gotta say, I've got great respect for how efficiently you packed the bike. As a former cyclist and motorcyclist, I know how primo space can be and packing everything just right means the difference between easy gliding down the road, and trying to avoid a spill every 6 feet. Kudos on the bag selection as well.
New to bikepacking as most of my leisure time has been spent laying down guitar riffs and all that kinda stuff. But #whenimnotrockingout I like to get out in the countryside with my bike. This is by far the most useful vid I've seen to date about what kit to take and what goes where on the bike. Normally these kind of vidz are too long, poorly narrated and I get bored after about 2 mins, but I was genuinely captivate the whole way through. Great work dude. Matt (BACK FORGE)
DUDE! Thank you for the tent pole tip! Can't believe I overlooked that one! I have the same frame bag and bikepack on a Surly K-monkey and my poles just drive me batshit trying to get them someplace reasonable in the frame bag. I'm doing that on my next go for sure. That's a very tight and tidy setup you have on the ECR, really diggin the drop bar, barcon setup you have! (The ECR is an awesome bike, BTW but I'm more of a standard 29er and 650B+ fan myself) You have a lot of good tips in this video, very inspiring. I just do overnighters and weekends now. I think I go pretty skinny and you got me feeling like the total rube that drags along too much crap. I work with a guy who has placed first in the CDT race a couple of times and you're damned near dialed in as him. I Went on an overnighter with him once and at the start I proudly handed him one of my three little bags and said "Light, wadaya think?" He just handed it back, shook his head and smiled kindly and said "Still too heavy". All that ride while I and the other guy on the trip were having sketchy, overpacked fun he was just having a fun trail ride. Turns out all he brought was a bivy and a sleep pad, a burrito for dinner, a whisky flask for something after dinner, a couple of Cliff bars for the morning and some tights to change into for sleeping. Usual, implied stuff for trailside repair too, etc. He didn't suffer in the least. My rambling point being we all had a good time but THAT guy, he had a really good time. I learned a lot on that, my first bikepacking trip only a couple years ago and have been following that ideal on every trip ever since. Bikepacking is awesome! If you ride a bike and backpack too then do yourself a favor. Pick a route, keep it simple, strap on some stuff and just go. Dirt, asphalt, singletrack, fire roads, mountains, whatever, just go. It is a damn good time!
Very nice review. Love how your reviews are so honest and zero-bullshit :D I love getting about on a bike but all my gear is old-fashioned and budget bicycle touring gear. Will definitely get back to this video if I ever upgrade to a more lightweight bikepacking. Greetings from an Estonian hiker!
Excellent video. One minor thing I'd like to suggest is possibly a magnesium and flint fire starter just as a backup to your lighters. You've probably seen them in the camp gear sections. You may never need it but they're only a little bigger than a lighter and they are virtually foolproof if you really need a fire and your lighters are dead. You just need a knife to make it work and you already have one of those. Just an idea. Again, great video; I'll be referring to it when I set up my next bike.
Thanks for all the great info. Godspeed on your upcoming thru ride. I can't wait to see the land and share in your adventure. Thanks again Darwin for what you do.
I am reall impressed with the surly brand.. I think bike paking may be something i get into.. I just bought a Giant toughroad.. I will max out what I can with it.. but i really think I will be buying a surly in the next couple years.. they're tough, they are well equipped and customizeable, genius marketing, all around awesome bikes.. the models I like most right now are the ecr 29+ and the ogre.. I subbed your channel, this will help me as I get more into biking and adventure.. I am recently getting back into biking, havent ridden in years.. and didn't know the route I wanted to go.. Mountain Bike trails look rad n all.. and I like the speed of Road Bikes zippin around.. But really.. Id like some fun adventures.. pack up a bike.. and go on a haul.. I need to get my ass back in shape first before I tackle such an endeavor.. But.. Im excited to do it.
You can get a roll of the double sided velcro tape just about anywhere they have a sewing section. That might be a good replacement for your tent pole attachment, since you mention you might like to change the attachment method. You could either stitch the velcro onto the side of the Revelate bag (then go over the stitching inside the bag with some seam sealer) or simply wrap around the frame. Either way, you wouldn't have to keep undoing the frame bag's attachments to get your poles out. Just a thought. I haven't tried it (although I use the hell out of that double sided velcro for other stuff). Really looking forward to the upcoming trip reports!
