Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

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Turn the crocs round, bottle holders!

I knew I posted it here for a reason! Thank you.

All hail the pasela.

What a croc

Perhaps the Seat stays would be more Aero?

Thanks for the reply.
Alpkit was out of stock in my size. I've gone for a Decathlon down bag at £99 'first price'.

First proper go at MTB bikepacking in the lakes. Optimistically planned for 3x100km days doing the Lakeland 300. Fuck me that was a ridiculous notion and have bailed hard. Even if I was as fit as I have been previously I doubt I'd have managed it. Bike is weighty pushing up hills but not sure what I could ha e left behind to make any easier.

Happy with my gaffa tape bottle cage, gaffa taped dropper adapter thing as the shitty apidura one ate itself, gaffa taped fork leg for the mounts I'd hose clamped on then removed after reading they can fuck up the internals?? Best thing has been the restrap fork bag lashed to the front of the loop bars, solid as they have loops stitched into them. Glad I've finally found a use for them.

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Just don't over torque on the forks. 3Nm or so, just enough so it won't twist under hand pressure.

Anyone want in on an Oveja Negra order to split shipping?

Completely new to this.
Did a ride - bivvy - ride last week and loved it. Borrowed a rack and pannier bags from a mate, but need something for future endeavours. He said a handlebar bag is a good start.

What do people think is a good starter for these kinda things? Any things to look out for/avoid?
Does anyone have anything they want to sell? I’m Leeds based and skint, which isn’t a great start, but it doesn’t hurt to ask!

Was my thinking but read some comments and got the fear. Managed to get away with the cage strapped to the down tube and squeeze the bottles in . I think next time I'll have bottles on the forks hose clamped on and a full frame bag.. Still actively avoiding using a hydration pack if I can avoid it at all costs. I guess it's inevitable for any future multi day plans.

Harnesses and dry bags. Outershell Handlebar Harness or Straight Cut handlebar harness. I have an unused straight cut that I’m looking to sell.

Ah interesting. Looks like a good solution. Might be a bit of a problem if it’s my only bag on the bike though.
Half tempted to try and make something in the meantime tho.
Rather annoyingly I’ve just given two old waterproofs to charity that would have been ideal to butcher haha.

If you or someone you know has got a sewing machine I made a shitey framebag in about 2 hours. I can barely sew but if you want to make a simple one it's nothing more than a cuboid with a zip

A full frame bag will have loads of capacity for clothes etc. but might want a bit more sewing skill there to prevent interference with your cranks and whatnot

I’ve got a sewing machine and a load of clips and straps. Quite like the idea of a diy bag.
Was dead chuffed repairing my rucksack but replacing plastic clips with D rings to make self locking straps.

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Similar option from Wayward Rider for rear. I’m going to make my own from 1.5 mm polypropylene sheet and webbing at some point this summer.

Good fix.

Might as well give a go then! You can always buy a replacement at a later date and it's not the end of the world if the fabric ends up being recycled

I used some fabric like this, bought 1m for like a fiver and still got loads left https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112850164347

(oh and you need a zip I suppose)

What are some options that are like the Jack bike rack, but actually available? I seem to remember one that replaced a spacer on your steerer tube..

The Jack is almost twice the weight of a Tubus Fly, yet less than a third of the carrying capacity…
Cantilever design vs three point weight distributed attachment…

Also, just stumbled on this, some customization seems feasible.
http://surl.li/cwvxs

You mean this? Been out of stock forever. https://www.hessonlabs.com/shop/stainless-steel-t-bar-rack

SJS/Thorn do a couple of accessory bars that can be used in a similar fashion, quite agricultural and only in limited lengths.

More along these lines.. https://theradavist.com/the-tim-tas-rek-ahead-steerer-rack-saves-your-saggy-handlebar-bags/

My bike has a carbon fork without eyelets so no 3 point mounting sadly.

Not the prettiest, but cost me nowt. Drybag harness V1, sewed it together in a rush last night. Seems to work, kinda.

Cheers for the idea @snoops

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Sweet. If you have webbing, buckles and a sewing machine, then all you need is some poly sheet and foam spacers to make something really solid.

What’s the deal with poly sheet and foam spacers? Is there a plan available online? This kinda works, but not fantastically. Fun making it tho!