Video

@hopleyp it was one recording. I paused and shut off my Garmin each night without ending the ride.

@@Squirrel_Rides ah thanks. Not sure I can do that on the Wahoo, I'll have to give it a try

It was really incredible. I’d do it again tomorrow if I could! Enjoy ♥️

I’m using one, aren’t I? 😉 I’ve actually moved to a Tailfin these days. I would personally aspire to a lighter, more nimble setup for my preferred terrain if my saddle height allowed it. The “functionality” of accommodating excess rear luggage seems counter to the very spirit of mountain biking (great for more traditional touring!), but in the end I reached the same conclusion - that a small rack reduces the amount of adjusting and repacking that I have to do vs a seat pack, and adds a degree of stability to the rear load. Everyone adventures differently and has their own setup preferences, and I have enjoyed the process (minus the cost!) of figuring out what suits me, my bikes, my riding style, and my favorite routes best.

Hey Alicia! I’m currently using (and obsessed with!) a Tailfin rack, although I have yet to use it on my full sus trail bike. Tailfin says they are FS-approved because of the articulating pivots, which makes sense. My favorite things about the Tailfin are the light weight, the fact that it doesn’t touch the frame thanks to thru-axle and seat post mounting, the dropper compatibility, and the clip-on AP20 trunk bag. It’s pricey but worthwhile. If your frame isn’t carbon and you don’t mind a little more weight, the Thule Pack n Pedal featured in this video works great, and the Aeroe Spider rear rack is a popular option as well (I haven’t tried that one yet but I’ve researched it a fair bit). Both of those clamp to the seat stays, so I would only use them on alloy or steel frames.

…one more bit of advice if you end up investing in a Tailfin: I wanted the alloy rack because it comes in a version with mounting bosses along either side of the arch, increasing cargo accommodations if you don’t want pannier mounts. The carbon racks don’t offer that option. However, my low dropper pushing down on a big dry bag ended up bending the alloy top stay down toward my wheel. I consulted with the company and ended up keeping the alloy arch but going with a carbon top stay and the AP20 trunk to address these issues. The carbon is much stiffer and the trunk bag clips in, doing away with the possibility of a standard drybag load inching forward and wedging under the saddle (which it WILL do because of the angle of the top stay on a small modern mountain bike). It’s a super stable setup and was FLAWLESS on the 200+ mile Badger Divide this summer. Tailfin will sell you a mix-and-match hybrid setup like that, but it’s not an option on the website - you’ll have to call or email and have them put it together for you :)

@@Squirrel_Rides Oh my, this is great info! I've never bike packed before, my first trip will be next Sept doing the San Juan Hut to Hut ride. And you make it look so much fun, I'm excited! I want to go to Kentucky and bike pack with you ladies! Have a great day, and thank you!!! ps: please do more videos on your gear :) pss: and why were you not able to go on your trip mentioned in this video?

@@aliciadiaz2730 thanks so much! Your hut to hut ride will be AMAZING - I'm sure you'll be hooked! Feel free to join our Central Kentucky Bikepackers group on Facebook if you're interested in any of our group rides ;). I really enjoy making these videos, but have so little time to dedicate to it. Hopefully I can put a couple together for 2024. I pulled out of the trip mentioned in this video due to a positive COVID test the night before departure, although it ended up being a false positive or some sort of lab error. I wasn't sick, but it was during a time when we were still trying to protect each other and I had done the test as a screening. I never did get sick and multiple subsequent tests were negative - so as you can probably see in the video, I was pretty bummed!

I’m not 😉. Married 20 years to a great guy, but he’s a homebody. Luckily I have wonderful, adventurous friends! ♥️

Yes, I still really like this rack. I have since bought a Tailfin, mostly because I wanted to have a lightweight option that didn’t mount to the frame so that I can use it on my carbon gravel and full sus bikes as well. Both racks have their advantages - the main downside to this Thule rack is the weight at over 2#… but I love the wide flat top, and the adjustability that makes it easy to slide backward or forward and keep the loading surface level. It’s a great option for this aluminum hardtail setup!

