Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

although Sealskinz gloves don't fit where mits allow fingers easily.

Too much info.

My trip is 3 1/2 weeks, so three sets of underwear and thin ls/tshirts, one pair trousers, light sandal shoes, boardshorts, down jacket, jungle bag, rain gear and only one set cycling gear. Plus tools n junk.

Not sure what I could have left at home. Stopping for three days means it's difficult to pack less civvies. Should have kept the drybag liner in the saddle bag though, and bought a backpack rain cover. Those are my two current regrets.

Anything you'd change?

I'd have reduced the civvies by taking convertable trousers where you can remove the legs to make shorts. I always carry a change of cycling gear to allow me to wash one set every night and change into clean gear the following day. You can't rely on having the first day's kit dry out overnight and you run the risk of getting saddle sores from dirty shorts if you don't wash them regularly. A thin merino jumper covers a lot of different temperature ranges washes and dries easily as well - might have allowed you to drop a t-shirt for example.

I'm lucky my kit dries quick, avoided sores so far. Agreed on merino though. I prefer a pair of real trousers to convertible, but that's more stylistic than functional.

I'm packing for a weeks tour at the moment. I've only got one pair of civies and they're not clothes I'd normally wear off the bike. I figure I can buy an outfit if I fancy going out in the evening when I get to cities near the end of the trip.

I've been saving all my lycra that needs to be thrown away for this trip so I can shed weight as the days go on. 4 pairs of bibs, 4 short sleeve jerseys and 4 base layers that will pass for a t-shirt off the bike.

All my clothes plus sleeping bag are going in a 20l Alpkit dry sack up front and I've used an alpkit kango for easy access stuff. The kango also makes attaching the dry sack a lot less faffy.

My one set of civies, plus a long sleeve jersey are in the frame bag with a battery pack that should last me the journey. The frame bag's also helping attache the tarp to the top tube, which really helps balance the weight (it's a 4m x 4m tarp). My sleeping matt and sandals are dangling off the saddle.

I took this set up for a test ride this morning and it felt amazing. Really planted and it cornered just as well as unloaded. Sluggish though, which made me happy my trip's mostly flat.

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and a cargo net for the evening shop or drying laundry

That's a lot of weight up front, but it will be nice once you dump some clothes along the way

I was worried about that, but the test ride was good. Both the sleeping bag and clothes are pretty lightweight. I would have liked more weight out back, but I haven't yet found a saddle pack that doesn't interfere with my legs while pedalling

For sure. I'm lucky I don't have so much seatpost showing on the road bike, my 18L ktm bag sits well behind, not a single rub so far.

Still, when I tried the extra weight up front I didn't like that point you turn too sharp and the weight takes over. Fingers crossed you don't get any issues.

You're going for a week and are taking 4 pairs of stuff?

2 pairs is fine, or if the weather is going to be warm, 1. And just wash them and hang to dry in evening sun.

"I've been saving all my lycra that needs to be thrown away"

Fair.
Different strokes.

I'd rather have a pair of shorts that I love with a good chammois, than stuff that is past it. If I have to sit on a saddle all day.

True but if it's a tour you've got opportunity to sort out comfort before binning the item.
Personally I'd save any old knicks for turbo training and wouldn't bin them until they were properly dead.

Yes, I am thinking of taking less. I will probably ditch one pair. Which means two burners and 1 good pair for the last day, which is also my longest day in the saddle.

The chamois is still good, they're just a bit see through now.

I decided to give up turbo training last year, I'm a much happier person for it.

Hi, I am planning a 4 days loop south of London for this coming weekend (Friday's off)
If anyone has got any idea it's more than welcome. Cycling with the missus so 60-80km/day will be the target roughly.

If the weather stays nice, go to Brighton and back. It's 'easy' to do in a day per direction, but over two days would be nice and relaxed. Plus, fish n chips and ice cream.

As an addendum to the Brighton-and-back idea, I can recommend maybe going/coming back via Eastbourne. I did round trip to Eastbourne last weekend, and discovered (a) where the Ashdown Forest is, and that (b) inland of Eastbourne is a lot flatter than inland of Brighton, because it's on the Eastern extent of the South Downs. (It's still a lumpy ride, mind.) The B2026 from Westerham, through Edenbridge, Hartfield and Maresfield is a very pleasant road and it's easy enough to navigate to Eastbourne avoiding the A22 from there.

(and @PhilPub) Thanks!

I did the Brighton and back several times, last of which two weeks back. But the idea of reaching out to Hastings and then loop around Eastbourne/Alfriston is kind of what I was thinking so far.. I'll see if I can develop it a bit

Potential repost, but hopefully not. Interesting speed test here comparing various bikepacking set-ups: http://www.cyclingabout.com/speed-difference-between-panniers-bikepacking-bags-aerodynamic-testing-results/

Also recommend Whistable/Kent in general, you still get the coastal loveliness, a new route (if you're familiar with Brighton ride) and some lovely countryside. This route
is great, especially if you get a train out to somewhere near the M25 to cut out the London exit. Lots of it on Pilgrims Way which is a beautiful (and historic) road. There is then a really nice off-road cycle path to Canterbury and you could plot a nice route back through Kent from there... Whitstable is such a charming little town and massive foodie destination which I reckon (from your other contributions on here) might appeal?

Interesting to read but there's a problem with his conclusions - he was riding at not far off 20mph, a speed you're unlikely to be going on a loaded touring bike unless you've a nice tailwind.

And because of the exponential relationship between speed & drag, if he was going at a more realisitic speed/ power level the aerodynamic impact would be quite significantly reduced making the difference between the set ups much less important.

Would be curious to see the results if he was putting out less power, going at a more normal touring pace.

Agreed. I'm happy going at 20mph average on training rides of two or three hours, with hills... but with this loaded setup I'm dragging through Germany at around 14mph over six hours daily with limited hills. Still, it's so windy I'll take any aeroz I can get.

Great shout (and good reading on the foodie weak side)!

I think I will save that for warmer months, also because I want to study the route to see if it can be done with a road bike.

The route is absolutely fine for road bikes - I did it once towing a dog in a tag-on carrier thing! But, whitstable in the sun is glorious so definitely save it for good weather. Some further recommendations:

http://www.wheelersoysterbar.com/
http://www.thesportsmanseasalter.co.uk/
http://www.neppy.co.uk/