Thanks! I actually ended up taking 3 extra spokes & taping them to one of my seat stays. That being said, in the time I was out there the wheels held up great! Thanks for Watching! Ride On, Darwin
Darwin, sweet setup man I really like how you have everything setup. Can't wait to see your adventure man. I love your bike I think I'll have to get a surly bike now. Ride on man!
Owning a Surly is def a Badge of Honor! They make a lot of great adventure bikes, as does Salsa.... You really can't go wrong with either company! Ride On, Darwin
I purchased a Schwinn kiddie trailer. It is capable of carriering 75 lb of gear. the only thing that is on me is a hydration pack with a first aid kit attached. I am trying to decide which I like better. Hiking or biking.
How do you carry enough water? 3.5L on the bike isn't very much. Add 2-3L in the Osprey and it's still pretty light going for waterless desert stretches over the course of several days. Maybe water sources aren't so far apart on the AZT? I've done many self supported trips on the White Rim several times and never carried less than 9L. Of course there's no water on the WR. I'm planning an AZT bikepacking trip so very interested in water. Thanks!
A great setup for reduced wind resistance, and putting the water bottles at the bottom will definitely make it handle better! Congratulations on being able to get sponsors! How much does the gear weigh?
Thanks for the video, good information! I am building an ECR also; I'm heading to South America this June, so I'm trying to figure out how I'm carrying everything.
is there a video on this where you did the whole trip? loving your channel man. I'm thinking of doing something similar here in Germany. You got yourself a new sub!
Are you from Arizona? I just bought a Surly Troll...I am working on a TRIPODDING set up ...two panniers on the front wheel, a long seat bag and a frame bag...I am from Prescott, Arizona I am using Arkel Dolphins. . .100 percent water proof. . .
Thanks Shane! The Sawer Squeeze ended up working just fine! I like pump filters like the Katadyn, but not a big fan of their weight & bulkiness. Thanks for Subscribing! Ride On, Darwin
as far as i know the etrex doesn't allow charging of the batteries through the usb port. hope you had a good time on the azt! how did you carry all of this stuff on your back through the grand canyon?
im currently setting up my bike for touring in Australia and one of my first thoughts was that Pannier bags would be better since they can keep the centre of gravity lower, but ive noticed most people go with handlebar and saddle bags even though they make the setup more top heavy is the centre of gravity not as important as ive been thinking it is for do these other bags have another benefit that i havent been able to figure out?
When I go downhill in extremely technical trails, I forget about my bags (same as the author's). Probably is more Top heavy, but no weight on the sides so you can go side to side way easier (IMHO), and in some of the trails I do , panniers would not fit, you would have to remove them sometimes. The benefit of panniers is you can bring more stuff and be self sufficient for longer periods. Noise wise, panniers would probably be noisy on rough MTB trails.
darwin hello, love your videos. Watched your beginner backpacking tips series. I watched your whole PCT thru hike videos. Nothing like firing up the grill thursday night making some grub, having a beer, and watching your videos. I have a few questions. I wanted to get get into hiking and also bikepacking. I was wonder if a lot of your hiking gear can be interchangable to bikepacking. Just trying to avoid buying two of everything for hiking and bikepacking. Also, is there any good bikepacking bikes on a budget you can recommend? I dont know how im going to like it so im not trying to spend too much cash. this goes for anyone else that sees this comment. Id appreciate anyone input.
. . great vid sweet set up not too sure about the projecting rear bottle rigs white helmet in az? are flex half fenders not needed in az, more weight , not cool.... or all the above? . . .
