[eatdrinkride]

So me and a friend finally did our first over nighter out it picket post a few weeks ago. It was a blast and we made it but in all honesty it was a bit much with all the weight on our bikes and our backs. I am looking for suggestions for up north for this summer. Maybe something around the North Rim or in Flagstaff. We are looking for a 2 night 3 day ride this time around. Also this time around fire roads mixed with single track would be just fine. The only real caveat I can think of is that we will likely only bring one car so we will need to return to where we started from. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Oh, and this trip would be best with some refueling points along the way. I don't think we can carry everything I need for that length of time. One more thing worth mentioning, we are not enduro 40 mile a day type guys. We want to ride at a casual pace, stop to have fun, take pictures, and generally just enjoy the trip. For us it's much more about the experience and the camping then it is about the miles.

 

[ECEGatorTuro]

For my first bikepack (last summer), I went along with John's Bikepack 101 ride on the Rim up by the Cabin Loops. It was a great trip and we had some forest roads and singletrack all mixed in. The Cabin Loops are always a great ride and you can camp right by the springs so you can pump fresh water. It was a fantastic intro to bikepacking for many of us!

The track I'm posting below is a modified version of the intended route. We were supposed to come back the way we came but a few of us decided to take the AZT Blue Ridge Passage north at the turnoff and have some more fun on some amazing singletrack (I highly recommend this passage!). The only downside for that one was having to ride HWY 87 back to the car and as you can see from my track, I bailed out on a portion of it because I was tired so I hitched a ride in a pickup back to where our cars were. The track also shows an out-n-back we did on the Houston Bros. trail once we set up camp.

Cabin Loops Bikepack! by ecegatorturo at Garmin Connect - Details

EDIT: I should add this a two day trip.

 

[schillingsworth]

+1 on the above route. You may also want to consider the North Rim. Base yourself out of the North Rim Campground & do a day ride out to the Rainbow Rim trail (maybe just drive over there so you can ride the whole thing w/o gear) Then do a 2-day ride along the AZT heading north, ride from the campground out to at least the East Rim overlook, if you feel like it, go a bit farther before camping. Ride back the next day.

The Happy Jack bikepack we did shortly after the Mogollon 101 ride was also really good. 80 miles total, but could easily be split into 3 days giving you a re-supply at Mormon Lake 1/2 way through day2.

 

[Raybum]

EDR, those above suggestions are really good. I'll toss another one in the hat. This is a loop done from Flag that is somewhat based on the old AES ride, the Casner Dirty Century. It goes SW out of Flag, down through some singletrack at Tuthill, some cool stuff in Kelley Pocket, then out towards Casner Mtn. From there, it bisects the sycamore canyon wilderness and RR wilderness (great views) then drops down west of Sedona. You take the singletrack in sedona (or skip it if you're beat), make you way up Schebly, east towards MOrmon Lake where you pick up the AZT and head north back into Flag. 132 total miles, lots of resupply options. I had cooked this up last fall and Chollaball gave it a go on his first solo BP trip. Hopefully he'll chime in and share his experiences.

You'll find the file here: https://drive.google.com/?tab=wo&authuser=0#folders/0B6exh0KbKdLCWTdOdzAtMjQ5cTg

it's called "big casner coco loop w kelley.gpx"

 

[ImaFred]

Ray, I can't get that link to open, in google. Can you see if it's correct?!?

 

[schillingsworth]

Ray, I can't get that link to open, in google. Can you see if it's correct?!?

Opens fine for me on a Chrome browser, click & go.

 

[azjonboy]

Cabin Loop is a fun one. An added bonus is if you time it right, happy hour on the deck just off UBar!

Lots of variety for an easy paced 2 days.

 

[smilinsteve]

Any of you guys have photos of your bike packing set ups?

 

[schillingsworth]

Maybe.

This was my setup for the AZT300 last year


Close-up of the handlebar bag


Here's another one showing the addition of water bottles to the forks


Here's one from this past weekend, additional feedbag up front & sleeping bag attached in a more stable position than the above photo. I use 2 straps from REI to secure it to the Phantom Pack Systems handlebar bag.

 

[smilinsteve]

Wow, you travel light!
I like how you don't have any metal racks bolted on.
Thinking about doing some bike packing and really have no idea of how to start. You already gave me a lot of ideas. The Phantom Pack website is pretty cool.

Thanks!

 

[Raybum]

Steve, there is TONS of info on bikepacking.net. If you plan to make the plunge into bikepacking, just remember, lighter the better. You'd be amazed at just how little you need to be comfortable. If you're investing in gear, the biggies are a lightweight down bag, a seatbag, and probably some kind of handlebar bag like FS's phantom bag. I've found that frame bags are nice but are also expensive custom bags. Thus I prefer to just carry my two bottles there. The Coors Light tallboy is optional.

 

[smilinsteve]

No tent? In Colorado, that might be a problem.

 

[schillingsworth]

If you know how or know someone who sews, the framebag is probably one of the easier items to DIY. Raybum made his handlebar sling with the help of family as did I for my framebag.

I typically carry a tent, a one man Tarpent Contrail with an air mattress wrapped around it - they both fit in the Phantom Pack.
This past weekend the weather was great so I left the tent at home, that gave me extra room to pack a pillow!!

Peruse bikepacking.net, get cozy, tons of info there. Get the basics, then get out there. Dial in your setup more & more each ride, I seem to learn something new every time out. If you wait for the perfect setup, you'll never get out there.

 

[Maadjurguer]

No tent needed. Just a lightweight sleeping bag and a HTFU attitude.

 

[smilinsteve]

So you guys have all those bike bags, and do you wear a backpack when you ride also?

No tent needed. Just a lightweight sleeping bag and a HTFU attitude

Easy to say in AZ!

Colorado thunderstorms are a very regular thing in the summer afternoons, similar to the Monsoons down there, but wetter.

 

[Maadjurguer]

So you guys have all those bike bags, and do you wear a backpack when you ride also?

Easy to say in AZ!

Colorado thunderstorms are a very regular thing in the summer afternoons, similar to the Monsoons down there, but wetter.

I overnight in the monsoons most weekends in the summer around Flag.....REI minimalist bivy keeps me dry, is my ground tarp, my bug screen and my additional 15 degrees when I need it. Wingnut backpack on my back.

 

[chipolopolo]

My old bones require a suspension rig. Also, nothing on my back. Frame bag holds only a 100oz bladder, two tubes and a light vest. I have a Hexamid tent, 20 deg bag and a Neo-air mattress. Complete sleep system is sub 3 pounds.

My bags were made by the same guy that did Freeskiers, Phantom Packs.

 

[schillingsworth]

Osprey Talon 22, I tend to take a lot of crap, even on short rides so I'm used to the extra weight. Fully stuffed the pack weighs in between 18-25lbs, mostly depending if I'm hauling 100 or 200 oz of water.

 

[smilinsteve]

Ohh boy I think I found something new to spend a bunch of money on!

 

[eatdrinkride]

Any of you guys have photos of your bike packing set ups?

My handlebar bag is an inexpensive but well made alpine mountaineering compression sack. It's more of a tubular design which works well on the handlebars. I think I paid $13 for it on sale. I only have one trip under my belt and it was a short one but I would have to say the most important thing to look at getting would be a quality seat bag. I went without one and I sure could have used the extra space even on a short overnighter. All that weight on my shoulders and back took a pretty good toll over the two days. Almost any decent compression sack made of a heavy enough material for work on the bars.