Simply speaking, The Rig is a vehicle.
The Rig fully loaded.
What it represents, though, is much more than that. It is transportation, a home on the road and the lifeblood of The Rig Foundation. It is an enabler of adventure and a ticket to discovery. It's components work elegantly together to allow its driver to travel, bike and hike the continent and share his explorations with the world.
Specifically, The Rig consists of:
- A sport utility vehicle to cover great distances and carry the equipment.
- A hardtail mountain bike to ride some of the world's best trails.
- Essential camping gear to discover North America's wilderness for days at a time.
- Kitchen items and food supplies for camping near the car or for extended periods away from resupply opportunities.
- A complete tool kit to repair what gets broken.
- A digital camera to create brilliant images.
- A laptop computer to talk to the world.
- An adventurer to bring the journey to life.
The Rig and some of its equipment is being loaned to The Rig Foundation for use by Aaron Thies.
The mountain bike is a hardtail frame (no rear suspension) with 4" front suspension forks. The bike is equipped with higher-end components, a rack to hold panniers, riser bars, and clipless downhill pedals. Not too purty, but a good, comfortable ride.
Camping and Travel Gear is separated into several bins or groups of related items so that anything can be easily accessed.
Spare Camping Supplies(MTB=also for mountain biking, B=also for backpacking)
- 4 spare canisters of fuel (propane/butane) for backpacking stoves.
- First Aid Kit. (MTB, B)
- Nylon bag containing backup and spare items:
--skin lotion
--suntan lotion
--shampoo
--toothbrush
--ointment
--antibiotics
--acetaminophen
--allergy medicine
--cold and sinus medicine
--antibiotics
--multivitamins
--drinking water germicidal tablets
--contact lens sterilization fluid
--contact lens cleaning solution
--disposable contact lenses (15 pair)
--adhesive tape
--disposable razors
--shaving cream
- Freeze dried camping dinners and spare dry goods. (MTB, B)
- Small plastic emergency blanket. (MTB, B)
- Nylon cord.
- Small travel pouch with odds and ends: spare matches, signal mirror, spare compass, spare lighters, and spare hand lotion.
Backpacking Gear (always stored in backpack)(MTB=also for mountain biking)
- 1 large internal frame backpack
- Mid-weight down sleeping bag with compression sack (MTB)
- Small tent.
- Mosquito head netting. (MTB)
- Mosquito repellent.
- Small plastic trowel. (MTB, B)
- Water bottle.
- 100 oz. water bladder with tube and bite valve.
- Mug.
- Small eating dish and spoon.
- Wooden spoon.
- Fishing hooks, line, weights and bobber.
- Sunscreen.
- Lip balm.
- Backpack rain cover.
Backcountry Mountain Biking Gear (stored in the panniers)
- 1 set of rear panniers with:
--pannier rain covers
--drinking water germicidal tablets
--wooden spoon
--small eating dish and spoon
--mosquito repellent
--yellow "dusk" glasses
--open finger biking gloves - Smaller day pack (for short hikes, too) with:
--100 oz. water bladder with tube and bite valve.
--biking knee pads/leg warmers
--fleece biking gloves
--helmet
- Car battery.
- 6 flares.
- 3/8" rope.
- Funnel.
- Bag with spare film, spare batteries, and spare boot laces.
- Axe.
- Bungee cords.
- Antifreeze.
- Brake fluid.
- Jumper cables.
- Cans of oil conditioner.
- Spare tent stakes.
- Spare purifier filter.
- Candles.
- Sponges.
- Motor oil.
- Puncture seal.
- Power steering fluid.
- "Easy light" starter log.
- Ice scraper.
- Windshield wiper blades.
Kitchen Items(MTB=also for mountain biking, B=also for backpacking)
- Coffee pot.
- Small nylon bag with sponges and biodegradable concentrated dish soap.
- Plastic mug.
- Long bladed pocket knife w/can opener.
- Hangable cloth kitchen utensil bag with:
--wooden spoon
--small ladle
--rubber scraper
--spatula
--utensils; fork, knife, spoon - 2 small camping stoves. (MTB, B)
- 2 small camping stove fuel containers. (MTB, B)
- Frying pan with non-stick surface.