Thanks Finn! The Set-up worked out pretty well on the AZT. Not a huge of White helmets, not even in the desert. The Black Tactic did just fine! Also I didn't really worry about fenders, my bags seem to be a big enough blocker of dirt & sand most of the time! Thanks for Watching! Ride On, Darwin
"TRP Spyre Mechanical Disc Brake" does anybody use these brakes, how do you like them...and how do they compare to "BB7s? I have a Surly Troll, with BB7 would there be any advantage to switch over to these other brakes?
the custom frame bag got some space at the botton any reason for that, also i found that the rear bottle would fall out till i added small bungie around the bottles . thanks for the video
Nah... that's just how Revelate designed that frame bag. Haven't had a problem launching bottles yet, but that might be something for me to look into! Thanks for Watching! Ride On, Darwin
Hey Darwin... You're a good crossover guy: you hike... and you bike. Curious if you have a perspective on sharing the trail: bikers and hikers sometimes don't mix well "etiquette-wise". -Chase'n Trail
Great Question! I think Trail Etiquette is Trail Etiquette... Trails are for everyone to enjoy & know one deserves to be out there anymore than someone else. We all need to work with each other, respect each other & enjoy what nature has given us. Ride or Hike On, Darwin
@@DarwinOnthetrail As you have tons of experience for sure you are aware of the follwing yield----bike yields to hikers and horses, hikers yield to horse. However real experience on the trail both during fatbiking in the snow and bikepacking or general mountain biking, the hikers always yield to me. Sometimes I stop and ask them to go as they have right of way, and they always mention that it's just easier for them to step aside and they are right as I am out of their way in 2 secs. What is your take on this? Of course, I always slow down nearly to a stop or completely stop, but like a bear, those hikers probably hear you coming from a distance especially on a rough trail, and are usually already stepped aside. Thanks for the channel, great vids!
Did part of the trail, 9 days, bring almost nothing, and have same bags he does. Temperature changes, electronic accessories (chargers and what not) , filter, warm jacket for night, 2 clothe changes for riding, arm warmes, leg warmers, hat for nights. It all adds up even if very minimalist as you need to cover your basis in such a hostile area. But totally worth it, it is a dream landscape to ride. Benefit....I did not bring a real rainjacket or pants for that area mid march. Just a small windproof vest, never needed it. I think the ones that have only a saddlebag are counting on chances they won't need a tent ( I slept without one but did bring one) or use tiny tarps and such or very expensive tiny sleeping bags. If it weren't for budget, I could halve my tent and sleeping bag weight and space. Also , food...you need to sometimes carry 3 days of food. And bunch of tools, which do not take much space, but I do bring 120ml of extra sealant and extra tube,,,,those take space! My goal is eventually bring my volume down, but that takes a few trips to figure out what works or doesn't and 3 times the money. Funny how a 40 $ tent would work but weigh 4 pounds and huge when packed, then a 200$ tent is 2 lbs, then a 700$ tent is 1 lb. Cost is exponential!! I have halved my cook system...next up will be sleeping bag. As for tent I have one that I could go anywhere with. Some people have different tents according to where they go (or no tent! only a tyvek for emergency). I tried a bivy, too much condensation, hated it, love to sleep dry. Have a 2 part self supporting tent, but may try those fancy single wall, but then those need a little more time to set up, need way more space for the guy lines and sometimes the terrain is not meant for setting them up taught...All of this makes it super fun to figure out what you want, need, experiment,etc. I won't bothe with a hammock (for now) as they require trees and I love to camp on top of the mountain most times, trees are smaller or non existent. SO,,,long answer short, there is a way to minimize to the max, but takes time, experimenting and thoughful choices. Which is why camping and traveling in the wild is so wonderful.
You can rent a Spot tracker from them and they can plot you on the route. We use it each year for the Arizona Trail Race. Scott at TL is heavily involved with the AZT and that race. Something to consider. FWIW, I provide callin services to racers on the AZT each year and have for the Tour Divide since it's inception ( and the old Great Divide Race before that, if you remember that race).
Long Haul Trucker is designed for paved surfaces and wouldn't do as well on dirt and gravel. Both are great bikes, but also very different. There are a lot of factors that go into the difference but how well the bikes handle on various surfaces is a good starting point. There are a lot of really good 'all-road' bikes being released by Surly and by others that bridge the gap really well between a road-worthy LHT and a bikepacking-dedicated ECR.
gotta say, I've got great respect for how efficiently you packed the bike. As a former cyclist and motorcyclist, I know how primo space can be and packing everything just right means the difference between easy gliding down the road, and trying to avoid a spill every 6 feet. Kudos on the bag selection as well.
