I have used the PI Xalp pros for several years with great success, but eventually they died and I'm so bummed to not be able to find another pair. I got some PI X-project 2s this spring and ended up using them on a colorado trail through ride. I have similar feelings to you about them- I have to crank them down and tape my heels for hiking, but do like the way they pedal (though towards the end of the CT I found the narrow toe box was starting to take a toll on the tops of my little toes, so I had to tape those as well). I got through without any blisters, but only due to religious taping. Oh to only have my old shoes back....

I didn't get a chance to try that but believe my friend has. We didn't use that function on the trip as he was saving his iphone batteries.

I've used a spot for several years and was planning on bringing it on my thru ride of the CT this past summer until my friend got an inreach which we used instead. I like it way better than the spot but it's still got some issues. Super clunky interface makes typing a text take fooooorrrrreeeeevvvvvveeeeerrrrrrrrrr, but at least you can text back and forth. It was super helpful for a couple of resupplies we set up and was nice to not have to think of just a few 'canned' texts that the Spot limits you to. I had a mechanical and was able to have my wife get in touch with a bike mechanic in lake city and silverton for me.
I'd like to upgrade to the inreach but am thinking about holding off until the next version- hoping they can make one that has gps capabilities on par with my garmin (current inreach kind of sucks for gps navigation).

[sold]

Profile Designs Aerolite Aerobars- Pretty much brand new, I never used them, clamp adaptors included. $70 plus shipping

Ergon GP3 grips with barends- One season of light use. $30 plus shipping




Cane Creek Thudbuster Seatpost- 27.2 diameter, works well and is in great shape but with some scratches. Too much setback for me. Comes with other elastomers so you can dial it in to your weight and preference. sold

Roval 29er wheelset- Set up tubeless (valve stems not included), standard qr front and back (only front skewer included). sold
RIMS: Roval 29", 24mm w/ eyelets, 32h
FRONT HUBS: pecialized Hi Lo disc, laser-etched logo, OS 28 end caps, sealed cartridge bearing, RWS, 32h
REAR HUB: Specialized Hi Lo disc, laser-etched logo, double-sealed cartridge bearing, QR, 32h
SPOKES: DT Swiss Industry 2.0, (14g) stainless

Avid Bleed Kit- no fluid, just the tools and instructions. sold

I rode that stretch the last week of August this year. We had some snow on segment 23 but it didn't stick much below 13,000'.
Enjoy! The San Juans are the best part!

He's got a facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Craterpacks/447653021938473

Stephen Allen is missing on the Colorado Trail.

https://www.facebook.com/breckpolice/photos/a.373272416049190.83075.120614171315017/767566893286405/?type=1&theater

Thanks for posting this. I grew up with Stephen. Didn't know he was riding the CT. Hope he's just taking some extra time or something. Hope someone runs into him.

Was just in Tride over the weekend. There's a trail I didn't know about that connects you from the Ophir turnoff (Ophir Loop) to the Priest Lake/Matterhorn campground road. Starts on the Ames side of the highway, goes under a tunnel, then is on the East side of the highway.

I have a custom framebag from Bolder Bikepacking for my Giant Anthem. I can easily fit a full 4liter red dromlite in there (bulges out quite a bit) plus a bottle or two and other stuff. Real nice to not have all that on the back!
I run the hose through the zipper and have a magnet to hold the end of the hose on my bars

I don't have track files of this, but here's an idea that would be fun:
Telluride
Ride up gondola, get off at top
Prospect trail to Alta Lakes
Take one of the numerous trails (maze like) to highway 145 near the Alta lakes turnoff/Sunshine Campground
Either: descend the T35 trail to Illium, then get on the Sunshine Mesa Road, but get off it at the switchback continuing on the old railroad grade to Ophir Loop (Ophir turnoff)
Or: descend highway to Ophir Loop.
From Ophir Loop, take highway south
Left to Matterhorn Campground/Priest Lake
Jeep road past Priest Lake to Trout Lake
Take left on dirt road clockwise around Trout Lake, getting on old railroad grade trail to Lizard Head Pass
Descend Highway south
Left to pullout for the East Fork Trail (there is also a bigger pullout on the right for Lizard Head/Cross Mountain trail, you want the left side for East Fork.
Take East Fork Trail to Bolam Pass
CT to Durango.

Or if you want to go bigger, get into the mountains west of Rico:
From just south of Lizard Head Pass, take the Right for Lizard Head/Cross Mountain
Climb Cross Mountain trail
Left onto Groundhog Stock Driveway trail
This gets you to the Dunton Road
Never done it but some combination of the Winter Trail and/or Calico Trail looks amazing
Descend to highway near Rico (several options)
Climb up to CT, perhaps on Scotch Creek Road to Hotel Draw (other options too)
CT to Durango
For trails around Rico, get this map: http://2pedal.com/store/maps/mountain-bike-map-cortez-dolores-mancos-rico

Another option for leaving Telluride without using the Gondola:
Take valley floor trail west out of town
cross highway by Conoco
Galloping Goose Trail down to Illium Valley
Sunshine Mesa to Railroad grade to Ophir Loop as explained above

Sounds fun!

I've got a L el mariachi. measurements of inside triangle taken from revelate's bags:
top tube:21.25"
head tube: 1.75"
down tube: 20.5"
cut out a bottom bracket: 3.5"
seat tube: 12.25"

Would any of those work for me?
(Maybe it would be easier for you to post the dimensions of your frames?)
thanks!

I do sometimes on technical terrain when standing up

Another plug for the DT 350s. Super reliable in my experience and easy to service. As a bonus, you can remove the cassette and freehub together without a tool to provide access to your drive side spokes.

I'm interested in this as well (also have knee issues). I'm running a 20 tooth granny against an 11-36 stans hub on a 29er hardtail. No issues so far but I haven't put a ton of mileage in that gear yet.

I have had success with the gravity dropper and the old revelate viscacha (2 seatpost straps), but it wasn't ideal. Getting it back up required pulling the seat up. Rich of Crater Packs out of telluride makes a seat bag specifically for use with a dropper post.

pm sent

Greg at Bolder bike packing made a custom seat bag for my wife. I think he now stocks some in that size. It's thinner than the Revelate Pika.

I believe Jesse Jakomait was on a 27.5 full sus.

The Giant Anthem is at the top of the list for my next bike. Demoed one briefly and loved it. The maestro suspension feels great (though I love the simplicity of my single pivot santa cruz superlight) and the frame bag space is a huge sell. The rear hub uses dtswiss's star ratchet (pretty sure of that), which is very reliable and easy to service. Plus you can pop the cassette off in the field with no tools to get to the drive side spokes if needed.

Sounds like some hiking and horseriding groups have pressured the Forest Service into rescinding their position.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/riogrande/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5435236

I was so impressed with the Forest Service's previous decision. Now this. Bummer.
More here:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTUwMTAwgAykeaxRtBeY4WBv4eHmF-YT4GMHkidBvgAI6EdIeDXIvfdrAJuM3388jPTdUvyA2NMMgyUQQAyrgQmg!!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfS000MjZOMDcxT1RVODBJN0o2MTJQRDMwODQ!/?project=31283