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)