Bikepacking - an alternative way of touring...

[RonK]

The external frame that supports the bag. Revelate bag does not have this. So if you crash bag is fine. I can see the other way being bent out of shape.

I cannot see there being much risk of this but I guess it could be happen.

What attracts to me to the Porcelain Rocket Mr Fusion is the claim it does not "wiggle, wobble, sag" which apparently is an issue with other bags. Having to put it up with moving out of line is not something that I really want to put up with on a tour.

Andrew

I think the stays are a good idea. Commonsense would dictate that you tighten the seat post clamp enough to stabilise the bag, but not enough that the stays are bent in case of a fall, just as you do with shift and brake levers

[Aushiker]

I use a Carradice SQR Tour seat bag which has an internal metal support. There is really precious little chance that it would get damaged in any fall. I'd guess the same would apply to yours Andrew.

Good point. I forgot I have a Carradice on my commuter which uses the quick release mount (name escapes me) and it also is unlikely to be damaged in a fall.

Andrew

[il padrone]

SQR = seat-post quick release

[RonK]

The Monkii Gorilla Cage looks an interesting alternative to the new Salsa Anything cage.

[just4tehhalibut]

That's actually two products, the Gorilla Cage


mounted on the MonkII Clip.


Although the combo gives you a clamp that can stay on the fork and a cage that can handily quick release off both the cage and mount are only good for 1.5kgs whereas the Anything Cage takes 3kg. So I wouldn't use it for carrying a bladder or heavy tent.

But the MonkII Clip is interesting, Abbotsford Cycles has been selling them for a while so has anyone here used a set on their forks to carry a bidon or Anything cage? And how well does it go with mounting on a normal fork like the LHT's instead of a round suspension fork leg?

[Aushiker]

Another dropbar option, the Origin 8 Gary Sweep OS Bar



There is more details on the bar at Guitar Ted Productions

Andrew

[rifraf]

Some more musing:
https://ridingprivateidaho.wordpress.co ... nt-page-1/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ignore my windup bias at providing the above link. A gentle stir at the fargo fans (of which I'm one) but the guy has an interesting stable of bikes including Brompton and a fat bike whose name escapes me.
Talk about brevity in his bike reviews and lack of pics...... Still his bias gave me an Ogre induced grin

[Aushiker]

Some more musing:
https://ridingprivateidaho.wordpress.co ... nt-page-1/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ignore my windup bias at providing the above link. A gentle stir at the fargo fans (of which I'm one) but the guy has an interesting stable of bikes including Brompton and a fat bike whose name escapes me.
Talk about brevity in his bike reviews and lack of pics...... Still his bias gave me an Ogre induced grin

Interesting it is a comparison of stock bikes, other than weight and tyre width the balance is really irrelevant as changes can be made so actually there is very little in it. I suspect this guy really does not have a clue unlike your good self who built your bike yourself and hence ensured it had an ideal configuration

Andrew

[RonK]

Isn't it called making a silk purse out of a sow's ear? His attempt to make a virtue out of the extra weight?

Notably, he omits to mention the horrible horizontal dropouts of the Ogre vs the Alternator dropouts of the Fargo.

[Wingnut]

Really it's just a light hearted review...I think the crux of it is drop bars vs flatter style Mtb bars...

I agree in that I prefer drop bars on my road bikes...drop bars for touring okay but single trail not so much...tried them years ago...

No mention of the dropouts because it isn't a problem...?

[singlespeedscott]

Here's something that might interest you fat tyred bike packers, or prehaps polarise you -

http://www.bikerumor.com/2015/02/04/dit ... -codepack/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Aushiker]

Here's something that might interest you fat tyred bike packers, or prehaps polarise you -

http://www.bikerumor.com/2015/02/04/dit ... -codepack/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Saw that a few days ago and moved on

Andrew

[Aushiker]

Salsa The Anytime Bag ...

Andrew

[Aushiker]

Andrew

[RonK]

Having compared with BBD and Porcelain Rocket handlebar rolls, I've concluded the Relevate harness design is superior. At least for my intended use with a drop bar, the moulded rubber spacer blocks will provide clearance from the cables.

[RonK]

Salsa The Anytime Bag.

These look good...

[singlespeedscott]

Having compared with BBD and Porcelain Rocket handlebar rolls, I've concluded the Relevate harness design is superior. At least for my intended use with a drop bar, the moulded rubber spacer blocks will provide clearance from the cables.

It looks like a shin guard

[Aushiker]

Another option is the Alpkit Kanga...



Andrew

[Aushiker]

Its Sunday, it is hot (heading to 40 C), so not much outside activity so here throwing some ideas around in my head. As my Salsa Mukluk 2 is coming and it has a 150mm OLD fork a dynamo off the shelf is not an option so I am just throwing options around and one of those is solar power to recharge a Anker 15,000 mah battery.

With a more traditional touring option of racks and panniers I can see a solar panel mounted on the rack, draped over the panniers but with a bikepacking setup I will not have a panniers or a rack which leaves the question of how to mount a solar panel.

As a guide I am looking at most of the time going five days between main power sources and I use a Garmin Edge 810 that will be the main item needing charging. I also carry an iPad but that gets limited use and can generally survive this time-frame.

mmm maybe thinking about this more just sticking with the Anker or two might be a better option.

Ideas?

