MINUS TEN

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Often described as one of the toughest bike races in the lower 48 states, the Arrowhead 135 challenges even the most prepared riders. This is a journal by a non-athlete's participation in an event where starting is often just as much a challenge as finishing.

BIKE
  • 2010 Salsa Mukluk (medium)
  • Surly Rolling Darryl (slotted) Wheels (2012)
  • OMM Sherpa rear rack
  • Salsa Minimalist front rack (2011, omitted for 2012)
  • Revelate Designs frame bag
  • Salsa Everything Cages (x2, on fork)
  • Shimano M324 "flip-flop" pedals
  • Cabela's ATV pogies
  • Princeton Tec Push headlight
  • Cateye Opticube headlight
  • Cateye 5-LED flasher (front)
  • Planet Bike Superflash flasher (rear)
  • DIY "gastank" pouch (2011, omitted for 2012)
  • Stove fuel bottle & std. bottle cage


ON BIKE GEAR

Front & Fork

  • Sierra Designs -20 down sleeping bag
  • Sierra Designs Navassa Bivy
  • Wide mouth Nalgene (w/food) on fork
  • Granite Gear Aquatherm insulated sleeve & Nalgene (water) on fork

Frame Bag

  • Small tool kit
  • Pump
  • Multi-tool
  • Basic toiletries (pain meds, tp, lip blam, etc)
  • Micro first aid kit
  • compass / map
  • sunglasses
  • gloves / hat when not worn
  • food
  • heat packs

Rear

  • Granite Gear compression sack
  • MSR whisperlight stove, pot, lighter, 1lb. peanut butter (i.e. the required gear)
  • clothes change (see clothing list)
  • spare vapor barrier bags for my feet
  • spare tube
  • Optic Nerve Antero goggles
  • Sierra Designs Flex down jacket
  • ThermaRest sleeping pad
  • Cargo net

Misc

  • CamelBak w/MSR bladder, DIY insulation
  • Whistle
  • Camera


CLOTHING

Bottom

  • Terramar ThermaWool base layer
  • Padded shorts
  • SD soft-shell pants

Top

  • Terramar ThermaWool base layer
  • Light fleece top
  • CamelBak
  • Medium fleece top
  • Wintergreen jacket

Feet

  • Plastic bag vapor-barriers
  • Terramar sock liner over the plastic
  • Terramar wool sock
  • Saloman Tundra -40F boots
  • Mountain Hardware gore-tex gators

Hands

  • Terramar glove liners
  • Fleece gloves (packed)

Head

  • Terramar ThermaWool balaclava
  • SD neck gator
  • Neoprene face mask
  • Giro G9 helmet
  • SD fleece cap (packed)

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