Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Is this the caad x 2017 model?

Indeed it is. I think it’s the 105 SE frame

Interesting! I have the same but planned to replace for something more suited to 'adventure' riding but now I've seen it in a new light all loaded up!

Oh it was great! Only thing I would say is it’s a bit cramped. But side entry cages sorted that out. I think I’m going to get rid of the Blackburn saddle back though. Might go for front panniers or a Carradice.

Not to be difficult but, it depends on how small all your gear is, what kind of luxury you want and how far you plan on cycling. If I'm going away on my own I will have a small seat bag and half frame bag, if it's with a group of friends and me + girlfriend on the tandem then it ends up being 2 panniers each!

What sort of bike?
If flat bars, you can usually get a pretty big drybag strapped to the bars pretty easily, and it should swallow a lot of that.

Yeah, flat bar bike (Marin Pine Mountain).

biggest possible frame bag
fairly large seat bag
big top tube bag
one or two feedbags
then add a front bag if you need even more space.

hello, i have done a search of the thread but not read the whole way through. i can't find the info i am looking for. i want to make my own tarp and had hoped I could get the material in a big enough piece not to have to sew bits together, but the silnylon on ebay seems to all be 150cm wide, not wide enough for the design I had in mind. Anyone made their own and what did you do? I will also be looking through the BB MYOG thread for info.

look on https://www.reddit.com/r/myog/

a quick search reveals https://www.reddit.com/r/myog/comments/6zp7s4/3d_mesh_and_silnylon_etc_sources_in_europe/

Can anyone suggest some side access bottle cages? Recently bought a frame bag and can't really get bottles in and out easily.

I've heard Lezyne ones are good.

Blackburn Outpost ones aren't particularly easy access.

they are.

Reader's wife, on the Welsh Ride Thing at the weekend

I used Lezyne's cheaper ones for TCR04.

Cheers all

Going to try this Gower route next week, on my 29er with unfashionable rear rack + panniers set up.

http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/gower-bikepacking-loop/

Comments on that page disagree as to whether it's nearly all rideable or only 60%. Anyone done it?

Looks sweet. Not sure I'd agree that the comments suggest only 60% rideable.

the path from rhossili down to the caravan park at llangennith is INCREDIBLY steep, we used to struggle to walk up it as kids.
its the most beautiful part of the world though, i'm sure it will be great. it even smells great.

me, many many many times on foot as I grew up there, and once on a bike. Its worth mentioning that I've done the entire thing on a winters day, its not 'that' long. you can tweek it to sort roads out with the difficult bits, but some of them can be a bit unpleasant with the traffic, as the roads are narrow and there are no verges in a lot of places.

If you want any specific help about anything let me know.

Ah cheers. Roads aside, is it a nice trip? I am probably going to take it easy, over two days with plenty of stops to take in the scenery, camping somewhere near Rhossli.

Yes the sunsets is fantastic, if recommend going past the coastguard station at worms head then dropping down onto one of the large grassy limestone ledges on the far end.

Anyone have experience with the Alpkit stem cell dry bags?

https://www.alpkit.com/products/stem-cell-dry

Thinking about getting one to keep my battery pack in for charging my phone/lights/garmin etc while riding.

Normal stem cells are. Excellent so I don't see why these won't be. I asked them ages ago about an XL version so I could keep a camera in it, they said it was in the works but never followed though. However I've seen they now say you can put a 750 ml Nalgene in so maybe a camera will fit.