I really appreciate the breakdown on "where" and "why" you pack your gear in this set up.
New to bikepacking as most of my leisure time has been spent laying down guitar riffs and all that kinda stuff. But #whenimnotrockingout I like to get out in the countryside with my bike. This is by far the most useful vid I've seen to date about what kit to take and what goes where on the bike. Normally these kind of vidz are too long, poorly narrated and I get bored after about 2 mins, but I was genuinely captivate the whole way through. Great work dude. Matt (BACK FORGE)
Keeping the tent poles on the side of the frame is a awesome idea. Never would have thought of it. Thanks :)
I ride for PI and specialized too. Those helmet and shoe choices are on point. I'd love to do the azt some day
DUDE! Thank you for the tent pole tip! Can't believe I overlooked that one! I have the same frame bag and bikepack on a Surly K-monkey and my poles just drive me batshit trying to get them someplace reasonable in the frame bag. I'm doing that on my next go for sure.
That's a very tight and tidy setup you have on the ECR, really diggin the drop bar, barcon setup you have! (The ECR is an awesome bike, BTW but I'm more of a standard 29er and 650B+ fan myself) You have a lot of good tips in this video, very inspiring. I just do overnighters and weekends now. I think I go pretty skinny and you got me feeling like the total rube that drags along too much crap.
I work with a guy who has placed first in the CDT race a couple of times and you're damned near dialed in as him. I Went on an overnighter with him once and at the start I proudly handed him one of my three little bags and said "Light, wadaya think?" He just handed it back, shook his head and smiled kindly and said "Still too heavy". All that ride while I and the other guy on the trip were having sketchy, overpacked fun he was just having a fun trail ride. Turns out all he brought was a bivy and a sleep pad, a burrito for dinner, a whisky flask for something after dinner, a couple of Cliff bars for the morning and some tights to change into for sleeping. Usual, implied stuff for trailside repair too, etc. He didn't suffer in the least.
My rambling point being we all had a good time but THAT guy, he had a really good time. I learned a lot on that, my first bikepacking trip only a couple years ago and have been following that ideal on every trip ever since.
Bikepacking is awesome! If you ride a bike and backpack too then do yourself a favor. Pick a route, keep it simple, strap on some stuff and just go. Dirt, asphalt, singletrack, fire roads, mountains, whatever, just go. It is a damn good time!
Great video, awesome detail. Providing the names of the companies and their products is helpful, not advertisement. Keep it up bud!
Thanks Much Man! I try to be as informational as possible. Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
Very nice review. Love how your reviews are so honest and zero-bullshit :D I love getting about on a bike but all my gear is old-fashioned and budget bicycle touring gear. Will definitely get back to this video if I ever upgrade to a more lightweight bikepacking.
Greetings from an Estonian hiker!
Excellent video. One minor thing I'd like to suggest is possibly a magnesium and flint fire starter just as a backup to your lighters. You've probably seen them in the camp gear sections. You may never need it but they're only a little bigger than a lighter and they are virtually foolproof if you really need a fire and your lighters are dead. You just need a knife to make it work and you already have one of those. Just an idea. Again, great video; I'll be referring to it when I set up my next bike.
Thanks for all the great info. Godspeed on your upcoming thru ride. I can't wait to see the land and share in your adventure. Thanks again Darwin for what you do.
Outstanding rundown of your gear for the ride. Thank you for all the links.
I am reall impressed with the surly brand.. I think bike paking may be something i get into..
I just bought a Giant toughroad.. I will max out what I can with it.. but i really think I will be buying a surly in the next couple years..
they're tough, they are well equipped and customizeable, genius marketing, all around awesome bikes..
the models I like most right now are the ecr 29+ and the ogre..