It depends so much on the route length and resupply options. I’m a lazy cook and don’t want to carry more than I have to, so I’ll buy food along the way when possible. If that’s not an option and the weather is warm, almond butter and fruit/seed wraps are a staple that don’t take up much room. A few of those plus bars, gels, jerky, and fruit snacks fit easily in my front roll (plus some in my top tube and stem bags for ride snacks). If it’s cold and I’m taking a camp stove, I’ll often put that in a small dry bag and use the cages on the fork mounts. I usually pack ramen or something equally small for cooking rather than big bulky camp meals. I use a compression sack or dry bag with a carabiner and paracord to contain food items and hang food and trash at night.

Thank you great insights

Yep they’re just an extra storage option. Those mounts came with the Topeak VersaCage for forks that don’t have mounts built in

@@Squirrel_Rides thank you exactly what I’ve been looking for for my hardtail bike

Well thank you so much for that - you've made my day! 1.) The tiny visibility lights I have on the fork arch and the rear rack are by Bontrager. On the bar I have a couple of 1100 options - one is a Nite Rider and the other is by Giant. I also have a Light & Motion lamp that I mount on my helmet for rides that cross through a lot of tunnels, etc... I don't recall the model but a quick Google search tells me it's probably the Vis 360 Pro. 2.) I don't even remember where I got the bell. I just wanted something small and clean on the bars, so it's a very basic little black bell. 3.)The fender is from Groundkeeper Custom and it matches the frame protection kit I have on the bike. It definitely does seem to keep some of the splatter at bay, which is nice on that soggy gravel dust that turns to cement! I'm so glad to hear that you're finding lots of room for adventure in your retirement. And thank you for your service! I'm a veterinarian myself and have been lucky enough to work with some really incredible wildlife folks. I bet you have a lot of interesting stories to tell!

@@Squirrel_Rides Thanks so much for that comprehensive reply. Squirrel Rides. I won’t use your “pen name” out loud around my Aussie. If we even say the word “squirrel”, she goes absolutely ballistic….so we are careful not to! I subscribed to your channel….as you provide a wealth of great information, plus both my daughters ride bicycles. I have two more questions--I don’t want to be a pain, but --(1) at one point you had your rig’s rear wheel in a stand. I want one of those to store my bike in the basement. Do you know what brand? Also, regarding “stands” (2) I’m considering adding a quality kickstand to my bikepacking rig….with a load on, I’m not keen on constantly leaning it against trees, fences, rocks, etc ….have you considered or do you have one for bikepacking rides? Thanks again…great video!

@@captaincoyote1792 hmmmm. I’m not sure on the brand of the stand - Hubby bought them online. It works pretty well but honestly I’d love to get a couple of the ones that sort of skewer the bottom bracket - they take up less space and you don’t have to adjust for tire size. Well, I’d really love to get a wall-mount system, but we don’t have a free wall at the moment 😉. As for the kickstand, I’ve never looked into them and I have no interest in having one. Maybe for a really heavy or awkward load on a tame route it could be beneficial, but I’m usually riding more technical, rugged terrain and kickstands are a bit of a hazard in those conditions!

@@Squirrel_Rides thank you, again…take care, be well, and you and your husband please ride safe. (BTW….veterinarians are unsung heroes!). Thank you again, for the great information.

@@Squirrel_Rides thank you, again…take care, be well, and you and your husband please ride safe. (BTW….veterinarians are unsung heroes!). Thank you again, for the great information.

I use Voile rack straps. They have a clip on each end that snaps directly onto the rails on either side of the rack.

So glad it was helpful! Have an amazing trip! 😁

Thank you!! Yes, those mounts are for the Topeak VersaCage. Honestly, I’ve only used them once, on the C&O… so flat, nontechnical surface. Not sure how the bike would handle with so much weight on the front on more rugged terrain. That balance is always a huge struggle for me! But they were a good space option for a longer route where I had to carry a cookset and 5 days’ worth of food.

@@Squirrel_Rides awesome thanks

To be honest, I’ve never weighed it! And of course, the weight changes with every trip depending on length, season, and result. I suspect it’s around 15-20 pounds of extra weight, but I’ll try to get an accurate total next trip!

Thank you! Wasn’t sure about the super loud colors at first, but I’ve decided I love the frame kit too.

Bike computer. My Garmin head unit.

@@Squirrel_Rides lol I was thinking laptop when you mentioned your GoPro to DL footage or edit. Makes sense!

The Tailfins look so sweet!! One day that’s what I’d like to get.