Ken the only way you will get my method to work IMO is to run cables same side AND rotate your brake levers up from where u have them in pic. If that doesnt work for your hands/ergonomics of braking (I have short fingers so running levers "up" is my preferred method. People with long fingers ten to run the levers "down" more. This reduces the space available for the lower dry bag) you would need to make your lower bag small in diameter to fit your confined space. But then you could make the upper dry bag bigger to compensate. In the end my bags look like one bag from the top.

edit- my upper dry bag is sewed simple style with no round base piece (2 pieces of fabric with a tapered end and one seam continuous looks like a U when done). The straps are sewed into the seams opposite from each other about 6 inches from the ends. I adjust the load in the bag to the middle and turn the extra material at the closed end under the bag and fold up the cam buckle open end. I can add gear to the bag or run it light, but it always sits tight with a centered load. If the bag is empty it still is tight and looks like a reverse harness.

I used a slightly stretchy material for my dry bags. You may find that based on your material bag diameter is crucial or two bags may be needed for structure in the lower bag.

I changed my lower dry bag to a drawcord closure instead of cam buckle. I couldnt get the cam buckle end to stay tight unless my load was perfectly loaded and balanced. The end (part outside the upper bag strap) wanted to flop around a bit and I couldnt add/subtract a clothing item without movement. I added an internal rain flap to the drawcord closure and I like it. If I was using the bag for sleep kit only the cam buckle end would have been fine but I wanted access to it.

The faux harness stem bag is a diamond shaped simple bag (2 pieces no flange) and a zipper facing rider in the seam. It has velcro sewed underneath to attach to stem, and a nylon strap with cam buckle sewed in front of that which holds the lower dry bag in the middle.

I hope that helps. I spent a lot of time getting mine to have zero movement.

Ken the only way you will get my method to work IMO is to run cables same side AND rotate your brake levers up from where u have them in pic. If that doesnt work for your hands/ergonomics of braking (I have short fingers so running levers "up" is my preferred method. People with long fingers ten to run the levers "down" more. This reduces the space available for the lower dry bag) you would need to make your lower bag small in diameter to fit your confined space. But then you could make the upper dry bag bigger to compensate. In the end my bags look like one bag from the top.

Hey Ken I have elixirs and I run my own custom setup. Rear brake and shifter cables run same side and lower dry bag is inserted between them and headtube. Wrapped around that is the stem bag with a center strap (grey stem bag is also velcro strapped to stem- this is my "harness"). My upper dry bag acts as a reverse harness,  with 2 outer straps running around lower dry bag and bars. The cables end up sandwiched between the dry bags and no stress is put on them. I have broken my front shifter  housing at the grommet removing/loading lower dry bag, but the housing was a little short so I added an inch of length and problem solved.

Edit- I was about to make my own traditional harness a few weeks ago using the JerryW thread on MYOG forum, but I too realized the brake setup was going to be sketchy, as the harness would probably bust the cables if run tight enough to stop movement.

I would be down for this if it does not conflict with CTR. IMO Sean you should rethink your date. Joey is right on this one. A triple crown of singletrack races is a perfect idea.

Nice post Marshal.
I had the following method work for me in AZ 750 with a 1/2" gash:

1. Stop bike and inspect damage.
2. Determine that my style of fix would work.
3. Leave damage at 6oclock to keep tire from deflating all the way.
4. In quick fashion apply one layer of electrical tape with super glue over cut.
5. Then apply bigger second layer of tape and superglue.
6. Pump tire up.
7. Ride on to seat wound properly.

I rode from Canelo hills to almost Flagstaff until i had to break bead and repair internally and add a tube. I am 2/3 in races on this style repair. In the future I will add a Park Tire Boot on top of the tape repair to protect it better from side abrasions. In 2012 I just added more layers of tape but they wore down too fast.

This method only works if the damage can be patched from the outside quickly. Like having the glue/tape ready to go and being patched in under 120 seconds. And the tire has to hold at least 5psi or so.(a full on flat would require one of the above methods).

For tiny holes, just the superglue and some dirt as additive works well. The superglue mixes with the tire sealant. YMMV.

http://www.topofusion.com/azt/race.php

April 19th.