Andrew

[Mongrel]

Its Sunday, it is hot (heading to 40 C), so not much outside activity so here throwing some ideas around in my head. As my Salsa Mukluk 2 is coming and it has a 150mm OLD fork a dynamo off the shelf is not an option so I am just throwing options around and one of those is solar power to recharge a Anker 15,000 mah battery.

With a more traditional touring option of racks and panniers I can see a solar panel mounted on the rack, draped over the panniers but with a bikepacking setup I will not have a panniers or a rack which leaves the question of how to mount a solar panel.

As a guide I am looking at most of the time going five days between main power sources and I use a Garmin Edge 810 that will be the main item needing charging. I also carry an iPad but that gets limited use and can generally survive this time-frame.

mmm maybe thinking about this more just sticking with the Anker or two might be a better option.

Ideas?

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

You could get this 18W solar panel (see Below) from Jaycar. You could clip it to a backpack as it only weighs 290 grams and it's waterproof. This is the solar panel that I use on the top of my Bob Ibex trailer.
All the details of the panel are here: http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ZM9150



Mongrel.

[rifraf]

Its Sunday, it is hot (heading to 40 C), so not much outside activity so here throwing some ideas around in my head. As my Salsa Mukluk 2 is coming and it has a 150mm OLD fork a dynamo off the shelf is not an option so I am just throwing options around and one of those is solar power to recharge a Anker 15,000 mah battery.

With a more traditional touring option of racks and panniers I can see a solar panel mounted on the rack, draped over the panniers but with a bikepacking setup I will not have a panniers or a rack which leaves the question of how to mount a solar panel.

As a guide I am looking at most of the time going five days between main power sources and I use a Garmin Edge 810 that will be the main item needing charging. I also carry an iPad but that gets limited use and can generally survive this time-frame.

mmm maybe thinking about this more just sticking with the Anker or two might be a better option.

Ideas?

Andrew

Isn't the simplest solution a dynamo hub in your Extrawheel Trailer?
Or are you completely against taking it?
I mean if the idea of backpacking is simply to unload the bike of pannier bulk to enjoy the unencumbered "ride", isn't this achieved by a trailer?
I'm talking about fire roads, goat trails and single track conditions i.e. Munda Biddi style, Gibb River Rd etc.
Pure bikepacking mode looks great for weekenders but even Cass Gilbert doesn't limit himself too much when on an extended trip as he takes that expensive Mule
http://www.en.tout-terrain.de/trailers/mule/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I note he says:
"However, it only realistically allows me to carry 3-5 days of food, unless I wear a backpack – which I prefer to avoid. Generally this has proved to be ample, but there are times when the ability to haul more cargo is preferred.
If I’m anticipating riding longer distances between re-supplies, or helping out a riding partner, I have the option of fitting a rear rack and two small panniers, or pulling a trailer. I tend to prefer the latter, despite the extra hardware involved and the associated logistical challenges it can sometimes pose. A single wheel trailer"
http://www.whileoutriding.com/packlist" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Aushiker]

Isn't the simplest solution a dynamo hub in your Extrawheel Trailer?
Or are you completely against taking it?

It would be if I was taking it and I am sure there will be tours when I need it but for the other tours I would prefer to leave it at home, hence looking at options for those situations. No different to my approach with the LHT, I don't always take the trailer. If I take the trailer I will be doing as you suggested previously and using a dynamo wheel for sure.

Andrew

[rifraf]

Have you got a link handy showing a "typical" (yeah I know thats subjective) say three day packlist you'd imagine taking?
I'm having difficulty in imagining sustained duration of what appears to be shown bikepacker folk taking.
Once the bars have the tent, mattress combo and the forks laden with a couple of water bottles, I can see a couple of litres of a frame bag and what appears to be approx 20 litres in something like a Carradice Super C saddlebag or similar.
Where does the sleeping bag or quilt go?

I think I'm agreeing that for the relatively short duration of a bikepacking trip, your Anker 15,000 mah battery will be more than ample to take on the challenge of your Garmin Edge, phone and maybe a maintenance top up of your iPad.

In my ignorance of bikepacking, my first thoughts are about the challenge of where your going to stash said necessities.

I look forward to seeing your final iteration of specialist bikepacking bags and your loading of them.

Cant wait to see some pics showing the progress of your bike build (?)/buy and your packing priorities.

[Aushiker]

Have you got a link handy showing a "typical" (yeah I know thats subjective) say three day packlist you'd imagine taking?

Just heading out the door, but IIRC this post at MTBDirt might give you some ideas.

I am also making some changes to my gear ... to get the pack size down.

Andrew

[RonK]

Have you got a link handy showing a "typical" (yeah I know thats subjective) say three day packlist you'd imagine taking?
I'm having difficulty in imagining sustained duration of what appears to be shown bikepacker folk taking.
Once the bars have the tent, mattress combo and the forks laden with a couple of water bottles, I can see a couple of litres of a frame bag and what appears to be approx 20 litres in something like a Carradice Super C saddlebag or similar.
Where does the sleeping bag or quilt go?

Bikepacking is really only suited to short trips - such as the 4418km Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

This link has been posted here before - it's Troy Szczurkowski's (he's the mechanic at one of my lbs) bikepacking setup for the 1200km Kiwi Brevet. Hint - he doesn't haul a camper trailer or take furniture.

There are plenty more individual bikepacking setups discussed here.

I've ordered the new Anker Zolo 12000mAh as my backup battery.