Gravel/Bikepack nerds enter...

[babybear]

Haven't used any other brands.

The mini clogged on me quickly even with back flushing; the stock bags can fail. I like the cnoc water bags but still managed to create pinholes.

I got the HyrdoBlu Versa Flow and flow rate has maintained longer. Looks to be most similar to the Squeeze.

Gotta be careful about not letting them freeze when using them at this time of year.

- mr bb

[Peruvian]

The mini clogged on me quickly even with back flushing; the stock bags can fail. I like the cnoc water bags but still managed to create pinholes.

I got the HyrdoBlu Versa Flow and flow rate has maintained longer. Looks to be most similar to the Squeeze.

Gotta be careful about not letting them freeze when using them at this time of year.

- mr bb

I absolutely assumed the HydroBlu was a knockoff of the Sawyer assembled during the third shift with different colors and stickers.

[davjr96]

Experiences from the backpacking world:

Sawyer squeze full size is the most reliable over long term use
mini and micro are cruel jokes played on those trying to save weight

BeFree is very fast initially but slows down over time.

The new platypus quickdraw has gotten good reviews for both longevity and initial flow rate. It is worth a look although I have no personal experience.

[CovertM]

Experiences from the backpacking world:

Sawyer squeze full size is the most reliable over long term use
mini and micro are cruel jokes played on those trying to save weight

BeFree is very fast initially but slows down over time.

The new platypus quickdraw has gotten good reviews for both longevity and initial flow rate. It is worth a look although I have no personal experience.

Agreed. My experience is this: Sawyer mini = PITA and takes forever, Sawyer Standard = workhorse and easily backflushed to back to steady flow, BeFree = Streamlined and simple, great at first, harder to clean and slows down quickly.

This is based on a few years of use in a hunting situation mostly and some bikepacking.

[Tailwind]

I’ve been really impressed with the Platypus QuickDraw. Realty fast and nice gotten through 6-7 nights out so far with no drop in flow rate. The bags are much better than Sawyer. I’m thinking the Platypus and an MSR Guardian seems like a good combo to cover all types of trips.

[evdog]

Yeah the Sawyer bags suck, impossible to fill unless you have water flowing down over rocks. I ditched them and used smart water bottles instead. They thread on perfectly. Thru hiker staple. I had another collapsible bag that worked for a couple yrs but the threads weren't quite a match and eventually failed. The cnoc would be a good solution too for extra capacity but the smart bottles are so versatile.

[mall walker]

what do you all wear for pants in the rain? like new england level rain

[Supermoon]

I have some showers pass pants I wear for every type of riding in PNW rain.

[chaka]

I have some showers pass pants I wear for every type of riding in PNW rain.

yep. Showers Pass quality is great. great CS as well.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Riding through a sudden squall put me in a good mood today...

[chaka]

Riding through a sudden squall put me in a good mood today...

you are really going to enjoy that bike... such a great ride

[climberevan]

you are really going to enjoy that bike... such a great ride

I like my steel RDO a lot, except for the toe overlap.

[chaka]

getting cold... anyone need some Bar Mitts? brand new, never used.
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...-for-drop-bars

[Peruvian]

Goniff and I had a great ride today. 29 miles, 3100’ elevation.

[babybear]

husband setting off on another desert journey.
It’s fun to see the customization of the bike on each trip.
He just added these fork mounts for this trip since he will need more water

[Laps]

Goniff and I had a great ride today. 29 miles, 3100’ elevation.

I did the ride today in the opposite direction.
The new gravel on the cotton brook climb is nice and smooth!



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[Peruvian]

The first 1000 ft were smooth as butter.



The next few thousand feet were lumpy as your aunts gravy.





Some sections were soggy like french cut beans.





And some were as beautiful as the Cowboys loosing to the Lions.







37 miles, 2900’ elevation.

[joetron]

Newly aspiring bikepack nerd checking in.
Did my first trip last weekend on the Black Canyon Trail. It was really cool to scratch this itch. The route was burlier than I thought it was gonna be. Haha. That terrain is rugged and there wasn’t much water flowing.


About 45min to the trip and I was already calculating how to lighten my load and improve the ride for next time. It was pretty cool to just strap some shit to the bike I ride every day and drop into the desert for a few days.

Biggest take away was to avoid attaching things to my fork lowers in the future, the bike rode so much better without additional unsprung weight. I need more frame bags.

Ultimately was really fun and enlightening to learn a whole new aspect of bike riding.



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[evdog]

BCT seems rougher every time I ride it. I hear there is some good bikepacking around Durango!

Summertime is going to offer all sorts of adventure for you. Hello after work bikepack and ride back to town in time for work the next morning!

[joetron]

Yes! I’m so psyched for the La Plata and San Juan overnight potential next summer.


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[Peruvian]

It's like watching Macaskill on a gravel bike.

[jhyatt]

It's like watching Macaskill on a gravel bike.

Worth a watch for sure

[wendigo]

We were just on the BCT last week doing the fools loop.
Didn’t run into any other bike packers, actually few bikers at all.

[fool]

2022 Bump.

Did San Juan Huts' "Gravel Grinder" last October - after multiple reschedules, primarily due to COVID - and had an incredible time. 3 days, 2 nights, staying in well-stocked huts as we rode from Grand Junction to Moab. Meant to make a full TR but took the lazy way out. First day of riding wasn't the best - it was mainly road riding - but days two and three were great.

More details here: https://sanjuanhuts.com/gravel-grind...of-the-canyons
Originally heard of it from NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/t...g-the-way.html

Pics to follow in the next post. Happy to answer any questions. And if anyone knows similar hut trips, I would love to hear about them.

[fool]

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