Bikepacking Gear Bonanza

Where does a 470-mile mountain bike race sit?

I haven’t been very subtle about my Colorado Trail ambitions. My last two posts have focused on the race, and my preparation for it. I’ve been telling anyone who will listen about the race, and all my various gear choices. I’ve sent 2,379 emails to Ty, my neighbor, and fellow CTR hopeful.* But having my thoughts be dominated by a ride like the Colorado Trail Race shouldn’t come as a surprise. The only way I can get prepared for, let alone finish, anything that is this far beyond my previous experience level, is to become utterly obsessed with every detail about the endeavor.

*It’s all his fault anyway. He’s the one who pushed me from doing the CTR “someday”, to doing it now.

Getting ready for the Crusher, The KTR, the Dixie Lite, and even cyclocross and cross country racing, has kept me awake many nights in the past as I’ve pondered gear choices, route descriptions, elevation profiles, weather patterns, and training strategies. The mental and emotional focus can be tiring, but it’s also a lot of fun.

What have I gained from all this recent studying?

I’m not sure, yet. It’s all been book-learning so far. However, I have gathered, weighed, and packed most of my gear. The base kit—everything except food and water—is nearly complete. The only possible variations that remain won’t be worked out until I’ve actually tested some of my ideas. The short term weather forecast will also help determine a few last minute changes. But overall, my base kit is finished. Unless it isn’t.*

My criteria for choosing gear has been simple: find the lightest piece, for the lowest price. So far, budget has trumped weight, although I’ve been able to find some very nice gear for very nice prices. There’s nothing quite as satisfying to a dirtbag as finding high-end gear for low-end prices. I’ve also been able to use a lot of gear that I already had, which is nice.

I’ve listed the total weight for the commonly weight-analyzed items, and although I do have total weights for everything hidden away on my spreadsheet, I haven’t included them here. I’m not being secretive, I just think some of the details will change between now and July, and that the weights of tubes, lube, and other mundane bike necessities are all pretty standard. It’s also worth noting that while this list is CTR-centric, most of it applies to any bikepacking route.

*Feel free to make any suggestions for improvment.

Bike

This year I am riding a 2011 (but only recently built) Cannondale Scalpel. Currently it weighs about 22 lbs with beefy 26-inch wheels and tires. I am planning to use a lighter set of 650b (27.5) wheels and tires for the majority of my riding and racing. It is built with a mix of SRAM XO and Cannondale SI components, along with a couple of my own additions from Thomson, Ergon, and Enve. Riding the tiny wheels after years on a 29er has been fun. I like the bike, but we’ll see how I feel about it (or any other bike) on or around July 26th.

Bike Bags

The primary difference between backpacking and bikepacking is (obviously) the bike. Instead of having to carry everything on their backs, bikepackers can let the bike shoulder some of the weight. And the best way to do that is with lightweight bags. The days of panniers and racks are over. Bike bags have become the established standard in multi-day touring, are much easier to obtain than they were a few years ago, are durable, waterproof, and fit on just about any bike—road, ‘cross, or mountain.

I’ll be using an array of bags, hand-made by Alaskan Eric Parsons at Revelate Designs. Eric is a pioneer in the bike bag world, and his gear is over-the-top nice.

Handlebar: Sweet Roll w/ small pocket add-on

Stem: Mountain Feedbag

Top-tube: Jerrycan

Seat post: Pika saddle bag

Total weight: 1.8 lbs.

Backpack

I’ve narrowed my backpack choices to two: the Wingnut Enduro or Camelbak Volt. The Wingnut is a proven winner. I’ve used it on many long rides and multi-day trips. It’s light (16oz.), large (18L), and is 100% waterproof. The wing pockets make fishing for food on the go ridiculously easy.

The Volt is another possibility, although I don’t have one, and have no experience with one. But the lumbar reservoir (which I’ve liked in the past on other packs) and the smaller volume have distinct appeal. I tend to fill any available space in my pack, so a smaller volume could help me leave unneeded stuff behind, or move more weight to the bike and off of my back.

Sleep System

An integral part of any multi-day gear list is the sleep system. It consists of three primary pieces: shelter, bag, pad. The variations of each of these items are vast, and like most outdoor gear, is subject to a triangle of compromise. When it comes to sleeping in the wilderness, pick 2: comfort, lightweight, cheap. However, modern advancements in materials are slowly eliminating that compromise, making affordable, light, and comfortable gear a lot more attainable. It’s pretty easy to build a 3-piece sleep system that is waterproof, comfortable, and under 3 pounds.

