I've got my maps, email sent...now just waiting for the route...

The blog is up, as well as the facebook group. Kiwi Brevet 2014 is the handle.

Yep, the later shimano is under bartape, but the cable tension is lower and prone to contamination - SRAM is miles ahead with regards to putting up with contamination and higher friction outers than Shimano. I concur about the gen 2 fargo - my ti fargo cable stops are higher on the downtube, preventing cable crossover.

For Alaska and Oregon, I used a harness and large pocket. An 18L bag strapped in the harness, my Z-lite in a bag under the straps for the pocket. Pocket full 'o junk.

I used the red hot straps as well, I made up a 2" wide centre strap to support off the stem, to hold the whole lot away from the front tyre.

Have both. Harness you can REALLY load up with stuff - it's a real workhorse. I've found the sweetroll is not as stiff and supportive as the harness, but they are truly 2 different animals for similar but different purposes.

The mounts for the harness are firm, broad and beefy. The sweetroll is focussed more on speed, lighterweight and convenience.

1. I would guess so, as long as they are maintained, tested before critical use (pre-trip checks)
2. If the load was small enough that the ends rolled up to the stiffener, there might be a bit of movement, but then just cinch it up with the red straps.
3. Ah, no.

So you have SRAM brifters on your Fargo, with fully hidden cable routing I guess? On the Sora levers you could run a short segment of NOKON outer housing at the lever end, to help route the cable in a tighter bend and get it out of the way (instead of bending regular wired outer housing) I've been able to route most of the gear housing under the bartape using this method, with just a short, functional segment of NOKON running from the lever to under the bartape. No pics of the setup though, was quite a few years ago.

Mouth is watering at that brekky!

Oh, the colours! Just beautiful.

I did see a lefty mounted, side driven dyno a while back, but reading the specs it was not overly efficient.

Nice one 

I do, but it depends alot on the terrain. I'll float between 28c, 32c and 35c tires depending on the terrain.  If I need a tire greater than 35c I grab the mtb.

That looks FAST!

That is great news.

It really is food for thought, about how much solo riding you do and the SOPs you initiate at home, when there is a fail to return.

The odds are against us - tiredness/fatigue, marginal riding conditions (weather) challenging riding conditions (terrain)...but why do these odds seem to make it more enjoyable...it really is a sick and twisted pasttime

Love bikes. Literally they are my life. Long as I can remember, a bike was taking me on an adventure, either solo, with mates or family.
Love the outdoors, solitude and going to wild places, using a bike to get there.
Love gear, gear junkie, DIY stuff.
Love life, and using my body to full potential while it is still functioning.
I'm not a gifted or talented athlete, but like to challenge myself in ways that combine all the above.

Oh, and for my normal mountain biking I use the Mavic Alpine XL shoes and loooooove them. Can easily walk around all day in them. They also make a black/gray lace-up pair if you're not into the moon-boot look.

An interesting thing about the Mavics, is they are made by Salomon. Great boots.

Absolutely - fast and light. I've got a Kona Dew Drop that sees a bit of work, but am planning some even lighter ultra trips on a Cervelo RS.

So, Area54, are you shimming your BB one way or another? Also, do you think the Tiagra line has more wiggle room or "slop" to accommodate the use on the MTB with its differing chain line and seat tube angle?

Ooooooh, I can't recall now, been a year and a bit since. I don't recall shimming specially to suit the derailleur throw, it just worked with the bb spaced to suit the frame (68mm shell) I really only chose this mech, as 1) I had it in my parts bin during the very first build; and 2) the cable anchor bolt cleared the full length fenders I was using at the time (most other mechs fouled on the fender). No longer run fenders, unless the trip is going to be very wet, so mech stayed on for this occasion. Now running X9 2x10 crank.

I used a SRAM mtb triple shifter on the end of some aero bars at one point, to shift on the mtb triple. Again, with the tiagra front mech.

Play around with the width of the shifter cage too, by bending the outer plate to tune shift timing and limits.

I used a Tiagra triple front mech, flawless shifting. This was with an XT triple crank, on 3x8, then 3x9, and then 2x10 Apex, same front mech.

Fargo, with STI shifters.

I use a sweetroll on my Fargo, with 46cm 'chippers, a 120mm stem and DUMPED - the 25 degree stem. You have to route the brake cables along the bottom of the handlebar. I find the access pretty...sweet, straight through the crook of the bar. Sorry, no pics of the exact setup. So use the sweetroll, then add a pocket, and pack out stuff (in another drybag) between the pocket and the sweetroll. Think loading forward, not widthways. Mo' aero

IMO there is no one bikepacking set up to rule them all.
Different trails require different gear.
I have both and pack accordingly.

Yes, totally agree.

Another option is a small bumbag/fanny pack - Ortlieb make a great waterproof one, ideal for a bidon or two, snacks, bear spray, essential items etc. Great size, not a lot of load on the back or taint, and helps with temp regulation as it doesn't block the radiator (upper part of your back) or affect your venting on jackets etc (as shoulder straps tend to block venting of jackets) bumbag then becomes a neat pillow - might stink like ass, but after a few days your whole body stinks like ass - you don't notice it