Impedimenta [im-ped-uh-men-tuh]: 1. the baggage and equipment carried by an army 2. any objects or circumstances that impede progress

I've run some 18,000 km since the set up change in Lapaz.

The old set up. photo by Cass

The new way of doing business

I can honestly say, the new way we go about devouring nachos has nothing to do with this post. Though, this new pannierless"lite-fat" configuration rules!  There may be other times when more capacity is needed but for now it hauls the beets to market just fine.

Here is a bit of what I carry around with me.
A.K.A:
A kit list.
My worldly goods.
The things for which I do battle with the elements.
Stuff I schlep around that I feel is somewhat necessary for survival.
Matter that makes me feel less naked in the world.
In life, I like being a sandwich. Without these things I would just be bread.


Handlebar bag: sleeping bag (big Agnes horse thief) puffy jacket, thermal leggings, light fleece
Handlebar bag front pocket: smart phone, documents, sewing kit, tea tree oil, small note pad, coffee filter
Front pocket's pocket: tooth brush& paste, spoon, lighter, writing pen, small ceramic peanut

Map case: maps & compass

Top tube bag: iPod & headphones, cord & plug, plug adapter, mini tri-pod, head lamp, extra batteries, mini Philips screwdriver

Frame bag: titanium cook pot (random food bits, spices and stove wind screen stored in pot) Boris the plastic coffee cup, rain jacket, long finger gloves, chain oil & rag, small parts brush, cord, rear flasher, bag of random spare parts (der. Pulleys, tire boots, power link & bit of chain, BB bearings, 1 gear cable, 1 brake cable) small bottle of tire sealant, pumpless sawyer water filter, 2liter water bladder, Cassette tool.
Side pocket of frame bag: multi-tool, tire lever, small adjustable wrench, half a hack saw blade, 12mm socket for pedals, 5&6mm allen key combo (also acts a socket wrench) assorted nuts and bolts

Front left fork bag: 3/4 length thermarest, vapor barrier, warm hat
Front right fork bag: tarp tent

Porcelain Rocket Seat bag: light weight back pack, light weight dry bag of extra t-shirt, 2 pairs of socks, wool gloves, knee warmers, rain shorts, coffee and random food

Little bag under seat bag: stove
Little bag under little bag under seat bag: tube
Little bag under down tube: tube

 Things strapped to handle bar bag: arm warmers & gloves (when not being worn)

 The clothes on my body: shorts, shirt, cycling shorts, socks, shoes, vest (acts as man purse- pockets usually stuffed with snacks and camera)  hat, sunglasses

 All bags except the PR seat bag were made by me.
 The grey bottle under my down tube is stove gas and stove pump.
 The disposable 1.5 liter bottle on my seat tube- I´m proud to say has been with me all the way from Beacon, NY

  He is more than just a chubby bike to me.  More than just a bunch of parts clamped and bolted together. A manufactured collection of steel, aluminum, plastic and rubber. Stuff human beings found in and on the earth. Fragments from a watery ball spinning in a big bunch of space. Where was I going with this? 

 Gordie: ...the main guy of the story is a fat kid that nobody likes named Davie Hogan.

Vern: Like Charlie Hogan's brother. If he had one.

Chris: Good Vern. Go on, Gordie.

Gordie: Well this kid is our age but he's fat. Real fat. He weighs close to one-eighty. But you know, it's not his fault. It's his glands.

Vern: Oh yeah, my cousin's like that, sincerely. She weighs over three hundred pounds! Supposed to be Hyboid Gland or something. Well, I don't know about any Hyboid Glands, but what a blimp! No shit. She looks like a Thanksgiving turkey. And you know this one time...

Chris: Shut up, Vern.

Vern: Yeah, yeah, right. Go on, Gordie, it's a swell story.

 Davie demystified:

22" Surly necromancer frame
100mm Pugsley fork (reinforced)
180mm Surly O.D. cranks & stock BB
36h Surly Large Marge rims (DH rear, XC front)
White Industries MI6 rear hub
Shimano dyno front hub (originally built with used Schmidt Son- bearings failed after 5 years)
DT spokes in the rear- Phil Wood spokes in the front
26 x 4" Origin8 Devist8er tires (made by Vee Rubber)
Wellgo platform pedals (got in Peru as a cheap replacement for my Control Tech pedals)
Shimano XT E-type front derailleur
Shimano Saint rear derailleur 
Sram PC870 chain
Shimano HG50 8speed cassette
Shimano 8 speed XT shifters
Shimano XTR brake levers
Avid BB7 disk brakes (Avid 185 front & rear rotors)
On One- Mary Handlebar
Race Face Duce 110mm stem
Phorm ergo grips w/ bar ends
Cane Creek 110 headset
Truvativ Hussefelt seat post
Spiderflex noseless saddle
Salsa skewers
Profile designs bottle cages on the fork
Topeak 1.5 lite cage on seat tube
Titanium King Cage under down tube

Carl Spackler: He's on his final hole. He's about 455 yards away, he's gonna hit about a 2 iron I think.

  A huge and massive thanx to Kyle and the Peoples bicycle for all the help and support