I get about 14-16 hours of use out of a charge, and then I've had great luck with this unit...  You get more than a full charge out of 4AA batteries.
http://www.gomadic.com/garmin-edge-800-portable-aa-battery-extender.html

Garmin must be trying to clear out the remaining stock of the now defunct 800 model...  It's a perfect bikepacking GPS system!  I'm honestly contemplating buying a "backup"...
$310 plus a $100 mail in rebate...
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/garmin-edge-800

 
http://www.rockywoods.com/Fabrics-Kits/All-Ripstop-Nylon-Fabrics/400-x-300-Denier-Cross-Dyed-Nylon-Polyester-Mini-Diamond-Coated-Ripstop-Fabric

This is a 2011 Tomac Flint 29er.  This was the last year they made this frame with the EBB allowing you to run it geared or single-speed, of which I've done both.  This is a truly great frame.  It's as light as many of the big name($) frames out there, and has some options that most don't, including the SS ability, huge tire clearance(I ran ardent 2.4's on it for a while)as well as the third water bottle mount on the downtube, which is a huge plus for endurance racing or long rides when you don't feel like carrying a backpack.  This is also a great feature when using a frame bag, as you can still have one water bottle mounted on the down tube.  I built this in July 2012 and have done about 8 races on it, including the Leadville Trail 100.  I've since upgraded to a BMC TE29 frame.  I had it built up at just over 24lbs fully geared 2x10 with no carbon, so it's got potential to be a really light race bike if you so desire, but is plenty sturdy enough to take it on some backcountry adventures.



Features From Manufacturer website:

Lightweight AN-6 aluminum with custom butted top, down and seat tubes

Designed for use with 80 or 100mm travel fork

3.4 pound frame weight

Standard 1 1/8" head tube uses normal headsets

Frame standard with Bushnell Eccentric for SS or geared capability

Triple water bottle mounts on all sizes

Up to 2.55 tire clearance



Sizing:  Large   5'8" to 6'0"   

Effective Top Tube:  622mm



It's in great shape.  Has a few scuffs and rub marks as to be expected from a year of use, but nothing structural or inhibiting.  Absolutely zero dents.  Comes as shown with Woodman Headset($40), Thomson Seatpost Clamp($25), Woodman 30.9mm Lightweight Seatpost($50), and WTB Silverado Saddle($60)...

Price:  $450 Shipped.  Paypal Only!

email me with any questions:  havokmob@yahoo.com






Built up Geared:



Built up Single Speed:

Well I haven't been on here, as I've been hanging my head in shame at my failed attempt at the Colorado Trail Push... (totally kidding).  Although it was a very humbling experience, that I will tackle again one day with a different perspective/goal/attitude/budget/timeframe.

This race really interests me, as it's in my backyard.  I've ridden about a quarter of the route in bits and pieces, and love the idea of tying it all together.  Count me in!  An early September date works great for me as well.  I'll be doing a ton of road and MTB racing this year but the season starts to wind down around September and I would gladly miss another event or two to take part in this.  I'd also be willing to help out with some logistics for out of towners.  The amount of stress/money/time that was spent just getting to the start line for the CTR was tough, so if I can make that process any easier for somebody else traveling this way, I'd love to.  So, Joey, holler as it gets closer and let me know if I can help.
-Jesse

Wow.  Larry and I are both calling it.  Slept well in a baseball dugout lastnight after a hard push through the storm from Leadville with Dave Wilson, who is cruising along nicely, after starting a day late.
Just can't justify a move to keep pushing at the pace we've been going.  Duty calls and we both have jobs to be back to by Tuesday.  We kind of set ourselves up in that respect.  Had a blast!  Hurt a ton! Learned a lot!
The Colorado Trail Push is no joke!

Unreal!  Problem solved!  Steve came through huge!  Drove all the way across town just to plug me in and reload the gpx!  Wouldn't even accept cash to cover gas!  Can't tell you how thankful I am!  At this point all I can promise is that I'll pay it forward!  Colorado you've made a fan out of me!!!

Sooo...  First hiccup.  Just got to the hotel room in south Denver and fired up the Garmin Edge 800...  All my courses have been deleted apparently...  Truly I just need Toby's gpx file, as the topo map I have loaded doesn't show the CT...  Does anyone have any ideas/friends in the area? or a laptop with the Garmin software loaded that I could "rent"?!  I've called a few bike shops looking for help and haven't gotten any luck...
Thought about the library but I don't think I'll be able to download the needed program or file.
Jesse
(775)240-0102

I've never used and foam in my kit, but I have used this stuff several times and it's super easy to work with, adds some structure and shape, and is light and easy sew, as the needle of the sewing machine will "find" the holes for the most part, and if not, then the material is soft enough that the needle will go right through it...  It's the mesh plastic cross-stitching type stuff, called Plastic Canvas.  It's available at Jo-Anne fabrics, or even Walmart for $1 or so a sheet, and comes in various sizes and thicknesses. 

