Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

It certianly is, the largest model that was available at the time.

In contrast to Plexarice, I'd recommend it. I got it in 2012 for Audaxing and I've used it continually ever since.

No issues with it coming off, and I have used it over all sorts of cycling terrains - gravel paths, cobbles, trails etc etc. In terms of it's ability to take weight, I tend to try and reduce the weight of kit I take, so doubt I've gone anywhere near it's recommended weight limit. In that photo it contains a tool kit, wash things, some clothing and probably some food - normal things for a cyclist.

My only issues with it are that it has plastic studs inside to cover the inside of the bolts, which meant that I couldn't easily fashion an inner for it, from a dry bag, to slot seamlessly in when I wanted to extend it's capacity. That and the space between the bag and the saddle isn't very neat...

on the cold and sweaty thing. as 7Up says could be your bivvy? also if that whole dry bag is your sleeping bag then i'm guessing it's synthetic. you could try a down sleeping bag, they've got a much larger comfortable temperature range.

Hello,

I use an Alpkit bivvy bag, so I'm going to assume that's not the issue. The sleeping bag however, might be the problem... It is a Berghaus Flare 850, which seems to be synthetic... I'll see if I can replace it and assess the situation.

The other, possibly more likely scenario, is that the issue is physical. I stopped to sleep when I was really tired, thogh was part way up a hill and wonder if the combination of being cold, though also quite hot from raising my heart rate up, to then trying to sleep, threw my body into a state of confusion...

I guess the only option is to go away again and see if it happens the second time...

re: ortlieb saddlepacks.

I've got two. Neither has ever come undone, and I overload and abuse the hell out of them :/

funnily enough i've almost the exact same thing happen. was really tired after a long off road ride, ate loads of food, went to sleep then woke up 2 hours later sweating my tits off. not a nice way to wake when you're in a sleeping bag and everything sticks to you.

It's the alpkit bag. They're not breathable at all.

Thanks (and to @plexarice as well)

Ortlieb seat pack: Have one, load the shit out of it, ride it off road. Never came loose.

http://thegription.com/bikepacking-is-running-away-from-home-for-grown-ups/

That's some serious distance you clocked up there - impressive!

Highland Trail 550 group start this weekend (+4 ITT attempts starting the day before): http://trackleaders.com/highland15 + updates/scratches on Twitter too https://twitter.com/HT_550

^ Looks epic!

This thread is great! At first I wanted to go for a rearrack and panniers but that allready weights about 1,5 kg... So now I like to buy a large seatbag for my tent, sleepingbag and matrass.
What do you guys think of this combination:
-This seatbag: http://bikepack.pl/en/seatbags/8-repack-x2-large.html
-This tent (I already bought it) : http://www.vaude.com/en-FI/Products/Tents/Hogan-UL-Argon-1-2P-red-d-red.html
-A Thermarest Prolite small matrass, packet only 28 x 8cm.
-And somekind of summer sleeping bag.. Thinking about a Mammut Kompakt summer (I'm 6'5'')

Do you guys think this will all fit in the seatbag??

I'd get a dry bag and try strap Somme stuff to the handlebars. As it might go in the back, just. You can always bungee cord something to the top of the saddle bag, but when it's gets heavy it'll swing a bit more, so if you stand it might be annoying. So yeah, try get the tent or sleeping bag and Matt on the front handlebars.

I agree with Skinny about attaching things to the handlebars, which can be done easily and relatively cheaply with a few Alpkit dry bags. Just make sure that the bags are securely attached to stop them flapping about whilst riding.

I reckon with the tent as well there might be a bit of a push for space on the front though, or at least, a lot of weight, so wondered about using another dry bag inside the frame, hanging from the top tube, and attached at either the seat tube or head tube, depending on size... This does depend on your frame size, and how wide the bag can be before it bangs on your knees, or impedes access to water bottles. But, if possible, with distribute the weight nicely around the bike.

But if I strap a drybag to my dropbar I'm not able to ride on the tops anymore right? Or I have to squeeze my fingers between it?

It depends how tight you secure it... I ran two straps around the dry bag which then wrapped around the handlebars, leaving a gap between the top of the bag and the actual bars, in that case you are only restricted by two straps, which leaves pretty much full use of the bars.

The issue I had, and this was a big issue, was that the bag was so big it rested on the mudguard, which meant that it could pivot to either side of the mudguard at it's own will. I will certainly buy a smaller dry bag for my sleeping things (or 'sleeping system' if you must) to make sure it hangs below the handlebars and does not rest on the mudguard... I assume then it will stay where I want it as opposed to where gravity wants it...

Bike all ready to go on a bank holiday ride across Wales. Newport to Bangor.

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looking good, hopefully weather will stay fair; on that front, could you / would you run mudguards?

Cracking 3 days cycling across Wales. Weather held out and we only get drizzled on once.

Some incredible back roads, single tracks and forestry roads to cycle on - who needs to go to Santa Cruz when you've got Snowdonia! Did the whole thing on 28c tyres no problem.

If anyone's interested here are the GPS routes for the three days, and would recommend the Gaer Farm B&B as a good spot to stop en route.

Day 1: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7943312

Day 2: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7943618

Day 3: The first climb of the last day was absolutely savage http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7944480

looks effin amazing !

<3 wales

Spent the weekend exploring Dartmoor for my first UK based bikepacking trip. Took a new (to me) Pugsley with some Nates from Plymouth up through the hills and through some trails. I ran an apidura frame bag that I grabbed off my cx bike, an alpkit handlebar dry bag and fairweather saddle bag. Got myself a wild country by terra nova zephyros 2 tent. At 1.8kg I am very happy with it for 120 odd quid. Thanks to everyone for their reviews. Being not from the UK I would never have given alp kit a look in, but I am glad I did.

Am now planning 1 week in Scotland in July. Travelling with a mate to Inverness, where I have 6 days to get to Kilmartin. Any tips on possible routes? Was thinking Cairngorm and then down via fort William, but no idea really. I will be on the pugsley and my friend will be on my old rigid cannondale mtb.

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@wjwat1
Looks sensational. Especially jealous of the fatbike and actually using it.

For someone relatively small theres a decent looking setup on eBay at the moment:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/On-One-Inbred-29er-Singlespeed-16-Bikepacking-Outfit-In-A1-Condition-Only-465-/131518450416?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e9f1c4af0

wjwat1 Scotland in summer is prime midge season, they have wings and big teeth and get anywhere and everywhere, even going for a wee/slash/piss can be dangerous as the winged vampires will attack your sausage and when you get home and your girlfriend notices a funny rash all over your wang she might not belive a midge attack :-)

A head net is a must, thin cycling gloves and keeping all skin covered is good, some try really strong deet sprays, haven't tried Smidge myself yet but reckoned to be good, Avon skin so soft works by leaving a greasy film on your skin and drowning the vampires, Bear Grylls would scrape them off and eat them.

They don't come out if there is a gentle breeze, don't pitch a tent in too sheltered a spot, avoid depressions in the ground.
A tick puller is good too and read up on ticks and how to extract them, i tend to escape ticks as Mrs Superfly is more tasty than me and they like drinking her blood instead.
It's ace up there, on some of the wilder trails/paths you might not see anyone for a few days.........