I'm sure it's there and I'm missing it. But where is the information on the website about the trails all the way to the Atlantic? At the beginning of this post it was said the complete route is from the Atlantic.

Nice - I read through the website as best I can. I'm not fluent in Spanish and Google Translate was impressing me. I had a hard time finding out if it's all double-track and rough roads or if there is true singletrack on the route. Any thoughts?

Maybe we should just go see for ourselves 

I'll have to pick up the issue! I didn't see anything on Dirt Rag online but I did a super quick search. Any idea on the percentage of singletrack?

I shipped my Marin 29er to Bend last year and everything went perfectly. I have no problems with UPS - I'm asking this because of some special circumstances that require me to wait until the last minute to decide what bike to take with me. So that's where the "convenience" of taking it on the airline (which is $50 each way on Airtran) comes into play. Whatever happens will dictate CX bike for road touring or mountain bike for off-road.

Thanks. Fitting a large FS 29er into a hardcase is a pain in the ass.  Everything has to be more disassembled and  packaged so tight I feel like I am more likely to damage the bike packing it or if it gets dropped.

Price aside. Professionally packed in a cardboard bike box from LBS. Non-stop flight to/from large int'l airports. Which one would you ship your $2000-3000 bikepacking quiver with? UPS or the airline?

Going back to the lights - I was planning on taking a fully charged NiteRider MiNewt 600 cordless and only running it on techy sections I happen to hit at night. It should be good for at least 4-5 descents as long as they dont take longer than 30 mins. I have a BD storm as my backup. Anyone else think the MiNewt is stupid?

I bet in MT where I live we are probably a month out from total closure of the forests.

Wow, really? I didn't realize it was that bad! How much fire does it take to close a whole forest?

Thanks! That's kind of my only big drawback to the parkway--in my backyard. Which is kind of why I feel like I should tick it off too...

This is a repeat question essentially but the options are fewer. Was going to do the CTR, injured, road biking and possibly dirt road mtn biking are all I can do. Tickets bought for Colorado but I live in the Southeast and never did the Blue Ridge Parkway. So my three options are 1) fly out to CO and do a road tour; 2) fly out and ride the GDMBR north from Denver as far as I get in my time off; 3) save all that time, money, and trouble and tour the Blue Ridge Parkway. Open to suggestions other than these too.

I was training to do the CTR this year. A surgically repaired bone in my arm and fractured neck suffered at the very end of March pretty well trounced those plans.  I'm finally back to riding the road bike, but the doc isn't going to clear me to mountain bike until July 25th at the earliest. Plane tickets are booked so I'm still planning to go to Colorado and I'd love to get some riding in. I'd love to get some thoughts on suggested alternatives for someone who was craving the technical singletrack, high altitude, solitude, and beauty of the CT. I'm going to train my ass off on the road bike but even if I'm cleared to mountain bike my tech skills will probably be pathetic, so...

One option I looked at was touring the ACA Great Parks South route from outside Denver to Mesa Verde/Durango. I don't know anything about it except it goes in the general area I was planning to go without the technical demand. Anyone know the route?

I'd also be open to an all dirt route that was relatively non-technical or with shorter singetrack sections. I don't know much about the Grand Loop but I have a friend in GJ so it crossed my mind.

I thought about spending 10-12 days on the GDMBR too (to go north or south?). And then there's the good old fashioned road trip and try to hit as many of the epic road rides in CO as I could (Pikes, Copper Triangle, etc.).

Lastly, I thought about just postponing the whole trip and touring/ITT the CT in late summer early fall to give me a chance to at least test my singletrack abilities after being cleared. How late is the weather reasonably predictable along the trail?

Suggestions and thoughts about any of these or all of them would be greatly appreciated as I try to find a way to salvage my 17-days off I'd saved up for. Thanks in advance!!!

In my experience, rain pants and biking just dont mix. Personally I'd rather have a wet/warm layer to ride in if it's raining and carry something more multipurpose like a dry lightweight base layer deep in my gear. It may just be me but I find no matter how cycle-oriented the rain pants are they get knackered up in my sprockets or just drive me crazy with lack of mobility/breathability.

FYI - I just reserved a minivan from Durango to Denver one way for after the race if anyone wants to share the car back. Booked it for Aug. 10-12 and will adjust as needed.

just email me if you're interested: dgjessee@gmail.com.

Subject says it all... is the whole main route from Monaco to Slovenia open to mountain bikes? Only portions? Alternate routes? I can't find much definitive online...

Yeah, Ginnie and her Mulberry Gap staff/family are amazing! Definitely a good back up. Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega is another (actually the folks who own it are also the owners of the CompetitiveCyclist.com pro team). I've got several friends from Atlanta planning to race it this year too, so lots of options to get to the start.

I stumbled across the MegaSoft Sport SL saddle since my friend was using it. So far I love it! No pressure points at all, a bargain, and really light too. Just don't start trying to find a website or much more information than you see on Amazon. Hawley sells them, if that proves any bit of quality to you.

http://www.amazon.com/MegaSoft-SPORT-SL-TI-RAIL/dp/B004QMJAMC/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1330564141&sr=1-3

For what it's worth I set myself up for a slow turn around when I ordered my seatbag from Jeremy Cleaveland (Cleaveland Mountaineering) and I had my bag within a week of giving him $100. It's very well made and I could not be happier. He also does custom bags and is easy to get in touch with (on occasion I even chatted with him over Gchat).

Sorry to hear of all the trouble you guys have had with other guys. Give Jeremy a chance if you need anything awesome quickly!

I think it's obvious that most of the time in these small western towns, there's not much to worry about. But I did get the best answer yet from a Tour Divide rider I met recently: use your chain and quick links like a lock cable. It would take a thief way too long to figure the links out and it would take a substantial cutter to get at the chain too. So maybe a good idea for anyone bikepacking in more threatening areas than we'll see in CO.

Thanks everyone! Good insights from your experience Toby. I kind of figured that was how everyone has done (and I will) do it. As for a luggage lock - I'm pretty sure zipties offer more security in this instance AND if you cut them in the right spot they can be reused.

Once again, why zipties are second only to duct tape in their usefulness :-)

OK, here's a dumb question but it just occurred to me last night... what to do with your bike when you go in stores? Riding the routes here in my home region I know pretty well which spots I can comfortably leave my steed outside and which ones I need to lock it up or take it inside. That comes from just being able to "read" the circumstances. So what do most people do when they go in a gas station or, perhaps more challenging, when you duck into a restaurant for an extended period of time (~10-30 mins)? I doubt anyone is carrying a lock with em in this race... thanks!