I am not sure how much of the New Mexico section of the GDMBR overlaps with the CDT, but in poking around about riding the CDT (as per recent efforts posted in this forum!) I discovered this great document about water caches along the CDT. Very helpful info created primarily for thru hikers, but still relevant. I have ridden a good deal out in the Chain of Craters area as well as further north in the Zuni mountains. In all my time out there (day rides and bikepacking) I have never found a reliable water source. Tanks, reservoirs, springs, etc. are notoriously inconsistent, non-functional or just dry because of lack of precip. Don't rely on the maps.

The NM CDT water cache file:

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/nm/programs/recreation/rec_docs/cdt_maps.Par.28024.File.dat/Stash%20box%20locations.pdf

Not to dodge the question, but it is true that many bikes will do what you need.

My first bikepacking rig was a 90’s Gary Fisher HooKooEeKoo. Totally rigid, flat top tube, mediocre components. But it was great!

I have also used a 26” aluminum framed Klein with a suspension fork. Also great and I did not feel like the aluminum beat me up too badly.

Currently I have an El Mar with suspension fork that I use for bikepacking (still have the Klein too). Definitely the nicest bike I have owned and the steel frame is very sweet. But really, its not such a difference from that Gary Fisher or Klein in getting me where I want to go in the backcountry.

If you are looking to spend some dough, though, I would put my support behind the Salsa El Mariachi. That frame will last a lifetime and its very comfortable to ride. And it comes spec’d at 3 levels, so you can choose to pay more for good componentry now, or upgrade as you replace. All three levels are solid, though (I think the lowest level does not have a tubeless wheelset if that matters to you). The other bike I might look at is a Surly Krampus. The reviews are great. It’s all rigid, but with the 29+ tires, still has some cush. Being a Surly, it is one tough muther and well suited for backcountry adventure.

But really, if you have a reasonably solid bike, I might focus on doing more trips before deciding what ride best fits your needs.

Add some inner tube rubber under those hose clamps and you should be good. Prevents paint scratching and slippage.

I have had a pair of Jones Loop H-Bars for a number of months now and spent a good deal of time dialing things in. I have not had numbness issues personally and am very happy with the setup. Below is how I have set things up:

Height: Because the bars have no rise, I had to raise the stem a good bit to be level with the seat. I run a level from the seat to the bars and have it leveled just behind the brake levers (which are behind the loop – not using thumbies). If I slide my hands back for a descent, they are below level and if I hook my thumbs in front of the cross bar and grip ahead of the levers (or grab anywhere up there), I am above level. This seems to be a sweet spot for me as far as pressure and control. If your bars are too low, you could be putting a good deal of weight up there that over such a long ride could cause problems.

Angle: Apparently, 6% is the ideal angle (bars should angle down toward the back of the bike, of course). I have a suspension fork, so I had to account for sag. 8% angle when I am not on the bike seems to be ideal. I have had to tweak it at times if I am loaded or not and I go by feel. My hands, at rest on the bars, should fall at the same angle as the bar itself. If not, it can put pressure on specific parts of your hands.

Grips: I am using the chunky ESI grips (not extra chunky). Never used the extra chunkies, so I can’t really comment on that. I do have some GC1 Ergons on the newer Jones bend bar, but am still building that bike up, so I can’t comment on comfort. My concern with long hours in the saddle is that it doesn’t provide as a wide a “Grip zone” to move hands around.

100 to 150 mile days is pretty intense, so I am not sure the setup I have wouldn’t also create problems at that level, but this is how I do it. 50 mile days is about the farthest I have gone with this setup, but even with multiple days, I haven’t had issues. One additional thing I will mention is that I went from a 90mm to a 70mm stem when I started using the Jones bar and this also impacts weight on the hands.

Good luck. Numb hands are no fun and in my experience the discomfort can linger for days afterward. If you can afford it, I think a professional bike fitting may be worth the money. Then at least you will know if the bars are just not going to work for you and that it is not an adjustment issue. But personally, I really like the Joes bars, though it took a little while to get things set up properly.

Gorgeous! Thanks for the detailed post. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Ok, got ya. You are right that the "s" threw me off...I'm looking for a pair and thought I had found the deal of a century. Thanks!

Are the BB7s a pair or just a single caliper, rotor, adapter combo? Thanks!

That second post is super lovely! I've done a lot of car camping up near San Pedro Parks area with the family but never ridden. Doesn't look like you encountered any impacts from the Pino fire on your recent ride?


