Stagecoach 2014 Planning

[Mini Bear]

Alright, I guess it's about time to start thinking about this. I've dug through some of the old threads for planning, but I'm going to throw out my questions to the universe anyway. Really what I want to know:

-Water/food stops: where/when/what/etc.?
-Corollary to above: water capacity? I usually go out with a capacity for 3L. But if my time living in SoCal is any indication, it's probably dry as hell out there. So, mas capacidad?
-Tires: super fast racy, super big knobby, super in between? What were folks actually using and how'd it go?
-Nighttime temps: how cold does it actually get on course? It looks like the 'official' temps were right at freezing this year, at least up near the start. Is that pretty accurate? I'm an insanely warm sleeper and I'm wondering if I can get away with a big suit of down instead of a proper sleeping bag. I've been able to go down to about 40ish with that setup. If the sleeping is going to be happening primarily at lower elevations/higher temps, I feel like it might be feasible for this race. Or is that crazy talk?

That's all I got. So, come on universe...

[EricB]

I only made it to day 2 but here's what I learned:

-Water: stops up to the RV park are reliable and every 25 miles or so. Anza Sunshine market, then a liquor store in Borrego springs, then a store in Ocotillo Wells, then Stagecoach RV. Beyond that, someone else will have to fill in. The cue sheets the Hub supplies are good.
-Capacity: depends on how fast you are. I ran out of water in fish creek. 3L proved not enough for that stretch. I carried a spare 4L dromlite which I neglected to fill at Ocotillo before going into the wash. Duh.
-Tires: I think more important than type of tire is what pressure to be running when. There is a huge amount of soft deep sand the first day and learning to ride through it or around it is super important. I was running 25psi in there which I later realized was way too high.
-Temps: it was downright pleasant in the desert last year at night. I heard a rumor they might move it up earlier this year though.

These are the links I had bookmarked prior to this year's race (route changed a bit since then though):
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,3146.0.html
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,5429.0/topicseen.html
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,3047.msg29380.html#msg29380
http://www.hubcyclery.com/stagecoach-400-scouting-run/
http://sirenmary.com/tag/stagecoach-400/
http://rolandsturm.blogspot.com/2012/05/stagecoach-400-day-1-first-bikepacking.html
http://calestravels.blogspot.com/search?q=stagecoach
http://sergekeepmoving.blogspot.com/2012/05/stagecoach-400-almost-final-but-long.html

[Prometheus]

I did it as an ITT last year about a month prior to the real start. 

Sleep:  I which I was like some of those guys and could just avoid the entire sleep thing, but no, I must sleep.  I only had one cold night.  It was after leaving San Diego in the hills outside of Escondido.  I had an ultra light 30 degree bag plus bivy and was fine.  It was probably more than I needed, but I was using this as a warmup for the TDR and wanted to carry same equipment.

Water: I carried 100 oz camel back plus 4 liter bag in my frame back and still ran out through the wash.  I drink more than most people, but still, it's the desert and there is no water out there after entering the wash.  No need for a filter, extra weight that won't be used. 

Tires: I think going with fast running tires is best.  It will be more difficult in the wash, but the remainder of the course you want fast tires.  I used Schwalbe racing raplhs.

[forest_on_bike]

I did an ITT last year too. I captured my learnings (water and resupply) in a blog post: http://teamkaker.com/stagecoach-400-ride-recap/
Warning: the route is supposed to change a little this year.