An event like the Colorado Trail Race (or any multi-day race) has an added element of compromise: speed. Going fast means going light, but it also means keeping everything very simple. The fastest CTR finishers have spent less than 5 hours in their shelters each night, often making due with nothing more than an emergency bivvy and a down jacket. They sacrificed comfort (and some safety) for the simplicity and light weight of a just-good-enough sleep system*. Finding a place to hang a hammock, or futzing with a tarp and stakes at 2AM, after 20 hours of riding isn’t simple. When I’m done riding each day, I want to crawl into a waterproof tube, and sleep.

*Just-good-enough probably kept the pointy end of the group moving, instead of spending time trailside, snoozing away the chance at a record finish. Which is one reason why they are at the pointy end. Hmmm.

Me? I’m going to try and get the best of both comfort and speed from my system. (Duh!)

Bivvy: Rab Storm. I found the Rab Storm Bivi at the bottom of a clearance bin at my local gear shop. The price was right, and so was the feature list: waterproof, breathable, and lightweight. At 16 oz. it is  8 oz. lighter than my fully-featured, and very comfortable OR Aurora shelter. But giving up a little extra comfort in the sack in favor of shedding 1/2 a pound on the trail is an easy tradeoff. And it’s not as if the Storm is exactly minimalist. It zips closed, and is fully waterproof. I don’t anticipate missing the added features (bug net, pouch, Gore-Tex) of the Aurora.

Sleeping bag: I’ve used the Lafuma Warm ‘N Light 600 down bag for the last several years, including on the Dixie Lite. It’s a great summer bag. It is, as its name implies, warm, and light (35 degree, 21 oz.). But (and this question plagues everyone), I have  been wondering if I could find something lighter. There are, obviously, lighter sleeping bags available, but they fail my budget test. The compromise? The SOL Escape bivvy from Adventure Medical Kits.

At 8 oz, the Escape weighs 13 oz. less than the Warm ‘N Light 600. It’s advertised as water-resistant and breathable. Reviews are upholding that claim. Last year’s CTR winner used the Escape as his primary shelter en-route to a record setting finish.*  I strongly considered using one as my shelter this year, but will instead use it as my sleeping bag. Will it be as comfortable as a down bag? Probably not. But used with the Storm Bivi, and my sleeping pad, I will stay warm and dry.

*The Escape didn’t get much use. He finished the race in just 3 days, 23 hours, and 38 minutes.

Sleeping pad: A good sleeping pad can make the difference between a lousy sleep system, and one that helps you get the rest you need in-between 20 hour days. The new trend in ultra-light pads is thick, but light. I’ve retired my 3/4 inch Therma Rest Pro-Lite 3 (which has served me well for several years, and will continue to serve my kids) in favor of the 2.5 inch Big Agnes Clearview Air Pad. It’s fat, affordable, really light (11 oz) and longer than my Pro Lite. It’s the one piece of my sleep system that I consider a luxury. I want to be able to rest at night, and this pad is going to help me do that.

All three items will be rolled into a small dry bag, and stowed in the Sweet Roll.

Total weight: 2lbs, 5oz.

Clothing

A multi-day trip requires a few extra clothing items, beyond the normal riding shorts, jersey, and gloves. Any route where wide variations in the weather are probable (like the Colorado Rockies) will lengthen the clothing gear list a little. However, eliminating redundancies and paying attention to item weights can shorten that list, and lighten the pack.

Down vest: The Montbell UL Snap Vest is one of my favorite pieces of gear. I’ve used it while mountain biking, ski-touring, summer and winter camping, and backpacking. It’s one of the few items that I include in every over-night pack. It will be an important part of my CTR sleep system, adding warmth to the entire set-up, or doubling as a pillow if the temperatures do not require it to be worn. It can also be slipped on while hiking and riding during cold snaps or early morning high-speed descents. At 5 oz. it has the highest weight/usefulness ratio of any of my clothing.

Wind shirt: Useful while riding, in light rain, or as an add-on during cold nights in the bivvy. I use the Brooks LSD Lite Jacket. It’s hooded, and only weighs 4 oz.

Rain Suit. I have one demand from a rain suit: keep me dry. And be light. So, two demands. And cheap, it has to be cheap. Which makes three demands. Cheap, light, dry. The DriDucks Frogg Togg UL meets all three. The entire suit (hooded jacket and pants) weighs less than 11 oz., costs about $20, packs up nice and small, and most importantly, keeps water out. It isn’t very durable, but the set I’ve had for 5 years is still hanging tough, although it will probably be replaced this summer.

Long underwear: The last thing I want to do after a long day of pedaling is sleep in my chamois. A nice set of long underwear will not only let me hang my shorts on a tree to dry overnight, but also help keep me warm during the night. Paired with my sleep system, and down vest, I should be cozy on all but the most extreme summer nights. Plus, I can always pull them on during the day if needed. Silk underwear in the mountains? Heck yes!

