pm sent

Here is my rig 1 week into a two week tour. I used the rear rack for the first week while crossing the desert. I needed panniers for the extra water to travel the long distances between refills. This picture was taken in Idyllwild on my way to san diego. Not so pretty, but it got the job done!


Untitled by Tan Slacks, on Flickr

I use a site called spotwalla.com I think you'll never go back to the other site.

Hi, I sent you a message..

Thanks

Hi Newtothis,

I just finished a road/offroad build. I am 6'2". I can only tell you what I did and how it worked.

Frame Salsa Fargo 2 Large

Shimano XT drivetrain triple up front and 9 speed in the rear (keep it simple)

Jeff Jones Loop Handlebar

Shifters are Shimano bar end shifters with Pauly flat bar adapters (index or friction shifting, easy to repair)

Notubes 29er flow rims

WTB Nano 2.1 tires

I worked flawlessly! I just returned from a tour through the desert and I am leaving for the mountains tomorrow. For the desert tour, I had to carry a LOT of water so I added a surly rear rack with panniers. They were quite heavy with water and on well traveled single track, I wobbled a bit, but dirt road travel was no problem. On my mountain trip, I am dropping the rear rack and going with Frame, seat and handle bar packs. I love the set up.

However, This was my first 29er and I do feel pretty high off the ground on technical ridding. I imagine I will get used to it, but I built this for all terrain touring.

good luck

I have used and I am using a Goal Zero. It has worked great for me charging my iPhone and Garmin. The unit I bought comes with a 4 AA battery charger, so you can charge the batteries and then charge your device or you can charge your device directly from the panel. I good sun, it's about 2 and half hours to charge the batteries or make a big dent in charging my phone or garmin.

I strap the panel to my panniers on the rear and have even strapped it onto my stuffed Revelation seat bag. Both ways worked great. I tend to carry eight aa rechargeable batteries always charging a set of four at a time. That way in the evening I recharge whatever device I need to charge.

Here is a link to the Goal Zero site. However I bought it from Amazon for much less. Be sure not to buy the smaller panel at 3.5 watts but at least the 7 watt panel.

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/79/Guide-10-Adventure-Kit/1:1/

good luck. I am leaving for Death Valley in two days, should be plenty of sun.. yikes

A funny, sad and true story.

Last year I talked my wife into joining my on a tour of the Oregon coast fully self contained. My wife was a trooper, but had no time to get in shape for the long miles and hills. I towed a BOB with all our gear and she still had trouble getting up some of the grades. At first I would just gently put my hand on the small of her back and support her along. This got awkward as you can imagine so I found a long piece of cord like you describe and it went from my seat post to her stem over the BOB. It worked great. She still pedaled, but the added pull made all the difference. We only did this on the longer grades as it took time to organize. I thought I was the only one!

This summer she is training and we should complete California.

I have been using the spocket on top of my seat bag for the last week and it works great.

Hi Teamfour,

just thought you should know

If you go to the Revelate site. Eric is selling Harness seconds. I bought one last week and I could find nothing "second" about it. I'm sure 12wheels is great too.

I guess I am lone voice here that had a really good experience with Jeff,

I was very short on time and could not order any custom frame bags. I was considering racks and panniers when I thought I will just email Jeff and see if he had anything lying around that would fit my Fargo. I shot him an email and he responded right away. He had a custom bag made for someone that bailed. We we not sure if it was for a Fargo 1 or 2 So Jeff said he would send it off right away, if it didn't fit I could return it and he even offered to fast track a frame bag. We'll it fit good enough for rock and roll and since i am tight for time I kept it. It's a beauty, lots of dividers, pockets, light weight and bomber .... oh and expensive.

He always answered my emails and phone calls. I'd call him a good guy and I am sorry to hear others have had bad experiences. I might also add that I was in the market for a Revelate harness. So I emailed Eric because there were no harnesses for sale. He answered right away and said had some seconds he would sell me ( I noticed since my call, he is now selling seconds on his site ) I bought the second and I can't find a problem at all and it was a great price.

Big props to Eric and Jeff. I can leave on my tour fully bagged!

Make that one more order!