Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

https://www.bikemonger.co.uk got most of the Revalate bags in stock.

While I'm not a fan of spending a fortune on the bags I can confirm that Revelate bags are bloody awesome!

Decathlon = cup of tea
Alpkit = cup of tea with milk
Restrap, Apidura = oat flat white
Wizard Works = turmeric latte
Revelate Designs = cup of tea from a Trangia kettle on the beach
Wit Slingers = sipping on the asterix magic potion while having a face massage

FTFY

amazing.

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll just buy alpkit, looks wise I think wizardworks wins but idk quality wise what would be great.
I don't mind spending the extra money as it is for a healthy reason , just don't want my frame bag and saddle bag to rip.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/177832/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=%28bikepacking%2C+alpkit%2C+apidura%2C+ortlieb%2C+restrap%2C+wizard+works%2C+revelate%29+-pannier%2C+-panniers%2C+-brompton&LH_TitleDesc=0&LH_ItemCondition=4

I tried to make you a search with some of the favoured brands plus the cursed word of power: "Bikepacking", worth a browse before punting on new IMO. If you have time you can just save the search and subscribe to daily emails when anything new gets added.

Ive got Tailfin, Apidura and Alpkit in my set up. Only the Tailfin system has failed me. (Sheered bolts, no rips or tears)

Alpkit fork bags strapped on with Voile straps, Apidura handle bar roll (more Voile straps) and small frame pack. All flawless for 4 months on the road.

Tend to see quite a bit of Apidura stuff on Ebay etc

I can vouch for the build quality of bags by @jtrent90 . I have a couple of bags by him and will get another. I think he does custom stuff too but you’ll need to check.
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/375057/?offset=25#comment16645596

I've decided to do a little (2/3 days) French jaunt and I'm thinking this:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/restrap-rando-bag-small

On top of this:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/carriers-racks/jtek-alloy-front-carrier-cantilever-boss-mounting-black/

I just want small easily accessible front storage and not spend too much. Is there another combo I should be considering?

Also has anyone but the canti rack on a recessed fork bolt hole thingy; is it a PITA?

Depends how much space you need. My missus uses a Restrap canister bag (and I've used it on Badgers ride) and it has quite a bit of room for stuff.

I actually have a clip-on front bag here that uses a quick release thing. I used it touring in 2005 and haven't touched it since. It's had the mount glued but maybe you could use it? I did buy another QR thing for 31.8 bars at some point but I've just not used it because most of my bikes have aerobars on them now.

1 Attachment

That's what I have currently but I swapped my bars out for Ritchey Ergo riser things and now it won't fit; because of the rise.

The Restrap canister is probably too small. But thanks for the recommendation.

Restrap rando bags need full width support I think, like a pizza rack or pelagio.

Restrap do a bar pack which is bigger than the cannister, or Roadrunner Mini Rando could work, available on Freshtripe.

Edit, or a BigXTop bar bag? I've got one om order from Jordan, very much looking forward to using it in due course.

Any 2/3 season sleeping back recommendations? Alpkit seem fairly well reviewed.

I've got the 200 and 400 Pipedreams, switch between them depending on the weather. 200 does down to about 8°C with thermal tights and a down jacket (and I think I'm a fairly cold sleeper). I've slept well at -3°C in the 400.

The back of my thighs is hitting my small Zefal seat pack. Am I the only one with this problem? It's fairly narrow (6 cm wide where it attaches to the seatpost).

Is there by any chance a commercially available seatpack that'd sit way further back? Not anything too big, 5L would be perfect. I tried putting foam spacers between the Zefal and my seatpost, but even with 4 cm of spacers this isn't enough, thighs are still rubbing. Any more than that and the attachment system doesn't work anymore.

I'm not interested in Carradice-like saddlebags, I dislike them for other reasons, but that's for another post ;)

I'm not interested in Carradice-like saddlebags, I dislike them for other reasons, but that's for another post ;)

What reasons, which thread?