Hat: A merino wool or synthetic stocking cap is a must-have. At only 2 oz, it doesn’t weigh much, but can add a lot of warmth when needed.

Other: warm gloves, waterproof socks, sleep socks, arm/knee warmers, vest, base layer.

Tools

Riding a bike on a multi-day trip is a little like bringing along a temperamental significant other. That is, it’s going to be high-maintenance, require a lot of attention, and weigh down your pack a lot more than if you had left it home. But there are benefits (to the bike) as well. Chief among them, wheels. Rolling is faster, and a lot more fun, than walking. Helping to keep the bike rolling is a long list of tools and parts, many of which will hopefully stay tucked away for the duration of the trip in some forgotten pocket.

Spare tube x2
Patch kit
Lube
Sealant
Derailleur hanger
Master link x2
Tire boot x2
Multi-tool (bike)
Multi-tool (knife)
Brake pads (set)
Pump
Zip-ties (various sizes, 10 total)
Duct tape
Tire levers

Lights

Fenix lights are small miracles. I’ll be riding the CTR with two Fenix PD32 flashlights. The PD32 runs on two CR123 batteries, and will burn at 130 lumens for 8 hours (315 lumens for 2 hours). Each light weighs about 4 oz. with batteries. I’ll have one on my helmet, and one on my bars. I’m really impressed with these little lights. They are better than most of the bike-specific offerings from the major players in the market. I’d use 2 of them in a 24-Hour lap race as my only light source with confidence. Where were these during my solo-24 days?

Helmet light: Fenix PD32

Bar light: Fenix PD32

Rear flash: Princeton Tec Swerve

Mounts: Twofish rubber/velcro

Camp light: Brunton Double Back

Total weight: 11 oz.

Navigation

Most bikebacking trips require a GPS, or detailed route knowledge. Or both. GPS technology has come along way in the last 10 years. Units are easier than ever to load tracks and maps on to, they are light, affordable, and really capable. Most of them include a lot more features than just GPS. My favorite units over the years have always (and forever?) come from Garmin. My multi-day choice is no different. And while I tinkered with carrying my trusty Edge 705 on the CTR, I decided on the AA powered eTrex 30. Either way, I was going to be carrying batteries, but with the eTrex, I don’t have to bother with a AA powered charger or the shorter run time of the Edge.

GPS: Garmin eTrex 30

Digital Map: Colorado Topo 2011 from GPSFileDepot.com

Paper map: Colorado Trail Pocket Atlas by Erik the Black

Total weight: 7 oz.

Safety

Staying safe (alive) in the mountains requires a combination of the right gear, and the right mindset. I’ll have a small first aid kit, and a SPOT, but I’ll also have everything else I’ll be carrying. My clothing, sleep system, lights, navigation equipment, food, water, and tools, can help prevent (or get me out of) a dire situation.

Tracker: SPOT II Tracker

First Aid: LifeLine 1-person trail kit.

Cord: Paracord bracelet

ID: RoadID dog tag

Total weight: 9 oz.

Water Treatment

I like water filters. But after I broke the handle on one in the Uinta mountains, I’ve wondered about an alternative, especially for ultra-light packing. Tablets are light, but take a long time to work, and taste terrible. Filters (yes, I still like them) aren’t super-light, but will remove floaties, and they work quickly. Is there an in-between? Something that is light, works fast, and can clean up the water a little? Of course there is! It’s called UV light. Pairing a SteriPen with a small funnel-filter to remove chunks (which is entirely my preference. The SteriPen can be safely used without the filter) is light*, fast, and doesn’t alter the taste of the water.

Filtration: SteriPen FitsAll filter

Purification: SteriPen Adventure Opti

Storage: Camelbak 3L bladder + Nalgene 1L collapsible bottle

Backup: Iodine tablets

*Light. Get it? Ohhhh, it hurts.

Total weight: 15 oz.

Hygiene  

I’m a dirtbag. I can go a long time without brushing my teeth or showering. But if I don’t have to, well, I’m not going to.

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Lip balm
Sunscreen
Floss
Dehydrated wipes
Bug spray
Chamois cream
Toilet paper
Cash/Credit/ID

Camera

What, you thought I was going to leave the camera home? No way. I’m bringing my favorite point and shoot, the Sony RX100. I’m also going to bring a mini-tripod. For an extra 3 oz., it’s well worth the weight for the chance at some long exposure pictures.

Total weight: 14 oz.

And there it is.

A long list of stuff I will carry through the Colorado Rockies, along with about 4 liters of water and 8,000 calories of food.

All bundled up, it looks like this:

I think it’s about time to start testing all this book learning with some pedal turning. Just as soon as I get back from the Caribbean, of course.