Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

https://road.cc/content/review/128412-carradice-carradry-saddlebag

sorry, not been doing emails.....yep, we've done it a few times. No specific taps, but ample places to top up. It would make a lovely bikepacking route, with plenty of hedges/fields to camp in. We've tended to smash it out, there and back (To Hunstanton) Ina day. Doable, but It would be better to take it easy and have a look around.

Wiggle do a version (Aeron Ultra Bib). The pocket does not look that big in the web images.

Try church yards for water taps. They usually have one somewhere round the back of the church to water the graveyard.

Gone for the small Restrap - turned up next day, will see how it fits tonight.

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Any opinions on rolltop frame bags?

zips are better - easier access, more separation, etc.
but a badly made zipped framebag is a waste of time. you need good quality zips and craftsmanship

you need good quality zips and craftsmanship

100% this, its one of the reasons revelate bags are fantastic, big chonky zips

@spotter was it you who I saw a comment from somewhere detailing your cooking gear? Looking for the link to those stove feet that were like £3

Just been to Cotswold outdoor to pick up some gas, they have the Vango compact stove for £12.50 at the moment. To my very untrained eye it looks similar to the original MSR Pocket Rocket. It’ll be a nice companion to my PR2 since the number of people on the trip is increasing daily.

Cherry Maple

this is cool and I want one

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz37dMhlfTl/

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porcelain-rocket-Albert-seat-bag-bikepacking/223588167955?hash=item340ee4b113:g:qGYAAOSwBOxdI0ug

such an ugly colourway sadly imo

The only reason I haven't bought it yet.

Looks like a nice simple option. Seems like it takes up more vertical room than the Revelate or Rockgeist options though

Has anyone tried one of these? https://www.apidura.com/shop/racing-handlebar-pack/
It looks like my dream front end set up, just a lot more expensive than I had expected to pay.

Thats well nice.
And I like those x-ray pictures.

Doesn't look like it does anything a couple of feedbags and a small bar roll wouldn't do better?

Its a lot of dough.....i wrap the waiststrap from my bumbag around the bars and it works just as well....i'll look for a picture

How about this?
https://timtas.nl/product/racing-front-bag/

Any reviews on the Rapha bags? I know the old ones were not waterproof but this seems to have been addressed. Does look like it would flap all over the place though.

Have been holding out for a second hand BRP one but the price (with shipping to Oz) is about the same as the Rapha.

Also, what handlebar bag for 38mm handlebars?

I use several different hip pouches, but this one is the cheap decathlon version... less than a tenner, lightweight, loads of compartments

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This is my current front end. I want to keep it looking quite tidy and still have access to the stuff I need.
I was running a Topeak handlebar bag for a while, but got fed up with it sagging and wanted to fit tribars for more comfort on long rides.

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If anyone has one of these Blackburn cargo racks, just an FYI, it's the work of a moment to add an extra hole to allow it to work on triple mounts. I don't know why Blackburn didn't do this themselves tbh