I subbed your channel, this will help me as I get more into biking and adventure.. I am recently getting back into biking, havent ridden in years.. and didn't know the route I wanted to go.. Mountain Bike trails look rad n all.. and I like the speed of Road Bikes zippin around.. But really.. Id like some fun adventures.. pack up a bike.. and go on a haul.. I need to get my ass back in shape first before I tackle such an endeavor.. But.. Im excited to do it.
You can get a roll of the double sided velcro tape just about anywhere they have a sewing section. That might be a good replacement for your tent pole attachment, since you mention you might like to change the attachment method. You could either stitch the velcro onto the side of the Revelate bag (then go over the stitching inside the bag with some seam sealer) or simply wrap around the frame. Either way, you wouldn't have to keep undoing the frame bag's attachments to get your poles out. Just a thought. I haven't tried it (although I use the hell out of that double sided velcro for other stuff).
Really looking forward to the upcoming trip reports!
Great review, and saved to check back on later when I’m setting up
Thanks for sharing and taking the time to make the bikepacking videos. You Rock!
I'm late to the show, but that little silicone lip for the titanium cup wasa great idea. I know, it's the little things.
Love your bike videos
Congratulations! Very helpful video for me! Happy trails!
Since those are a fairly new rim design you may want to take 2-3 spare spokes, wrap them in a shop rag and stash them in the seat tube. Ya never know.
Thanks! I actually ended up taking 3 extra spokes & taping them to one of my seat stays. That being said, in the time I was out there the wheels held up great! Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
Darwin, sweet setup man I really like how you have everything setup. Can't wait to see your adventure man. I love your bike I think I'll have to get a surly bike now. Ride on man!
Owning a Surly is def a Badge of Honor! They make a lot of great adventure bikes, as does Salsa.... You really can't go wrong with either company!
Ride On,
Darwin
How do you like bib shorts when nature calls and you need to take a pit stop?
I purchased a Schwinn kiddie trailer. It is capable of carriering 75 lb of gear. the only thing that is on me is a hydration pack with a first aid kit attached. I am trying to decide which I like better. Hiking or biking.
How do you carry enough water? 3.5L on the bike isn't very much. Add 2-3L in the Osprey and it's still pretty light going for waterless desert stretches over the course of several days. Maybe water sources aren't so far apart on the AZT? I've done many self supported trips on the White Rim several times and never carried less than 9L. Of course there's no water on the WR. I'm planning an AZT bikepacking trip so very interested in water. Thanks!
A great setup for reduced wind resistance, and putting the water bottles at the bottom will definitely make it handle better! Congratulations on being able to get sponsors! How much does the gear weigh?
Thanks for the video, good information! I am building an ECR also; I'm heading to South America this June, so I'm trying to figure out how I'm carrying everything.
Nice! You will love the ECR! Most amazing bike I've ever owned!. Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
You thru-hike and bike-pack?!! Damn I have to meet you man! -Hoover, PCT 2018
This may seem like a silly question but... how did you attach the AT patch (and the other one I don't recognize) to your frame bag? Superglue? :D
Bikerchickie possibly just with a needle and line
Very good breakdown....
is there a video on this where you did the whole trip? loving your channel man. I'm thinking of doing something similar here in Germany. You got yourself a new sub!
nvm, i think i found it :)
Are you from Arizona? I just bought a Surly Troll...I am working on a TRIPODDING set up ...two panniers on the front wheel, a long seat bag and a frame bag...I am from Prescott, Arizona I am using Arkel Dolphins. . .100 percent water proof. . .
Just curious why a dedicated Garmon for navigation vs using your phone (similar to hiking)? thanks
The katadyn biker pro is a great water filter for someone on the go. Just an option man. I really enjoyed these videos. Thanks a lot and I sub'd
Thanks Shane! The Sawer Squeeze ended up working just fine! I like pump filters like the Katadyn, but not a big fan of their weight & bulkiness. Thanks for Subscribing!
Ride On,
Darwin
How close are your heels to the water bottles, and how do you keep them from ejecting on hard hits?
this makes me want to take up bikepacking haha. New Gear Gets!
Get out there! A bike can take you further & opens up so many new possibilities in the Backcountry! Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
I can't seem to figure out how you securely mounted those bottle cages to the back triangle. Help me out?
as far as i know the etrex doesn't allow charging of the batteries through the usb port.
hope you had a good time on the azt! how did you carry all of this stuff on your back through the grand canyon?
