quite happy. Jefe

Oracle ridge is still in as far as I know. The top has seen some work and is a lot better now. Also there is likely going to be a new segment steward on that section. It's still going to be slow hard work but as with other sections a little TLC will definitely help.

I signed up I am all about free.

Thanks for the tips kurt, I like the idea of hitching a ride back with a river raft company

haha tim, I know your a beast and can ride nonstop for months at a time but this mere mortal will be happy if he even makes it to utah.

Ha, that's hilarious if I can ride for months because it takes me weeks to get anywhere.

Heading south may be a good call anyway there won't be that much traffic if the north rim is still closed. But you might well get rides heading back to Flag.

I still think it can be done with out the shuttle but it would take planning and pacing along the way. If some one like Kurt can bash it out in 7 days (granted with less snow there's more trail) surely he could have paced himself and had the legs left to continue riding.

Like some young buck who rides a hundred miles with a massive bruise on his leg. Oh wait that was you.  

It is possible to ride south from the State line on House Rock Valley road then the main highway to Lee's and then south from there. Not sure on the distance to the first resort but it might be closer then Kanab in miles but there's more dirt going south.

In 04 I rode from the State line to the Ramada at the south end of House Rock road then to Lee's then to Cameron. At Lee's I called my wife for pick up, there were showers there at the laundry mat and I crashed with someone I met there. In the morning I rode the 70 miles to Cameron to save my wife one hour of driving. Then drove her back to the Ramada so she could see the condors the next morning.

Jonesy I see no reason for you not to just ride all the way home. For that matter you should ride to the start as well.  

Those both look good but that's a lot of buck$ for a tarp imo.

Just the 300 for me this year but I would like to see it stay on the east side of the Santa Ritas and I'd trade that for Ripsey and such.

Pretty sure that Scott has planned on moving it east once the White Canyon is finished. Adding Ripsey and White Cyn will add some time to the course moving to the east side should even things back out. The problem with adding Ripsey without White is that the detour west gets stupid long, and moving east in the Santa Rita's without adding Ripsey makes it shorter and easier.

From what I gather from talking to Scott he is hopping to make all of the changes at once then the overall difficulty should even out.

I am starting to think that I need to wait one more year for my next big trip. As it stands the ATA has crews working the White Cyn and the prediction is for that section to be ready for the 2012 season. For me personally I don't want to go again until I can do a more complete course or at least not skip Ripsey and not do Box for the 4th time (for me). Not that the Box isn't cool I just want to see some new country, and I know that the White Cyn section is really going to be cool.

Yuri glad to hear you are planning on getting on the 300 again not many come back for more.

Its looking like 2012 is going to be the best year for the most single track to be finished it's also the State Centennial and the ATA people are shooting for that to be the official year of completion.  

Hard to say, not sure I would want to test the theory but I should think boiling would always work.

Rather then doubling up on the pads how about getting one of these http://www.rei.com/product/407106 I was thinking of replacing my tarp with one for colder times. Seems like having this for a ground sheet would help also I would think it could make a wind break.

Not planning on sleeping in the snow myself just looking for something to use in the colder months trying to get a couple of degrees out of the bag I have now.

Just read the reviews on the REI page the first one from granny is great. I have used silver tarps in the past and found that it does make a noticeable difference.  

Laying inside a cocoon like this I could feel the heat radiating back off of the silver.

Parker to Tucson in 2 days seems very feasible I will be out of town on a river trip or I would offer you a shuttle. If you don't find a ride you should be able to get back to Parker on the same route you drive out on. Also it would be easy to bail back to Parker by riding the AZT south from Box Canyon, this is the point where the 300 course rejoins and heads north. 

I think you could lighten a Talon 11 or 22 a bit and still maintain functionality for real bikepacking (ie gnarly singletrack).  I you went the stuffsack with straps route (Zpacks, REI Flash, MLD Newt, etc) you'd give up comfort with heavy water loads, and more importantly, stability in technical situations.  Even with a waist belt, I've found that packs in the later category tend to jump forward and hit the back of my helmet when rolling steep drops.  No thanks.

FWIW, the Talon 11 is about 2/3s the functional size of the 22.  Definitely enough for light and fast multi-days.

1+

Small lock through the chain ring that's a new one sounds like it would work for a ride away but not the throw in the back of a truck.

I have in the past carried a small cable (Kryptonite seatpost cables) and lock. Lately I have been going with the helmet and gear change system.

I think it depends on the situation. Some places may let you bring the bike in and then again in some small towns I am not as worried. Knock on wood.

The Lemon got it's first snow just a little and it will likely melt off or maybe not.

It's come off dam cold this week we actually had to break down and turn the heat on.

I found the NM gpx file at the same place as the CO one http://www.trailsource.com/continental-divide-trail/index.asp

Are you talking about the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/greatdivide.cfm

Or the Continental Divide Hiking trail http://www.cdtrail.org/page.php?pname=CO_maps

Found the CDT maps here http://www.trailsource.com/continental-divide-trail/index.asp

No thanks, the bike mount looks cheesy the price tag is a bit over the top with just the unit then you have to buy the over priced Nat Geo maps, I don't think so.