My experience with extended backcountry travel  is mainly from canoe tripping and to a lessor extent backpacking. Being that I live in an arid state and live to ride, when I learned about bikepacking I knew it was just what I needed. We also have some land out in the Zuni mountains that we purchased a few years ago and bikepacking gives me greater reach to explore the neighboring forest land than a day ride can.

I also got a free membership when they made this offer recently. I have enjoyed the magazine (which they have been revamping) and appreciate the work they do producing maps, etc. A worthy enterprise. I'll be re-upping as well.

Just to reiterate Toby's excellent synopsis, albuterol is a preventative medication that is most effective taken prior to exercise and before symptoms. As you experienced, it is not very effective once an attack has begun. If you do find yourself in that situation, I find it works best if I let my body cool down before taking it (which can be hard if you are short of breath). I then need to chill out for about 20 minutes before riding again. That usually does the trick, but with my newer medication (pulmicort inhaler) I have not had this issue in a while. Still, I keep it in my pack just in case...

I use a Big Agnes insulated air core pad. Got it REI on sale but you can find them many places. It packs to a little larger than a standard Nalgene bottle but inflates to a very comfy thickness. I have only had it about 9 months but used it about 10 times. Theist comfortable nights camping I have had in years! My issue as I age is my hips fall asleep if not enough padding and I toss and turn all night. Not do with this pad. I love it.

I have had asthma for the last 25 years and I run and bike regularly. It is manageable!

For me, it is usually brought on during bad allergy season and in cold or very dry weather (which is great since live in the desert...) Apparently "cold weather" asthma is less about temperature than the dryness of the air. This is one reason the scarf over the mouth helps. Warming up slowly is also commonly recommended and definitely helps me.

Dietary issues are a good place to start. For me, I never could identify a culprit so easily. So I take a pulmicort inhaler twice a day and have found it to be great. Prior to about two years ago I used an albuterol inhaler about 20 mins before exercising. That was ok but the pulmicort you take every day regardless of exercise and has improved my lung capacity and performance in general. It's a mild and localized steroid. Both it and the albuterol are both via prescription. I definitely do not recommend any over the counter inhalers like primatine mist. That stuff's nasty!!

I do carry my albuterol for emergencies but very rarely need it. Good luck! Asthma has not slowed me down at all but finding good medication took some time. If you can identify a dietary contributor, even better.

You can also fly out of Las Cruces, NM to the east. Not as big a hub as Phoenix, of course (and you might actually end up going through PHX) but it is closer to get to. For people driving up toward Albuquerque, they will head to Las Cruces to get to I-25.

Good luck!

That's funny you just posted this. A few days ago I did a "bikepacking" search on ebay and a few copies of the Nat. Geo. issue came up.

Thanks for posting! Though currently the article will not come up for me. Goes to the page, but I get a blank screen. Will check back later to see if its a glitch. I viewed it a day or two ago but had no time to read.

I bought a fleece lined stuff sack for my sleeping bag from REI which I turn inside out stuff with clothes. I love it - quite comfy and a good size so my neck isn't jacked up in the AM. I also use a small stuffed cloth sack between my knees for a better sleep (otherwise I get some back and hip pain)

The other thing I did for a good night's sleep was buy a new pad. Got a Big Agnes (can't remember the model) which changed my life. I had been using thermarests. What a huge difference! Last three nights out with it have been my best camp sleeping in years.

[Trebor]

I would echo the benadryl option. It typically lasts 6-8 hours, so shouldn't make you too groggy in the long run. Its actually what they give to animals when they fly. Its a mild sedative. As with Trebor, I always have a few in my emergency kit for allergic reactions.

Although people often look to alcohol for a sleep aid, it actually usually results in a more fitful sleep. Now I usually bring a little hooch with me on a trip for general relaxation after dinner. But I don't expect it to help me sleep.

For warm weather I use an REI down bag I picked up at a "scratch and dent" sale for $50. Warm to 45 F. For colder weather I have a North Face  Superlight (also down). Warm to 20F.

