So I started searching for a Plus bike, with 3.0" tires set up to handle deeper sand that I would be exposed to in the desert.
I landed on a Marin Pine Mountain 2 - 27.5 Plus bike, hard-tail, with the right braze ons to mount a rack. Turns out it is damn fun on the trails too!
I needed to outfit the fine filly, and after a bunch of research, here is the outfitted steed
So whats all on the newly outfitted rig?
Revelate
- Revelate harness is my handlebar carrier, holding my tent and sleeping bag in this configuration
In the cockpit
- I also have a Revelate Grab bag for a water bottle, and the Egress pocket bag for handy stuff on top/front of the tent and sleeping bag. The revelate Grabbag has an nice novel pull open, pull shut closure cinch system.
- A second grab bag from Moosejaw ( on the left) out of my home state of MN. Seems to be working well after several hundred miles of training
Blackburn provides the gastank bag which I am using for snack along the way; the two zipper design is well thought through. I wish the side pock zippered compartment was big enough for a credit card though
I have a small frame, and I was finding few off the shelf option for a frame bag.
Blackburn expandable frame bag fits quite well. I am using it for most of the tools, spare parts, lube, etc. A tube is in the underseat bag, along with a couple of hangers, power links, boot patches, and a tubeless flat kit
The Rack is a Blackburn's Outpost Fat bike rack. I like the design as the panniers clip on to a rail below the top rack, rated to 70 lbs, lets hope I never need that much shhhhhhh- tuff ( unless it is food and water of course)
The rack was a bit of challenge to work with this bike in the small frame, due to the angle of the seat stays, but a trip to Ace hardware and I rigged up a threaded extension, which I later tighten down with locktite. Its has held up well during the several hundred miles of training ( off pavement most of it, though a lot of rail trail) and am hoping it is solid for this and future adventures. I did get some spare bolts needed by this quite configurable rack.
The Panniers are the new Ortlieb Gravel Pack aimed specifically at bikepacking; water proof and I expect bomb proof after learning about them over the last couple of years
I did pick up a few Granite Gear dry bags for the rack and the harness. One issue I am running into again is the small frame, and the tire is hitting the front bag sometimes when shock is compressed. Rearranged contents to allow more compression up front and found that helps, as well moving a 2.8 front tire. But still issues on occasion.
I found a rather novel innovative compression bag that looks to help, from ExPed. The sideways compression is exactly the solution I need. Have fitted it, but not ridden, clearance seems good and expect it will be fine.
Still musing over a design that allows me to mount a piece thicker plastic to the bottom of the harness to take any hits from the tire. That will have to be a project while on the road.
Tires
- Well I did research some plus tires that might be better suited to bike packing that has substantial dirt and FS roads, something a lower rolling resistance when riding on a smoother surface.
I choose the Teravail Cumberland ( rear) and Kennebec(front). Have gone tubeless, seems to the way way to go when mixing in desert riding.
Can still ride my single track training route up in to Blodgett Peak open space, but not quite as trail friendly as the original WTB Trail Bosses that came with teh bike.
Still, after pulling the bob so far, I am amazed at what sort of trails are ridable even when fully loaded.
So putting it all together
A Boy,
his Bike, and
the Bags
