Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

zips.

Non-bulging.

As the rest of the world edged closer to panic this weekend a friend an I made an attempt at the Trans-Cambrian Way. We decided to ride West>East so reversed the route on ridewithgps.

What an absolute nightmare - Wales is incredibly tough, and the time of year didn't help either.

In the end the vast expanse of flooded moorland and slippery sharp slate got the better of us. I think the decision to turn round was wise, as to continue would mean to cross 40km of nothing in the pouring rain, with no food - at an average of 7kph. Better a taxi than a mountain rescue helicopter.

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got any pics?

Added!

#isolationgoals

Brutal, lovely country out there.

Those views!

Would you have been better off on an MTB?

40 - 11/36? w/ 35mm tyres?

also this.

yeah, TCW is pretty tough.

it's also fundamentally just not a very good route.
it goes over just about every hill, rather than following ridgelines or valleys.
the resupply options are very limiting.
it could be spaced so bothy accommodation is at convenient places and times

I am working on the platypus trans-cambrian way
expect to hear more for the inaugural ride around May.

in.

it goes over just about every hill

don't fucking remind me

I don't think it's worthy of a mountainbike, everything was very much rideable on this setup, but wider tyres would have been nicer. As Platypus said, the route's not the best - I wouldn't do it again, but would love to visit that part of Wales again for something a little nicer.

In sense of robustness or waterproofness?

both. Judge a thing by the zips.

completely wrong thread, oops!

I wondered how long it would be before someone 'refined' this guys design.
About 8 months by the looks of it.

It's the same person.

yeah, it's the same guy.

as an aside, what a great website. so clear and simple. good pictures, good copy. 10/10

Yes I know that's the same guy. :)
But I've definitely seen a very similar, refined version hit the market just recently.

When in doubt, add magnets.

I've been geeking out over my gear as a kind of coping mechanism seeing as I can't go out - ended up packing the bike as a trial of some new gear even though I can't take it anywhere at the moment!

Bit daft really - hopefully the weather's this good when we can get back out.

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Can you not ride and park at the end of the garden and pitch up??