- Small pot with non-stick surface and cover.
- 50 ft. nylon cord (MTB, B)
- 2 nylon food/bear bags (MTB, B)
- Stackable cookware set (for MTB, B only)
- Plastic plate.
- Plastic bowl.
- Candle lantern and tea candles. (B)
- Spare scour pads and sponges.
- Nylon bag with spices (see Food) (MTB, B)
- Easy-light "fire log" cut into one-use pieces (in plastic bags). (MTB, B)
- Cutting board.
- Water purifier.
- Ziploc freezer bags.
- Ziploc sandwich bags.
- Aluminum foil.
- "Strike anywhere" matches in bottle.
- Dish towels.
- Flask.
Clothes Chest(MTB=also for mountain biking, B=also for backpacking)
- Waterproof (Gore-Tex) expedition pants (MTB, B)
- Waterproof (Gore-Tex) expedition jacket (MTB, B)
- "Zip-In" fleece top.
- Nylon camping pants.
- Jeans.
- Kahki pants.
- 2 pair long underwear tops.
- 1 pair long underwear bottom
- 5 t-shirts.
- Large flannel shirt.
- Waterproof socks.
- 6 pair cotton socks.
- Several pair boxers and underwear.
- Thick sweater.
- Light-weight fleece.
- 4 bandanas.
- Wash cloth & towel.
- 4 pair shorts.
- Clothes specifically for biking:
--Padded shorts.
--Padded underwear.
--2 pair biking gloves (1 lightweight w/padding & one pair fleece)
--Biking shirt.
--2 pair biking socks.
--Rugged shoes with clips for pedals.
- Sweatshirt (for going out)
- Dress shirt & belt. (you never know!)
- 2 baseball caps.
- Trash bags.
- Trash, dirty clothes and wet gear, of course!
Other Items in the Vehicle(MTB=also for mountain biking, B=also for backpacking)
- Rollable table.
- Inflatable sleeping mat.
- Light sleeping pad. (B)
- Two person tent w/groundsheet.
- Cold weather sleeping bag.
- 140W power inverter.
- Hiking boots.
- Sport sandals. (B)
- Tennis shoes.
- Small headlamp. (MTB, B)
- Fleece gloves.
- Small collapsible tripod. (B, MTB)
- Fanny pack (I always carry this with me at camp) with:
--pocket knife
--whistle
--lighter
--waterproof matches
--mosquito repellent
--lip balm
--drinking water germicidal tablets
--antibacterial hand gel
- Travel mug.
- Digital camera.
- Small tripod.
- Rechargable AA batteries.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- Toilet kit (can be pared down into plastic bags for MTB, B)
- 3 gallon water container.
- Laundry detergent.
- Shovel.
- Foldable chair
- Campfire rack.
- Foldable bike repair stand.
- Rollable tool box containing:
--Screwdrivers of various sized phillips and flathead
--Crescent wrench
--Adjustable pliers
--Regular pliers
--Needlenose pliers
--Cutters
--Socket wrench
--Socket set (English & metric)
--Hammer
--Hacksaw
--Threadlocking compound
--Bike oil
--Bike grease
--Mini radio
--Sandpaper
--Pedal wrench
--Chain whip
--Work gloves
--File
--Hex wrenches (English & metric)
--Measuring tape
--Utility knife
--Tire levers
--Tweezers
--Tube patch kit
--Various nuts & bolts
--Cable cutter
--13" through 16" flat (spanner?) wrenches
--Knife sharpener
--Tool for "toeing" bike brakes
--Bottom bracket tool
--Cassette tool
--Hex wrench adapters (for socket wrench)
--Crank puller
--Tape (masking, duct, & repair)
--Cleaning brush
--Rag
--Citrus solvent
--Waterproof sealant for shoes
--Waterproof seam sealer
--Clamps - Spares:
--Spokes
--Pedals
--Chain links
--New chain
--Cables (brake & derailleur)
--Cable housing
--Ferrules
--New cassette
--Wheels
--Brake pads
- And, of course, the book Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Repair by Lennard Zinn. The best book and reference on mountain bike repair. Very well written and illustrated.
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