I have had 2 Titanico X SA saddles, one purchased in 01/2013 on a road bike and a second one purchased in 12/2013 on a mountain bike.  I weigh about 190 lbs.  I had a serious health issue that kept me off my bikes for most of 2013 and a good part of 2014.  In 2015 I spent alot of time preparing for a self contained tour on the IHSMBR, which I did in August 2015.  Fantastic route.  The SA saddle on my mt bike did great and has been great.  I have about 2300 miles on that saddle.   

However, in the fall of 2015 one of the saddle rails on my road bike completely snapped with less than 1000 miles on the saddle.  This is the only time I have had a rail break or even bend on any saddle on any bike in many years of riding.  I did not have a fall or ridden on anything other than ordinary paved roads. I believe that the snapped rail was/is defective and I asked SA to replace the saddle even though it was out of the one year warranty due to the low miles.  SA refused to do so and said I must have been riding over bumps with my weight on the saddle, which caused the rail to break.  That was total bullshit. 

While the SA saddles are really comfortable, I won't buy another one, even though the one on my mountain bike is still fine.  I replaced the broken saddle with a brooks C17 cambium and been really happy with that.  My advice as far as SA saddles is buyer be beware.  To me, a saddle rail should never snap or even bend absent some really exceptional circumstance. 

I'm planning on doing the main route next year.  I guess for me, who is old and slow, if you have that much hike a bike you might as well just hike.  Hell, from some of the reports I read sounds like I might be doing some hiking on the main route anyway. But I like a little cross-training from time to time, so its all good.

But Casey, one question on the Boise spur, which I will probably be taking from the airport.  It looked like you could take the greenbelt to East Highland Valley Road which Ts into Warm Springs Road, East Highland Valley Rd, which turns into West Highland Valley Trail and back to East Highland Valley Road and then ties into 21 about .9 south of the Highland Valley Summit store.  It looks like that would cut off several miles on 21, but perhaps with more climbing on Highland Valley.  Do you, or somebody from Boise, know if that is a viable/shorter alternative to the get you to main route and keep you off 21 for a bit?

check out a farfarer trailer.  Hand made by a guy in Santa Cruz.  Seatpost mounted, breaks down for shipping and its about 7lbs lighter that a BOB.  It worked well for me on a trip between Banff and Whitefish on the GD.  The only problem is that it is not mass produced and delivery can take a few weeks instead of a few days.

www.fftouring.com/‎

I used a couple of bottle holders clamped to the front fork for 28 oz bottles on a section of the GD last summer.  I used some velco straps to prevent ejection.   It worked pretty good until one of the holder, which were pretty cheap, snapped.  I'll use that setup again, but with better quality holders.