What type of bottle holders are on the rear by the derailleur? Never seen them mounted like that.
Cool setup!
I think it will do the trick! Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
I suppose you don't need a bike lock in the woods but if you go into town would you need one?
Hey you changed your saddle. What happened to the Selle Anitomica and what did you replace it with?
How did you manage to mount bottle cages near the back wheel?
What saddle are you rocking? Looks comfy
Hey Darwin, have you seen the BSR 3000T stove? Super affordable on Ebay or amazon and only 25 grams and were talking ultra tiny.
im currently setting up my bike for touring in Australia and one of my first thoughts was that Pannier bags would be better since they can keep the centre of gravity lower,
but ive noticed most people go with handlebar and saddle bags even though they make the setup more top heavy
is the centre of gravity not as important as ive been thinking it is for do these other bags have another benefit that i havent been able to figure out?
When I go downhill in extremely technical trails, I forget about my bags (same as the author's). Probably is more Top heavy, but no weight on the sides so you can go side to side way easier (IMHO), and in some of the trails I do , panniers would not fit, you would have to remove them sometimes. The benefit of panniers is you can bring more stuff and be self sufficient for longer periods. Noise wise, panniers would probably be noisy on rough MTB trails.
where was your tent and sleep attire?
Cheers Darwin !!! I will be following you :)
Is there an advantage to using a separate GPS unit over using a phone with downloaded maps?
darwin hello, love your videos. Watched your beginner backpacking tips series. I watched your whole PCT thru hike videos. Nothing like firing up the grill thursday night making some grub, having a beer, and watching your videos. I have a few questions. I wanted to get get into hiking and also bikepacking. I was wonder if a lot of your hiking gear can be interchangable to bikepacking. Just trying to avoid buying two of everything for hiking and bikepacking. Also, is there any good bikepacking bikes on a budget you can recommend? I dont know how im going to like it so im not trying to spend too much cash. this goes for anyone else that sees this comment. Id appreciate anyone input.
.
.
great vid
sweet set up
not too sure about the projecting rear bottle rigs
white helmet in az?
are flex half fenders not needed in az, more weight , not cool.... or all the above?
.
.
.
Thanks Finn! The Set-up worked out pretty well on the AZT. Not a huge of White helmets, not even in the desert. The Black Tactic did just fine! Also I didn't really worry about fenders, my bags seem to be a big enough blocker of dirt & sand most of the time! Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
do you realy need the down beany when you have the hood on the down jacket?
Nice video Darwin. Thanks! Are you not packing any spare tubes?
Scott Stewart Ikr!!!!!!!
"TRP Spyre Mechanical Disc Brake" does anybody use these brakes, how do you like them...and how do they compare to "BB7s? I have a Surly Troll, with BB7 would there be any advantage to switch over to these other brakes?
Darwin, Do you need prescription glasses? And do you have any suggestions to types of eye glasses that are trail worthy.
Yes I do need prescription! I just have 2 pairs of glasses & use one of them when I'm doing Adventures. Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
What handlebar is on this bike please?
the custom frame bag got some space at the botton any reason for that, also i found that the rear bottle would fall out till i added small bungie around the bottles . thanks for the video
Nah... that's just how Revelate designed that frame bag. Haven't had a problem launching bottles yet, but that might be something for me to look into! Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
never stop 12000 km quit my job in vietnam now
thanks for sharing.
Will your stove work above 4000m?
when is your next ride
Hey Darwin... You're a good crossover guy: you hike... and you bike. Curious if you have a perspective on sharing the trail: bikers and hikers sometimes don't mix well "etiquette-wise". -Chase'n Trail
Great Question! I think Trail Etiquette is Trail Etiquette... Trails are for everyone to enjoy & know one deserves to be out there anymore than someone else. We all need to work with each other, respect each other & enjoy what nature has given us.