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/needlework/plastic-canvas/plastic-canvas-sheets/

Truly can't believe it's here already!  
Glad to hear that it might be a little wet and cool.  I'm ok with a little rain, when my other option is 100 degree heat and sun.  My buddy and I will be driving to Durango tomorrow night!  Bike is loaded up and ready to roll...  Now I'm just trying to relax and quit stressing on every little detail of it.  The months of planning are complete, now it's time to make it happen!  Can't wait to line up at Waterton!
-Jesse

Getting all the final preparations done over the last few days... Got the new goodies on the bike(wheels, larger rear cog, new longer belt)...  Just printed out some small maps, with elevation profiles, broken down by day, see the sample below of Day 4.  Batteries are charged, Spot is registered, food has been purchased...

D4 by jesse reeves, on Flickr

Two weeks out!!!  Wow how this has snuck up fast! 
Well it looks like nothing has really lined up in the way of transportation pre-race from Durango to Denver... So I've reserved a rental car in Durango.  Our plan is to arrive in Durango Friday the 27th mid-day.  Saturday afternoon we're going to drop my truck at/near the trailhead and pick up the rental car.  Sunday morning we're going to get on the road early and head to Denver.  Hoping to arrive by noon or so and run around and tie up any loose ends and return the rental car by 4pm right in Downtown Denver.  I booked a room in Highlands Ranch for the night, which will put us about 15 miles from the trailhead Monday morning.  I'm thinking that worse case we can then ride to the start.  Unless anyone on here is looking for some floor space in exchange for a ride to the start line???

I too had both of my salsa anything cages fail.  About 30 miles into a trip with under 3 pounds on each of them, they snapped off right behind where the straps run through the cage over the bolt holes.  It's too bad that they aren't a little sturdier... I was using 5L Outdoor Research Durable Dry Sacks and they were a perfect fit, and completely waterproof, which was great for a sleeping bag, or bivy/pad...

I don't think there are any companies that make a suspension fork with bosses... but, lots of options for alternative mountings...
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=2260.0
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/717907-Fork-Mounted-Bottle-Cage

Hose clamps seem to work for a lot of AZT and Divide racers.

Great to hear... I used them a few weeks ago with my rigid fork and about 20 pounds of gear on the bike and had no problems with them on some really unfriendly bike trails.  So I'm sold on them...  Thanks for the reaffirmation of their performance for the CTR specifically... 
Got my Guidebook and Databook in the mail yesterday!!!  Let the homework continue...

I hear that!  I took that into consideration, and have some room to "grow" in these Mavics, and the laces offer a ton of adjustment which is nice and simple!
Just a few little loose ends to tie up and I'm good to go... Still not finalized on tire choice...  Was planning on running some big Ardent 2.4's front and rear, but after putting a little lighter and faster rolling tire(Maxxis Ikon) on the singlespeed yesterday and really feeling how much of a difference that made, I'm wondering if the 2.4's are overkill???  Although they're darn near bulletproof, and smooth out the trail when dropped to 20psi, I'm not sure if they're right for the terrain having never ridden it.  What have the rest of you settled on for tires?(29er.)

Does anyone else have any plans that they'd like to share?
I looked into a Uhaul, and it's actually more expensive than a rental car($200ish one way for a day).  It seems there are rental cars available, so if it comes down to a week before hand and I don't have something lined up, I might call and reserve one...

Just wanted to follow up with the shoe topic brought up on page 10...  So I ordered some of the Pearl Izumi X-alp Enduro III's two weeks ago.

I got them from Amazon two days later.  They appeared to be pretty sturdy, if not bulky.  They are definitely very "plasticy" feeling, and the straps feel pretty cheap. I put them on and wore them around the house for a few hours with no discomfort.  Then I set out for a ride in them... Within two minutes of pedaling up a pretty steep hill I turned around and headed back to the truck to put on another set of shoes... They were simply sloppy feeling... I didn't expect them to be stiff, but these things noodled around the pedals and my foot was sliding around inside despite the straps being cinched as tight as I could get them...
Got home and cleaned them, and boxed them back up for returns.  That same night I did some more browsing and settled on giving the Mavic Alpine's a try, as I love my Mavic road shoes, and my Razors...  Got them through Jenson USA.

Just got them in the mail yesterday just in time for my afternoon ride.  Mounted some cleats into them and slipped them on.  Right away they felt great.  The tread is aggressive and wide, so as to avoid rolling you ankle, but low in profile, so they're not bulky feeling.  Managed to ride a familiar 15 mile loop faster than I ever have, and had absolutely no discomfort.  They didn't need to be re-tightened, nor was walking in them a chore.  So far I'm 100% sold on them.  I'm planning on wearing them for an 8hr race this Saturday, so that will be the true test, as will the one steep climb which will turn to hike a bike by hour 5 or so...

So far so good!  Granted, I haven't gotten any precipitation yet while I've been in it.  It definitely is warmer sleeping in the bivy compared to without, which is nice, in that it will add a few degrees to my bag rating.  Used it this past weekend for an overnight trip up to Downieville.  It got down to the low 40's and I had no condensation inside, so that's promising.  I'm thinking I'm going to take it outside the next rain storm we get and crawl inside and see how it holds up... 

I'm in, as is my friend Larry.  I'll be lining up for the GD on the 30th.  First time for me, and first time for my buddy as well.