Don't forget about the Airborne Guardian. $599. Components are acceptable for a bike of this price. The strongest aspect, IMO, is that it uses the same hydroformed aluminum frame as the first generation Goblin, which is a great quality bike (but in the $1000-1200 range).

http://www.airbornebicycles.com/products/110-airborne-guardian-29er.aspx

For me, I am most concerned with fork quality on a new bike (followed by other componentry). That's an expensive upgrade and a bad fork can really stomp your buzz. Not a lot of info on this RockShox XC28 TK Mg29 fork, so I can't say what I think of this model. Maybe others can chime in.

I rode a section here in New Mexico last fall through what is called the Chain of Craters area. The challenge was that the trail itself disintegrated after a while. Then I was overlanding and following cairns. But at some point, I couldn't locate the next one so I had to double back and jump on the forest road that roughly parallels it. Other sections of the CDT here are actually on forest roads (like up through Bonita Canyon where I have also overnighted). And then there are parts that are single track and not in wilderness areas. So, a lot  of factors in figuring out which sections are ride-able. Get a hold of some good maps, I say, and see what things look like on aerials as well. That's how I plan most of my trips. I find where a trail or road is supposed to be and what is actually there on the ground can be quite different, so it pays to study the aerials before heading out.

Here is link to the Chain of Craters Back Country Byway trip I did last fall (that included some CDT and a not very well work singletrack): http://highaltitudehomestead.blogspot.com/2013/03/bikepacking-chain-of-craters.html

A few pics from an overnighter in Bonita Canyon, NM with my son.

I'm a tarp guy myself as we really don't have insect concerns here. At the moment I have been using just a regular utility tarp from a home improvement store. Its 9X12 which is bigger than necessary for solo trips, but works really well for two people. I use three different arrangements, depending on conditions and tree availability (one requires a groundcloth, the other two use a portion of the tarp itself). I have been thinking about using tyvek to make a lighter version that is also very affordable. I do really like some of the nice quality commercially made silnylon tarps, but they are also pricey.

This site has some info on setting tarps in different configurations that I found pretty helpful. Some of the illustrations are a little confusing (and not all that well illustrated) but it gave me some great ideas: http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/shelter/tarpology-setting-up-your-tarp-in-different-configurations.html

Also this: http://www.trailspace.com/forums/beginners/topics/120382.html

All that said, and assuming there is no chance of rain, I will be bringing the 2 person REI tent I got for $15 at a thrift store (no fly) on my overnighter this weekend with my son. It will be the end (and most active time) of the Lyrid meteor shower, so I don't want anything to block our view! We could just sleep out, but I sleep better with some kind of shelter over me.

FTR, if I had the money, I would go with one of the tarptent products.

Viva Italia! Very nice.

Well done!

Texasjake - Did you buy a bike?!

Unzipping the down bag will mean it won't keep you warm to the same rating, but in practice, this is often what happens to me anyway if I get warm in the night. Bags also have a tendency to slide off during the night and I guess the quilts (never used one myself) with their uninsulated section underneath prevents that.

I have warm weather and cold weather bags but have been intrigued by the quilt idea. I move around a good deal in the night and my cold weather bag in particular is a bit snug. I usually wake up at some point in the night with the hood over my face and all twisted up in the bag. Meh. I work with what I got.

Sounds good. Are you riding from Jemez? Looks like some lonely territory. Curious how you will get from grants to mcgaffey where the Zuni 100 trails are. There's some interesting looking stuff within the Zunis in that area and I have plotted a few routes through there.

We actually own some land on the south side of the Zunis across from el Morro national monument so I am out there on relatively often. You are welcome to it if needed but sounds like its not really on your way. But it's got water, buildings, and power FYI.

[NW New Mexico?]

See my post in the NW New Mexico? thread. http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,4793.0.html

You could ride from CR42 (Chain of Craters Backcountry Byway) at SR117 north of the Pie Town area, up through the El Malpais area, east on SR53 (paved, but only for a bit) to Bonita Canyon (CDT hike-through route), then move your way northwest through the Zunis along forest and logging roads up to the McGaffey/Hilso/Quaking Aspen area outside of Gallup (which has some great singletrack). Depending on how much you do in a day, that could be 4 days give or take right there (and you could easily spend a day n the McGaffey area riding those trails).

The link I posted in the other thread to the Zuni Mountain Trail Alliance has (or at least used to) a Google Earth file with very comprehensive data on the old logging roads all through the Zunis along with other trail/road files. Its actually pretty hard to get lost in there.

I ride up there fairly often. Hit me up if you do a trip out there.

This site has what you need as far as Gallup area and Zuni riding in the NW part of the range.

http://www.galluptrails2010.com/gallup-area-trail-info

There are also Zuni trail and logging road maps here: http://www.zunimountaintrailpartnership.com/mapping-the-zunis.html

I believe the great divide route comes through the Zuni area via Mt Taylor which is near Grants and a little east of the Zuni mountains. It then heads west on SR53 to the northern end of Chain of Craters Back Country Byway which is also CR42. It's an unimproved road that connects to SR117 on the southern end. There are also some singletrack sections of the CDT you can access in there as well.

