Tubus Vega Evo rack, in great condition - only used on a couple of trips. It never carried more than about 15 pounds and is not very far off from new.

This is a great rack - super durable from a well-reputed brand, lightweight, and has a 55lb carrying capacity! You can use it for commuting or for touring around the world. Description here: http://www.thetouringstore.com/TUBUS/VEGA%20evo/VEGA%20EVO%20PAGE.htm

The photos show the rack as it is now, and the rack mounted on my old bike, a Surly Troll. (and don't ask about my gear setup on that trip...)

Note that you cannot use this rack with most bikes that have disc brakes! It worked on the Troll because that frame is designed especially to allow the use of normal racks along with disc brakes, but most disc frames need disc-specific racks. This is the reason I'm selling the rack now.

Hit me up if you're interested! julian dot d dot bender at gmail dot com.

Edit: Got one on order, but can't delete this post

For those of us too young/young in bike experience to know, can someone explain what "Biopace" was? I occasionally hear references to it being a disappointment, but nothing more.

Bikepacking the Judean Mountains, from Jerusalem to Beit Shemesh. There's way more dirt road potential in the area that I want to check out, and bus connections all over the place so you're not limited to loop or out-and-back routes.

I'm hoping to cross the UP next summer in a cross-USA bike trip that will hit as many dirt roads as possible - I'll have to keep this route in mind!

Is this on or off-road? If on-road, google maps is your friend. Print out maps and directions. Or just get state road maps.

If off-road...that's a little more complicated and requires a fair amount of planning for a trip that distance, I'd say.

Never understood what the point of these bots is...it's not posting links that it could be trying to attract clicks for, and all it mentions is gibberish about dresses. On a mountain biking forum. Wtf?

I'd like to see more photos from that grassland trip, if they don't all look the same that is. Just how monotonous is it out there?

Oops, I somehow missed that you had anything displayed on yours

Last two posters - he meant for you to add it to your profile so that it shows up under your username/avatar.

You could just put them into an imgur album and link for easier viewing.

I'm interested in seeing photos from the trip if you do it. I'd love to know what kind of mountain biking and wild camping opportunities are found in England...one day I want to bike from Cornwall to Scotland.

Looks like fun was had by all.  Awesome!

Julian, I assume you've considered a more standard - and much larger - seatbag, like Revelate's or Bedrock's.  But if not, that would be a great way to lighten up the front end of the bike and fit your quilt easily... just a thought.

Definitely considered it, at the moment I'm just saving money for other stuff. I have a rack I can put on there too; I just didn't want to for this trip.

Keep the trip reports coming guys...I won't have a free weekend to get out there until August, so I need to do it vicariously through this forum...

Well, your Memorial Day outing sure makes me jealous. As always when I see photos on this forum, I start wondering why I live in the Midatlantic.

Here's a writeup of what I did though...

http://www.julianbender.net/bikepacking/pinebarrens2013

I decided to just go the hose clamp route. Should saved myself the money in the first place! It works just fine.

Yeah, the versatility is what led me to get that kind of pedal.

If you're asking me, I can't remember the model name...some dual-sided Shimano pedals...cost me about 90 bucks. If that helps. I've never actually ridden clipless; I just got these in preparation for if I ever shell out for bike shoes.

The inner tube solution does seem to work well. I've yet to test it on singletrack, but I took it around some of the crappiest pavement I could find in my neighborhood just now and jumped some curbs.

What are you using for bottom insulation in your hammock?

Also, I'd suggest a quilt instead of a sleeping bag - lighter and more compact, as there's less material. I have one from www.hammockgear.com.

I just did a test ride (on pavement, some of it rough) with one bottle cage having electric tape under it, the other not. The one with electric tape was considerably more stable, though it still moved, but it didn't seem to be moving past a certain point. I'll update if I find any better solution. Next will be finding an old inner tube to chop up and use part of.