I can get away with the lighter bag down to mid to upper 30s adding clothing but colder than that its just too uncomfortable. But it packs to about the size of a nalgene bottle so it's hard to give up that weight and size advantage.

Campmor used to make its own down bags that were quite nice and very affordable but I am not sure they still make them.

If I understand your question correctly, I would say that on the way up it may pay to have some additional weight on the front end to keep it positioned on the ground (too back-heavy and you will have a tendency to lift the front end on steep or rocky climbs). On the way back down, shifting some weight to the back may enhance your control (too much weight on the bars will make turning and front end response sluggish and potentially dangerous because of the lack of fine control). I am assuming here that this mountain biking and not road touring. These considerations are probably less significant if on a paved or gravel/dirt road. For singletrack, it can make a pretty big difference when spread over many miles.

Sit bone pain and numbness, at least for me, result from different pressure areas. Still could be a saddle fit issue. But backpack weight can really bring you down. I had this same experience recently and it was a drag. I have both lightened my pack and got a new improved saddle since then.

As for the shorts, try the cream at least. The pads do wonders in distributing weight and pressure. Also not having seams in that zone will make you much happier on long rides. Even seams outside you chamois from another pair of shorts can cause problems if you ride long enough.

You might consider the Airborne Guardian. They are mail order only and get very good marks for that price point. Airborne also apparently has top notch customer service. I do not own an Airborne bike, but I have been eyeing the Goblin for some time.

Check it out: http://www.airbornebicycles.com/category/55-cross-country-29.aspx The Guardian appears at the bottom of the list.

Also search “reviews airborne guardian” and see what you find. I feel the mtbr.com reviews are generally really helpful in terms of content. For me, I would consider a bike that has a good quality frame that you can upgrade the parts on as they wear out. I feel the rest of components on the Guardian are of reliable quality right out of the box, though.

FYI, this is 29er and I don’t know if that is what you are looking for.

Albuquerque, NM

Fiddling is a way of life!

I'm no bikepacking expert (I've done 5 S240s total) but I can say I have yet to use the same setup twice. Always tweaking, always improving. Plus different trips, times if year and terrain call for different gear.

Good luck on your adventure!

Btw that material is also called "coroplast" Election signs are another good free source-might as well turn all that rancor into something useful.

This guy made an entire seat bag out of the stuff. I've seen panniers as well. I would worry about long term durability but I admire the work and ingenuity! And for around town it's probably great: http://www.palespruce.com/myog-coroplast-seat-bag/

Der just saw you mention the rucksack

Nice ride and tight looking setup. I was just looking at that Deuter frame bag and trying to find good images of it mounted up for scale so this is helpful. How do you like the LaPierre? Do you also ride with a pack?

For a trip of that duration there are additional factors to consider beyond conditioning. Water (replenishing and determining how much you actually need), food (are you going to cook? How much fuel is needed?), gear issues, and so on all become more significant than with an overnighter. As with the previous poster, if you feel you are up for it, good on ya! But since you are asking advice, I would recommend a one or two night excursion to shake out logistics first. Riding with a few days of gear on trails is also a different experience from road touring, especially if there is a lot of elevation. Something to consider. But the ride looks fantastic!

Nuevo Mexico

The only thing that occurs to me and which I think has come up in a forum discussion here is whether any of these stainless steel or aluminum drinking bottles have plastic linings in them (like you find in canned goods). You don’t want to heat that up! See this link for a story about potential BPA leakage from metal water bottles;

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/332291/description/Metal_water_bottles_may_leach_BPA

Otherwise, I like your thinking. Bikepacking/ultralight backpacking is all about multiple uses for items. FTR, I don’t use toothpaste or baking soda (apparently toothpaste is a very effective bear attractor). Instead I use Dr. Bronner’s which covers all my cleaning needs and requires so little, I bring it in a tiny bottle and use a single drop for brushing teeth.