Worn a dozen or so times, a couple scuffs, but still practically new. $190

Pics here: http://dgyardsale.blogspot.com/

DG

Worn 3 times. Fits closer to a 46. $55

Pics here: http://dgyardsale.blogspot.com/

DG

http://www.swobo.com/catalog/product_info_b.php?cPath=2448_2457

It took me a month to get my Mountain Feed Bag directly from Epic Ride Research. Great product, horrible customer service/order feedback. I'm hoping now that Eric is selling them that he will be able to improve that part of the situation for them.

I ran a 450 for TransWisconsin. It's my first mapping GPS, so I don't have anything to compare it to, and I still have alot to learn. Screen visibility seems fine after I changed a couple settings. Supposedly the screen on the 450/550 is different than the 400/500. I was getting 21-24hours of run time per set of lithiums. Water on the screen didn't seem to change the sensitivity of the touchscreen too much, didn't help visibility any, but I can't imagine anything else doing much better either.

Tons of info here: http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/

A few more details on Eworks here: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/ewerk.asp

I wanna see some snowbike pre-ride pics.

My frame bag contains: food, water, batteries, multitool, tubes, pump with a few wraps of duct tape and black tape around it, zip ties, razorblade, chainlube, tp, sunscreen, maps, pot and stove(if I bring the cook kit),and spare cothing items I need immediate access to(gloves, jacket, rainpants).

Seat bag: any other spare clothes, bivy, quilt, tarp, stakes. For winter the bivy and sleeping bag go up front with the pad due to bulk and quicker deployment.

Handlebars: food, map, sleep pad(+ bivy, bag, heavy mittens, and goggles for winter)

Pack: added water carrying capacity, camera, phone, money, id, chapstick, lighter, gel flask, hankerchief, compass, fuel canisters(during winter), ability to carry sleep pad, bivy, bag, and clothes when the going gets tech.

DG

I'm still using my Gerber cool tool....after giving a few days thought I think it's pretty close to perfect. That mini cresent is handy for all kinds of stuff.

Originally it had a thin jaw cresent wrench, spoke wrench, chain tool, 4/5mm allen, 6mm allen/phillips screwdriver, 8/10mm allen adapter sleeve that slid over the 6mm, a 14/15mm socket that fit in the jaws of the cresent for recessed crankarm bolts, and the chaintool press pin doubled as an emergency crankarm bolt. Original weighs in at 216g with the socket, 190g without.

If I were to update that design I would make the cresent body and allens out of ti, make the tip of the chain tool driver a 4mm for der pulley bolts(or maybe swap the phillips tip for a 4mm and all phillips bolts on the bike to 4mm allen), and make the short end of the 6mm/phillips allen a t25 torx for rotor bolts(can't find anything on my bikes that takes a 6mm, or at least anything 6mm that couldn't be swapped to 5mm), and leave out the socket.

http://www.epinions.com/bike-Components-All-Gerber_Cool_Tool_CT41945

DG

Last year I used 3, 1 liter pop bottles inside of 40 Below neoprene coozies. I wore a 1st edition camelback on my chest, stuffed one of the bottles in it, and ran an insulated pex tube into a cap and up my sleeve tethered to one of my fingers. No valve. When the hose end wasn't in the poagie, it was in my mouth. Worked till I got to the third checkpoint, then I just had to screw the caps off and drink from the bottles.

Good idea for minimum maintenance utility bike purposes. Not quite as good an idea if you're worried about drivetrain efficiency or shifting under load.

DG

I carry a Clauss pruning shear with the handle loops bobbed off. 

Sharp as heck, sharp point for piercing, partial serrated edge, cuts pretty much anything you throw at it. Lightweight and super handy. I keep a little roll of duct tape around a piece of hydration hose for a sheath.

DG

"2009 Mavic Crossmax SX wheelset................ They don't use a bushing anymore for the freehub body, which was prone to wear and constant maintenance.  Now it uses an oversized bearing ...."

Good deal! That was the only failpoint of the Crossmax SLs I had. I beat the tar out of those wheels for six years, went through two frames and three freehub bodies, but the wheels were fine.

Do you know if that was a product line wide change or was it just for the SX?

DG

Search the MTBR forums. As long as you stick with mid range components of any of the major manufacturers I'd think it'd be hard to go wrong these days.

I'm really digging Shimano's Shadow design rear derailers. Much less exposed to impacts. The SLX grouppo in general is pretty nice for the price.

Otherwise you can always go with a Rohloff or single speed if you're aiming for the ultimate in durability.

DG

Oh, and I'd recommend a square taper bottom bracket if you want bearings that last. Just be sure to tighten your cranks down right.

So thats what he's using.

Setup time is the big issue for me. I love my down air mat, but it takes like twenty minutes to pump the thing up. Twenty minute setup time for a couple hours sleep is hard to justify during a race. Then again If I'm not pressed for time the air mat wins hands down. I've got an extra large pump bag coming that might even out the difference for the air mat, we'll see.

Bummer about Jill and Geoff.

Conditions look like they could be really tough. Oatley has a pretty huge lead considering.

Any idea who's headed to Nome besides Mike?

DG

I'm aiming to do some longer multi-day winter bikepacking and was wondering how other folks go about bivying, strip down to base layers and jump in, or leave all the layers on? Boots on or off? Why?

Ideally, I'd like to get my vapor barriors working well enough to keep everything aside of my thin base layer dry, then leave all my normal layers on and just crawl in. Boots are an issue as they're usually tough to get on and off, and then you've still got to sleep with them to keep them from freezing. May as well brush them off and keep them on if they're dry, right? Or maybe not.

I've heard of people drying clothes in their sleeping bag, but I'm unclear how that works, or if it works.

Obviously I need some more good subzero testing weather, but I'm afraid the dry/cold season is over in SE IA, and testing in the wet/cold hypothermic conditions just isn't the same.

DG

Does that blow you around much like that?

I've thought about sewing some straps to the side of my frame bag, then just run the skis right along the top tube.

Or do the G-Pickle super tube thing



DG

So I carried my camera with me on the Arrowhead 135, tucked inside my coat in my front mounted hydration pack. I took it out somewhere around the 9mile mark, hit the on button, the lens extends and then immediately retracts and shuts off. Already too cold to function. Thankfully MC was there to capture the experience. Many of the shots I would have taken, he did, and likely did a better job than I would have, so thats pretty cool. Of course I aspire to reach a similar level competence, so I really need to figure out how to keep my camera functioning.

Obviously I need to carry it closer to my body to keep it warm. Any other tricks to keep these things functioning in sub zero temps?

DG

.... I'm still trying to figure out hammocks when it's cold with out breaking the bank..... (rare here in the east).   

I'm suprised I've not seen anyone sew 3-4" down or Primaloft tubes all around the cot for insulation, like a big down cocoon. Or maybe just a sleeve for a down air mattress, then you would have and insulated base and use it on the ground too.

I've got a down air mattress in my Stephens Warmlite bag. It's heavy, and a bit bulky, but man does it sleep nice. Almost better than my bed.

DG

I should warn that I'm a newbie at this multi day race/tour self sustained stuff. I was carrying way more than most anyone else I saw out there. Then again I'm pretty confident I could have hung out out there for a week and been fine, not a bad thing for peace of mind during a first attempt.

You know Scott, I've been noticing you seem to be drifting into this snowbike stuff quite a bit lately, maybe you should be warned: once you're brain gets frosty you can never escape. I mean, this is only my third snowbike race and now I can barely escape thinking of anything but the next one. And look at MC. Every year it gets worse

DG