As far as water is concerned, IMO 80-120 oz. is the range for the CTR. Here is an example of a resupply scenario Denver to Durango 1st half:

1. Start with 100oz.
2. Water at fire station on 126
3. Bailey
4. Jefferson Creek
5. Gas station on Hwy 9 by high school
6. Creeks on Searle/Kokomo saddle
7. Creek at Camp Hale bunkers.
8. Leadville
9. Buena Vista
10. Mt Princeton
11. Fooses Creek
12. Monarch Crest creek on descent to Marshall Pass
13. Tank Seven Creek. Very important. Read the guidebook as the next stretch of trail has only Lujan creek (cow poop ville) until Cochetopa Creek below Dome Lakes. Relying on Apple and his trail magic tent right before Lujan Creek is risking it.

That is not every water source on/near the route but just an example of a resupply list I have used in the past.

As one can see, learning the water spots requires reading the guidebook, studying the internet (Google is your best friend prepping for CTR) and making your own daily tables for distance, water, food resupply and climbing detail. Marshal Bird is the king of studying and compiling data. Read all his posts under screen name Marshal.

I have studied so many things in 6 years on the trail that I have been able to use things I saw on blogs etc. to get out of a jam many times. I read the 7th edition guidebook for months before the first CTR in 2007 and even carried that heavy ass book in the race!!!

Well I think the point is that there is no right or wrong gear based on personal preferences. What works for me may not work for you. Same with Toby and his kit. What works well for him may not for another rider.

Steve Peat once said about suspension settings that he sets his bike up, gets used to it and rides the whole season like that. His bike becomes an extension of his body. I think that is like that with bikepacking gear. You become in sync with your kit. It is through personal testing and retesting that one finds their "kit".

There is nothing that is specifically needed for this ride. Even rain gear, which is probably the #1 item of importance next to a working tire pump, can be worked around. Maybe you could elaborate? If you look here, on MTBR or on blogs gear lists are posted for others to study, evaluate, etc. It seems to me that asking for specific advice is almost like wanting your work done for you. It is the trial and error of testing that defines your kit and style and approach.

Kozman I think you need to consider that bike choice and gear/carrying equipment are not vital to success in the CTR. Like Toby says the route has been completed fully unsupported by males and females on every type of bike/gear combo around. I use bike bags and gear that would be considered shabby by most standards, yet I complete the task at hand. Having the newest bike/best gear means nothing on this course.

What is really important is the following:
1. No time limits. Each year many racers give themselves a strict time limit that is unrealistic. The trail is harder than they think. The moment comes when a person realizes that they cannot make their goal, and they quit. I have seen people that are way faster than me riding with me. That is very common as logistics become overwhelming under duress. The person has the ability to meet the goal, but reality means sleeping, breaks, being tired, not being able to eat, etc.
2. Adversity- how to overcome it without cheating or quitting. Things will not go your "way". What are you going to do when that happens? You may have to ride a tire with leaves in it-lash your frame bag with paracord-walk 80 miles-glue your shoe back together-etc.
3. Training is good but specific training is better. If one does not have a decade long endurance base, that is okay. By specific I mean HAB training. Overnight training. Weather training. Etc. I go out and hike a bike all the time in the fall and winter. I do overnighters in the cold or damp weather.
4. Mindset. What is your motivation? If it is 15 minutes of Warholian fame (like blog bragging, Facebook posting, etc.) your odds of quitting increase. This is a journey that has to be internalized. You must be one with the trail and block out human emotions that are ego driven.
5. Riding/racing alone. If you cannot handle being alone in the most remote stretch of Colorado, dont count on the company of other racers. Teaming up for anyone slower than true middle pack racers usually results in a DNF. The team slows you down almost all the time. I practice by camping alone near home often.
6. Injury. What happens when you have body issues? The will to continue the journey when dealing with pain is very important for all racers, not just fast ones. I had to deal with intense pain in 2012 in AZT and CTR. I ended up taking one aspirin in 25 days though I dealt with a heel/achilles injury in Arizona and a stress fracture in the lower leg in CTR. Do you have that drive to succeed? Even if it means your elapsed time sucks in comparison to others or your goal? Many folks quit because their final time would be not good enough or they cant break a record, etc.
7. Logistics. Dont fly in the day before. Have your gear ready prior to the morning of the race. Etc.
8. Practice with a fully loaded bike often. I am riding my bike fully loaded for the AZT 750 and it is 5.5 months from the start. Any gear movement or bike issues are being solved now-not on the trail day 1.
9. Eating. It is a skill to eat and keep up with caloric intake early in the race. Dont downplay this important aspect of the CTR. People quit all the time from this, even saying they got a bug or got sick from what they ate or whatever. It is calorie deficit not a bug. Your brain functions poorly without food not just your body.

