Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

I see thanks.

i used a blackburn frame bag a couple of weeks ago, but it drove me mad rubbing the insides of my legs while pedaling. I've no idea how anyone could do it for any real distance or time

just mocked up this highly technical drawing for my luggage arrangements for the TCR.

Hoping I can fit just the bivvy bag into a relatively small saddle bag to avoid swaying around and fit most other things (clothes) into the frame bag, with the stuff I need relatively regularly into the jerry can, top tube bag, and jersey pockets.

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drawing

Fuck, could have sworn it was a photo

I know right?

Any arguments for/against placement of waterbottle 2 on the downtube or seattube?

Sorry to hear that. Just bought one myself but I haven't tried it yet.

might be better on an mtb but on my road bike it was just too wide. I'll stick to handlebar and saddle bags I think.

Could always put waterbottle 1 on a king top cap cage mount, and then put bivvy/small drybag where you currently have waterbottle 1.

Good skills. Am sure even ms paint has a shape tool that does circles & triangles ;)

Any arguments for/against placement of waterbottle 2 on the downtube or seattube?

I'd say down tube, but with smaller frame bag, as it'll foul the bag less / be easier to access.

seattube: easier to protect from crud.

downtube: lower CoG but reduces log clearance.

What jerry can are you using? I can't tell the make from the picture

slack chain

Lots of crud coming from rear wheel so much of a muchness.

Log clearance? um... I'm a lumberjack...

That will be quite tricky to remove bottles, no? Are you using a half or full frame bag?
Keep stuff on bars to a minimum to avoid ruining the handling too much.

@user67649 @hippy

i'll have this up front

Which (i hope) wont hurt handling

@rhb - where's the fun in that?

@giofox - custom, made by @Couby1

Will likely use a side loading cage to avoid fouling the bag.

Not got the frame bag but as @jules says! have the bar bag, pretty chuffed with it, for £20 its a bargain (looks shit in comparrison to others of course). Would be jnterested to see how you get on with the rest! only issue ive had so far is the ends of the bar attachments are very short and frayed a little, nothing a little bit of lighter action on the ends didnt solve though.

Will update with pictures if you like!

where's the fun in that?

True, there's no fun in CAD.

Side loading cage sounds ideal.

Apologies. I misread. No need for photos. I'm probably getting the bar bag regardless. Thanks.

Out of interest you weren't riding along the river past Petersham Meadows sometime last month were you? Someone rode past me with this very bar bag.

@tallsam here you go, been using it for a few months now, dint remember if ive been caught in any proper rain with it so cant say anything about it's water proofness but its holding up well.

as it is in the photos it has a pair of trainers, pants, a belt, a pair of fairly heavy weight jeans, and a top in it. And if I was using risers you could probably fit that in again.

These are 44cm bars too for reference. Have used with 42 aswell.

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Cool. Thanks. Looks really good for the money.

It is! Considering its atleast 3 times cheaper than any other ive found its great! The drybag is a little rectangular though.

i bought one of those lotus handlebar holsters recently, looked at it for about 5 minutes and sent it back.

I found all those long straps didn't make much sense and the ones that actually held the drybag were too short (as it would be going on a road bike i wanted to use a fatter drybag but it wouldn't have taken it)

i then went for a restrap one which although is 3 times as much is a much better bit of kit.

paired it with a a 14l exped ventair compression drybag and it's perfect for drop bars.

that lotus saddlebag does look ok though although i'm probably now going to get restrap throughout

Yeah its certainly not as good as the restrap, took my a while to work out the straps and how best to pack it, i think it would take something quite a bit thicker/rounder, I was strapped for cash at the time I bought it but needed to take the weight off my shoulders for the commute. Id buy the restrap one over it anyday.

I dont think id have been riding that far west, do often ride putney way with it though.

pants

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