How to pack your bags for bikepacking - A complete beginners guide (+5 mistakes to avoid!)
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- čas přidán 14. 12. 2021
- In this video I run you through my complete set up and how I pack my bags for off-road bikepacking adventures. This video is for people new to bikepacking before they go on their first trip. I always love watching other peoples pack lists, so if you're experienced let me know what you would or wouldn't take!
At the end I run you through 5 beginner mistakes I have made, so hopefully you can avoid forgetting these items! - Sport
Been on some tours meanwhile and luckily had a spare derailleur hanger. The handle bar of a loaded bike tends to shift one way when it is not parked stable (f.e. against a pole). Bike landed on the side of the derailleur. It is a small part that can save you from a lot of trouble specially if the bike needs a specific hanger.
Yes I now always travel with one!
Thanks for video, You bring up a lot of good points, that come from experience. Broken chain, with no master link, flats, etc. All I can say is been there done that. The key is not to do it twice.
I would agree with your advice for someone starting out is try an overnight local trip, and build up your back side endurance by doing mulit hour rides first.
You got me thinking in a new way with the idea of eliminating some of the stuff bags for tent and sleeping bag and nesting them for packing. I will have to try that.
That is the short reply, excuse me if I do go on quite a bit more. When it comes to what you pack less is best. But when it comes to talking about it and prepping more is not such a bad thing, besides it does not add any more weight
My experience with multi day bicycle adventures began back in late 70's early 80's in Southern California. In those days There weren't really any MTBs so touring was what we did. A friend and I rode from LA to San Francisco camping along the way. I have always been a DIY person I made my own panniers taller than standard ones. Over 2 ft or 60 cm tall they were pretty much double deckers, went all the way down below the wheel axle to lower the center of gravity
Have done bikepacking trips only overnight or two. Nothing longer yet. Gravel bike and Hard Tail MTB.
I have carried cook systems such as the DIY cat can alcohol stove.
Since you did not mention much about food prep in your video, I assume you are doing basically hand to mouth, room temp food. Which is one of many ways to go.
I would make a couple suggestions to things you brought up.
To add more real estate on the bars, I use handle bar extenders that basically are a second floor to the handlebars. Can be had for cheap on aliexpress.
When you mentioned using only a half frame bag because you want to be able to carry two water bottles. I would suggest using a full frame bag and putting one or two bottles in the bottom of frame bag. Since you can keep one on the feed bag at bar then when empty swap with the one in frame bag. That way you can maximize storage in the lowest most central prime area, and fit things around the bottle. The better frame bags have movable hook and loop (Velcro) dividers with upper and lower zippers. Or I custom made my own
For those that have the newer frames with more mounts like on forks have more water placement options. Or there are various DIY ways to mount additional bottles
Finally speaking of DIY, As you likely know, there is a lot of info about MYOG specifically for bikepacking and backpacking.
Anyone interested in getting starting in bikepacking on a budget should consider it. Also it is the best way to get a fully customized frame bag. I have made 3 from hardtails to full sus bikes
Thanks for sharing, that is good advice!
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Never leave home without your towel. I learned that today on a short trail ride and got dumped on by a pop up thunderstorm. I had to drive home sopping wet. My car is STILL wet inside. 😂
Hahaha the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy advice is always relevant!
Thanks for all that great info
Cheers Bob, glad you got something from it
Very thorough go through and explanation of your rationale for different things etc. Thanks!
Glad it was useful!
Great advice.
Cheers Kevin!
Good video always nice to see other people setups … 100% correct the main difference is once you put racks on your more moving to hybrid cycle touring / Bikepacking setup ..
Thanks! I personally love the challenge of analysing exactly what you are taking and why. I feel like if I had panniers I would just take too much stuff!
@@pedallingsquaresNZ less is more .. depends on the Bikepacking setup ie 4 season setup with camera gear and packraft is hard specially when I always try to have 5 liters empty space ..
I like they you packed the front handlebar bag, as I have always struggled to find space for my sleeping bag, what size is your handlebar bag?
I think it’s 20L looking online although I can’t see that rapha sells it any more. I always struggled till I did this. Getting rid of stuff sacks was a game changer for me. Moisture management is always a bit of work as the trip progresses but that’s the same regardless of how you pack the tent really
How do you pack your bar bag when your tent is wet? I'm assuming you don't stuff your down sleeping bag in with the wet tent like that?
Yeah I do stuff it in tbh. I keep everything on the inside of the tent zipped and shake it off as much as I can. I’m often surprised how the sleeping bag is only mildly damp. Will often get it out if I can at a lunch stop to dry it further
What size saddle bag do you use. 13L or 17L
When I bought the rapha saddle bag 5 years ago I don’t remember there being size options. This is the original one not the apidura crossover
Any thoughts on a bikelock? Saw one lying around in the video: cheers!
Hey Erik, I think if you’re spending any significant time around urban centres then I would take a small one. If very rural then I don’t take one. Usually I insist on bikes in rooms with us, and if going into shops keep one person by the bikes and one person gets the food etc!
@@pedallingsquaresNZ Thank's mate, I would be riding on my one so even a short visit to a store becomes tricky. I noticed in other BP-videos that is an item that seldom comes up. The weight and size of a decent lock are spoilers. Maybe go for a sub 1 kilo foldlock.
Yes that’s true. To be honest I’m often more worried about my camera and other quick to grab electronics as the bike is often so heavy they wouldn’t be able to lift it 😂
@@pedallingsquaresNZ It will be heavy and thieves tend to be lazy...might work! Planning (my first) trip from Belgium to Poland and (hopefully) back. Keep pedalling!
I've no idea why everyone who videos a bike packing or bike touring trip needs to video what they pack, how they pack it, what bags they use, every bike component etc. If people can't figure out how to pack their bags for any trip they probably shouldn't be allowed out in public without supervision
Name checks out. Some people enjoy that side of bikepacking I guess!
Microphone was doing some strange things in the first few clips, hope it's not too distracting!
Also other things I didn't mention: charging cables, don't get melanoma take sunscreen, guidebook if available (there is a great one for the Kopiko).
I didn't mention this explicitly, but I don't take a camp cooker, I rely on shops for food as I quite like supporting tiny communities local fish and chip shops etc!