For whatever reason --let's call it experience --I seem to favor more sleeping gear then I actually need.  A good nights sleep beats lack of sleep every time.  For me, it's usually the tent verses bivy rather than the sleeping bag but it's the same thinking.

Wow.  Great photos ...thanks for sharing!

Nice to see some other TX folks on here.
I'm going to do the AZT300 next month, anyone interested in that?
I did the CD fest a few weeks ago. It's some great riding!

Did you do the IMBA epic while you were there?  I cracked my frame during that ride, although I didn't realize it completely until the next week.  I don't have a bike suitable to AZT300 at this point.

Here's a sweet set up I found on the BikeRumor NAHBS coverage

After realizing that my 155 lbs self had grown to nearly 200 lbs with all the gear on my back and bike, I got nervous about running my Crests.  I has able to get a good deal on the Arch EX wheelset so I ran those instead.  I probably would not make the switch knowing what I know now ...and having lighter gear then I had then.  Peace o' mind I suppose.

The first thing you are going to want is some rechargeable, low-discharge batteries. I got Maha’s Imedion and a fancy PowerEx charge.  I use both Garmin BaseCamp and TopoFusion for creating maps.  TopoFusion is more flexible, but the Basemap is simpler if you are GPSFileDepot.

I bought a 29er without ever riding one. The first day out of the box, I felt like I could literally ride for ever.  The big wheels just a kept on rollin'.  That is what eventually lead me to bikepacking.

Through the 20th, but won't be bikepacking ...just epic riding.  I'm going to have to go out there in April for the BikePacking.

I'm interest in the Vaya.  Are you sure it's a 60?  According to the Salsa website, that is the largest size made.  I would assume at your size 54 would be a better fit.

Wool Jerseys

I prefer my cleat to be positioned well behind the ball of the foot --as close to one would ride if one was not using cleats at all.  How much fore/aft adjustment do the X-Alp Elite or X-Alp Enduro IIIs have?  Also, how does the width compare to the SIDIs?  In the SIDIs I wear a Mega size which is wider than the standard Dominators or Dragons.

I'll be out there for the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest February 14 - 16.  I plan to stay in BBRSP for a few days afterwards and do some bikepacking.  Your welcome to join us.

Congratulations on you attempt.

A lot of the big IMBA Epic loop is tough sledding without all that gear.  I think an idea BikePacking trip in BBRSP would be one where you move base camp ever other day or so.  For instance ride up to Playa Montoya III from Barnton Warnock and set up camp.  Do the Epic without gear the next day.  BikePack into the Solitario on day 3.  You get the idea.

If you really have the primordial urge to do a big loop, you can string together some of the 4x4 road rather than using the Epic path which is some tough single track.

love mine.
the moment, which works well with drop bars to the packed length, goes up even faster. friend has one and loves it thus far. he'll be using it on TD next year.

I had some problems keeping the Contrail from blowing over in extreme winds.  Also, the claimed adjustability is really only achieved if you have adjustable poles such as hiking poles.

Bike shorts, shoes and sleeping bags are the three things they I will not skimp on.  There are probably more, but those are the ones that come to mind that can shut you down fast.

That's my timeframe, so consider me in.  It won't be an ITT for me as my spouse and kids my be meeting me during one or two of the middle weeks.

Did you ever get to try out the new SOL "escape" bivy?  I'm thinking about combining that with a wool base layer for summer camping.  Wool to wick sweat and because it's comfortable and, of course, can be used in camp or even while out if it's cold enough.

I picked up the new SOL Escape bivy for a backpacking trip with my son's Boy Scout patrol.  The expected temperatures were not lower than mid 60's but we wound up in the mid 50's.  Due to the high probability of rain, I opted for synthetic long johns rather than the wool.

55 degrees with light weight long johns and I was never cold.

However: Western Mountaineering HighLight is 455 grams and SOL + Long Johns is 539.

I'm pretty sure I have a pair of the campus shorts.  They have an awesome minimalist inner cycling short ...not sure you could wear it without the outer shorts ...not in the southern part of the US anyways.

I prefer to use regular shorts over standard bike shorts.  This gives you more options.  You can take the outer short off when it gets hot and qui key slip it back on as needed.  A kilt might be awesome too because you could remove the bike short without exposing yourself. 

I wound up getting two Gossamer Gear G4s.  Not the most attractive pack out there but they are light and cheap.  I have them in my possession already but have not taken them out yet.  I think they will work great in the desert southwest where I spend most of my time.  The abundant external mesh pockets would not be good for narrow trails or bushwacking.

I'm still looking for the ultimate bikepacking pack, but it's going to have to be put off for a while.

You probably want something that doubles as water shoes for those N-A-S-T-Y campground showers that periodically present themselves ...or on the brighter side various streams, river, ponds and lakes you wander in or across.  What would be awesome is a bike shoe with a removable insoles that can be strapped to your feet and include optional micro snowshoe capabilities.