El Freako: 2013 CTR Bike and Gear

After a week of decompressing from the CTR I am realizing the impact this ride has had on my life. It has been all consuming even after the fact of finishing. It consumed my life before and now even after. I will do it again. Course knowledge is so key. The body is hard to turn off after 6 plus days of riding/hiking your bike. It was such an amazing time to be out there in the wild pushing your body and mind to the limits.

I want to thank my wife for all of the support she has given me to accomplish this ride. I love her to death!! Thanks Laura!!!! Can I do it again next year????? LOL!!!!

Some thoughts on my bike and gear.....

The Kokopelli Bike Co 29er ti frame performed so awesome. What a great bike the dudes at Koko designed. If youre looking for a sweet ti hard tail call the guys at Kokopelli Bike and Board.
I decided to go with a 1x10 (32 Race Face ring up front and a 11/36 SRAM cassette in the rear) Overall it performed perfect with a X9 rear derailleur. No adjustments needed for the durationof the ride
Reba 100 mm fork up front
XT brakes. They rock. I brought two sets of pads in case of torrential rain but didn't need to change them out until after the ride.
Schwalbe Knobby Nics front and back. Great air volume tires for the added weight of the gear.
Ti Cycles 30 degree ti handlebar with Ergon grips
Ti stem
Kokopelli Bike Co ti seatpost
Sette saddle (190 grams)
Crank brothers candy pedals

My bike packing gear........

Garmin 705 Edge GPS. Didn't use it at all. The CT data book was very useful. Thank you CTF.
LG phone to take pictures and make phone calls.
Solar panel to charge phone and GPS. It stopped charging halfway into the ride but now works. Too much rattling around maybe
SPOT gps unit
Fenix PD32 UE lights on the bar and helmet. Great lights. No problems at all and they provide just enough light for knarly trail conditions at night.. I brought extra CR123 batteries and only needed to change them out once.
All bike packing bags by Revelate Designs
Stoic 30 degree bag
SOL Escape bivy
Lightweight tarp
Klymit skeleton air pad. Just big enough for some comfort.
Esbit fuel tablets and ti stove stand
Aluminum cup for heating water
Pearl Izumi Trans Alp III shoes. No blisters at all.
Patagonia Nano puff jacket
Loki rain jacket
Super cheap rain pants. Needed them only twice.
I brought extra socks, glove shells, beanie, recovery socks I would wear at night. Running shorts to sleep in.
Smith eyeglasses that transition to clear at night.
On my back was an Osprey 4 liter pack and Source water bladder. Katadyn MP1 water tabs. No bad after taste at all.

That pretty much sums up my gear. Everything worked well with no flaws mechanical, physical or mental. I wouldn't change much to my system for the next run at the CTR.

Following pictures courtesy of Cameron. Thanks.