If the route is not to technical I would go with the Bob. I have had up to 40lbs on my back for multi day trips but never again.

I did read the boyscout story it did sound like he self rescued it seemed more like some loved one called in the rescue. It's a tough call I have always had a understanding with my wife that 24 to 36 hours is not that late. But how do you convince mothers to sit and wait for their sons or husbands to self rescue while they sit at home worried.

Up thread I was called out and rightly so for my callous "Darwin" comment so how do we convince our SO's to give us a chance to have an adventure and get our selves out of what we've gotten ourselves into.

Webster's defines "Adventure" as 1 a daring, hazardous undertaking 2 (and this is a good one) an unusual, stirring, often romantic experience. I've looked this up before and the other dictionary also said something about an unknown outcome.

So clearly any adventure could end up running long, and the possibility of running behind spending an extra night out is always there. So how do you convince the SO to sit and wait it out. My wife has always been pretty understanding (she is a climber also and understands) but I have know guys who have to call in as soon as the climb/ride is over. On one occasion I miss judged how long a climb would take, we were a couple of hours late and the other guys wife was calling the Sheriff while we were at Micky D's having dinner (pre cell days). Fortunately they had a 24 hour rule before they were going to get involved.

yuppys have the cash to pay for what ever they want to do.

the first time i was in joshua tree the rangers found that some one had 3 cars in a spot that only allowed 2. rather then move a car over to the overflow parking they just paid the $100 fine.

AzTripper,

The tires are 700x40c IRC MythosCX Slick, and are a very fat 40c, I just finished a trip on very rocky terrain and holdup really good.

Saludos

Thanks those looks sweet I found some on Ebay if the WTB's don't work out I will get some.

efuentes

no help with the Rowland but I was wondering what tires you have on the contraption. They loop like Michelin TransWorld Sprints. I have used this tire on 700c rims squeezed into a 26 inch Kona Explosif frame/rigid Surley fork, with the sliders all the way back they fit fine. I am not a big fan of drop bars I have Mary's on mine and use it for about what you describe. 700 is a great wheel size IMO I also have a 29er FS bike for more rugged trails but I also like the light weight fast rolling skinny tires. I call mine a comfort cross or mountain cross depending on what I am riding.

I have a set of 29x1.85 tires coming I really hope it will fit in the back I know it fits the front as I can run up to 29x2.2 there. What I want is the biggest possible tire in the back but there aren't a lot of choices in the 40c plus range for CycleCross.

Got my first look at the Dakota the other day it looks good but still won't do what I had hoped for.

You can load up more then 10000 points worth of tracks but the only way you are going to be able to see them is if they are all in a smallish area.

We were riding in an area with lots of trails (Tucson Mountain Park) and it will work good for that but they are limiting the number of maps you can load in.

Seems like they still aren't giving us access to the memory card. I have the base map for all of AZ stored on mine and it only uses  3 percent of 1 gig card. I have about 100 rides with thousands of point per ride and still haven't used up 1/4 of the storage.

Obviously we can see things stored on the card ie base maps I just don't see why they can't give us access to more of it.

I guess I stick with the Legend for now.

I have had good luck with the Garmin Etrex Legend with color screen.

With Lithium batts I was able to run it for 8-12 hours per day for 4 days on the Coco 250 stage race.

With a 1 gig card it can hold the Garmin base map for all of AZ there are also on line maps to load (I haven't used them but friends have).

The card holds all of the rides I do with the GPS on the bike I like to track at 1 second intervals so the tracks have a lot of detail.

On the down side I am on my second one in 3 years tho the first did last for the whole 800 miles of the AZT then I used it on the AZT 300 and also for tons of day rides before it stopped working. All in all I think I got my moneys worth out of it and had no hesitation to buy the second. The other down side would be the 10000 point limit on down loaded tracks as it would be nice to have more detail for tracks I want to follow.

Now for the new thing on the market the Dakota sounds pretty cool. I am sure Scott M will chime in here. Scott is working on getting one to make it work with his program TopoFusion from what he told me it sounds like I will want one.

What it can do for us is allow the down loading of map pages from TopoFusion (an export feature) a map/picture of an area. The exported map can be any landsat or topo map that you bring up in TF (or I should think other programs will get in on it) with as many tracks that you have loaded on that map and then show your location on the map. I am thinking this solves the second down side listed above. If the track I want to follow is stored as an exported pic/map then there should be no limit on the detail of the track. Scott does that sound right to you? I think that would make following race track much easier if we didn't have to simplify to get it to fit 10000 points.

Hope that helps tho it may just add to the confusion, as I said I am happy with the Etrex but looking forward to hearing more about the Dakota.