So in conclusion if you can race with no time limit, handle adversity, ride alone, deal with pain, ride a loaded bike, HAB 50-100 miles out of 500 and eat food while moving then you have the ability to finish. If that sounds too hard then you understand why CTR is what it is. Is is a lot harder out there doing it than sitting here discussing it. Even people who finished the route underestimate it sitting at home/work talking about it. You "forget" how hard it really is. Time heals those wounds physical or mental. We forget how good it feels to finish or how painful/demoralizing the lows points were.

Toby I would guess that maybe the CT will follow the new CDNST section from Cottonwood Pass to Tincup Pass? And then maybe CDNST to top out of Fooses? That new section from Cottonwood to Tincup has been deemed no bikes by the powers that be and was just completed. Just like the relatively new section from Santa Fe Peak to almost Georgia Pass (off limits as of summer 2011). I would hope that any new CT reroutes follow the CTF guidelines of allowing bikes on non-wilderness portions.

I have been studying the CDNST for a potential through-ride next year and I do not like what I am finding out, which is many sections in Colorado that are not in wilderness and not allowing bicycles. It is not fair and I am a little miffed about it. Basically any new section of trail being built is not allowing bicycles. I worry that the next step would be to exclude bikes on current portions that allow bikes, like the CT/CDNST contiguous sections in the CTR.

You should get that expandable blue top tube bag- fill up the expandable sides-and tell us if it hits your knees while out of saddle crankin'!!!

If it doesnt it looks like a winner. I would say knees are going to hit the sides though.

That solar light and those straps sound like a steal at those prices. REI blue straps are like 2 bucks apiece.

That's not a bad idea at all! I have never thought of slinging the bike like a tote bag. It definitely sounds like a less bulky option rather than having the entire bike on the backpack. Thanks Mark! Any other ideas/pictures?

There is a picture on that thread by Tim about his adventures on the AZT.

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,611.0.html

 It looks to me that if the setup is dialed one could walk faster by making it way easier to control the bike/wheels from movement or hitting yourself or just sitting at odd angles making load hard to handle etc.

I am going to get a setup figured out soon and practice it myself to see if I can walk easier and not so clumsy like I was in the canyon at times.

Tanner I am leaning towards the portage system for Ditch bike haul, as first seen by AZTTripper. He had the wheels on backpack and bike carried by strap on shoulder. You use arm to "help" the  bike load a bit. I had to resort to something like that for the last part in this years race. I was thinking of using an old innertube as a strap and a 1/8" superlight sleeping pad as padding under the backpack shoulder strap and carrying bike strap on top of that. Switching shoulders as needed.

I think for lighter people this would be nice as all weight is not draped off backpack. For that style I think real hiking poles are a must. I tried cheesy 2oz tent/tarp poles rigged to hike with once and that didnt cut it. Oh and one year I tested kit and had success overall. The next time I winged it and it sucked. Test. Test. Test some more.

I would like to give public props to Les Handy for the ride home from Durango. He gave me and Roland a ride back to Denver on Aug 9th. Thanks man trail magic after the race ends is just as appreciated as it is during the event.

Oh and nice efforts in the AZT300 and CTR as well Les.

Mark C.

I think we owe it to the race organizers to self police the crap that goes on out there. If team classes eliminated cheating, then all race organizers should consider it.

I just dont think adding classes changes this "screw the rules" mentality we are seeing here. Remember a few years ago when people would self-relegate themselves? That takes the heavy responsibility/burden off the organizers' shoulders. Now its like catch me if you can fools. A few years ago it was guys like Jason and Owen who self-relegated themselves in the CTR after amazing runs with a 5-10 mile mistake. Now that same mistake gets you an asterix finish and no one questioning your credibility for not DQing/relegating yourself? We have really lost the vision of the sport IMO. Cheaters and rule benders are making race organizers soft on DQ's and such because newbies dont understand self-relegation and place too much burden on another person to make the call. I wouldnt want to DQ anyone. That would suck.

Dont think I am bitter or that I had a bad time this year because of what I saw. I had the time of my life. The positive interactions with the ppl out there was amazing and far outweighed any shenanigans out there. Riders like Tanner M, Dave K, NTCT Matt, Dave W, Scott M, Toby, Andy, Scott J, JC, Kurt S, Arno M, Goldberg and of course Marshal were a joy to hang with, chase, pass, get passed by, camp etc. I will remember that in the years to come and not some lame team crap.

If they were a real team in an event that allowed it then it wouldn't be cheating.

