Sweeet !!!

Hello all
I'm planning to start the GDMBR in Banff on July 13th with three friends.  With the current flooding and washouts it looks like we may need to be creative with the first day.  We were planning to get dropped off in Banff in the afternoon and head down the route about 30 miles and make camp near the south end of Spray Lakes.  We won't have time to make it all the way to the Kananaskis lakes that first night.  Does anybody know anything about camping along the east side of spray lakes or along the Smith Dorrien Trail?   I've tried to talk to the staff in the visitor centers but they are obviously busy and distracted with the flooding.  They're not looking two weeks down the road yet. Any suggestions or info would be great.  Thanks

+1 for comment on staples.  I made the excess material at the seams 3/4".  Plenty of room for sewing without running the staples under the foot on the sewing machine.  Then you can trim off the excess before you seal it up.
Also..
+1 for VX21

They like it, but prefer chocolate.
Bear spray should be referred to as pepper spray. It works on cats and bears.

+1 for Bear Spray.  

I love to hunt and shoot...but bear spray is proven effective and I would rather not shoot an animal just because it wanted my twinkies.   I carry my spray on the top of my bar harness.  Quick and easy to grab.

+1

+1

I've lived in AR and now live and ride in Montana.  I'll take the pesky local bears and mtn lions over the snakes in Arkansas any day.   Go out and take a camera along.  Be quiet and look for the animals.  Before long you'll be more excited about seeing them than you were nervous in the beginning.

Ken the only way you will get my method to work IMO is to run cables same side AND rotate your brake levers up from where u have them in pic. If that doesnt work for your hands/ergonomics of braking (I have short fingers so running levers "up" is my preferred method. People with long fingers ten to run the levers "down" more. This reduces the space available for the lower dry bag)

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Thanks for the info. I have long fingers...but tend to not use the brakes much. A friend told me I might as well take them off to save weight.
I've tried both options. I guess the rear shifter cable and hydraulics are too short to put anything below them.  That leaves me putting it all on top which stresses the cables/hydraulics too much...
So, I'm thinking I'll be doing aero bars...

Thanks.  I'll give the sandwich a try. 

    I've only had time to watch the first segment.   Cant wait for the rest.  Nice work.

Here are some other views...

I have a harness I used on my old bike.  I tried it in several locations, with 1", 2" and 3" spacers...I've rotated the brake levers as far as practical in each direction.  It seems that the only thing I could do to use a typical harness would be to replace the hydraulic lines with much longer ones (short of replacing the levers as well)  90% of my riding is fast xc singletrack and I don't want long floppy hydraulics....

My fall back is to get some aero bars and and hang a harness from them out in front of the brakes.  I've been thinking about the aero bars anyway.

Thanks

I'm setting up a system on a new bike with Avid Elixir 5 hydraulic brakes. I would like to carry my small tent and sleeping pad in a harness on the handlebars.  However, the brake are designed with an angled piston and hose.  The way it all comes together there is not enough room behind the levers for a harness and a harness on the outside of the levers allows the tent and pad to put too much pressure on the brakes and hydraulic lines.  The angle of the lines coming down from the levers also does not allow for a harness to be mounted below the brakes with spacers.  Does anybody have a creative idea for how to mount a harness on this bar setup?

Thanks

I've had a LOT of bad luck with off-brand Warner's, especially some from Wal-Mart. I have had very good luck with Graber and HotHands. They do have an expiration date and are best used within the season. I make sure to buy them at a busy store so I know I'm getting fresh stock. Also, squish them in your hand before you buy them. As they age/react they get stiffer. Don't buy them if they are not soft and loose feeling. Take care of them in your pack and at home. Little nicks in the plastic package allow air to slowly leak in and ruin them.  I also always bring an extra pair in case they fail.

what is this chemical to warm up hands and feet? i was thinking maybe to make some kind of extract from chilly peppers. Coz they have substance that makes blood circulate better around body. Now I usually ingest them, makes me warm, but not my feet I wonder should i make alcohol or oil based extract. That would be cool DIY solution to my problem

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Are your feet actually cold or do they just feel cold?  Anything you rub on them will just make them feel warmer but won't actually warm them up.  If you just want to feel warmer try http://madalchemy.com/ or a home made embrocation. Handy for getting going in the morning as well.

I agree...Thick DRY socks right when you go to bed. You can also stick a hand warmer in each sock. http://www.hothandsdirect.com/.  A Nalgene bottle filled with hot water works great, but agreed, check for leaks first! 

Soooo....I guess it worked.   

Hello

I've mapped out a route south of Missoula and I'm looking for any info from people who may have ridden or hiked any sections of the route.  Any input on ridability would be great.  I know the route can be done, but trying to figure out if it is a 2, or 4 day commitment.  Also looking for anybody who would want to ride any or all of it.  Planning on the early summer when the snow is gone.

Also, I can't figure out how to insert a picture.... ....so I've just attached an image for now.  I can attach the kml files if anybody is interested.

Thanks

Sorry...spaced out responding.  I have not ridden all of the route.  It all does exist and is all rideable.  I've pieced it together from other riders beta, maps and google earth.  The biggest question seems to be blow down.  It can vary so much from year to year. 

Hmmm....was thinking more about this. I don't know how many of you are in or close to western Montana, but I would be willing to help set up an event if people are interested. Maybe a multi-day loop or point to point in the Montana Idaho area. Anybody else interested?

It was the new Lithium battery in the camera that died.  Charged 2 weeks before and then not used. It should have been fine. My old camera used AA's and rarely had a problem above 0deg.

My reliable Nikon died...well, drowned....but that's a different story.  I bought an Olympus TG-820, one of their waterproof, shock proof, durable "adventure" cameras.  During this past summer it worked great.  Lots of beautiful pictures, good color, good focus, fast when you turn it on, 350+ pictures on a charge during a 7 day backpack trip.  Now it's getting cold out.  I had it out last weekend in my backpack.  It was around 10deg out.  Took it out for some pictures and the battery was dead.  I had only taken a few pictures and had charged it about two weeks before.  I was very disappointed. Not unheard of for batteries to drain when cold, but it had only been out in the cold for about 6 hours.   I wish I had gotten a camera that took AA's again.  My mistake. I'll keep it inside my jacket next time, or at least up against my back in the pack.    Otherwise I'm very happy with it, but would only recommend it if you can keep it warm.