Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

If I'm opening my saddle pack for anything I don't want to be pissing about taking the whole thing off do I? Magnetic closure is what I was missing. Still a pointless step but not a deal breaker if you want hipster bags. :P

The most stuff I've ever carried without rear panniers. I hated it, because it took so long to pack every morning. I'm not a morning person. One frame bag had the sleeping bag, the other frame bag had the tent. What I really wanted was a support car and an assistant to chuck all my crap in the boot. Ended up giving lots of stuff away.

You ride big distances and actually do a lot of races.
I do not. Form > function

:)

I feel a bit dirty just for buying matching Revelate kit.

https://bigxtop.com/products/mini-seatpack he do but they're a lot more expensive these days.

It's a great size though. I really love mine.

These are all great but probably too big. As hippy says, there are loads of mini packs from all the big people. Just wanted some niche UK maker with fancy rip stop fabric for full points.

Brooks one looks nice, but pricey.

Have a look at Collins Cycle Works ( @PatchCCW ). He has a small tool pouch which sounds like it would fit the bill:
https://www.collinscycleworks.uk/product/tool-pouch/22?

Or a larger mini saddle bag:
https://www.collinscycleworks.uk/product/smallstuff/29?

I've had many bags from him over the years and they're all wicked.

That looks perfect! Thanks

This looks remarkably like my imagined setup - thanks! I reckon I'd avoid video calls, so as long as I can have enough 4G to keep google docs happy i'd be ok.

I've drawn up a Poitiers - Bergerac - Poitiers loop that I think could be fun, with stops that should allow for a reliable 4 hours of work each day. Now to see if this is a plan I actually put into action...

Zipped Roll - take a sandwich as well as your jacket.

Dry bags: what's the current go-to for lightweight but suitable for mounting to fork legs (won't get instantly shredded by branches)?

I've not used them on fork legs but I like the durability of the Big River (I think that's their name) bags.

Yeah, it is: https://seatosummit.com/products/big-river-dry-bag

We used them for our tent on the bars in Scotland after the Ultrasil one was rubbed through.

Thanks!

Keen for any other recommendations also...

I recently got back from a trip using some bags made by Collins Cycle Works ( @PatchCCW ) with an X-Pac outer. They brushed off some brutal overgrown sections.

https://www.collinscycleworks.uk/product/little-forkers/33?

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I never thought about the leg protection offered by fork bags. :)

I'm yet to try them. Depending on how much crap I'm taking on L'Event du @skinny I might have to look into them. I guess they're good because they're, what's that phrase, "unsprung weight" or whatever so they don't impact the suspension so much

These would be so cool if they got rid of the logo

Haha yes they must help. I think the biggest change I noticed was how stable it felt compared with a bar bag - was just like riding unloaded! Previously with bar bags I always felt a bit nervous doing no hands as uneven surfaces etc. could throw it off, but I didn't even have to think about it

Yeah, I'm already swinging aerobars and stuff around out on the bars so I always try to minimise weight on the bars. I don't often ride no handed with my setup because it's very susceptible to wind and bumps - you have to correct a lot.

If you attach the bags to the lower legs of a suspension fork, they will indeed be unsprung mass, but this is generally a bad thing, as it makes it harder for your suspension to move.

I thought it was meant to be better because there was less weight on them but thinking about it, you would just tune them for the heavier weight.

But they likely do handle better than on the bars so there's that. Basically, I should just carry less. LOL

On a drybag tip does anyone make a drybag that opens the other way like this salsa?

I actually have the salsa and whilst good it's not quite right for me. The valve gets in the way of my harness and I'd actually like it an inch or two wider in a perfect world.

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I'd actually like it an inch or two wider in a perfect world.

Everyone thinks that but it makes finding comfortable trousers a real problem.

probably too big

I should have linked the one I was thinking of; the 'micro saddle bag'. Diddy thing, but maybe not the prettiest.

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I’ve been looking for a top/side access dry bag. That looks good. PM if you’re considering getting rid.