A small tarp over your head with the Alpine left open above you head should keep your breath out of you bivi.

Here's mine. Never had a condensation issue.

hth

In my testing I found anything over 35# on the bike was just too much to enjoy an off road trip.

At 35# my bike felt unstable on decents and was a real bitch on climbs.

Picts from one of my 35# test runs. Last Fall I hauled my winter pulk kit up with the mtn bike for a shake down overnite.
So for me about 25# is all I want to carry on my bike.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/outandback2012/sets/72157631963376234/

I have a Nashbar knockoff Bob trailer but only use it in the Desert (around Lake Powell) flat dirt road riding where you carry 5 gal of water.
I would not want to use a trailer on hilly singletrack.

hth

IMO there is no one bikepacking set up to rule them all.
Different trails require different gear.
I have both and pack accordingly.

My favorite flyrod for Colorado/Wyoming/Montana is a Cabela's Stowaway 6 piece Fly Rod 9' for 4W line.



My UL bikepacking rod is a 10.6' (7:3action) Tenkara kit.




I try to fish with a fly that looks like the bugs I see flying around. (size 14-18)
If nothing flying around i usually go with brown or black nymphs (size 12-16)

Welcome to the forum neighbor.

Do you have a list of the gear you are packing and its weight? That might help us help you with suggestions.

Here a link to my flicker picts with my bike packing kits.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/outandback2012/sets/72157631519909619/

Feel free to look thru my sets. Most of my picts on flicker are bike packing related.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/outandback2012/sets/

Cable interference is the number 1 complaint about the handlebar bags.
Some put on longer cables to go around the bag, some don't care and let the cables do what they do.
Others switch out their bars for something like Jones H bars. To move the bag forward or mount the bag on top.

hth

In the group shot it was very interesting to see how much or little gear was strapped to the bikes.

Hi Douglas, I run wide bars(730-710) short stems (70-50) on my 26" bikes. All Alloy.
I have several Carbon bars but never real noticed the improvmentd they say they offer probably do to the bikes being full suspension and setup ubersoft
I just switched stock bars on the 29er, which is a XC/rails to trails bike, for a Jones H
and prefer it for bike paths, rails to trails, and XC with a load.

DH  730/50 Love the control and more upright sitting position.



XC 710/70  Wider bars even on the XC bike gives me more control.



29er Jones H

I live6 miles from CT seg 1 and bikepack 1 thru 3 and 6 a lot. Water quality is very important to me so I filter all ground water.

Great guide. Excellent read. Thank you for sharing.

I like using forestry service maps. They cover a large area and provide just enough detail for dirt road treks.

Multi use is always nice. But if you are using your Klean Kanteens to store water and cook. Where do you put the water when you need the Klean Kanteens to cook?
I really like the beer can pot/alky stove combo because they weigh next to nothing and the pot can be used as a coffee cup.
In this picture the blue cup and Ti pot is replaced with the beer can pot/coffee mug.


Another good duel purpose kitchen idea is a wood burning stove that can also use an alky stove. The woodstove also is a pot stand and wind screen.

Going on year 3 with no leaks. Only use it in my 1 man tent. When not in use always stored in a stuff sack.

Enjoying your blog looking forward to reading more. Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure.

Thanks for the reply Colorado Cool Breeze:
I will indeed take photos along the trail and at my camp.
Then I have to figure out how to post them and in which thread, but I will figure it out.
Going car camping this Fri, Sat and Sun at Ivy Lea Campground, looking out on the St. Lawrence River - very nice.
In June I should be ready for the 'bikepacking' trip.  Gear is ready; bike is ready; all except for the panniers.
What a major decision choosing the panniers.
I think I will get the Axiom Cartier DLX35 Panniers  http://axiomgear.com/products/gear/bags/journey-series/cartier-dlx/
Not sure though!!!  Your Jandd panniers look good.
Panniers like those, along with my handlebar bag and a smaller backpack (Dakine Poacher) and I'm good to go.
My tent (MEC Quail Plus = 4pounds) and my sleeping bag (Rockwater Paclite mummy - Down 600 = 2pounds) will be strapped to top of rack.
It will be my very first backpacking/camping trip.  Great adventure.
Have a great day.

Sounds like a fun trip.
I use flicker to host my pictures they offer free accounts.
Once the picts are uploaded you just paste the link into your post
I like the axiom panniers. They are tough and reasonably priced.
Since I ride off road as well I us a Old Man Mountain rear rack.



Here's a link to a rails to trails I took last Fall.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/outandback2012/sets/72157631838923828/

 

Hey Colorado Cool Breeze:
If you are still monitoring this thread I would appreciate knowing what light down jacket and what down hat you use.  They look great for bikepacking purposes.
I am 72yrs of age and riding the abandoned railway line trails here in southern Ontario, Canada.
Am planning a bike camping trip soon, approx distance 20km one way to a provincial park; on my Giant Iguana that I am setting up for the trip.  Need only a rear rack and panniers and I am good to go - have everything else.
Will try to post my avatar and some pics.  Just joined this site 5min ago.
Take care

Hi WP, I believe the down hat is a BlackRock and the coat is a Marmot. HTH
Old railroad trails are one of my favorite places to bike pack.
I hope you'll take picture of your trip and share them here.

Nice TR thanks for the picts. I'm dieing to get out and ride.

No suggestions on improvements just wanted to say thanks for the post. I really like your setup.

When I go home to visit family and friends I always take my mtn bike. Getting to ride the trails I grewup on is a real kick and just as much fun as anything I live near.

Hea Area54,
Now that you are back. Did your stick and berries survive? Did you have to do anything special?