Do you see anyone that you know's bike here:
http://bikepackersmagazine.com/2016-tour-divide-rigs/

Do you see anyone that you know's bike here:
http://bikepackersmagazine.com/2016-tour-divide-rigs/

Some inspiration:  http://theradavist.com/2015/06/the-2015-tour-divide-race-grand-depart-in-banff/#1

Some inspiration:  http://theradavist.com/2015/06/the-2015-tour-divide-race-grand-depart-in-banff/#1

Some inspiration:  http://theradavist.com/2015/06/the-2015-tour-divide-race-grand-depart-in-banff/#1
and
http://bikepackersmagazine.com/2016-tour-divide-rigs/

Price drop to $700 plus shipping.

I have a fully rigid, geared steel MTB (Singular Swift).  Would it help to switch to a 27.5 + front only conversion, but keep 29 rear (due to clearances)?  My goal would be to get a bit more "pneumatic suspension' from the 27.5 WTB scrapper rims and 27.5 x 2.8 WTB Trailblazer tire.  If needed I have another steel fork that is 15mm longer that I could use to keep the BB height about the same (my bike also has an EBB).

What is your experience and/ or advice?

The Therm-a-Rest Vela Quilt is designed for 2 people right?  Does it come with the sleeping pad/ mattress, or do you add your own?
http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/quilts-and-blankets/camp-quilts/vela-hd-double-quilt/product

SOLD - Price drop to $700 plus shipping.
 
It is in great condition, very low miles. The frame is like new, barely a rub-mark. The Carbon Firestarter fork has a few paint chips, but no damage to the carbon. Includes OEM Cane Creek headset.

WTB: Affordable 27.5 wheelset with 135/ 100 QR hubs

Please PM me with what you may have for sale.

Which giant canisters (32oz or 40oz) for water do you guys recommend?  I plan to use it in a Blackburn Outpost Cargo Cage.

http://www.everythingwillbenoble.com/blog/bike-packing-touring-gear-review-blackburn-outpost-top-tube-bag-outpost-cargo-cage

Me too.  I am really surprised at the short reach on the Fargo.  The Salsa Fargo has a 391mm reach.  For a tall guy, this feels really short when you set this up as a cyclocross/ gravel grinder bike with drop bars.  I didn't really understand "reach" until after I bought the Fargo.

The Fargo seems most comfortable doing singletrack trails (for me).  I thought that it was just because, I am old (mid-40's); and more closely resembled the rigid steel mountain bikes that I rode during college in the early 1990's.  But after watching and reading Jeff Jones talk about the Jones Plus the Fargo geometry makes more sense.  I still wish that it had more reach though!

My solution is to make the Fargo a dedicated MTB with Jones Loop bars; and then build up a 60 cm Soma Wolverine (with 403mm reach) for my drop bar, gravel grinding setup.

I am 6'-4" (with a long upper/ body torso).  On the XL 2015 Fargo, I run a 120mm 0 deg. stem with the Woodchipper bars; as well as a setback Thomson seatpost (and it feels really short for me).  I think that the combo of the tall stack on the bike and the 60cm ETT make it feel short.  I keep wishing that I can sit further back on the seat (which is as far back as it goes) when riding in the hoods on the Woodchipper).

I know that with MTB's and wide bars, the wider you hands are on the bars the shorter your stem should be; so I am hoping that when I test out the Jones loop 710 bars with a 130mm Thomson stem that allows me to have a similar ride position as Jeff Jones describes for his Jones Plus.

From Jeff's blog:"The Jones Plus 24″ has less reach than a small Surly ECR (398mm) and the 25″ has less reach then the medium (416mm)."

The Jones Plus 25" has a 415cm reach + 110mm stem = 525mm
The Salsa Fargo has a 391mm reach = 130mm stem = 521mm

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/ecr/geometry
http://salsacycles.com/bikes/fargo/2016_fargo_x9
http://www.jonesbikes.com/jones-plus-xt-bb7-build-complete-bicycle-pre-order/

What stem do you run right now?   Jeff would probably tell you not to run the 130mm stem unless the Fargo has a really really short top tube for you.

I tried a Jones bar in 2014 and it didn't work for me at all.. I had a 100mm or 110mm stem on the bike I tried it on.   If i try it again I'm going to put something like a 50mm stem on with the Jones bar and probably move the saddle back 1cm.

For those of us who love doing singletrack on the Fargo (and wonder why it works so well), I would recommend checking out Jeff Jones talking about his new Jones Plus bike design:

http://blog.jonesbikes.com/jones-plus-this-is-it/

Longer chainstays, shorter reach and lower BB drop than a typical MTB geometry (plus a rigid fork).  He actually has a lower BB than the Fargo's 70mm:
Jones Plus BB drop: EBB in top position – 76mm drop, EBB in bottom position – 88mm drop.

Great video with Jeff's design philosophy (while you watch him do a build):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytCndGtdZpg

This has caused me to want to try running a Jones Loop 710 bar on my Fargo (but with a 130mm stem).

WTB:  Jones H-Bar 710

Please PM or email if you have one for sale.

Guy Martin:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport/tt-road-races/2016/january/video-guy-martin-talks-tour-divide/

http://road.cc/content/news/175755-guy-martin-take-tour-divide-%E2%80%93-two-week-unsupported-bike-race-along-rocky

http://singletrackworld.com/2016/01/guy-martin-skips-2016-tt-to-do-the-tour-divide/

What is the model of Shimano 10s road rear derailleur with highest spring tension, that also fits a 11-32 cassette un-officially (with normal, longer non-Campy derailleur hangers)? I am done with SRAM shifters, and want to run 10 speed Shimano road shifters on my cyclocross bike. One of Shimano's neutral support mechanics at an event earlier this year recommended the Ultegra RD-6700. I have also heard that the 105 RD-5701 has a stronger spring than the previous 5700 version. What about Dura-Ace RD-7900?

What is the seat bag on the Surly from Frostbike?

I have a Surly Karate Monkey 29er disc fork.  It's a great steel fork with very low miles.  I would sell for $75 plus $15 shipping to the lower 48.  It is grey in color.

What tires do you recommend for all-around use on the 2015 Fargo with carbon Firestarter fork?

I ride the bike in all conditions, daily commuting, gravel grinders, light single-track, as well as bikepacking.

Currently I am running the older (both discontinued) WTB Weirwolf 2.55 on the front and the WTB Exiwolf 2.3 on the rear.

Pumped up to 40psi they roll well on the road with decent cushion, and are predictable off-road at lower pressures.