In 30 years Of wild camping I've had two encounters with a black bear.  One was in Virginia and one was here in Colorado.  Both times the Bear went right by after sniffing the tent.  I always hang my food at least 100 yards from where my tent is, never take food in the tent, and cook somewhere else from where I'm staying.  Do these things and your chances are much greater getting injured in a crash than from bears.  Challenging yourself and being a little scared are good for the soul.

I use the front end loader and love it.  I use a 15 liter OR dry bag and my tent and sleeping bag fit in there perfect with the poles slid in behind both bundles.  I never have any issues with it and it's nice to be able to remove the dry bag and take it to the tent.  I stuff it and use it as a pillow.  Then If I want to ride, the front end loader doesn't get in the way if I just leave it on.  The straps stand off of the bars just the right distance to clear the shifters.  I don't have the lunch box but something similar. 

I also have their half frame bag and I'm planning on getting a full frame bag and one of their large seat bags.  I'm also going to see about getting them to make me a custom set of panniers.  Don't know if they do that sort of thing but I don't need the full sized ones because I don't want to carry that much stuff.  Anyway they are over the mountains from me about an hour away in Salida.  So I can take my gear I want to carry in and have them make a set with compartments for everything.  Then I can leave everything packed in them and just throw them in the car and save time.  I like having everything for cooking together, everything for water gathering together and so on. 

Couscous is awesome.  Lentils are also a great option.  They cook up in about 30 minutes and you can add a spice packet like taco seasoning or burrito seasoning and you have a nice chili.  In my opinion lentils make a great substitute for meat in chili.  If you want to get fancy you can add some chopped onion and some sun dried tomatoes.  A cup (dry) is enough for 3 people. 

Mike Curiak carries some of his alcohol fuel in his handlebars.  He has a valve mounted in the end and he just tilts his bar down and pours.  I've been thinking of doing this.  I think a compressor drain valve would work but I haven't gotten around to doing it yet. 

Hello.  Brand new here.  I've never done a 5 day trip before but I couldn't imagine not taking a stove.  I use a Trangia mini set which is for one person but can work for two.  It's not much bigger than a pot or about the size of a 2 person mountain house meal.  It comes with a pot, a small non-stick frying pan, a small base/windshield and a burner and a pot handle that looks flimsy but works wonderfully.  It is 6 inches in diameter and 2 1/2 inches thick and weighs 12 oz.  You can store enough fuel in the burner for about 35 min. of heat.  It burns denatured alcohol.  I go through about 6 oz. per day. 

I eat Oatmeal with dried fruit for breakfast (1/2 cup dry) so 2 1/2 cups oatmeal would take care of breakfast with some dried cherries or raisins.  I use those rice and pasta side dishes like knorr for lunch and they don't take up a lot of room.  So 5 of those plus some tortillas and peanut butter.  Then 5 two person mountain house meals for dinner.  Then snacks like cliff bars and little Debbie brownies (350 calories each and small) and some nuts.  I could do it but I'd have to get a bigger pack.  I use a small pack to carry my food for 2 days now.  I'd have to take my stove.  Heck I take it on day rides because stopping to make coffee is like a religion to me.   

Robert