Rigs of the Gravelina Ride Mixer
Catalina Overnighter Recap
For our first bikepacking trip of the summer season, we set off for a weekend of riding and camping on Catalina Island. Just an hour ferry ride away, Santa Catalina Island promises fantastic gravel riding on its remote ridgelines, coastal bluffs and canyons, along with excellent campgrounds for those looking to extend their stay. Organized by Jeff Paulson of Spinergy, who liked to call our excursion the Gravelina Ride Mixer (a reference to the 2008 Will Ferrel movie Step Brothers), we set off early Saturday morning June 11 for the two-day adventure. With a 6-person tent cabin booked in Two Harbors, each rider packed enough supplies for the overnighter, minus a tent. Below are our bikes, bags and essential gear described by each of the four riders in their own words. Stay tuned for our full write-up of the trip for more information on ride highlights and routes.
Ben Zuehlsdorf
BIKE: I rode my trusty Open WI.DE geared with a 42t front ring and 10-52t out back. No 2x around here folks. Although in hindsight I would have been happier with a 40t or even a 38t frontring when loaded this heavy on this type of terrain. The key contact point being a 650b x 2.1" wheel / tire combo. If you haven't tried 650b tires in a 50+mm width please stop everything you are doing and do so now.
BAGS: Out back I used the Swift Industries Zeitgeist Pack mounted to the Carradice Bagman QR Support. In testing I tried to simply attach this 12L pack with Velo Orange Saddle Loops and foam spacers on the seatpost but found it rubbed my hamstrings just a bit more than I was comfortable with. In the triangle I have a custom-fitted Rockgeist half frame-bag with nice and beefy zippers. I love this bag. On the top tube I had a slick, magnetic Orucase bento bag. And up front I used the Swift Kestrel Handlebar Bag with the matching Swift Sidekick Stem Pouch snapped directly to it via the MOLLE snap straps. On the next trip I'll be moving some of the weight I had in the rear back to the bike's triangle. I can quickly see now why bikepackers love full frame bags.
ESSENTIAL GEAR: In the days just before the trip I went searching for a new summer sleeping quilt or bag and stumbled across online reviews for the AEGISMAX Outdoor ultralight goose down sleeping bag. I opted to purchase it and it showed up just in time. This proved to be a great choice. Matched with a silk sleeping bag liner I was plenty warm all night. Perhaps this is why that racoon tried to join me at 3am. Other solid gear choices included two 2L Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sacks for keeping clothes compressed and dry inside the Zeitgeist pack. And last but not least I brought the Monopoly Deal card game. It was worth every gram. #partypace
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David Hekel
BIKE: The Masi Brunello proved a very capable rig for bike packing, lots of options for gear configurations.
BAGS: My older generation Relavate Design seat bag, fuel tank and Relavate Design sweetroll bar bag with added storage pocket fit nicely. I've been using these bags since 2015 and they've stood the test of time and trail with no issues.
ESSENTIAL GEAR: I'm pretty comfortable being on a bike all day but at the end of the day being warm and comfortable is always a good thing. A nice puffy jacket, warm socks and scotch are always on the top of my list as essentials.
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Jeff Paulson
BIKE Kona Libre Carbon in magical rust-purple prismatic paint. Kona’s MTB heritage is evident in the geo: short stem, tall HT, gobs of mounts, and provisioning for 31.6 dropper routing; exploited via Fox Transfer SL. Spinergy GXX wheels use synthetic PBO spokes and foam core rim yielding strong/smooth/quiet ride. If you are curious, I know a guy who can tell you more. ;) Maxxis Rambler tires continue to impress with their balance of grip, weight, and low rolling resistance.
BAGS: Swift Industries Hold Fast frame and Catalyst bar bag (thx @grizzlycycles611). The frame bag fit so well I questioned if was it custom patterned off my bike. Perhaps that’s the case as it turns out Swift and Kona (both PNW companies) have some collab history. Also have a small seat bag from Rickshaw Bagworks which held tire repair stuff. Everything matchy-matchy in X-Pac coyote brown.
ESSENTIAL GEAR: Ornot Cargo Bibs and socks, Oneup EDC tool w plugs, Tubolito tubes, Aegismax Mini Sleeping Bag (thx BZ), MSR PackTowel, flipflops/boardshorts for the beach, Arcteryx Stryka Hoodie during the eve, and lastly, Oakley’s “Tungsten Prizm lens” to make the world pop.
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DAVE MALWITZ
BIKE: For my Catalina overnighter setup I rode my Open WIDE with a 1×12 SRAM AXS drivetrain using a 40T front Praxis chainring and 10-50T cassette. The cockpit features an ENVE carbon stem and ENVE gravel handlebar wrapped with ENVE tape. Contact points are rounded out with Ritchey WCS pedals and a Brooks C17 saddle mounted to a Redshift Shockstop Pro Seatpost.
BAGS: I was really happy with my bag setup for this trip as I was able to disperse weight pretty evenly around the frame, helping to maintain the bike’s natural feel. My sleep system was packed away in a size small Rockgeist Gondola Saddlebag, which I was able to strap my sandals to as well. Snacks, an extra tube, and some clothing were stashed away in a Bags by Bird Better Half Frame Bag. A single Chrome Industries Doubletrack Feed Back offered quick access to my phone, digital camera, charger, and bandana. Two water bottles provided enough hydration between refill stops, and I kept heavy repair gear low in a Specialized Keg. Finally, a 3L Topo Designs Bike Bag offered just enough volume to pack my favorite Roark Layover Jacket, a t-shirt, and personal items.
ESSENTIAL GEAR: My 650 x 2.2 Kenda Booster Pro tires filled with Orange Seal performed great on this trip. They offered excellent grip on the steeper climbs of the Trans Catalina Trail, while also smoothing out rough roads and rocky descents. Running lower tire pressures can make all the difference on multi-day rides, and that was certainly the case here. I used a total of 3 Voile straps which also proved essential, keeping items secure or sufficiently cinched down.