Josh Stair and the Doom Slayer

"One other thing to note I guess is that I'm not using a chamois. Any other questions feel free to ask." I laugh out loud, agreeing that I often feel more comfortable just riding in my street clothes too.

I've followed Josh Stair's bikepacking adventures since meeting him at Gravel Espresso a few summers ago, and even spotted him featured in Berks BMX's monumental and striking Find Philadelphia film. His resume includes Delaware Water Gap, Arizona Trail 300, Endless Mountains 430, and Dark Divide 300. Not to mention racing Schuylkill Scramble on a BMX bike.

This coming Friday the 13th, he'll get acquainted with Doom. Doom is a 329 mile bikepacking race in Arkansas' Ouchita Mountains that features over 100 miles of singletrack. The race embarks from Hot Springs, so named for 47 nearby thermal springs and the National Park containing them. The Ouchitas and Ozarks in Arkansas are part of the Internal Highlands, one of the only mountain ranges between the Appalachians and the Rockies.

Until last fall, Josh was training and bikepacking on a State Bikes 4130 All Road. When I saw that he had a new rig for Doom, I had to learn more.

• Frame: Fairlight Holt 2.0
• Forks: RockShox SID Ultimate Race Day 120mm
• Handlebars: Truvativ
• Wheels: Hunt Trail Wide V2
• Tires: Vittoria Barzo Trail 29x2.4 (front), Vittoria Peyote Trail 29x2.4 (rear)
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore XT
• Pedals: Crankbrothers Candy
• Seatpost: OneUp Dropper with Ergon SM Pro saddle
• Rack: Old Man Mountain Elkhorn
• Fender: Ass Saver Win Wing Detour

Josh describes his handlebar setup as his space station. It's ready for launch with Profile Design aerobars, a pair of stem bags from Revelate Designs and Rockgeist, and is garnished with a stem cap from Yellow Bird Thread Works. He gives strong praise for his solar-powered Coros Dura GPS, which can hold a charge across several days of riding and sells for just under $250.

Josh started sewing bike bags by re-using old rice bags from a restaurant he worked at and has gone on to sew his own rain pants and the frame and top tube bags on this build. Top tube bag is packed with snacks for easy access and frame bag has everything he'll need at camp. He chides their imperfections, but I admire their ingenuity and tailor fit. Wissahickon woven patch by Eric Hinkley is a critical accessory.

Shelter is lightweight and easy to set up: he's using only the rainfly and poles of a Durston one-person tent. It's still fully enclosed and packs down tight to mount on the handlebars. Sea to Summit 30 degree mummy bag rests on the rear rack - a first since ditching a seat bag to accommodate a new dropper post.

Inflatable Thermarest sleeping pad will be stored in a small backpack. It's a luxury he's learned is essential to make the most of just four hours of sleep each night while racing. Each component, each planned hour of sleep, each pedal stroke during the race is a piece of a complex puzzle that will all come together in the wilderness. After years of trial and error, Josh is confident the result will be breathtaking.

Another lesson Josh has learned over the years is to race his own race. Though it's fun to make new friends on the trail, it's ok to get separated when circumstances change. He loves the solitude that bikepacking provides, and rather than winning any prizes, his goal is to just have fun and ride his own party pace.

As for the chamois, Josh says his ass hurts the same with or without one, so why bother?! You can follow Josh's adventures on Instagram, Strava, and YouTube. Better yet, check in on his progress at Doom this weekend and cheer him on at Trackleaders.