Bikepacking - a viable alternative to racks & panniers

http://www.cielbleu.ch/blog/?p=9335

Sweet, will PM you later.

Nice write-up and pics Andy, good to learn a few lessons regardless of the outcome.

Interestingly (perhaps?) one of my lessons from the weekend was to have an accessible Top Tube bag for snacks instead of having to rummage in another bag. I think it shouldn't be too difficult to make one either. I have a basic mesh covered one from when I did longer distance Tri stuff but I can't find it at the mo.

The stem bags work really well for dipping into snacks and stuff, I just overpacked them with gear that should have gone elsewhere. In future it'll be one for snacks, the other for camera and other go-to bits (route cards and wallet probably). They're dead easy to make once you figure out how to sew round a circle!

Here's some pics from my weekend:

Route:- I tried to map it using gmap pedometer but twice it crashed on save, so I printed the page for memory:

I don't like the Hyde way out of town, so followed my nose to skirt just north of it... went a bit far north!

Stalybridge I had a puncture, the temporary tyre boot I fitted a couple of weeks back had worn through, plus I found a hole in the sidewall near that. A quick park-patch and the use of the inner tube offcuts pictured survived the weekend. Dunno why I took the 15mm spanner or road innertube, both nods to different bikes I ride, but need to be ruthless for kit on trips like this.

I'd estimated being at Ladybower before dark. I hung about Glossop too long, so at the top of Snake Pass I waved goodbye to the last of the dusk:

View at dawn:

My "footprint", leave no trace etc:

There was an all-nighter nearby (Peace in the Dark):

Definitely a luxury, taken at Hope Cross after a big push the wrong way up a descent called "The Beast":

I didn't get many more pics after that, needed to press on plus phone battery was low, infact turned it off at 10% for ICE only duty until I reached Romiley.

Would rather get bitten by hundreds of mosquitoes than ten midges.

I'm carrying over 100 bites. My legs are very itchy right now. They're very Polka Dot / KotM* infact.

*King of the Midges

Last post, this might be useful... to secure the 13l drybag on my bars I used two compresson straps around the bars, but sat the bag ontop of this bodge (I linked to similar before) and then used a bungee through the loop for extra stablilty. It barely wobbled, really happy with the result. Upgraded to old Hope bar plugs on it once home as the stock plastic ones broke, am not sure why.

Havent time to read, but photos make a great image. Eager to read them stories!

Those interested in long tour story reads. It isnt yet finished, but there's quite some text and photos already. http://www.lfgss.com/thread125182.html

this & 8oz keepcup should fit in my ti mug nicely to replace aeropress for next trip

I got one of these today for bikepacking duty

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Cook%20Gear/Cooking%20Accessories/GSI%20Outdoors%20Ultralight%20Java%20Drip/Owner%20Review%20by%20Richard%20Lyon/

it is great. The review I found after but sells it well.

Packsize pic vs aeropress

I cobbled together some alpkit dry bags with a carradice bagman to create a simple setup for my 3 day bivvy....the route is 185 miles, off road.

Just my north face big bum bag to go on me for the other bits, but that ^ has my hammock,tarp, and sleeping bag in....

Anyone heard of this company before... http://www.apidura.com/

https://www.apidura.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SaddlePack_Large_OnBikePerspective-1180x640.png

Mike Hall is thrashing a bunch of their stuff on the Trans Am Race at the moment. Believe they are the same weight but a bit cheaper than Revelate (unless you get lucky with customs), not sure where they're made but the warehouse is in London somewhere...

Looks great and honest prices. Good find!

I think the addition of reflective bits is also a plus if it's being used for road riding/touring.

Should really stop looking at these and just sit down infront of the sewing machine one evening... :(

Farmebag look exactly the same as the Revelates one.

Price is reasonable, not too far off RD not accounting the custom charge.

Tempted to get the framebag as the medium sizing seemed a little better for my 60x54cm frame, would still get the saddlebag from RD thought.

edit - RD framebag is cheaper, go figure.

^ Including customs?
Meh got my RD framebag anyway. Will buy a proper saddle bag some day though. Hope I have time for some touring when I live in Madrid. Will probably do a similar route to you, if you plan to start from madrid. But then a roundtrip.

I based my price comparison on the imported Revelate stuff from Scotland not buying direct. Choices choices...

In hindsight I should have got my Tangle from the US, rolls up tiny, or folds super small...

If based in the UK, why not order in the UK? No customs, probably better after sales service too.

If based in the UK, why not order in the UK? No customs, probably better after sales service too.

For the Revelate stuff, the distributor's conversion is $1 = £1, like Apple... so ordering from the US + postage with the current exchange rate works out a fair big cheaper, even if you get charged by Parcelfarce you still probably £10-20, or £40something if not.

I couldn't care any less about where it is based in, only whether their product is good or not.

Delivery add it up to £65 on the RD framebag, exact same as Apidura, now going for Apidura (less risk of custom charge despite never receiving such).

Ah didn't take that exchange rates into account. Well if you can sew one yourself that's great. All I can say about RD is that I love my Tangle more than anything.

Machine, your new bike, right?

Oh lord. Revelate Designs it is!

Apidura logos are impressively naff looking in that amount ^^

They successfully made themselves look like the Aztec Brakes of bikepacking.

I cobbled together some alpkit dry bags with a carradice bagman to create a simple setup for my 3 day bivvy....the route is 185 miles, off road..

What handlebars are those?