'Ride the divide' movie

That's one reason. A lot of distance racers are using at least suspension forks, and a lot use softails or short travel frames too.
Bikepacking setups are also lighter. They have no problems with bolts or racks shaking loose or breaking,or noise from panniers bouncing about and rattling against racks. They also don't get caught up on trees, brush or any other trailside debris as they are far narrower.

And also as tommy said, pushing is easier. Although carrying can be trickier. But again, you tend to be carrying less weight in bikepacking bags in the first place.

More my syle.. the Divide Ride looks far too cold :)

Just a few weeks remain until the 16th edition of the Crocodile Trophy, where last year's top three finishers - Urs Huber, Bart Brentjens and Mike Mulkens - will return to do battle again this year. They'll be joined by Estonian road star, 11-time national champion, Jaan Kirsipuu, who has also won the yellow and green jerseys at the Tour de France. The Crocodile Trophy will happen from October 19-28.
It's a bit of a tradition for big names on the road scene to compete at the Crocodile Trophy, which is understood by many to be the toughest mountain bike stage race in the world. Kirsipuu would like to add the leader's jersey of the Crocodile Trophy to his collection.
In 2009, the Estonian demonstrated his seriousness as an off-road competitor. The now-40-year-old won the Estonian marathon national championships. He'll make the journey to Australia for the Crocodile Trophy with 2009 European marathon champion Allan Oras.
Kirsipuu will have his hands full against Worlds medallist Huber, Olympic champion Brentjens and the young Belgian Mulkens. Brentjens, in particular, is looking forward to better luck at what will be his second attempt at the Crocodile Trophy. In 2009, he missed out on the win by just one minute and 20 seconds after 10 stages of racing.
Defending champion Urs Huber, on the other hand, has already seven marathon victories under his belt in 2010 and will be coming into the race in top form.
On a sad note, multi-time Race Across America (RAAM) winner Jure Robic, who was training for the 2010 edition of the Crocodile Trophy, was killed while training in September.
2010 Crocodile Trophy
October 19 - Stage 1: Cairns - Lake Tinaroo, 98km
October 20 - Stage 2: Lake Tinaroo - Granite Gorge, 122km
October 21 - Stage 3: Granite Gorge - Irvinebank, 128km
October 22 - Stage 4: Irvinebank - Chillagoe, 162km
October 23 - Stage 5: Chillagoe - Chillagoe, 100km
October 24 - Stage 6: Chillagoe - Mt. Mulgrave, 138km
October 25 - Stage 7: Mt. Mulgrave - Laura, 151 km
October 26 - Stage 8: Laura - Cooktown, 142km
October 27 - Stage 9: Cooktown - Ayton, 122km
October 28 - Stage 10: Ayton - Cape Tribulation (time trial), 38km

Reading this has inspired me to get out there again. Been planning on making a frame bag for a while. Good tips here

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,1094.0.html

That's were all the best info is for bikepacking. Also has none of the bollocks you have to trawl through on here to find anything of use.

These mountain bike vids annoy the hell out of me.. mid-life crisis ahoy.

quits, buys mtb, travels world

Let me know if you need anything to make it tommy...i have a few bits n pieces left over from Grobags.

quits, buys mtb, travels world

I thought you still had a mtb?

Nope. Got ride of all but 4 (totally necessary, of course) bikes.
I've still got a hardtail in Oz but no 'fat rubber' here.
My mate is going mental with enduros in Oz and I'm getting very jealous. It doesn't help that I'm totally jaded with road riding at the moment either.

hippy, buy an mtb and come out to ride for fun with less of the competitive side of things

i am really enjoying the more andrenalised experience of the mtb, wheels slipping out etc

plus by the time spring arrives I think i should be fitter as a result of the resistance training of stupid tyres and heavy bike

This crazy pair did it last year on a tandem.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_d_TfK0fVFIo/Sjz-rtOR5fI/AAAAAAAAAjU/0gaDivkVFhY/s800/Picture%20072.jpg
http://www.jaypsdirt.com/blog/62-trail-magic
http://www.jaypsdirt.com/blog/61-tour-divide-9

I'd like a new mtb but I don't reckon I'd use it enough to justify it. Caking myself in mud isn't as fun as it was when I was 10 and the temp was still 28degC. I reckon hiring is the answer.. so long as some other bastard has to clean 'em.. get in!

Hippo

I love going at puddles like a child when on the mtb

I want to read about you and Mal riding the divide on a tandem mtb.

Great film Scott, going to have to get back to the states sometime to do some biking..

i just watched it all last night, and it's more like a life journey than a bike ride, truly epic in every sense. Got to say i'd jump at the chance to do it, as hard as it is, i'd do it for the adventure not to compete.

Scott heres some more U.S biking superknar
http://xxcmag.com/site/XXC.html

Nice! I'll check that out properly later.

Just watched Ride the Divide, loved it. More touring must be done next year, for sure.

This may have been posted elsewhere but the Ride the Divide guys have another one coming out imminently... the (if we're honest, rather shoddily named) Reveal the Path.

Reveal the Path Trailer on Vimeo

Looks like self-congratulatory wank.

You may be right; I haven't actually watched the trailer because my laptop has no sound. I liked Ride the Divide though.

No subtitle, no watch.

Shame about Ride the Divide having too much talking in it.

If they have too much talking in it, I'm not watching it.

Video: Ollie Whalley on pancakes from Antelope Wales

http://www.mountainflyermagazine.com/view.php/ollie-whalley-from-antelope-wales.html

#wantpancakes

http://www.inspiredtoride.it/

From the same people..

https://m.facebook.com/inspiredtoride?_rdr