Jeff what I mean by cheating is that teams  are CHEATING. They are not following the rules. Like rules against drafting, gear sharing, etc. Let me give you some examples of the team cheating i saw in 2012:

Drafting- saw a prearranged team draft on a detour in CTR
Gear sharing- saw prearranged and arranged teams sharing sleep gear in AZT and CTR. The arranged team up in CTR was to be able to push through rain and then share a tarp IMO.
Car ride/sag support in AZT- Pretty sure a friend as sag is cheating. Getting in that friends car? Moving forward on the course in said car? You be the judge.

So what happens in my experience is that prearranged teams ride way slower than each riders solo potential. They then get discouraged about the effort and break rules left and right to stay in the game/keep up some kind of pace. If a prearranged team of faster riders couldnt beat me in both 2012 races, thats pretty weaksauce as my times were slow. Resorting to cheating and still cant beat a slow guy? Despicable IMO. Well it happened both times and one team finished with car ride asterix and one quit. The arranged team in CTR that shared a tarp? Well both riders quit as well I think (I know for sure at least one them quit).

I am only pointing this out because once again someone is looking to CHANGE races rules/concepts yet again. Like I have said before, if it aint broke quit trying to fix it. If someone wants to promote a team race, then by all means go for it. But it should be its own event at a separate time than other events and maybe its own unique course.

Well, being prepared doesn't always matter. Emergencies can still happen.

Yes- but the more prepared rider handles the emergencies better. Like Roland S.

IMO the rider who shows up intending to ride as a team almost always has limited backcountry experience alone. I have personal experience with these teams in almost each race I have participated in and it is almost always been a negative vibe to the solo racer. Imagine how pissed you would be if two fast people cheated, somehow ended up behind you after blowing your doors off, then dogged you for 48 hours plus as you tried to beat them to the finish? Well that happened to me in 2012 AZT 300, and I nearly had heat stroke just trying to beat those damn cheaters who fed off each other, drafted, shared gear etc. I had to ride at 230am two nights in a row and push through fierce heat to beat them by 8 min.

I would welcome the team concept but not in the actual race they should ITT the course.

I think the idea is based on one concept i hate about "teaming up" which is based in fear of being alone. IMO prearranged teams in the ultra races almost always fail for many reasons. Solo means self-sufficient. It also means one has the cajones to hit the start line prepared to ride alone.

Folks who toe the line intending to ride with someone or looking to team up along the way almost always have issues with being alone in the wilderness IMO. They are the ones who seem to have issues with safety, etc. Look at this years CTR. The one rider who had a total meltdown was "teaming up" according to his race reports yet no one who rode with him helped him with his issues until it was too late and the Spot 911 button was hit. So IMO riding with or near others does nothing to improve safety and may actually reduce safety by giving people a false sense of security. This is in no way a slam- I for one understand what that rider possibly went through as I had my own fadeout in AZT750 on the Mogollon Rim, which is not a good place to lose your mind.

There is also the effect teams have on solo riders around them. I notice that teams that ride at my pace are always faster riders than me who feed off each other to stay in the event. IMO they usually quit and when they finish it is only due to the team, neither rider would finish solo. It sucks to ride alone near these group efforts. And in TD teams mean drafting, which pisses off nearby riders even more than teams on singletrack.

And I am not even really touching on what Jay P. did in his blogs- FAST racers who team up. I am too slow to have much of an opinion on that but Chris N. was moving in this years CTR and staying with the "pack" may have been his downfall for all we know. The leaders at TD this year used teamwork to waste the field of very strong riders. Now we all know teaming up after the race starts is no rule violation- but it seems to go against the whole concept of the event(s).

If it was up to me prearranged teams would be banned in CTR and AZT. One needs to be a tough self-sufficient SOB who can handle adversity.

but how do people with jobs do this. Does no one else have jobs either? I quit my bike mechanic job in late May in California to take two months to play and transition back to CO but after the CTR it has been serious look for work time. Who gets to take June off except for academics?

Some people here have great regular jobs with seasonal vacations, like teachers.
Others own their own business and have flexibility.
Some get lucky I am sure being students or trust fund adrenaline junkies.
Some have jobs with great vacation time due to seniority.
Some have jobs with flexibility designed into them- like a certain lawyer I know.

Those with not so great regular jobs that have no paid vacation have it hardest. But they can work like hell, maybe do 2 jobs between races, and there is a way sometimes. Maybe work with tips in resort towns in this instance is best- as time off is possible as is condensed earnings.

Of the six categories above, I fall into #2. But I sacrifice by literally buying nothing for the last year, only owning one bike and being cheap. I have met/heard discussed at least one person at the races from each category.

Matt you might as well give in to it. TD, AZT, Georgia, Stagecoach. They are calling.