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Gear


 Its not a bike packing blog without a gear post!  

We are living in the golden age of mountain bikes. 10 years ago I never would have believed you could ride the original rampage site on the same bike as 100 mile xc races or go bike packing on.  




One bike to do it all: Freeride, XC, Bikepacking

I'll be riding my 2021 Santa Cruz Hightower C XT Build.  The bike has E13 TRS+ hoops I laced to Hadley Racing hubs, Fox DPX2 PE rear boinger, e13 cassette. I'm running a WTB Koda saddle (recently converted from a long relationship with the WTB Deva), ESI chunky grips, Cane Creek bar ends, Tag Metals 30mm rise bar + 45mm stem in 31.8, Tag T3 pedals, Pirelli Scorpion R 2.4 w/ cushcore xc rear, Michelin Force AM 2.4 front.


Bike all loaded up
All my gear including shipped drop

I'm running my trusty Thule Pak n Pedal rear rack with a dry bag on the back to hold my sleeping bag and a few layers. I'm using a Salsa EXP anything cradle to hold a dry bag on my bars.  In the bar bag I've got my tent minus poles rolled up in my vintage Thermarest Explorer sleeping pad. I've got assorted frame bags with essentials I want easy access to. I have the capacity to carry 9 liters of water but will mostly aim to carry 6.

For the start of my ITT I'll be running a Kelty backpacking bag which is Erin's family heirloom.  Using the 1 mail drop rule for the race I will be shipping a more traditional hydration bag to Flagstaff.

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