Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Agreed!

Not exactly bike packing, the top of my rucksack is same/similar material as my bivvy bag and has a small tear in it. Is there a generic repair tape folks would recommend?

All roll top drybags I've come across so far are cylindrical. But I am after something flat and rectangular to slip my laptop inside - but I am still keen on the roll top closing mechanism.
Any suggestions?
EDIT: There are some Aqua Quest laptop sleeves. I'll report back if it doesn't work.

Alternatives might include a hardcase like this:
http://www.mec.ca/product/5028-855/pelican-1095-hardback-case-unisex/?Ntk=productsearch_en_q32008&Ns=p_min_sale_price&h=10&q=laptop%2Bsleeve
Or even combine a neoprene sleeve with a regular rolltop.

Exped used to offer them, they where called Exped Crush dry bag the medium size fits laptops and is shaped as you describe. You may be able to find some old stock.

This might not be strictly bike packing, since there was no camping involved, but this was my bike set up for a ride from Caen to Bordeaux last year.
I used a pair of 8l Alpkit stuffsacs attached to the rack, together with a Carradice Barley saddlebag and Topeak handlebar bag.
It worked really well for the ride and I'd recommend using stuffsacs like this, it was cheap and they were rock solid on the bike.

1 Attachment

• Caen to bordeaux set up.tif

LOMO Wide Roll-top

?

That's not flat. It's a holdall, and it's 30l!

McNett tenacious tape

I think the not camping bit is fine, but the idea of bike packing is not having racks...

Nevertheless, an impressive amount of stuff considering you weren't camping!

Ta!

If anyone on here is interested I'm selling my Surly Karate Monkey.

It's been a great adventure bike for bike packing.

Also if anyone is interested I'll be selling an Old Man Mountain front rack that fits on it and is disc compatible.
Like this one.
PM me if you want to know more.

Any recommended bivvy / down sleeping bag bargains out there? I'm looking to get a lightweight set up sorted for 1 or 2 night trips this spring / summer.

I would love to justify a down bag but they're so expensive! I'd only really invest if I wanted a 3/4 season bag, so that I could get the most out of it, weight/warmth wise.

If you're just going spring/summer, and only a couple nights at a time, why not get a 2/3 season synthetic for cheaps? It'll still be quite light, and wont cost the earth. You can spend the money saved on down layers, a warm liner, a rad hat or something.

Snugpaks travel ones are quite light for synthetic. Travelpak 3 is reasonably light and compresses to about the size of a football, at 1500g. Hardwearing too. And £45 with no dead goosies.

imo. idk. ive convinced myself anyway!

Alpkit Hunka is your no-frills, relatively light and reasonably priced bivvy. The 'con' is the patchy availability...

I have that Snugpak, I've found it pretty cold in anything but the warmest weather, which makes me think I probably sleep relatively cold (or just like to be warm). Maybe I should give it another go and just wear more clothes/ mtfu.

Maybe just step up to a slightly warmer one? As far as I can see, the -5 comfort bags are only 200g heavier, and marginally larger when compressed.

Spring/summer? I wouldn't bother with a bivy bag.

Just wear a down coat and sleep on a pad any you'll be alright.

Anyone used one fo these yet?

https://www.alpkit.com/products/airlok-xtra-tapered

^ Planning to buy one this month - Can't quite see the point of paying £60+ for a saddle pack - that necessitates buying a drybag - when one can just buy this and have done.

I bought both the airlok and the koala, only used the koala so far with the plan being to use the airlok instead of the compression sack for my down bag when going touring.

So far I've managed to fit a 3 season down bag (in the airlok), a small tarp, bivy bag (alpkit), 10m of 3mm cord and 8 tent pegs in there. Swings a bit when out of the saddle but overall pretty sturdy feeling and sub 3kg all in.

What size of airlok is the best to use with drop bars?

8l worked for me

What is the size of your handlebar @andy_k ?

8l here too.