Been using an old Pur Hiker for years pumping out of the South Platte River 4 hours east of Denver, I'm still alive, though it's a little big & bulky.

 I'd be concerned about the weight & packability too but I think they would be awesome for caching spare dried food at a camp that was used frequently in an old tree or something. We used to do that as kids in jr high when we camped & wanted to pack in light, do a pre-trip drop off of some food, pop & contraband (hey, we were kids!) though this wasn't in bear country, I'm talking east central Nebraska, worst critters were coons, oppossums & coyotes but never had our caches raided by anything in 1-3 days.

 I built up a KM ss in '06 & I love the simplicity of it the most. Can I climb everything on it? Heck no, but I guess I don't mind pushing it uphill or I'd go back to gears, mine was built up & rode rigid, ended up putting a REBA on the front for the Dakota 5-o & blew the seal last winter, have been back to rigid ever since, the only time it really gets to me is rough, rocky trails which I have to travel out of state to get to so not often. I do remember my palms being bruised after 3 days west of Fruita, bought Ergons & it helped out a ton.

 I'm considering a geared Fargo for dirt touring but I'm turning 44 in a month & want to see some high country so will make it a little easier for a graybeard, but I'll never swap or sell my ss, it's been my "go-to bike" since I built it up & will remain that way.

 thanks, I'll check it out. I got the new Campmor catalog & they have a 20 degree long mummy down bag for $129.99, stuffs to 7"x14" & weighs 2 lbs. 6 oz. wonder if it's alright, I'm aware of the old saying "get what you paid for" so a little nervous about it, probably won't be out much below the mid 30's temp range.

 Can anyone recommend the most bang for the buck sleeping bag for around $150 or less, on a budget as I'm working on sending my oldest daughter overseas for an exchange student for a year. Any comments on the Campmor down bags? I'd love to have one in the 20-30 temp range as I already own a 40 degree Slumberjack for warmer weather (used it on 2 RAGBRAI tours thus far, one self-supported)

 I'll probably have to settle for synthetic which is fine with me, just looking for one for cooler temps that still packs small, I will however need a big one as I'm 6' 5" & a Clysdale!

 New guy here, been lurking & learning from western Nebraska for awhile, will be 44 in December, did a lot of backpacking in the 80's as well as bmx, gave it all up to become a cowboy & made my living in the saddle for close to 25 years & got back on a bike after 20 years in 2001.

 I now ride a Surly KM ss mainly on gravel, dirt roads & trails & have a notion to try this bikepacking, dream bike right now is a Fargo. Started a blog of my cycling adventures as well as other things we do for fun www.paxtonpeleton.blogspot.com we have many backroad options for overnight trips around here & will probably try my hand at it in the spring.

 Really enjoy what I've learned & the adventures posted here so far, hope to post some of my own soon, won't be as wild as some though!