Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

I'll see what I can dig up.

Took the ol' decathlon cockpit set up on a BnB tour in darkest kent this weekend.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/100-bike-handlebar-bag-25l-id_8355750.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl6LoBRDqARIsABllMSZYvHKdZVgSw-82qi_hD2zw5NWc1rouX5B7IzERaVAApHeLrTKbnmcaAmkJEALw_wcB

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/fabric-bottle-cage-id_8487122.html

Had a 500ml water bottle in the bottle cage and my layers/ snax / sunnies in the handlebar bag. No complaints whatsoever though it's not like I ended up in a torrential downpour. For the price they seem pretty great if you're just a nodder like me who wants easy access to Colin The Caterpillars. I could fit:

A bag of CTC
Packed windshell
Nylon overshirt
Sunglasses case

For five pounds i think the water bottle holder is worth it just for the grippy velcro straps it comes with. I wish it had mesh pockets on the side but I'm just being greedy.

Also I put patches on the btwin logo so that I wouldn't get penalised for the non aesthetic brand.

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that bar bag is actually good

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/junior-handlebar-bag-18l-id_8380516.html

You can also get it in cool colours if you're a child.

Will forum HNWIs sully themselves by entering a Decathlon?*

*Their café in Surrey Quays does stay open until 21:00 it seems.

The bottle cage is great. For a fiver it puts the boutique 'stem cells' to shame. Bit tough to close with a single hand though

Yep! I agree on all counts. the trick is to not pull it all the way open when you open it, so you only have to shift it slightly back to closed. still a bit fiddly but I never had to stop to close it.

Was asked for some pics of it on the bike.

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Nice. Might get one of both when nrct near one .

Tactical patches all around

Bar bag (decathlon)...£9
Patch (inner decay)...£5

Not having to return your bag because there's something wrong with the nice but pricey straps....priceless.

Any pics of them in action?

Edit: sorry, see that they have been posted in the intervening time. Nice kit.

Re bottle cages/food pouches I find cinching the elastic over top cap/stem gives easy one handed closure and helps them sit even more snugly. I like to keep mine so full of food nothing could get out anyway!

http://www.freeparable.com/portfolio/gorilla-cage/

Was looking at the stick on Yak system the other day but spotted this well reviewed on offroad.cc

Might be of interest to some on here.

How do you get on with the Miss Grape frame and saddle bags?

Seem fine. I bought them from my LBS because its what I could get hold of on a next day availability thing. I've not really used anything else but never had any problems.

Sorry 'bout the wait, but I had to digg around after a photo of the setup.
It's a fairly run of the mill frameset, but fits 32mm tyres under the mudguards which is nice and with a 38/26 chainset it gets up most things even with a load.
The wheels are worn thin now and we're piecing together a new build with my old vagabond framset with disc brakes and dynamo hub, as she has a bit more of a commute these days.
Also, I cannot say enough good things about the Pelago rack/basket combo.

If it helps (despite being literally just their other products that you didn’t ask about) I get on well with their handlebar bag and stem pod. I use the pod everyday to hold a speaker and stuff, its getting pretty fucked now due to rubbing on a canti brake hanger most days, but has lasted impressively

.

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#URTaintdead

Just putting together the bag config for my upcoming 4/5 day trip to Normandy (camping and cooking). A few bits in each bag to add some weight for riding on my commute to test.

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I have one of those SQR bags on my CDF, so useful for commuting, touring etc. love the fact it can be taken off and carried around. I do find it a bit fiddly to get onto the bracket especially when loaded.

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First bikepacking bag spotted at work. How weird would it be to go and check if my laptop fits? :D

Small frame bag for this frame and bottles, that doesn’t interfere with the bottles - is one of the Alpkit MTB shaped ones the answer?

https://www.alpkit.com/products/possum

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just get side entry/exit cages and a normal one.