intended use will be mostly overnighters on the bike with my 2 sons & I mostly spring/summer/fall so the inside nest will be in use for part of the year as we have a fair amount of skeeters in western Nebraska, I can't seem to find how small the 3 packs down to with the nest & pole, just the weight, oh & I WILL need the pole a majority of the time, we are in the hills with trees few & far in between!

I'm looking at the Shangri La 3 so I suppose it's quite a bit bigger but it will be for 2 of us most of the time + gear & maybe a dog now & then, any idea how small it packs down to?

anyone ever used one for biking trips? Curious how small they pack down to with & without the bug/floor inner part & how long does the pole break down to, I'm really needing more room in a tent for 1-3 people & some gear & like the option of leaving the inner part behind when not needed.

Jandd makes a couple of different stem bags that work in the rear though they're not very big, under $20 bucks though & well made

 Any advice for a 2 person tent that packs small/light for bikepacking under $200? I also really want it to be fast fly capable, would just like to find a decent, used Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 with footprint for $200 or less but no luck yet. Was also considering the new Kelty Salida 2 but it's not fast fly & a bit bulkier than I'd hoped.

 sp-quilted!

I too am a huge wool fan especially for baselayer, Smartwool is coming out with a sweet new looking jacket this fall that is quited wool, don't remember what it's called or what it weighs, looks nice.

have run wtb nanos & exiwolfs since '06 but the continental race kings have won my heart over in the last year

I've never had the option of "money being no object" but if it was, I'd still settle for a Salsa Fargo like I have but may splurge on the titanium model! I'd love a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag too but that won't happen in my life either!

 Personally I think if you've never even camped & all you have is a cheap 26" mtb you're goal of starting the TD next year may be a little soon. I would use the bike you have currently & buy some bargain gear to try bikepacking out your backdoor this year & if it's your cup of tea then start upgrading your things maybe starting with your bike.

 I've never done the TD but plan on touring parts of it on my own time in the future so I've spoke with several about it & I think the diifference in lining up for the actual race & touring it on one's own time with no certain agenda or time restraints is HUGE not only in personal committment but the type of gear/food your using as well. When touring it I think the gear changes (a liitle more & maybe a little comfier like a tent vs.bivvy) as does the mindset of a person like "smelling the roses" vs. "I have to cover 175 miles today"

 The amount of committment to do the race is mind-boggling when it comes bike choice, gear, nutrition, training etc so I think it takes a lot of pre planning especially if your coming from overseas & shipping your bike/gear etc & possibly more than 1 year if your just a beginner. I've been playing with this bikepacking stuff out my backdoor going on 3 years now & I learn something everytime I go out as far as what I forgot or what I drug along that I didn't need & I started out with bargain gear & am slowly building my gear up to better quality/lighter weight stuff & it takes $$$ as well as time getting online reading reviews on the stuff I've purchased. I'm 46 yrs now & thinking of making the Divide route my 50th birthday bash from Canada to Steamboat as that's the most I can probably commit to for now.

 Not trying to sound negative & perhaps others will chime in who've done it with better advice for getting ready in a year but my guess is be prepared for A LOT of riding & A LOT of money spent in a short time for gear & A LOT of nights spent trying it out! I think if one is in the mindset to try the actual race & is traveling from overseas then the time-off, traveling expenses & logistics of transporting bike/gear is HUGE so you want ALL the bases covered to make the trip the best it can be & not cut short from poor bike/gear choice, wrong nutrition or lack of training. If indeed you pull it all off in one year & line up in "13 then you planned well I think & best of luck to you for a most enjoyable experience.

 My adventures are pretty tame in comparison with others but it's what I do out my back door in western Nebraska

 www.paxtonpeleton.blogspot.com

it is our hope that this will be the first annual & it will grow to a stellar event in the future, it has the potential for it I think!

the first time I saw any type of frame carriers was when I became familiar with the Buffalo Soldiers when they made their remarkable journey from Montana to St Louis, I believe the compartments they used were a hard type of case though by the looks of them. maybe fomed out of tin or something.

 Brand new event for you gravel junkies in west central Nebraska on June 30th brought to you by Team DSG, check it out if you will  www.odinsrevenge.blogspot.com 

looks good!

my Salsa Fargo comes very close!!!

WOW! Outstanding! Great blog

I have the Thudbuster on my Fargo that came with the standard build & love it! Didn't at first as to me it seemed like I always had a rear tire going flat/low but once I got used to it I think it will be permanent, really seems to save my lower back on the long rides. I also have 2 different seat bags that I use with it & they are standard build bags, nothing custom was neccessary to change the way the bags fit in conjunction with the seat post.

looks good so far, just hope you don't get in trouble for using the word "epic"!!!

Salsa Fargo or Vaya