Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

First bikepacking trip, 4 days from Wolverhampton->Bristol->Reading with 2 nights in a bivvy bag. Got lucky and it didn't rain once.

Sleeping bag strapped on the front with a leather belt... might get the Ortlieb handlebar pack when they release the smaller size next year.

Any recommendations for touring shoes? Most of those I can see have a woven top. I need a bit of waterproofing and what do people do for shoe covers when using recessed cleats? Any short walk will destroy the covers I have.

There are some specialized trekking shoes out there, Shimano makes some for sure. No experience with them. I personally use Donald Duck overshoes for heavy rain, mudguards and flaps do the job in the light wet

just use flats, so much better

any recommendations/suggestions on saddlebags that are shaped like carradice or sackville bags, rather than the semi-vertical tube style things that most manufacturers are going for?

Surely they aren't the only options!?

1 Attachment

carradice

or sackville...

Seriously though, if you want something to look like a Carradice then get one. They're bulletproof.

yep.
Or VO, Ostrich, Minnehaha, Berthoud...

bit late but mack workshop is spot on, just be aware its kinda hard to use the zip while riding if you have an in front garmin mount

Swift industries

cheers all!

this is sick - https://www.pannier.cc/shop/brand/swift-industries/zeitgeist-saddle-bag-s

And thrice the price of a carradice!

Rhyming unintentional

jesus .. if you really despise carradice that much just get Mack Workshop to make you one.

@amey @PhilDAS - both correct A++, but where would we all be without shiny expensive shit to lust at.

I will almost certainly end up with a used carradice, unless i find a bag of cash beforehand

mack workshop rocks - will ask him - not sure I've seen any like that from him before tho?

Unless tate modern gift shop still have a carradice for 40 quid?

@PhilDAS Tate stuff is finished.

@cryptthing totally! I just 'shed' 160g on a bike by paying £350 LOL. But FWIW Carradice are great and proven, I ride with one everyday, fucking love it!

well what more can anyone ask from a thing to go on a bike other than to ride with it every day and friggin love the shit out of it :)

any recommendations on a particular model, or is it purely dependent on need/taste?

Also ride with one daily. Super C Audax for me. Its probably a bit bigger than I need but comes in handy occasionally

Nelson Barley for me, the capacity is deceptively huge.

Barley/Super C Audax for day rides/lightweight commute, Nelson Longflap for lunch-and-change-of-clothes commuting/CC touring, Camper Longflap/Super C for all-of-the-commuting-things and long CC tours/lightweight camping.

I have a Nelson Longflap and a Barley. The Nelson is bottomless, but the Barley swings less. I also find that the bigger bags sag quite a lot if they're too empty so be careful if you aren't running a mudguard/pannier rack/bagman.
Get the SQR mount if you can't leave the bag on the bike and have more than one bike. They're brilliant.

I have a small rack under my Camper. A fitted piece of Coroplast is rolled up inside to give it shape, but more so to cushion beverages while transporting.

It was last weekend, but I've just managed to get day one of a ride report from the Cairngorms up. Teaser shot below, you get the full technicolour experience at this link: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/312267/#comment13921372

I've got a carradice I'm looking to get rid of you want it. Believe I have a mounting rack thing too...