Nice work, Yogi.

If I weren't so tired right now I would go meet Jefe at the trailhead.  Instead, I think I'll go to sleep and see him sometime tomorrow. Go Jefe, Neil, Ben!

Did anything come of this?

Why yes, something did in fact come of it... I just forgot to post it here.    The Gen II Bedrock Coconino was launched in the spring of 2015 and has become one of our best-selling bags.  Here you go:  http://www.velorutioncycles.com/seat-bags/bedrock-coconino-seat-bag

Haven't tried the Sparwoods yet.  Been running the Cannonballs with no issues, quite like 'em!  But that disappearing bead act is not so great... not that it makes it better, but are those HED rims hookless?

I'm with Jefe.  Well said.

Lots of carnage this year!  Surprised by the early nature of most the scratches.  CANELOS ANGRY, MUST HAVE SACRIFICE!  (Uh, sorry.)

Been a bit absent for a while.  But who could resist a good old fashioned TrackLeaders/BP.net race party?!  Go Tom Wolf, Addy Marx, Kaitlyn, Denburg, and all my other friends out there!

Did the 300 start at 7am or 9 as usual this year?  Wish I were there.

Ah ha!  Gotcha covered.  http://www.velorutioncycles.com/accessory-bags/bedrock-bags-honaker-hydro-pack  We make this in-house.  It's accompanied me through a CTR and AZTR.  Works!

Hey Adam!

Just now seeing this thread - I've been in radio silence mode as of late.  As Andrew said, don't yet have the bike... but eagerly awaiting its arrival!  Once it shows up, I'll take some photos to share...

I even have a hashtag bequeathed by friends: #dontridewithjoey

I just tell 'em they don't know what they're missing.  There's some amazing stuff out there, and it's often difficult to access.

They shred tires, desiccate riders to the bone and demoralize even some of the most stalwart of bikepackers.   

Am I the only person out there that has actually enjoyed the Canelos?    I gotta say they would be less fun in the snow... unless I was on the fatbike.  Hmmm...

Hey, CLM and I were just talking about this trip potential yesterday!

I agree about the Revo.  Quite happy with it offroad, a nice wide, bright beam, with no annoying artifacts and no flicker at low speeds. 

Full disclosure: We sell the Revo (and other dynamo/Exposure products) at VC.

Does work in some climates for sure - have done just that in Arizona, for example.  But I've also had condensation and/or precipitation make that impossible, for practical reasons.

One mild concern I'll bring up is that if run concurrently with the CTR, the additional riders the stage event may draw could easily push us over the 74-person FS regulation limit for non-permitted events.  The CTR has had fewer people the last couple years, but a few years back we were definitely pushing that limit.  Perhaps it would make sense to run this event a week before or after...

Edited to add:  Also, unless riders doing this are really wicked fit, the eight-day plan is still going to have quite a bit of night riding.  I'd imagine most interested parties on that schedule, self-supported, would be riding 12-15 hours a day, maybe even up to 18-20 on some days, to make those camp spots.

My concept is CTRE- an enduro race over the whole 550 mile route. Timed descents only. Winner has lowest aggregate DH times. I would put myself as the early favorite, but if Matt Schiff or Joey Ernst or Tanner Morgan enter we will just add a penalty for high post downhilling sans droppers.

This so-called CTRE might just be the only enduro race I would ever have interest in participating in!  And I'll take you and Addy on even with the non-dropper time penalty! 

Seriously though, as always, I would love to be at the CTR start (and finish) line for a third time.  Again, as always, it really depends on what the bike shop does to my life next summer...

And for the record, I don't particularly like the idea of a stage-race CTR either.  Stage-race-tour-whatever of the CT, sure, awesome.  But the CTR is a very simple thing, let's keep it that way.

The 300 was so much fun this last year I may have to try to head south again in 2016... see if I can get a little closer to that 2-day mark.

Okay, update:  I've seen three different doctors, one of them three times, and not one of them gave me as much info as a customer I just chanced into a conversation with last week.  He mentioned that I should look into whether my ileocecal valve (valve between the intestines) could be the cause of my varied symptoms.  Not expecting much, I looked into it, and sure enough, all my symptoms (GI and non, including chest pain, swollen lymph nodes, stiff neck, etc.) matched what they call ileocecal valve syndrome.  So did the causes - too much healthy food!  (Seriously, too much rough, raw food, eaten too quickly as I often have to do here in the crazy shop.)

Essentially, that same evening I began massaging the ileocecal valve area (lower right abdomen) several times a day, cut the roughage from my diet temporarily to give the valve a chance to heal, and began eating much more slowly and consciously.  Immediate results!  Two days in, I felt better than I had for 11 weeks.  One week in, I am 80% better.  You'd better believe that I gave that customer his repair for free...

As I said, just posting this for future reference use - maybe someone can not spend weeks in pain for nothing like I did.

Steve, I sure hear you on intended and actual uses being different - I see it all the time!  "What do you mean, you tried to huck that XC bike off a 6-foot ledge?"  Or, conversely, "You want the $5k enduro bike to ride the Meadow Loop?!"    Smart use of that Moots product, using extra straps...

Got you, Mark.  I agree that you don't necessarily need all the coolest gear to have an adventure.  Just want to make sure new folks don't think that bikepacking = going out with no "normal" sleep gear 100% of the time.