Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

I'm in a bit of a conundrum here. I really really like my Spesh Toupe Pro, carbon rails and minimal padding. I want to use it on my long trip (9 days hard offroad on a dualie) with a saddle bag. Would it be ok to use with the saddle bag loading on the carbon rails? I have a Toupe Sport (gel padding and steel rails) also, but I feel it has a slightly different shape due to the padding. Any advice on which to use?

The saddle takes your full bodyweight on the rails, no?

whingy fuckers.

I know! For all the chat at the beginning about how they're adventurers etc etc, they just came across as whiney bitches. Epic ride though.

I actually have a plastic spoon I take hiking. I think it cost £1 from Decathlon. More sturdy than your normal plastic spoon and 100% efficient at loading food into your mouth.

http://www.amazon.com/Multi-Tool-Camping-Tool-Deluxe-Models/dp/B00C3HGX7C

I have something similar to this which never leaves my saddle bag, has a can opener and bottle opener too. Bought in a charity shop for a quid.

Yeah, in the downwards direction onto the seatpost. The saddlebag would be pulling the rear parts of the rails, which aren't designed to be clamped (they are a different shape). The more I think about it the more it should be ok. Ultimately the saddle has a limit of 100kg and all I want to do is hang another 5kg or less off it. I'll just wrap some tape over the rails to prevent any rubbing.

The forces you are putting through the rails will be all over the place if you're using the bike offroad so the rails should be designed to take forces in more than just straignt down like when you're riding in the saddle on smooth tarmac. Like you say an extra 5kg isn't much, and if the bag is fixed to the seat post then some of the forces will be going straight onto that.

Just back from a 5 day ride across the Alps, from Geneva to Nice. Was spectacular.

We went over Madeleine, Telgraph/Galibier, Vars & Bonette as well as some smaller ones on the first day. Did about 530km in total, with about 13,000 metres/ 43,000ft of climbing. Was a tough 5 days but def. easier riding than equally long days in wales/ Penines. Nice steady climbs means you can get into your groove, rather than hammering up lots of short but brutal climbs.

Packed nice & light too and stayed in AirBnBs (cheating) which made things a little easier...

Highlight was a group of locals who had set up a trestle table on the side of the road, on the way up Madeleine. They were stopping drivers and cyclists to offer glasses of water and /or local wine for no discernible reason other than to be nice... last 8k certainly felt a little easier with a large glass of rose to soften the climb!

Some more photos here & here

Sick route. Bonnette is brutal, the slopes to the top bit killed me!!

But the south side descent is rapid. That long straight through the village and the curves off the top. Worth it.

Bikepacked the NC500 last week. Could have taken less camping lights and more midges repellent.

I found the middle bit of Bonnette pretty brutal and relentless. Towards the top the stupendous views, and altitude induced euphoria helped to carry me!

The descent from the top to nice was so much fun. We did the last 65 miles in 3 hours.

Yeah! It's just pretty tough all the way! But you're right about the views!
Altitude is horrible if not used to it. It's like it's the first time riding a bike and you just have nothing in you!

I hadn't cycled at altitude before and weirdly found it didn't affect me too much as long as I didn't push into the red too hard, at which point I found it harder to recover. Mostly just felt giddy and rather excitable!

Looks like a really nice ride, how long did you take? I might try and do it over Christmas, at least there wouldn't be any midges!

9 days in total keeping an average of 90kms a day (some days 130kms, some others 50kms).
All in all a very nice ride, midges aside. Wonderful scenery on the west coast.
It must be great to do in winter snow and shitty weather permitting.

I'd be happy with snow, it's the possibility off 9 days of 1 degree rain which puts me off.

No midges though!

re. insect repellent, Ben's Safari Strength is good. But it is 95% deet so pretty nasty stuff. Melts shoes.

Bikepackers, I am looking to move to a bivi and tarp setup so my Wild Country Zephyros 1 is for sale.

Used for a grand total of 6 nights. No problems, just want something a little lighter and more compact for the overnight rides I do, or endeavour to do.

Cheapest I can find new is £100, they seem to go on eBay for £75 used, so £60 here?

Either that (deet) or full on clothing protection are the only useful options.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/273726/#comment12493157

apidura full set up for sale from a TCRer

Draft setup of my front end for my 9 day single track tour in 2 weeks. Shifter cable stowed in bars. Ayup lights, TT bars, BBD handlebar bag. Still need to add magnetic bite valve on bars if I'll have room for a bladder in the frame bag.

Talbot fixed setup from three weeks cycling in the balkans following part of the TCR route

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Would look really good with a front rack