Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

Brum to Italy in 10 days sounds like a good trip! Any ride report in the pipeline?

Yup. Shes the best.

Seconding trip report please @Albb. Need some vicarious travel :)

eheh, I am not that kind of guy who writes a lot in here.
But as a first-timer trip, I can't say more than: take your bike and ride somewhere.
doesn't matter where or with x-y-z gears, there such a lot of stuff to live out there and, unfortunately, life is short.

:)

Safety pizza?

what's the go to frame bag for something that is shallow enough to keep the bottle cages usable on the go? I could probably get away with around 10cm deep.

I'd suggest these: https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Topeak-Alt-Postion-Cage-Mounts_127676.htm?sku=502537&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-af6BRC5ARIsAALPIlXto5Hn9Gf9YCTLEoOJSeLsoBd5_k2qGyKL7fIhtN6ic0W4iiBnf_IaAidAEALw_wcB

I've dropped my cages but my current Blackburn frame bag is a touch too deep. I'd prefer to sacrifice a bit of storage space for easier access to the bottles. Front is a side entry but both bottles catch on the bag at present (but it does help keep the muck spray off them)

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That setup looks great!

I have the same Blackburn bag with the zipped extension section (that's never been used). I think I'm going for the Rapha frame bag next.

I'm using a Revelate Tangle, and it seems to fit well (with side entry bottle cages) and still has good capacity, but I'm on a 59ish frame so probably makes a difference?

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/Frame-Bags/TangleFrameBag

I think mines an older model but assuming dims have stayed the same?

Nice one! Good to hear.

Revelate Tangle come up on ebay now and then around the £50 mark.

Anyone use a mini front rack for bikepacking.

Planning a trip and wondering how I'm going to manage to fit everything into a saddle pack, handlebar bag and mid sized frame bag.

Bike is Genesis Vagabond and only has single eyelets on the fork.

A Tubus Tara or Duo low-rider with a pair of Ortlieb Front Rollers would add 25l. Depends how big your tent is I suppose; I managed a Gelert Track 1 plus clothes food etc in a similar setup. Didn’t have any cooking kit. Have you considered a 24l Carradice Camper Longflap…?

I already have a pair of Carradice front panniers that I could fit to the existing rack, which is a Pelago Commuter.

The route we're planning this time is mainly minor roads and forestry paths. I'm just concerned about the vibrations making the panniers fail.

Also seriously considering removing my mudguards, just trying to minimise the number of things that can fail.

Oh I see, I thought you were looking for recommendations. A drop of blue Loctite on the rack & mudguard bolts wouldn’t hurt, but it sounds like you’ve already pretty much got it sorted.

you could try a fidlock bottle set? They seem to work well with tight spaces from what I've seen

I was thinking about changing the setup but I'd rather just make it work. Already spent money on a 4 season down bag!

Pelago rack with a big 22L dry bag on top secured with Restrap rack straps, then a small bar pouch on top of that, worked great for me on Van-SAN last year. Easy to pack and secure.

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Nice. What Carradice bag is that?

The big super C, best of the range imo and no stupid leather straps/noisy fiddly metal buckles. Really good size and I much prefer it over a bikepacking type seatpack for ease of access on the go, side pockets, stability and ability to strap/clip all sorts to the top easily. Also works great as hand luggage if you’re flying.

Love my Super C. I keep thinking about replacing it with a Wizard Works Shazam but can’t see how that’s £130 better than the Carradice. Sure, there are things I’d change but it’s pretty bloody good as it is.

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Any recommendations for 4-5 days bike touring later in the month? Would like a mix of road/gravel without getting too technical off road. Have been in Wales recently and would like somewhere that is likely to have affordable rail fares (Scotland would be lovely but figured I've missed the boat on that one).

What about that new linkup of bits of SDW, NDW, Ridgeway amd Thames path? Calling it the King Alfred Way. Little or no train required!

ooh forgot to tag u