|   Epic SS'ing Equipment Question | Da Eunit
Nov 13, 2003 7:20 AM | | This question is a bit tangential to the SS'ing topic, but as I found this to be the most lucid of all the discussion groups, I'm posting it here. I'm dreaming of a coupla day ss'ing foray somewhere like on the Continental Divide trail. Being a fan of keeping the bike as light as possible, as well as not having to leave all my stuff with the bike when I venture into town, I've decided to use a backpack to carry my stuff rather than panniers or a trailer. Planning on going pretty light, with a pack somewhere in the 2400 to 3000 cubic inch range. Anyone have any suggestions as to a particular brand or style? I'm particularly interested in a design that allows you to carry the weight as low as possible and allows good airflow to keep you from roasting with it back there. Also, if you've done a trip of this nature before and have gained some insights, please share them! Thanks for the help. |
| re: Epic SS'ing Equipment Question | SSO
Nov 13, 2003 7:38 AM | | This summer a few of us did a 2 day 160 mile trip (SS content: I was fixed, eelpie was SS). It was summer and I wanted to go minimalist so I ditched the panniers and took my 28 Liter Deuter pack. This thing rocks. It's got a suspension system to keep your back cool. Room for a hydration bag. Two hip pockets for extra water bottles (I stuffed my french press and a coffee cut in them). A built in rain cover that stuffs in it's own pocket. A seperate area to keep nasty, sweaty stuff. Very well designed. They offer other larger models. Here's the one I used.
One tip I can offer that I've used on this trip and a similar 3 day trip: Take one pare of padded riding shorts and 2 short liners (I've got Underarmor). This will save you tons of room, and lets you wear the same padded shorts for 3 days without them being funky. the liners can be washed and dried quickly if you are doing more than 3 days.
http://www.deuterusa.com/Product/Hiking/F28.htm |
| re: Epic SS'ing Equipment Question | Da Eunit
Nov 13, 2003 7:58 AM | | Wow, that is some great information. The price attractive as well. Thanks! |
| I should note | SSO
Nov 13, 2003 8:20 AM | | I did carry a rack so I could strap my tent, sleeping pad and a fleece bag liner (warm enough not to need a full bag) on the rear. |
| SSO's stinky support skivvys stuffed silenty into deuter nm | jh_on_the_cape
Nov 13, 2003 11:39 AM | | nancy's mom |
| Check out www.golite.com | Cruz SS
Nov 13, 2003 9:15 AM | | VERY lightweight backpacks for long distance hikers and adventure racers - also reasonable prices. Also pick up the book "Beyond Backpacking" by Ray Jardine on the techniques of lightweight travel. |
| Check out www.golite.com | Da Eunit
Nov 13, 2003 11:11 AM | | Great website! The adventure racing packs look very interesting. I'll check the library for Jardine's book this weekend. Thanks for your input. |
| re: Epic SS'ing Equipment Question | jh_on_the_cape
Nov 13, 2003 10:50 AM | | Try to contact Mike Curiak, 'mikec' I think on the 29er board. He has done some 'epics', to say the least. I have done some less epic stuff with more gear/comfort like a month offroad in baja mexico and some stuff in europe. I used panniers.
Here's something: take a backpack and fill it full of stuff, including water, and go out for a long ride. I tried that and found that I really dont like stuff on my back.
I know have a mountainsmith pannier that converts to a backpack. I don't know if they make them anymore, though. Why not just strap a back pack to a rack with bunjee cords?
I used the mountainsmith thing for a month in gabon, africa. It was wierd riding with only one pannier, so I make a little wicker basket for the other side and put water bottles and random junk in it. |
| re: Epic SS'ing Equipment Question | Da Eunit
Nov 13, 2003 11:09 AM | | JH, your definition of epic far exceeds mine! Sounds like some way cool stuff you've done. Maybe you should write a book!! I've got a small Schwinn Cycle backpack that I use for commuting (lightweight stuff) and we have a food drive going on at work, so tomorrow I'll load that baby full of cans and haul them into work. That should provide a decent test. |
| I did a 3-day epic Tahoe Rim Trail ride... | kyezle
Nov 13, 2003 3:54 PM | | ...but not on my singlespeed. I went from Tahoe City to South Lake Tahoe, which is about 85 miles of singletrack that meanders between 63009300 feet. Since there was so much climbing along the way, I wanted to go pretty light, but really didn't want to use a rack or panniers. I knew I couldn't carry enough gear that way. So I went with this ultralight adventure racing pack. It's a Gregory G-pack. It's not really compartmentalized and doesn't have a spot for a bladder, but that's why it's so light. I just stuffed everything in and it worked pretty well. I also went ultralight weight on the rest of my gear, a 2 lb. tent, a 2 lb. bag, a whisperlite stove, titanium cookware, etc. Still, with food and water added, it was almost 30 lbs. It was really awkward at first, trying to balance the weight and still be able to maneuver through technical singletrack, but it got easier along the way.
Two things I'd recommend though:
1. Bring some very lightweight shoes/sandles/Tevas in addition to your riding shoes. At one point, I was so exhausted, I gladly walked a few miles of rugged climbing. I started out just in my riding shoes, but they became very uncomfortable before long. So I sat down and changed into a pair of water booties and felt much better.
