Thanks I didn't see the track files off to the side. Seems like there should be a lot of water sources up that way. Looks like the store at Big Lake stays open until sometime in mid November.

I have one from OR Outdoor Research that is longer then it is fat works good on the bars.

..Ergon grips are key as well, they are getting ubiquitous on the enduro machine!

And everyday riders as well in the past two to three years I went from being the only one with them to seeing them everywhere.

You could always go for a proper bike fitting session; it'll save you a fortune in stems etc. and at least you'll know exactly what your best position is for almost the rest of your cycling life.
 I thought I'd have to give up riding until I got some shorter axles for my pedals.

One of the best shops here in Tucson always has a set of loaner stems on hand so you can test ride them for length. As long as you buy one there in the end I should think other shops would do this it's at least worth asking around.

I didn't realize he started having stock models, a good idea to speed up production. Seems like in the past frame bags were all custom with a long wait time like everything else.

I don't have one of these exact models but I do have a home made frame bag and I can say it is very handy for both touring and just everyday riding. I have used it to carry tubes, pump and tools for short easy rides with no pack, food for one day and multi-day trips and when I need to carry a lot of it water.

Marshall

I am pretty sure I have ridden most of this course on day trips and I can say the trails up there are great I think you enjoy this one. For the most part the trails are not as loose as what we ride in the 300, imagine all of those loose rocks stood up on end and embedded in the ground with a bunch of bigger rocks thrown in just for fun. It's not that bad and mostly very fun, on the other hand this area is notorious for peanut butter dirt that sticks like glue when wet. Bikes can easily double in weight, riders in the Tour of the White Mountains have dropped their bikes and walked out. The dirt is different over by Big Lake more sandy and not as much sticky stuff.

DesertDog

I'll send you an email if I could get the GPX for this that would be great not sure I can make it this fall but I would like to do the full loop at some point.  

It really just depends on trail/terrain and how long you are willing to ride/walk. Even with cheep commuter style lights I find I can keep moving tho a bit slower.

The biggest thing on bikepacking trips is there is really nothing else to do but ride or sit in camp so you pretty much end up riding a lot more in one day then normal.

Agreed well worth the wait I went with Eric but I have seen Jeff's stuff also and it looks good. With the surge in popularity of bikepacking these two guys are surely getting a lot of business but I can't see either one of them being able to increase production it's still a very small niche market.   

That's the one. Not that I wouldn't use one if I had it laying around but if I were looking for something new I think I would want something lighter.

50 miles a day should be very doable.

I just use an nylon tarp cut down and with the metal grommets removed.

You should get it before Christmas........

Both Eric and Jeff stay pretty busy I think you are looking at about a 3 month wait with either.

Stupid or not some ranger may come along and choose to enforce it. That said I did carry through a short section  4 miles of Wilderness on my 06 AZT trip I saw it as a good way to test my carry system before reaching the Canyon. Every ranger that I have talked to about the trip thought is was fine considering the bike was in pieces the entire time I was inside the Wilderness. In fact most of them are quite impressed at the die hard mentality and the fact that I did not ride but carried the bike. I think the problem would be that most riders (non bike packers)  do not have that die hard mentality and would be likely to poach/ride rather then carry. I did take several pictures as evidence of the dismantled bike being carried not rolled just in case some questions came up latter.  

I agree it would be good to try to put a free weekend in between this and the Dixie just in case someone wanted to do both. 

There is a good bit of road on the Kaibab, and it's all done in the daylight.  The night would change the dynamics of a 24 hour attempt on the 200...who knows?  There's only one way to find out, eh?

Indeed!

I would also say that the 18 miles of ST on the Rainbow Rim has to be some of the easiest trail around. I have done most of the trails in the White Mnts. and there is a fair bit of slow rocky riding not that that's a bad thing.

Mid June sounds perfect this one also seems like a great candidate for a stage race of 3-4 days. If people really want to do one of these events they should be willing to take a couple of days off of work.

This is a route developed by dual sport motorcycle enthusiast. It's not completely across the country but most of it's on dirt.

http://www.transamtrail.com/

This looks like an interesting route just what JeffOYB was asking for I should think that most of the dirt roads would be very doable on a bike no motor needed. Sure you may run into some sand and other loose terrain that would be easier on a moto but anywhere they can go we can too it just takes us a little longer.

I went looking through the site to see if he has a GPS file available, I see he wants $290 for the maps and a rolling cue sheet. I can't see it he also says it can only be done E-W following the roll sheet. Seems that if you had a map and or even better a GPS track you could go either way.

Several years ago I mentioned to Scott that he should write an AZT mountain bike guide book, his answer was no I think it should be out there on line. One so we can make updates and two that it should be free for those who want to make the trip. This site does just that and so much more. Just sayin.

Tim

I have always thought it would be cool to do a bikepacking trip up that way. I have been up there a few times camping with my wife, we really like the Big Lake area. The whole White Mountain system is a great bunch of trails and the TRACKS people to a great job of keeping stuff open. The 200 miler looks like a great 3-4 days at a moderate pace depending on how much single track there is 2 days would be a push for me. Which way would the course run clockwise or counter, what time of year early summer or fall seems best as a lot of these trails get supper sticky during summer storms.

I bought an REI Minimalist back in 06 dam thing has 6 zippers heads on it. I guess it goes back to the early 90's when REI had a sleep system that was supposed to let you get your arms out and use your hands while still in the bag. I don't think it was very successful. They were aimed at climbers but I never met a climber who had one or thought it was worth having. The 6 zipper heads alone weigh as much as the rest of the bag. I have never been a big fan of "sorry-I" just my opinion that there are usually better products on the market. For the record I only went there because my other sleep system got ruined and they were not far off course when I need to replace it.  

I was able to do a fair bit of single track with the bob that said they do have limitations. Load rating is 70lbs but you wont be riding much with a load that heavy. I could see pulling the load for 2 pretty easily that is if both people have light weight gear. I think it just depends on the trail and how much you are willing to push, pull, drag the rig. I should think you could go most anywhere if you are willing to slog it out. One big limitation is super tight turns or even not so tight turns if the trail is narrow just like pulling a trailer with a car. Though if you had a group and someone behind you they could help keep the third wheel on. I was amazed at some of the stuff I was able to pull off with about 40lbs on, over logs slipping between boulders and the like.

The AES website has the 9th but the calender here still has the 7th. Just sayin.

I really like my ergon grips, but I do tend to ride them a little low as they can cause a pressure point. The way mine are set up I don't really notice the extra surface area until I get tired and start to sag onto it may or may not make any difference but that's how I like mine.

As for that numb tingling sensation I would bet it will go away eventually. After my 2004 AZT trip my finger's tingled for at least 6 months. At the end of this years AZT 300 I had a burning feeling in on the tip of the long finger of my right hand it lasted over a month but is all gone now. 

Tim