I've been using flats exclusively for trail riding and bikepacking for more than a decade here in Coastal BC. We get lots of wet weather in the winter and lots of dust in the summer. I tend to run the thinner versions of flat pedals as they work better for me. I haven't had any sudden failures or durability issues. When the bearings/bushings wear out it's a slow process that provides warnings if you pay attention to your bike at all.

I was clipped in to my bikes for a long time prior to trying flats and I have no desire to go back to that setup regardless if the maintenance cycles are longer.

I've got a few sleeping bags, from a summer down one to a winter down one. They're both a little bulky, and heavier than modern ones (they're from about 2003 and 2005, always stored correctly etc, just I figure cheaper down). Anyways, my main complaint is that I find they're just a little narrow, and I get caught up when I roll around.

I'm looking for a approximately mid to high 20's F comfort level bag, that is pretty light and compact for bike packing, but also one that works with people who are more in the 180-200 lb range. I'm pretty cheap, so ideally some brand that I can get 20% off at REI, or some other discount.

Any suggestions?

Another option I see, is just to go to a quilt. I'm still wanting to make my own quilt, but that project is on the back burner for a while.

Thanks

I'd just get a quilt. You'll get a lighter product all other things being equal and more room to maneuver. That said I am 5'11" & ~185lbs out of the shower with wide shoulder/chest and have no issues with "normal" sleeping bags. I tend to buy "long" bags if that's an option. For cooler temperatures you need the quilt to seal with the pad well to keep you warm so if you are particularly wide you may need something custom or at least with size options.

I tried a Thermarest quilt as my first stab at quilts for the reason you note [REI sale] sadly it was a disappointing product. To be fair to TR this was a few product cycles back and their current quilts might be great. But, it did convince me quilts were a good idea so I spent some $$$ and got a quilt from Enlightened Equipment. If you have the skills/equipment to make a DIY quilt that could be the best option since the cost will be low and the size can be customized.

https://enlightenedequipment.com/

I'm looking at getting my bike set up for bikepacking. I've noticed everyone uses seat bags and almost nobody puts racks over their rear tire like a typical commuter bike.

I get why people don't like panniers, but I don't understand why people aren't strapping dry bags to a rack rather than, or in addition to, a seat bag.

What am I missing?

I built up a hardtail recently and plan to use a rear rack with a dry bag strapped to it rather than a seatbag. That allows full dropper use and is more stable than a seatbag. I am just reusing an older OMM rack I had. If I wanted to spend some extra $$ I could have had an UL rack built, but it didn't seem to make sense when I already had something suitable.

https://vikapprovedblog.wordpress.com/2019/07/20/daambuilt-mega-krampus-bike-review-part-1/
https://vikapprovedblog.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/daambuilt-mega-krampus-bike-review-part-2/

["Well folks, this is a bit more serious. I will remain in hospital tonight and transport somewhere else. Won’t say much now as I need to contact my family. I want to say this-Remember, if you can be out there do it! Don’t waste time thinking of doing things. Get out there now! Chase your dreams!"]

"Well folks, this is a bit more serious. I will remain in hospital tonight and transport somewhere else. Won’t say much now as I need to contact my family. I want to say this-
Remember, if you can be out there do it! Don’t waste time thinking of doing things. Get out there now! Chase your dreams!"

Huge respect to him and all the other riders. Hoping recovery is quick.

Dang! Thanks for the update. I hope he's okay.

As long as racers follow the race rules they don't owe anyone an explanation or justification for deciding to stop regardless of the reason.

Has anyone done this trip this past year? I know there are several roads closed around the Comox Lake Area which makes the traverse challenging.

I haven't been around the back of Comox Lake this year, but there are private cottages along the north shore of the lake so I'm not sure how that road could be closed to all traffic. Once you get to the end of the cottages it's a pretty short run on any actively used road until you are away from the lake on deactivated logging roads towards Port Alberni.

Personally I don't stop riding when I see a "road closed" sign. If I did I'd never get anywhere on Van Isle. I've run into logging company personnel numerous times on "closed roads" and not one time has anyone been upset with me being there. They are just curious WTF a guy on a bike is doing so far from anywhere. That said I do interpret "road closed" signs as ride at my own risk and "get the F--K out of the way of any trucks/equipment!" because they are working and not looking for cyclists. If I figured a section of road was actively being utilized and I still wanted to get through I'd just be there at the crack of dawn and get through before work started for the day.

That's ^^^ just my personal take and not what I am saying anyone in particular should do. You have to evaluate your own risk comfort zone and do what's right for you.

If you can't get around the back of Comox Lake you can follow the Eastern portion of this loop to get around to Port Alberni and rejoin the route:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/1305947

Although there is a sign on this alternate route that says "Private Road - No Trespassing". A bunch of rich folks have fancy houses on a lake in this area and the road doesn't go anywhere in their minds so they don't want riff raff driving into their enclave. I ignore the sign and pedal through. I'm only on a developed road for a few minutes before things get remote/wild again. Nobody has ever given me grief when I have done this.

Wow, I don't know how this didn't get more traction. It looks amazing. I was looking into doing something like this (but much shorter). What are the services like in back country Vancouver Island? Were there frequent country stores and places to fill water?

Van Isle can get dry in the depth of summer and can be quite wet spring and fall. Collecting water shouldn't be too much of an issue with the number of lakes on the route. I prefer getting water from creeks/rivers, but in a pinch lake water is fine.