Since it was a rented spot it probably didn't come with the 100k Loyd's of London insurance policy so no deep pockets there.

As I recall from climbing in Yosemite Valley you can be charged for rescue services if you are found to have put yourself in harms way in a reckless manor. The typical scenario was say you started solo climbing a big route when thunderstorms were forecast for that afternoon. If you had a legit accident and needed rescue then no charge. Seams to me that attempting a major hike in the canyon with out experience is a little reckless.

There was a cell phone activated rescue on Sheepshead at Cochise Stronghold last winter. Witnesses said they just kept going higher up on the wall even as time was obviously running out. They apparently never attempted to bail off just waited for sunset and then called 911.

This may have a serious impact a Darwin's theory. 

This came up over at http://www.mountainproject.com/ some time ago I'll have to see if I can find the thread. As I recall the general nonsenses was that this would be the inevitable out come as more of these units lured the inexperienced out into the field.

The water tasted salty that's classic.

Looks like 2 days 3 hours 55 minutes so I guess the glue supply held out.

Looks like the predictions of 15 hours faster the the AZT 300 were close.

I'm guessing the same a Chris that he wasn't running sealant, I didn't have a single flat out there. Running Stan's in side of tubes.

I am wondering how many flats there were in the group that did the stage race.

6:30 looks like he is at the start of Sycamore that's some cold riding to get there all most all down hill on easy roads no way to build up any body heat that doesn't just make you colder as you go faster hope he had some good cold weather gear.

Back on course at 5:00 looks like he is human after all. Looks like he spent the night in Williams and got a good nights sleep I should think he will be able to make good time now that he has had some rest. Seams like trying to go on last night would have been tricky even if he had done Sycamore before there are several places that would be hard to deal with in the dark. And if he hadn't done it before then it would be a major pain. Especially that first big wash crossing there just is not a trail and it was only because I could see the trail on the other side that I knew where to go. 

REI or SorrEI (sorry E I) as I call it does have some good stuff just nothing specialized for bikepacking and they do tend to be more of a clothing store with some out door gear to get you in the door.

Campmore has a web site as well as a catalog they have a mix of quality and cheep stuff but again no real bikepacking gear.

I got my seat bag right from Eric at Epic there is a link in the review section on this site I don't think either of the guys making these things have any other outlets yet.

Then there is Golite http://www.golite.com/main/home.aspx and I am sure there are other ultra light back packing sites most of that stuff works for bikepacking as well. As of now I don't see any one trying to cater to our small market.

Welcome donmeredith74

Here's my .02 on your questions a rack will work but they do have down sides added weight and potential break downs in the long haul. I would say get a seatpost bag but they can be pricey. Another issue with racks is body position for down hill the rack can get in the way and stop you from getting behind the seat. Depending on what you want to ride a seatpost bag will allow you to get behind the seat similar to riding empty. So if you want to do tech rides the seatpost bag would be the best bet.

I would look for a way to put the pad on the handle bar.

As for the pack the Osprey 22 seems to be the most popular so I should think any light weight 20 something should do just fine.

I have a Legend HCx that works out great for me you should be able to get it or the Vista for about the same $200 as the 305. I haven't seen the 705 but I don't like the built in batteries I ran Lithium batteries in my Legend for the Coconino 250 and they lasted for the full trip and you can always buy more at and C-store.


 

I want to create a Southern California stage race, maybe this winter?

I would be game the Coco stage race was good I would like to do one in SE AZ as well.

I was planning on doing the complete AZT, maybe do it during the AZT300 and keep going?

You could start the day before the 300 and pick up riding along the border as well as some ST where the AZT come out of the Miller Peak Wilderness, there is a spiral pictograph I want to go and see, 100 feet into the wilderness. I have been out that way twice but I didn't know about it, then camp at Parker Canyon Lake and join the 300.

Wow super cool. How fast do you think the course could go in a single push Scott?

At my level this course felt one day shorter then the AZT 300. I should think you could take 10-15 + hours off of your time on the 300.

Only 100lbs I'll take two.

The guy here would be willing to ship stuff out once he gets it.

Just got back to Tucson it was a great ride but it is nice to be done today was a blast especially the bouldery climb after Snow Bowl road.

It was another long hard day of riding I finished up with 8 hours 35 minutes for the day.

Posting pics will have to wait for tomorrow tho.

Jonesy all I can say is ouch! And way to hang in there as long as you did.

Tim  

The inaugural BikePacking stage race should be a lot of fun I just hope I can get to stop 1 in time for one of those beers. Or else Munds Park is going to look real inviting. Bonus points for BYOB on Mingus is it worth the extra weight on the big climb.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Place.