2. Bring a floppy hat. Since my pack was stuffed and rode higher on my back, the top of the pack was interfering with my helmet, to the point that it was pushing my head forward and really buggin'. I ended up riding without a helmet for most the three days. But since it was in July, I had to shade myself from the sun, so I wore a floppy rimmed hat. It was the ticket. Plus, I wasn't out there to bomb the downhill runs, so a helmet wasn't *as* important.
Regardless how or what you use, do it. It is so rewarding. And although a buddy is good in many respects, you may consider going solo. I did, and really enjoyed it. My experiences felt a little more pure that way. Kinda Walden Pond-ish...
Kyle |
| I agree on the sandles | SSO
Nov 13, 2003 5:22 PM | | After all day in bike shoes it's nice to kick back at the fire in some flip-flops or sandles and let the dogs breath. |
| What route did you take to... | Ebo
Nov 13, 2003 7:12 PM | | get from the Mt Baldy? Wilderness area to the Mt Rose Hwy. Also, where did you finish? And no, I'm not the trail nazi. Didn't you do this ride upon leaving the Downieville gathering? Thanks... |
| ah, you caught me... | kyezle
Nov 14, 2003 11:54 AM | | not poaching, but taking the easy way! Your question was one of my bigger debates of the ride. Do I risk going through the Mt. Rose Wilderness? It's a long section that climbs up to 10k feet well above the tree line. It's not easy and it's closed to bikes. And once you're in it, there's no bailout points. I opted instead to drop down to lake level and take the road from King's Beach to Tunnel Creek Road, bypassing the Wilderness. This turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip. SInce I was in town, I stopped at Hiro Sushi, a little sushi bar in King's Beach. They have an all-you-can-eat for a hour special. I sat down, completely exhausted, from 21 hard miles, and told the chef to surprise me for the hour. I must have eaten 60 pieces of fresh, delicious sushi. Spicy tuna rolls, rainbow rolls, salmon, eel, octopus, raw shrimp; it was heaven. Washed it all down with a few Sapporos and crashed in a motel room. So I didn't rough it the entire time! But the climb up Tunnel Creek Rd. to the TRT was more than enough pain to compensate. 6" of sand for 1.5 miles of the 3 mile climb, which gains 2000 feet. With 30 lbs. on my back. I don't know how I mustered a smile in this picture. Must have been the hot chick that offered to take my picture... |
| I remembered the Sushi story...classic...I thought if you... | Ebo
Nov 14, 2003 1:56 PM | | had decided to not poach, you would maybe go up Mt Rose Hwy from Incline Village and pick up the TRT from there. Tunnel Crk Rd is certainly a grind up and sandy as you stated. Even without a pack. I rode up to the Wilderness area from Brockway/267. Nice section of TRT single track until you hit the dirt road just past the lava rock section. We then reversed it and rode back to Hwy 267 and on to Lake Watson via the TRT. Maybe some day they will open that section. Thanks Kyle. |
| VauDe Siena 40, if you can <i>really</i> live w/ 2400 ci | GlowBoy
Nov 13, 2003 9:26 PM | | I use mine for commuting, winter riding when I need to carry more gear, and dayhikes. It's the best backpack I've ever had, and I've beat the hell out of it for 2 1/2 years and it looks like new. Even in hot weather it's comfortable due to the Aeroflex suspension that maintains a 1" airspace between your back and most of the pack. But due to shape it is a little hard to make full use of the 2400 ci, so it may not be big enough for your needs, but if you can make it work for you it's the best.
Best $100 I've spent on sporting equipment, period. |
| Thanks guys, good info all | Da Eunit
Nov 14, 2003 6:38 AM | | This forum rocks! I'm most grateful for all the good info. With the small pack pretty loaded, it was a comfortable enough ride, so I'm on the hunt for the bigger pack. Heading to REI this weekend to try some out. And if anybody else has gotten a bug to try this, backpacker.com just put a bunch of their packs on sale yesterday, including several of the Deuters. Happy trails! |
| re: Epic SS'ing Equipment Question | TrevorInSoCal
Nov 15, 2003 1:47 AM | | Where on the continental divide trail were you planning to ride?
I rode it N to S this summer with the adventurecycling.org group. Was quite an amazing trip. The idea that kept going through my head the whole time (When Reverend Horton Heat's "Eat Steak", wasn't looping endlessly.) was, "is this doable on a SS?". I was on my geared/fs marin towing a B.O.B and front panniers. Not the way you'd go on a SS.
Hardest part is gonna be carrying food for 3 or 4 days. Other than that I'd suggest going with as light a bag as you can get away with, and opting for some sorta chemical water treatment (McNett's, Iodine tablets, etc.) rather than carrying a bulky/heavy filter. Probably goes w/o saying that you probably won't be packing a tent...
The other option is to not worry so much about weight and just gear really low (Which is what I'm thinking would probably have to be done to do the whole route on a SS.) and deal with spinning out on the flats...
I started having knee problems in southern CO, so I dunno that my body could handle the whole divide on a SS, but I'd love to try it.
Has the whole route been done on a SS? Our guide had never heard of anyone doing it, and neither had Brian, the tours director at adventure cycling.
-Trevor |
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