For resupply there are stores in:

- Port Hardy*
- Woss
- Gold River
- Cumberland
- Port Alberni*
- Lake Cowichan
- Sooke
- Victoria*

I put an asterisk next to the locations where you might be able to find dehydrated backpacker meals. The rest of the spots will have "normal" food items and restaurants. You don't need to carry too much food with you unless you are very particular about what you need to eat.

Have fun! I haven't ridden the route since my OP in 2015, but I am keen to get out there again and enjoy the backroads of Vancouver Island. Hopefully next year.

All the reports I've rec'd from people who have ridden some or all of the route have been positive.

I and many of my friends have the 1Up racks: https://1upusa.com/ Not the cheapest but pretty damn bombproof.

A 1UP rack on my want to buy list.

Around here everyone uses these...
http://www.northshoreracks.com

NS racks don't work with fork fenders which seem pretty essential for Coastal BC winter riding. I was keen on one until I realized that.

I have an idea for a lightweight and different design of a "everything" bag and attachment.  I have had an urge to create something potentially sell-able in the past and nothing happened to it (the bike panniers on here http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html are mine).  My fear is that I would be wasting time on something no one would want or find different than whats out there already, aka the industry is saturated.
Any thoughts on trying to bring something new to the market?  Its fun to make something unique for ones self but to take the extra step to sell it is my quandary.
thanks,
Scott

If you just want to have some fun and cover your out of pocket costs that's not super hard if your idea is good. OTOH if you are trying to make enough money at it to compete with a day-job that's a much bigger hurdle as long as you aren't working minimum wage.

You can take that first step without having to ever take the second step.

Different Pivot, but this gives you an idea of what a custom bag will look like. The shock layout on the 429 will let you fit a larger framebag which is nice. Trace out the space and send to your favourite custom bag maker.

Beer can stove + Ti pot + DIY windscreen = 155g

https://vikapproved.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/bikepacking-cooking-mk2/

I tend to carry it in my backpack as it's light.

That Rear rack lets them include a Dropper.

Any rear rack that attaches to the frame would let you run a dropper.

i am likely going to be dropping a car at the end of the 750 and driving another car down to the start and will probably have room for 1 person (maybe 2) with gear.

it might make the most sense to see if any 750ers want to jump in first Vik but if no one does i could probably get you to the start.

Thank you for the offer. I've decided to hold off until 2018. I should have time to drive down then and spend more time in AZ. It'll make the whole deal so much easier than trying to fly down for from BC for a week or so.

Canadian here with some time off around the AZTR and thinking about a 300 run. Anyone coming from Phoenix that would be interested in carpooling if I flew down? I'd pay all the gas and snacks for getting a ride to/from the 300.

Has this occurred for other bikepackers?

On my FS bike with dropper I don't even try and use a full size seatbag. There is no way it would clear the rear tire. I use a large conventional seatbag, which is tiny by bikepacking bag standards, but does carry enough to be useful.

Any of you going to get one once they're available?

No. I'm sticking with 29+. I love how the big wheels roll over stuff.

1. What is your level of experience?

Intermediate - several years of bikepacking

2. How long is your average trip?

4 - 5 days

3. What footwear do you bring on a bike packing trip?

5.10 Freeriders usually. Keen waterproof hiking boots in the winter/wet season.

4. How much time do you spend riding, how much time walking/hiking...on an average day?...at extremes?

Best case riding 10-12hrs/day. Worst case hike-a-bike on rough terrain 8 - 10hrs/day with no biking.

5. What sort of issues do you have with footwear?

My only real issue is that for frequent stream crossings it's a PITA to take off my shoes and then put them back on at the other side. However, wearing wet shoes all day due to a stream crossing sucks worse so I do it.

[Some thoughts:]

Hi all, apologies for an open-ended question but I'm putting together a Krampus frame scratch (the full builds are sold out in Canada). I'm working with a buddy who works at the bike shop I'm ordering it through and expecting to mostly just follow the stock build list but I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for anything I should do differently from stock. I'm okay spending a little more but don't want to go overboard. Will be using it for 50% messing around on local single track and 50% 2-3 day bikepacking trips.
Thanks!

I've had my Krampus over 3yrs now. Great bikepacking bike. 

Some thoughts:

- Rabbit Holes have been durable and 100% reliable tubeless with easy setup.
- I started rigid, went to a 130mm fork and am now back to rigid. Pros and cons to both setups, but the bike rides really well rigid.
- I started with a Rohloff and I am just now switching to gears. I plan to go SS for some trips where being light and robust is more important than gear range.
- Knards are great gravel and pavement tires.
- Chupas are great singletrack/dirt tires.
- my current geared wheelset uses Velocity Blunt 35 rims.
- I'm going to build up a Rabbit Hole geared rear wheel so I can keep 2 different sets of tires mounted and switch as desired.
- if money was no object I'd buy some ~38-40mm Light Bicycle carbon rims.
- I have a Whisky carbon fork, but haven't installed it yet. Not sure if I will or use it elsewhere.



Have fun. It's a really terrific machine. 

https://vikapproved.wordpress.com/2015/09/27/surly-krampus-3yr-review/

here you go...

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/trans-am-2016-race-discussion/msg84207/#msg84207

Hey anyone know if there is a link to a thread where we could discuss Trans AM Race stuff and it wasn't OT?