Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

seriously considering a revelate designs/bikepack.eu saddlebag (viscacha/repack)

does anybody else have one they'd like to sell? Short of me actually orderingone and inevitably having to wait months.

No way I'm selling mine, although tempted to replace it with the newer version.

RD is first come first serve, every couple of months he ran out of his stock and have to make more which take a couple of months.

Right now, digital camo and black is sold out.

Machine, it usually take quite a while to arrived from the state, so don't worry.

Think it could arrive before LEL?

Black/slate sounds alright, black would have been my first choice

Maybe, remember my offer?

Thanks I'd definitely like to borrow it if that's cool :)
Won't you be using it for LEL though?

Nah, I'm not planning to carry that much stuff, the handlebar bag is big enough to carry everything I need for the 1400k.

Ahh of course!
Well in that case I'll PM you about the revelate in a bit :)

The frame bag finally arrived. I didnt take the customs costs into account which I had to pay on delivery. (€18,45) But I dont care as my Terra Nova Laser Comp 1 fits amazing, in the sidebag is space for spare parts and tools and I can still fit a 500ml and a 750ml bottle in the cages. Simply perfect!

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Awesome! and you're an extremely brave soul to ride with carbon.

Looking good, will you be switching to side entry cages?

I considered it but it's not really necessary as the front bottle comes out easily. The rear one is a little harder to get out when in the saddle but I figured that when the front bottle is empty I just decant from the rear to the front. Problem solved without having to replace my schmexy PX cages. I cant swap the bottles though as the 750ml one doesnt fit at the rear.

While writing this I came up with the idea of lowering the rear bottle cage so I can tighten only one bolt, then strap it with a tie-wrap. That'll allow for 2 750ml bottles to be on the bike. I'll try that later today :)

btw vin/machine, you dont consider making it a bit more theft proof by wrapping it with old inner tubes? also serves as anti scratch too.. i can show you how its done if you drop by..

Has anyone experience of this cheap hi-gear tent?

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-soloista-p217173

I realise buy cheap, buy twice, but it's like £20...

I would caution about any tent which is pitched inner first as they can get quite wet before you have had chance to get the fly over. Other than that it looks OK but for a single person tent I prefer to use just a bivvy bag sometimes supplemented with a tarp if I have the space and inclination to carry one.

^^ you can get a Highlander Blackthorn (rebranded Gelert Solo) for £35.

I'm also looking for a lightweight tent (on a budget) and was about to push the button...

...£20 is really cheap.

I've always found small singleskin tents fine. They're natuarally lighter/cheaper/simpler and often less cramped.

Where's good to pick up a cheap tarp? Wickes have them but they're huge (and heavy).

You can get cheap and heavy from decathlon but I like these guys: http://www.ddhammocks.com/products/tarps

They do a small which is just big enough as a lean to but gets the weight sub 500g.

^^ depends what you call cheap? alpkit rig7 is small and light but 50notes

Most important thing is I don't have my bike nicked, while I'm sleeping or shopping or eating in a cafe, or on the toilet. Not sure where I'll be or for how long, so while I'm sure in rural France nobody steals and everybody loves their mum I'll prefer the added security.

After a moment of hesitation I locked my bike outside the train station office in tiny village in the north of France early on a Sunday morning. Got out a few minutes later and had to chase a teenager making off with my tent. Unlikely but still possible.

Did you catch them?

^^^ repped.

Are you able to use something like this: http://bikepack.pl/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=55 with drop down handle bars where my front break is up next to the stem? Will I be limited to only riding in the drops or with the bulls of the drops? I tend to use the handle up by the stem allot...

2nd thing: Big problem - I am hoping to go bikepacking on August 17 for about 3 weeks of easy going and was hoping to buy some stuff from bikepack.pl to avoid racks and panniers... However they have an 8week waiting list that would take us to september, way after our trip. Has anyone got any bikepacking bags like a big seatpost/saddlebag that they would not mind lending me for my trip? If not, I have considered Revalate Designs and Wildcat, but am looking for a cheaper option like bikepack.pl. Does anyone have any other products/companies they can suggest?
Cheers
Rory

That handlebar bag won't allow you to use the drops, though revelate designs do one which will if you're handlebars are 42cm or wider.

Bikepack.eu isn't that cheap when you consider postage. Think i ended up paying 70 quid (and that was with sharing the postage with another forumer buying one)

I'd be happy to sell you mine for that price, as i ended up buying a black rainbow project one and never using it.

Carradice ones are surpsingly good and you'll definitely be able to get one in time
http://www.carradice.co.uk/products/type/sqrtour

Revelate Designs are great but shipment from US will also take time

Thankyou, I revelate desighns may be a bit too expensive for now despite there reputation, Bikepack said their shipping would only be £12 for me for everything, Was that a handlebar bag laner? Carradice looks good I will go with them if Im not able to borrow anything else before the trip.

Anyone able to advise a frame bag that puts the weight at the front of the bike (i.e. not a rear triangle) which is suitable for a long head tube? - 4 inches between TT and DT.

EDIT:
A triangle bag mirror mounted might actually be the best option!