1. First trip in 2013. Leader 26″ hardtail with Topeak rack and pannier bag. Homemade framebag. Super heavy. Sleeping pad was awful, as was my bag and tent.
2. Upgraded the leader with new wheels, fork, drivetrain and handlebars. Homemade framebag and handlebar bags. New tent and sleeping bag. I thought this was a sweet setup. This actually rode really well. Much better sleeping experiences.
3. Sold the Leader and bought a new bike in 2016; Marin Pine Mountain. Homemade internal frame and mount framebag. I thought this was the ultimate set-up. 2.8 tires are great until you have to ride on pavement or have long steep climbs.
4. New wheels, from 40mm to 32mm and down to 2.6 tires. So much more efficient pedaling. Also bought Uraltour framebag; way easier to install and remove, especially at camp.
5. In 2020, I decided to try gravel, so I used my Ragley Trig for one trip. Worked fine, but the tire size was limited.
6. Surly launched the Ghost Grappler and I loved the whole concept, especially the rear axle stay mounts for water bottles. Set this up with a 2x and 40c tires. It was great, but I was worried about load capacity on those lightweight wheels. Also wanted a little more volume.
7. Swapped to a 27.5x30mm wheelset with 2.2 tires. Amazing combination for my needs. Also finally spent serious money (for me) and bought a ZenBivy sleep system and BA Copper Spur tent. Best night sleeps ever now. Hard to drop that cash, but definitely worth it for me. I’m finally warm and comfortable all night long.
8. Up next? Pretty happy with everything currently. Just need more opportunities to get out. S24Os are my rides of choice.
by pondmucker