I have been enjoying many of your videos, looking forward to this one.

I would love to be out there, not racing it, but doing a supported tour of the best parts.... 40 to 50 miles a day would be lovely without the abuse and risk of falling apart physically. More a stop and smell the flowers tour, not race. Being old and slow has it's limits. But I for sure would build a  hard tail, most likely geared 3 x 9 29'er.

Adventure Cycling....fully supported tour....this month.

I run size small frames and my wife XS, so I have experience with this.
When touring on my fat bike I add a rear rack so can use an ordinary dry bag and micro panniers.

Last trip my wife was on a FS 29er and the seat bag rubbed on the tire often requiring adjustment. Luckily, I added duct tape to the bottom of the bag so no permanent damage occurred. Going forward, she is on a 27.5 regular bike which should afford the extra required space.   So consider a 26 or 27.5 rear wheel.

I picked the Sir9 for my next rig, it was similar in geometry to another plus bike I have but has the added ability to run 2x, fit a rear rack, run 29 or 27.5plus. As for "jacked up" which I assume means a high stack, perhaps yes, but many touring setups favor that.

The stache is a 29 plus bike, beyond what I can fit over and so I consider that to be very different.

Another thing to consider is clearance between the bottom of the bag and the wheel. My bike has a small frame and as the seatpost went through its travel, the bag would rub against the wheel.

I rode through the Rez at night. All the bud light cans and the vodka bottles on the side of the road kinda freaked me out.

Since you brought it up, the danger is real , so lets not forget those who had aspirations of completing this race but didn't and hope for safe passage of all the riders this year.  

http://circumburke.org/dave-blumenthal/