Soon I will be departing for the American Trail Race (as a tour rider not racing) and blogging daily updates just as I did for the GDMBR. Took my bike in for a couple of upgrades and total tuneup to get ready for the 5000-mile trek. Talked with the manager about sponsorship and he told me to send an email with a proposal. [Gulp] totally new to this and have no clue what to 'propose'.

Anybody with some insight to pass along?

HughieP, thanks for digging this thread out of the archives. Comming up on the three year anniversary since my Divide ride. Toughest thing I've ever done physically as well as mentally. But I miss being out there so damn much.

Have a Revelate harness on my Woodchippers, however, I don't use a dry bag with it. I pack my tent in that bag and often it gets packed away wet so locking it away all day in a dry bag is not ideal. I do put my sleeping bag in a compression drybag inside that bag though.

Also, use a Revelate handlebar pocket that works nicely with the harness.

Thanks for all the input. I did finally order a Blackburn Outpost tool wrap. Give a go for a few rides and see how it works out.

Thanks.

Right now, tools that travel with me live in a small bag. Everything in one little bag suffices, but I recently came across a guys kit that had a perfect little tool roll that I could see making life on the bike just a wee bit nicer. Unfortunately, that particular tool roll was a prototype that never went into production. 

Been searching all over for something similar but coming up empty. Anybody using/know of a nice, lightweight, compact tool roll that is in production and available to purchase?

Thanks for the input. Iowagiz, I'll give it a go on the left seat stay. 

What are your questions?

As much as I like to stay off the road, often times it just cannot be avoided. Not sure if it does any good, but I like to run a flashing red tail light when riding the road. The one that's been on my bike a couple years now was mounted on the seat tube. Even though it's plenty low enough to avoid the seat bag, I'm sure the tire is obscuring the light, somewhat.

At any rate. I bought a new mega bright Planet Bike Turbo Superflash and thought it would be good to mount it on the left seat stay, where it would have good visibility to road traffic. However, I could just see that light not playing nice with the rear wheel spokes if it were to get bumped hard.

Where/how did you mount your tail light? Pics would be awesome.

How much time do you have to dedicate to riding? About a year and a half ago I rode the entire Katy. My son lived in St. Louis at the time. He dropped me off at the western terminus in Clinton MO and I rode back to his place. Could have your wife do the same.

Here is my blog about that ride. http://maunabiker.com/index.php/category/the-katy-trail/

Check out REI.com and go to the REI garage. They have several UL 1 person tents in there right now at a good discount. I bought two Big Agnes tents there, a 1p and 2p

eastsideride, thank you for the compliment.

Have never used a bivy so I can't comment there. I like the protection a tent affords.

The one thing that I see missing from your list, for an early March ride, is cold weather riding gloves.

This may help answer some of your questions. https://youtu.be/keOBaeFrwxY It's a video I made to show my non-riding friends just what I take and how it's packed. 

Joel I can tell you your Air will not fit in a Revelate front pocket either. My iPad mini barely fits.

Forrest, I'm a little lost with your question. The confusion for me is the terminology... Saddle bag and harness, since you state you already have a "Front Harness". Lets clear a couple things up first to provide the right input.

When you say "Saddle bags" is this what you are talking about? They are more commonly referred to as Panniers.


If my first assumption is correct I'm going to assume then the "Harness" your asking about is one of these? Commonly called a Seat bag.

Yes I would suggest dropping some money on a mountain bike. Good training for the GDMBR on Maui would be riding up Haleakala with a loaded mountain bike.

Have had good luck as well with Boa lacing on my Scott's. Original cables and dials made it through the Great Divide and other rides.

Thanks for posting. Realized it's maybe time to do some parts replacement and also get a spare to carry. (thanks gregclimbs)

This thread is worthless without a link to a blog or SOMETHING! 

Seriously, would love to hear about your adventure.

I simply use clear packing tape at key points on the frame

Is Porcelain Rocket still making these? Nothing comes up on their website.