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I'm in deep with work and kids for a while at this pint though hoping for one more overnight before winter. Probably in October and likely in the Zuni mountains around mt. Sedgewick. But let's stay in touch as I could be persuaded to do something different. I have contact info for a few other NM bikepackers as well. 29er hardtail and a recreational bikepacker, not a racer. Time permitting, I am up for virtually anything.

I agree that it is hard to wrap my brain around the specifics of your problem without a visual, but this is a common issue with hydraulic brakes cables that are not as amenable to kinking or pinching. You might want to take a gander at this thread:

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=8271.0

It discusses making your own handlebar "standoffs" out of PVC piping or similar materials. The objective is to move the mounted bag a little away from the handlebar. This creates a little gap between the roll (or drybag if using no roll) and the bar. If the distance is set right, the cables can run in that gap without much pinching or damage. Check the thread out to see what I mean. There are a couple of good pics in there that illustrate it well (and there are two pages, so make sure to look at both). And you may already have materials laying around you can use for this.

Hope that is helpful. Personally, I now use a Jones Loop H-Bar which eliminated this issue for me. Prior to that I used mechanical brakes so the pinching was less of an issue. The problem I had in that case was that activating the brake lever rubbed it against the bag and could potentially wear a hole in a drybag or stuff sack.

For a rear rack I use the Thule Pack n Pedal Tour Rack. It clamps on to your seat stays so it fits most bikes regardless of material or lack of mounts. Worth a look - it used to be called Freeload and was made by a New Zealand company. I have read reviews of use with carbon frames with no issues. I have carbon bars and mount a handlebar sling on there with no issues FWIW. Rear rack with stuff on the bars and a backpack should be plenty for most overnight adventures.

Thanks - those are great rides, I agree! I have a dream of connecting these farther flung areas though, and making AF to Taos the middle section. I started out wondering about a border-to-border ride across NM and then decided the really interesting areas are between Cimarron and Tierra Amarilla. Thanks for keeping the thread alive. Maybe someone out there has some beta...

I had a frame bag custom made and asked the maker to position straps to avoid just this problem. Looking at the image I am wondering if you could cut a slit in the frame bag strap and then also trim the width of the stem bag and thread it through (so the slit doesn't need to be too wide). Not ideal but one possible solution.

Those dogs are MANIACS! I love it. I have a 1 yo pup I would like to ride with. Been training her by regular running and this week for the first time I was not dragging her back to the house. In fact, she took herself for another romp around the hood after we got back (without my knowledge).

I have a custom framebag from Bolder Bikepacking for my Large Salsa El Mariachi. I also use the black drom bag, 6l version. I haven’t measured, but I would say I can get about 4l in there and still get the bag zipped. The challenge is that the bags are only so thin when filled and that width is greater than the bag’s. So, I have the let water out until I can stuff it in there and get the zipper shut. If the bag were larger and laid flatter, I could get more as there is additional space in the frame bag, but such is not the case. If you are looking to max out the storage down there, you might be better with two smaller bladders rather than one larger one to fill the space better. That will keep the width within reason.

I also have the tube for the bladder but I don’t find it that easy for the very reason cited – it’s a lot of sucking! Plus, where I have bikepacked I am carrying ALL my water with me and so also always have a pack with a bladder. I find it easier to empty the drom into that for ease of drinking while riding than sucking that water all the way up from my bottom bracket.

This badassery is most excellent!

[Day One]

Some images from a recent overnighter with a friend in the Zuni Mountains of western central New Mexico. Sweeping vistas, ruins from the logging days and some beautiful slickrock. More pictures at  http://www.highaltitudehomestead.blogspot.com

Day One



















Day Two

Overnighter last weekend on the El Mar. Jones bars, Bolder Bikepacking frame bag ( custom), everything else is just directly strapped to bike. No issues and tons of fun.

No, downhill bikes are definitely not for bikepacking. Any XC (cross country) bike is well suited for a wide range of terrain and load. I have bikepacked with my Klein Attitude 26”, Salsa El Mariachi 29er and a Gary Fisher Hoo koo e koo 26” rigid and every one has handled what I threw at it just fine. The El Mar is my favorite, though (the Klein is a close 2nd – a very comfy ride)

I also have an REI down mummy I got at a scratch and dent sale. It's warm to 45 and packs very small (Nalgene bottle size). I'm 6'1" and shy of 200. It's pretty boxy and I believe a Long. It's been a good bag overall.

I also have a SOL Escape Bivvy which weighs virtually nothing and packs to about a quarter the size of the REI bag. It's good to 52 but also adds about 10 degrees to an existing bag. I used the two together last weekend where it got down to the mid to high 30s. I was very comfy. I would even use the SOL Bivvy on its own if I knew it was going to be 50 or warmer at night.