Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

I can just cover it in gorilla tape if you want. no extra charge and extra waterproof.

Might have this off you pending a few questions:

1. how big is it? Big enough for say, a camera?
   
2. why don't you like it?
   
3. will you post?
   

1. Alpkit say 25 x 7 x 11 cm depends on the camera, but yes easily for most smaller ones. I'll test with my x-pro 1 later if you want.
   
2. I don't not like it, I just never used it really, no point in me keeping it.
   
3. I will.
   

I have one, it's great. Except for the zipper puller which will fail eventually, but that's easy and cheap to replace.

Does anyone make a decent seat pack stabiliser? Similar to the Porcelain Rocket pack, but not specific to that bag. I find I need to cinch my bag down pretty regularly to stop sway out of the saddle.

Also descending rocky trails, or anything with a drop bigger than a curb, is a bit sketchy as I can't get weight as far back as I'd like. Any solution? I suppose a dropper isn't going to work with a seat pack?

https://ridepdw.com/products/bindle-rack

hi! does anyone have a Garmin Etrex to borrow today/tomorrow for this week....any help much appreciated thanks!

There's this thing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPR2u-qZhIk

Which one could easily bodge out of something like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bicycle-Cycling-Seat-Post-Back-Double-Water-Bottle-Holder-Cage-Rack-Adapter-GD/263252515042?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D51001%26meid%3Db334ac48a6b34a4b9270528c75971a91%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D263252515042%26itm%3D263252515042&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A035ac7b7-4175-11e8-9da9-74dbd1803149%7Cparentrq%3Ace837a2d1620ab6ad32f0bc9fff7ce56%7Ciid%3A1

It would work with a dropper, you would just need something top stop the action to protect the bag. Something like this

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/small-components/products/valais-25

Which im sure you could easily make out of something designed to clamp onto the post.

I'm going to try and bodge something out of an old crud catcher rear mudguard. In my mind, its going to to be secured to the post below the bag. Flipped upside down so it angles up and aligned to the angle of the seat pack. May put a couple of slots into the plastic guard to enable strap to threaded through. Will provide anti sway, linear support and some extra splash/stone proofing.

Pics will follow whenever i get round to it/finally get out for an adventure.

One of these?

Yep.

Will probably dremel bits away/make it shorter but in my head, it should do what i'm thinking it will do.

That bottle thing is aluminium right? So won't take kindly to bending... Wonder if there's some other way to get the bottle cages back in play - would need to bodge some sort of 90° adapter or an off-centre, side-loading bottle cage. Any ideas anyone?

You could just get the WOHO bike one that requires no bodging?

Today I are mostly seeing if I can fit a tiny tent, sleepy bag and air mattress into a Carradice saddlebag. Plus waterproof, phonecharger, pants, socks, booze & narcotics, toothbrush, lube, that sort of thing.

Looking good so far.

Yeah, I just had a look though and it's sold out. Also I looked at them before and IIRC the postage was quite a lot from the US. Those other ones are only £2.something on AliExpress.

Edit: also as if I'm going to miss the opportunity to do a bit of bodging

You want to borrow a revelate handlebar bag?

Thanks for the suggestions. The PDW might be a little overengineered for use with a saddle bag. Looks like it might have to be some kind of home-made bodge.

Careful packing, and some sort of rigid item at the bottom of the bag (to stop the strap that goes through the saddle rails digging in) help. Also, if you can put multiple straps (at multiple heights) round the seatpost that seems to help. Has done wonders for my Alpkit tapered drybag (the cheapy version).

I have the same bag-

and some sort of rigid item at the bottom

A flexible piece of plastic hacked out of an A4 ring binder at the bottom has helped loads. The mudguard should just make it all a bit easier and even more rigid.

It is definitely the downside to bikepacking bags compared to panniers. You need to concentrate when packing and it takes multiple efforts to get it down. Also not ideal when the temp drops and you wear everything. They like to be full.

Is there a seat bag on the market that likes being about 5l? Frame Bags aren’t the best option as I’ve more than one bike and they don’t all have the same space in between and I’d like it to be easy to swap between bikes.

Basically for weekend adventures to hotels. My ortlieb is utter dross unless full and I just don’t need t fill it being about 5l?

I’m best getting one made aren’t I?

2.7l?

Even at its biggest it’s just too small. The joys of Scotland mean heavy inclement weather.

Which Carradice?

Thanks mate
Think I'm going to keep it to the one bag. Easier to lug about when I get off the bike.

@withered_preacher Giant SuperC one. It's a beast, takes my terranova tent poles across the bottom just about.

I usually strap tent poles to top tube get worried about snapping them. Also frees up space.