Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Yeah, my bad! Haven't fixed that bit yet :)

Grand, I’ve got the New Forest one in the diary 🙌

Seems the most appropriate place for this

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/jan/25/mountain-rescue-why-bothies-need-a-helping-hand-a-photo-essay?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

the pictures are stunning.

Has anyone on here had experience with bamboo cutlery as an alternative to titanium stuff?

Considering as they won’t damage pots and pans as much as metal jobbies

Check out GIR silicone stuff, very heat resistant, fibreglass interior (less chance of delamination) and medical grade silicone (doesn’t smell). I have the tablespoon and I’ve found it to be great for stirring food in hot pots and eating with.

Thanks, those things do look pretty great. Can’t seem to find a retailer in the U.K. at the moment but I’ll keep digging, customs charges would make it all a bit extravagant

Good luck, they're an investment but I think worth it.

I know it's evil, but
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=GIR+silicone
?

wups, that's the larger size

Here ya go
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_pg_3?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AGIR+silicone%2Cp_89%3AGIR%3A+Get+It+Right&page=3&keywords=GIR+silicone&ie=UTF8&qid=1548628486

beauty, thanks v much!

cheers, report back

Has anyone used the Rapha bags (frame, saddle or top-tube...)?
They looked interesting especially their "waterproof-ability. And not too pricey, for some reason, compared to other products available.

@skinny might have some comments

Anyone have thoughts on/ experience with the Alpkit bikepacking bags range? They do a bundle of lightweight bags for £175 (saddle, frame, top tube x2 + bar thing) which come with a 25 year 'warranty', which is rather cheaper than the Apidura offerings.

The bags are quite good value for money. Saddle bag can sway a bit. In my experience the zippers could be better

They claim fully water proof zips - I would be surprised if that’s actually the case.

Just packing up the two bikes for mini touring (weekend) with the little human. Fancy a stem bag, not behind, like the alpkit stem cell.

Anyone know one that has a lid as such? Like the restrap tech bag, but a better shape to not take up handlebar room?

Panniers are back, really liking what restrap have done - very competitive pricing against the Ortlieb gravel panniers and similar in size/function.
https://restrap.co.uk/collections/panniers/products/small-pannier?variant=16018979815539

edit: might be price for 1, nevermind..

artisanal you cunt!

the same as an ortlieb, but artisinal fabrics, and twice the price

artisanal

Dibs for @coldharbour

Better hooks though, the rixen kaul are 10x better than the ortlieb.

They are admittedly a bit more spenny (comparable ortlieb urban are about £70 retail each), I think ortlieb have high quality and efficient pannier production down to an art - this is the beginning of the journey for Restrap. I’ve been using a prototype for a while and the hooks make life so much easier (have stopped worrying about my pannier jumping off on rough terrain) also like the looks compared to my shiny ortliebs (aware you can get ortlieb in different fabric now)

The Restrap are also slightly bigger.

I've never had any hook problems on the bog standard Ortliebs

+1, although maybe I don't know what I'm missing out on