Ride or Hike On,
Darwin
@@DarwinOnthetrail As you have tons of experience for sure you are aware of the follwing yield----bike yields to hikers and horses, hikers yield to horse. However real experience on the trail both during fatbiking in the snow and bikepacking or general mountain biking, the hikers always yield to me. Sometimes I stop and ask them to go as they have right of way, and they always mention that it's just easier for them to step aside and they are right as I am out of their way in 2 secs. What is your take on this? Of course, I always slow down nearly to a stop or completely stop, but like a bear, those hikers probably hear you coming from a distance especially on a rough trail, and are usually already stepped aside. Thanks for the channel, great vids!
what bike it is ?
couldnt you get by with much less gear? Ive seen lots of bikepacking setups with only one saddle bag on the back and water. albeit was road biking
Did part of the trail, 9 days, bring almost nothing, and have same bags he does. Temperature changes, electronic accessories (chargers and what not) , filter, warm jacket for night, 2 clothe changes for riding, arm warmes, leg warmers, hat for nights. It all adds up even if very minimalist as you need to cover your basis in such a hostile area. But totally worth it, it is a dream landscape to ride. Benefit....I did not bring a real rainjacket or pants for that area mid march. Just a small windproof vest, never needed it. I think the ones that have only a saddlebag are counting on chances they won't need a tent ( I slept without one but did bring one) or use tiny tarps and such or very expensive tiny sleeping bags. If it weren't for budget, I could halve my tent and sleeping bag weight and space. Also , food...you need to sometimes carry 3 days of food. And bunch of tools, which do not take much space, but I do bring 120ml of extra sealant and extra tube,,,,those take space! My goal is eventually bring my volume down, but that takes a few trips to figure out what works or doesn't and 3 times the money. Funny how a 40 $ tent would work but weigh 4 pounds and huge when packed, then a 200$ tent is 2 lbs, then a 700$ tent is 1 lb. Cost is exponential!! I have halved my cook system...next up will be sleeping bag. As for tent I have one that I could go anywhere with. Some people have different tents according to where they go (or no tent! only a tyvek for emergency). I tried a bivy, too much condensation, hated it, love to sleep dry. Have a 2 part self supporting tent, but may try those fancy single wall, but then those need a little more time to set up, need way more space for the guy lines and sometimes the terrain is not meant for setting them up taught...All of this makes it super fun to figure out what you want, need, experiment,etc. I won't bothe with a hammock (for now) as they require trees and I love to camp on top of the mountain most times, trees are smaller or non existent. SO,,,long answer short, there is a way to minimize to the max, but takes time, experimenting and thoughful choices. Which is why camping and traveling in the wild is so wonderful.
Are you going to use Trackleaders to track your ride?
Not familiar with "Trackleaders"... Tell me more!
Ride On,
Darwin
You can rent a Spot tracker from them and they can plot you on the route. We use it each year for the Arizona Trail Race. Scott at TL is heavily involved with the AZT and that race. Something to consider. FWIW, I provide callin services to racers on the AZT each year and have for the Tour Divide since it's inception ( and the old Great Divide Race before that, if you remember that race).
I Def need to look into that. Thanks!
Ride On,
Darwin
Epic beard too! \m/,
Cuben can be pronounced either way Being Filipino/Cuban and Irish myself. I can tell you this...only English speaking people say Cuban (QuebAn)
Check out Binary Bicycles if your looking for an amazing bike!
4:53
Spiciflly why not a LHT
Long Haul Trucker is designed for paved surfaces and wouldn't do as well on dirt and gravel. Both are great bikes, but also very different. There are a lot of factors that go into the difference but how well the bikes handle on various surfaces is a good starting point. There are a lot of really good 'all-road' bikes being released by Surly and by others that bridge the gap really well between a road-worthy LHT and a bikepacking-dedicated ECR.
"the shoes I'll be rockin'" and you lost me right there.
🎯👀👍👍🌲
I Wholeheartedly agree Drew! Thanks for Watching!
Ride On,
Darwin
Nice "big money" sponsored serup. Unfortunately far out of my price range. Nice kit though.
go slow and sound it out. vis-ca-cha
I skipped through a lot if this. I just got fed up of one ad after another. Shame!
too much info ! yall talk to much and don't say anything gear is gear for what use ?