Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

That randonneurs.fi link has similar setup to my road setup, I.e. carradice with drybag in the gap between that and seatpost. It works really well with virtually no drybag movement when rolling.

+1 to @andy_k comment about rethinking what to carry!

I'm always trying to carry as little stuff as possible.

The hardest part is determing what's useful and what's not, for instance, plug socket for charging my device.

What I could have done is simply find out which countries support which plugs, if the countries I'm going through use the same plug system (Spain and France for example), I'll ditch the travel plug for a simple 2 pin USB plug, such as this;

It's much smaller, lighter and a very simple design.

Along a similar train of thinking, I narrow down to the USB cables, if I have more than one device that have different port, I simply get a single micro-USB cable, and a micro-to-mini USB adaptor plugged in (or other port);

It would also help choosing device that have the same USB plug, especially camera that can be charged via USB rather than requiring a battery chargers that made the tiny compact size of the camera redundant.

Really thinking this through will reduced the volume size and weight enough to only go bikepacking with a saddlebag and framebag.

Good points there @edscoble, those 2 pin USB plugs look like a good shout for any overseas travel, by bike or otherwise.

did someone here say they have a 4l ortlieb post/ saddle bag going?
x

I have one of these and would post in the UK... http://www.ortlieb.co.uk/ortlieb-saddlebag-large.html

or are you after one of these? http://www.ortlieb.co.uk/bike/saddle-bags/seatpost-bag.html

Photos at the end of this album

PMd x

Laner on tour;

What's the saddle bag?

@Mule🚴 Black Rainbow Project.

Do they have online shop?

Nope, I don't think they exist anymore.

Best to go for Alpkit or Apidura, they're much more readily available.

Ah, shame. thanks

Do those bags that sit between the top tube and the stem interfere with cables (if they run along the top tube). I'm after some way of storing a phone whilst it's charging (via dynamo), being able to see the screen would be handy for navigation purposes too.

Not really, you can always make a foam spacer if you're really worried about it.

I did the northdowns way last week. it was lovely and I highly recomend it to anyone. the only difficulty is that a few bits are footpaths and have kissing gates so lifting a bloody heavy surly over about 15 gates was a little arduous

great! any recommendations? there are a few on Amazon but they're so cheap I'm worried they'll disintegrate.

For bags or for foam?

ha, bags. I'm not too concerned regarding the quality of my foam. Need to be able to both see the screen and charge the phone via USB, so two zips and a clear screen required.

Ah, no idea really! Have only ever borrowed a Revelate one before. In the process of making my own, no fancy see through stuff though...

BRP Saddlebag available here: http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/252896

Seem to remember someone after one recently...

See alpkit for a fuel pod. Would take a phone and bits nicely and very near stem to provide power from battery if wanted.

https://www.alpkit.com/products/fuel-pod

Able to charger my garmon easily from the frame bag though obviously doesn't need a waterp cover.

My setup ed posted up thread is working out really well, feels really stable when climbing, and much prefer the ortileb handlebar bag up front to previous swtup where are just strapped a dry bag to the bars.

Currently close to the Rhine and should be entering the black forest tomorrow for some real climbing.

Be interested to ride a bike with massive saddlebag. Looks like it'd handle off.

@skinny Not as bad as you'd think, providing you strap it on tightly and compressed (since it's basically a compressor design to go under your saddle), getting out of the saddle only felt slightly numb, it never swing or felt wobbly.

I think there's a lots less wind resistance with a framebag and saddlebag only, no evidence backing this up, just my own experience;

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@skinny In that picture it isn't compressed at all. Not quite so phallic at the moment