Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

I found one of these, apparently ktm brand but can't find any info on it, anyone know what it is so I can find a full spec?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271796748954?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

It should never swing, it sound like you need to compress it a lots more.

It's best to get a small framebag to keep small item such as phone in than to keep it in the saddlebag, which is best serve for the start/end of the ride.

Yeah, and cartons of soup, you should put in the framebag, ideally low down for a lower centre of gravity. saddlepack for clothes/sleeping kit (light and compressible).

I couldn't really compress it a lot because it was pretty empty. Obviously not ideal but for taking it out the first time but I couldn't be arsed filling it with things I didn't need. Just wanted to see how it felt and make sure it wasn't going to rub awkwardly.

I'm certainly not going to take a framebag out on a 40 mile pootle around the Peak District. Any shopping that I do when I'm getting close to home will end up in the saddlebag and any resultant swinging will have to be put up with.

It's not like a constant swinging, just when I'm out of the saddle stomping up something steep. I think you'll get that with anything that has a bit of flex.

It's main use is going to be for audaxing but I'm not sure if I'll use it for 200k rides, probably just for the 300k+ rides where I need to have some more kit at hand. Everything else will probably just be the Carradice. I'm going to commute with it this week just for testing purposes but I think it'll be fine.

So I bought the £15 aplkit dry bag as a kind-of bikepacking backpack-less commuting solution and I'm finding it hard to get it secured nicely to the seatpost/saddle. I'm thinking the best way to do this would be a strap at the bottom of the post, one at the top of the post, and one at the rear end of the saddle.
Where can I find straps that would be good for this? I was gonna check homebase on the way home as I know they do some velcro style jobs...

Maybe overkill?!

Probably gonna pick up some of these:
http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/diy/cable-trunking-and-accessories/velcro-adjustable-ties-926259

I was looking at that a while ago and worked out that some compression straps should do the trick as long as you have enough seat post to fix it too. There were quite a few on Ebay when I looked.

Probably. I used bungees to stabilise my drybag on saddle & seatpost.

Success!

Sleeping bag now on pre-order, now to look for a stove. I'd like to be able to keep the fuel in a bottle under my downtube ideally to keep it out of my bags. I have a trangia, but it's a bit big and heavy for what will be very short trips in the summer (1-2 nights), so just to make some noodles in the evening and a bit of breakfast. The MSR Whisperlite looks good, or am I best off just making a little can stove?

For one or two nights the trangia is perfect as you can keep the fuel inside it rather than carry a fuel bottle.
Not using the trangia pots etc and taking a titanium mug/pot saves most of the weight

It's summer. Who needs hot food?

This is true, although a cup of coffee in the morning would greatly increase the ride enjoyment for me.

Edit: something like this with a ti mug might do the trick for a morning brew / super noodles

Bearbones 22g tiny meths stoves good for heating enough water for brew or noodles.

Are you weighing everything and comparing?
For one night (as previously stated) you'll only need either a tiny bottle or none at all with a Trangia or DIY a little pepsi can unit.

Nope, nothing that precise, but yeah, a small bottle, the triangle stand and my trangia burner should do it

And for land sakes, take a camera.

Did a 3 day tour of hostels with this setup. Alpkit double ended dry bag, and an Ibera large frame bag. The Alpkit is just a bit wide for the bars, hands are a bit squashed when in drops, but bearable; and the Ibera feels as cheap as it was (£10), it did a job of holding snacks and non soft things, but if I was going further would want something a bit more substantial.

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Which size bar bag have you got, 13L or 20L - and how wide are your bars?

Planning a London - Copenhagen trip this summer and was going to go with an Alpkit bar bag and seatpost pack.

It's a 13l, and 42cm bars (centre to centre). I was wearing thick gloves, and it took a bit of wriggling to get my thumb comfortable when in the drops. On the hoods it was fine. I'll use it again definitely.

Cheers man.
I have 44cm bars so will probably be fine - especially as I'm off in June so no thick gloves...

What frame bag is that?

Scratch that just read the post properly. I like your thrifty approach! That frame bag is only £10 on amazon!

Im planning on going bikepacking at the start of April for around 4 nights. With a road bike and i think i'll be bringing my sleeping bag, a 2 man tent, stove,tarpaulin and a change of clothes what bike bag and stove would you recommend and any other recommendations?