It looks like Kurt is hanging with Apple.

Looks like Chris made it to the Cuba McDonalds just before closing time at 11!

Any thoughts on Josh Kato's status?  He's been stopped for close to 5 hours, which might be longer than any stop he's had so far.  Maybe a SPOT issue?  Maybe he's sleeping for a night push over Boreas?  Anyways...if he is stopped there in Silverthorne, I've been pondering his strategy...after the last couple of days, one can hardly blame him.  I'd be a puddle at this point...

From a Facebook post 2 hours ago: "After a few nights/days in freezing conditions I am drying out, getting checked out and eating a proper meal." He is referring to a reinjured shoulder. "I’ll get back out there but I just need a little pause."

Not finished yet, but recommended so far:  Around Africa On My Bicycle.

Book:  http://www.amazon.com/Around-Africa-Bicycle-Riaan-Manser/dp/1868423514

Video: 

Riaan Manser 'Around Africa on my bicycle' Part 1a

Somewhere (I can't remember where) I read that the new hydration packs with their "stiffened" bladders  seemed to be ill-suited to the curve of a cyclist's back.  Anyone experience this?

I'm really looking at the smaller bag for daily use.  I love the hip pockets for a camera and bar or two.

Nice work on that setup.  How did you secure the front panniers?  Is there a rack attached to rim brake bosses?  That looks like quite a bit more weight than two water bottles and cages.  Makes me think I'm worrying too much about the handling effects.

I'm currently using a hardtail with a big saddle bag, but I tried an OMM rack on a FS once.  Man, did it screw up the way the back end tracked!  Enough such that I was worried about the wear and tear on the pivots.

I did a road tour once with that same seatpost mounted rack.  It worked pretty well with about 10 pounds, but I neglected to counter balance with weigt, so the front end wanted to lift.  Not good in the wind.  Did you have good luck with yours?  Do you have an idea of the weight back there?

Anybody tried this?  I've mounted two of those twofish bottle cages (http://www.twofish.biz/bike.html) with the velcro straps to the fork lowers.  (I tried to post a photo, but couldn't seem to get it to work.)  I've wrapped the fork leg with electrical tape to give the rubber mount a little more grip to (hopefully) eliminate movement.  The zip ties are a back up to the rather weak/vulnerable plastic buckle on the velcro, though I don't think they've got enough tension to hold the cage in place without the velcro strap.

Will this screw up the way the bike handles?  I've heard things like weight should be on the sprung part of the frame rather than the un-sprung part.  I guess I won't know until I get it on the trail.

I also worry that they'll rotate into the wheel, though as the wheel rolls forward, it would likely just push the cage back away from the wheel.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this.

Freemech, I'm in limbo like you.  If I could get some communication from Jeff, I may know of the bags are just a week out or still months out.  That way I would know if I should just cut my losses ($250 deposit, so far), and move forward with other options, or continue to wait. 

So, 4 emails and 4 phone calls (no voicemail available) in the two weeks since my original post.  ZERO communication from Jeff.  It's now been 25 weeks.  Original quote was for 8 weeks.  I knew that was optimistic, but come on... triple the time?

Thanks for the info, Rik.  I'm optimistic now.

I don't want this to be a flame.  I realize that things can happen in people's lives, but it has been a long, long time, and I can't get any communication from the guy.  I've had an order with Jeff at Carousel Design Works since the first week of November.  At the time, he said it would be 8 weeks.  Well, it has been substantially longer, and I can't get any communication out of the guy.  No response (zero) to 4 emails and 2 phone calls over the last two months.  Just tried to call again, and now there is now voicemail at his number!  I've been polite.  Hey, I like/want the product still.  Hoping this post gets me somewhere.  Has anyone had recent contact with him?  Does anyone have any info?