The EVOC boa bag could be a solution.

https://www.evocsports.com/SEAT-PACK-BOA/100607121-L

Rockgeist Gondola might work too, or one of the other dropper post compatible models.
https://bikepacking.com/gear/dropper-post-seat-bags/

You'll regret asking me to elaborate, I tend to be a little too loquacious on bike forums ;)

I tried a Swift Zeitgeist on a Bagman Expedition QR support, on a 200k and a 300k.

Regarding the bag:

• It fit everything I needed, however the bungee cord opening makes it difficult to access the contents. Having a single huge space makes it a pain in the ass to find anything. Basically, I'd prefer a bag with a U-shaped zipper (and maybe a storm flap, for style) that allows it to open completely, and movable, internal dividers (like a photography bag).
  
• Because the weight is placed fairly high and the bag is wider than my handlebars, it makes it difficult to rest the bike somewhere and look into the contents of the bag. It's a detail, but an important one during audaxes for me.
  
  

All of this could be fixed by having a custom bag made. However, my main criticisms are about the Carradice Bagman:

• The clamp is huge and limits the range of adjustment of the saddle. I don't want to start relying heavily on a support that I might have to get rid off in the future because of bike fit. I'm seeing a fitter in September: if he brings my saddle forward by more than 3 mm, I just won't be able to fit a Bagman anymore.
  
• It's made my saddle move backwards several times, on a properly torqued Thomson Elite. I'm not sure whether it's a slow process due to the vibrations, or something that happens when I hit a big bump, but I'm not willing to buy the additional struts to find out, due to my other concerns listed above.
  
  

I know alternatives exist, such as the SQR from Carradice or the Unirack from Manivelle, but given that my thighs are touching a seatpack, I'm fairly certain they'll touch these supports as well.

@Tijmen : Thanks! I had considered it but decided against it because it still touches the seatpost, so I don't think it'll solve the issue. My thighs are avoiding my seatpost by less than 5 mm on each side, basically.

@Samuli: Oh yeah, the Gondola might be perfect. Unfortunately I can't find a shop in EU that sells it (I'd want to try it and return it if it doesn't work for me) :/

I might actually go with a rear rack and slap Ortlieb accessory packs on each side... It seems that's what every ultra racer is doing with the Tailfin rack nowadays anyway.

I’ve had Carradice bags for close to 30 years and have never owned a bagman, though I had a similar tougher thing from Nitto? I think.
Very soon ditched it and went to a rear rack as support for the various bags I’ve used, never looked back. At various times I also have inserted pieces of coroplast into the bag as a stiffener.

Fair enough then! I'd still need loops for my saddle (I'm using a SMP Vulkor), but honestly if I end up using a standard rear rack like you, I'll just put micro-panniers on each side rather than a Carradice-style saddlebag.

I also like stiffeners in my bags, but the Zeitgeist already had one :)

rear rack and slap Ortlieb accessory packs on each side

I tried to do this when the packs were first released but I never managed to get a satisfactory attachment method (and, at the time, the only person I saw doing it had an elaborate wood/drill/hacksaw/glue type solution that was beyond me/my rack). Is there an easier fitting option these days..?

Having looked a bit better at the attachment system, I don't think so! Maybe by running a cord through the slots made for the waist strap?

I said Ortlieb AP because I saw some people on bikepacking.com doing that, but if there's no good way to attach them properly to the rack, I'll just sew my own.

I know alternatives exist, such as the SQR from Carradice or the Unirack from Manivelle, but given that my thighs are touching a seatpack, I'm fairly certain they'll touch these supports as well.

The SQR puts the bag a fair bit further back than something like the Zefal saddlepack. The bit that attaches to the seatpost is pretty much seatpost width.

You're right, I looked at the pictures a bit too quickly. Once modded, it could be an option to accomodate a small dry bag. I'll think about it though, to be honest, I just find it ugly as fuck.