I'm pretty familiar with this area and have ridden some and plotted other trips on the SEastern end of the Zunis. Let me know if I can be of help. The link I posted earlier in this thread has pics of rides throughout that area including chain o craters and Bonita canyon, a CDT thru hike route.

Bikepacking is a more recent thing for me, so it was not even on my radar when I was growing up back east (Philadelphia area). But I did do a fair amount of backpacking and would imagine some of those places would make for some great riding. Delaware Water Gap, New Jersey Pine Barrens, Allegheny National Forest, Monongahela National Forest, Green Mountains in Vermont and White Mountains in Maine are all fabulous places I have explored by foot. I have also biked a good deal in the Fairmont Park area of Philadelphia which  huge and has some great challenging riding (and is the second largest urban park in the nation, as I recall).

I agree with the comment that in the West, public lands are generally more accessible. There is also just less density and development overall, so finding your way to remote areas can be a little easier. But I would love to get back east and do some bikepacking. I just don’t have any family back there anymore, so not much of an incentive to visit let alone drag my bike along.

My first bikepacking was on a mid-90's Gary Fisher Hookooekoo. Great bike. I regret selling it, but it helped finance my current ride. Plus it went to a good home.

And ended the day like this

This nice single track continued all the way up through the canyon. A pretty modest incline on the way up but rippin' on the way back down!

The ride. For bikepacking I have an OMM Cold Springs rear rack and strap a bag to the bars. Not too fancy but plenty sturdy. This was my first ride with new wheelset (tubeless!),  cassette, chain and rebuilt fork. Couldn't be happier!


View from the eastern rim.

I did a scouting ride for a trip I am planning with my 12 yo son. This is Bonita Canyon in western NM. It's on the southeastern end of the Zuni Mountains which is part of the Cibola National Forest. It's also a hike thru route for the CDT.

The ride started out on the forest road. But it wasn't't long before I found some very well worn cattle trails. Also saw a lot of cattle.



Nice geologic wonders on the Easter edg of the canyon.

Hey Simon,

I may have an option for you, though I agree with others that the time of year may be problematic as it relates to snow and general trail conditions. The short of it is we have some land with structures (heated and insulated with solar power) in the Zuni mountains of western New Mexico. Altitude is between about 7000 and 9000 ft (with options to drop down lower in the immediate area). Some singletrack but mostly old logging roads and forest roads. Pretty challenging riding and would be a great training area. There are a number of potential multi-day rides I have plotted but not ridden from the property (including one to a great site with developed singletrack and site of the 24 hours in the enchanted forest event).

I have done some bikepacking in the area. Some images here: http://highaltitudehomestead.blogspot.com/ and another trip nearby in the Chain of Craters Back Country Byway here: http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,4721.msg39932.html#msg39932

24 hours event: http://www.ziarides.com/events/24-hours-in-the-enchanted-forest/

PM me for details if interested.

This is a super useful thread for a GPS noob! Thanks to the collective brain for compiling such great info. Sticky-worthy IMHO.

I wonder if you are talking about Bode's (pronounced "bo-dees") which is the main general store/cafe/filling station in Abiquiu. I have not seen Ride the Divide, so I can't confirm. But here is a link to their website which has a pic of the place: http://www.bodes.com/

There is not a lot of commerce in Abiquiu. The other places that may have been mentioned are the Abiquiu Inn (which has a restaurant/cafe and is close to Bode's) and Ghost Ranch which is a sort of conference center/retreat but also has a trading post, museums and a number of other things. Its Georgia O'Keefe-themed: http://ghostranch.org/

Hopefully one of those does the trick! Good luck.

I really like the look of zpaks' tarp tents (made with cuben fiber and with screens): http://www.zpacks.com/

But they are pricey...

There is a type of tarp you can make or possibly versions to buy that also have bug netting. It hangs like a box below a tarp (and is sewn into the underside of the tarp). They look great, have excellent visibility and pack super small. There is a name for it and info on DIY versions, but I cannot recall it now. If I remember, I will post.

Currently I use a tarp from Home Depot and I like the different ways it can be strung. But I don't have to contend with bugs here. If I did, I might consider a bivvy with bug screen and string the tarp above me. But maybe a bivvy doesn't work for a stomach sleeper?

**updated**

I did not realize it at the time, but the DIY tarp I referred to is found on the Tarptent company website (Contrail, etc. manufacturer). It was originally put together and published by Henry Shires in 1999. I'm not even a beginning sewer, though I have ambitions...But still, this looks cool and is apparently very easy to do. For anyone interested:

http://www.tarptent.com/projects/tarpdesign.html