Bikepacking - get ready

[dgaddis1]

Who wants to do some bikepacking? I know seenvic does, and he's started getting some gear together. Another friend of mine, who's big in caving, has everything he needs except a way to put some gear on the bike.

I only need two more 'major' things and I'll be ready to go. I need some light cookware, and a bag to put on the bike.

What I've got so far:

Sleeping Shelter: Ultralight Backpacker hammock by Hennessey Hammocks 1.94lbs
Bag - just ordered one of these - 1.6lbs, packs small, $53 shipped. not a GREAT bag, but can't beat it for the price
Stove - MSR Pocket Rocket (3oz I think)

I'm hoping that bike + gear on the bike (everything except water, clothes, and maybe a little food) will come in right around 30lbs.

Plenty of routes to ride right here in town. Short and simple overnighters to 5 day rides hitting all the major trails.

Good resource for info here: www.bikepacking.net

Who else is in? Start getting your gear ready....

[seenvic]

I got my stuff ready. I may need a way to attach some stuff to my bike....gotta give it some thought. Have sleeping bag, bivy sack and sleeping pad. And cash and credit card. I have some cookware, but perhaps not light enough. I have a stove too.

I'd be up for a Friday departure, Sunday return. Two nights out.

[dgaddis1]

Mar 9, 2010 10:17:16 GMT -5 seenvic said:

I got my stuff ready. I may need a way to attach some stuff to my bike....gotta give it some thought. Have sleeping bag, bivy sack and sleeping pad. And cash and credit card. I have some cookware, but perhaps not light enough. I have a stove too.

I'd be up for a Friday departure, Sunday return. Two nights out.

Waterproof stuff sack + straps. Just need to make sure it's secure (wont fall of and doesn't move around) and out of the way of your body.

I'm planning to strap the sleep bag and at least part of the hammock to the bars, and fit everything else in an Epic Designs seat bag.

May be able to get away without the seat bag....strap a dry bag to the seatpost or a frame tube maybe. I'll have to experiment with that some. Sure would be cheaper.

[seenvic]

I gotta dry bag. Need to figure out a secure way to fasten to bike. Epic Designs stuff is really good. But I want to try a trip or two before jumping into the deep end ($$) of the pool.

[ted]

Mar 9, 2010 10:50:16 GMT -5 seenvic said:

I gotta dry bag. Need to figure out a secure way to fasten to bike. Epic Designs stuff is really good. But I want to try a trip or two before jumping into the deep end ($$) of the pool.

Don't you have a Bob trailer?

[seenvic]

Mar 9, 2010 12:31:06 GMT -5 ted said:

Mar 9, 2010 10:50:16 GMT -5 seenvic said:

I gotta dry bag. Need to figure out a secure way to fasten to bike. Epic Designs stuff is really good. But I want to try a trip or two before jumping into the deep end ($$) of the pool.

Don't you have a Bob trailer?

Yes. But don't want to use it.

Bob trailers are 1990's style bikepacking.

It's 2010.

[ted]

So you are reverting to the old 60's and 70's style of bikepacking by loading all the stuff on your bike? Yeah that hasn't been done before.

That's why there is this:




I'm gonna one up myself and set up one of these:

[dgaddis1]

There's been a few advancements in gear since the 60's and 70's you know. New stuff is lighter and packs down smaller.

Unless you're carrying tools/materials in to do some work on a trail, there's no reason anyone should need to to ride singletrack with a trailer.

[ted]

Mar 10, 2010 7:30:21 GMT -5 dgaddis1 said:

There's been a few advancements in gear since the 60's and 70's you know. New stuff is lighter and packs down smaller.

Unless you're carrying tools/materials in to do some work on a trail, there's no reason anyone should need to to ride singletrack with a trailer.

Yeah yeah, I'm just making fun and know all about the new gear. Also trailers ARE good for riding on singletrack with gear.

Please don't put out broad, mis-information for the less experienced to read..different people have different thoughts on different products and trailers are obviously one of those products.

What about when one arrives to their destination and wants to ride singletrack without all the gear? Unload all your gear and ride around with empty, rattling bags and heavy racks on your bike or pull the pin on the trailer and ride.

See, two sides to every story.

This is one of those examples BV.

[dgaddis1]

Trailers have their place. The trailer is a good option if you want to ride a loop unloaded. But if your route doesn't bring you back to the trailhead you started on (like riding Modoc/Turkey/Wine one way) the rackless bags are a better choice.

If I'm gonna be riding technical singletrack, with rock gardens, logs, creek crossings, switchbacks, etc. I don't want a heavy trailer hanging out behind me. That BOB ibex trailer weighs 17lbs! My bike is fairly light at 23lbs, add that trailer and I'm up to 40lbs before adding any other gear

BV's done some bikepacking with a trailer a few years ago.

[seenvic]

Trailer. Been there and done that. I've pulled one with camping gear from NA to Greenwood and had a big time doing it. But I want to try something new to me, that I have not done before.

Don't understand the problem with that.

"What about when one arrives to their destination and wants to ride singletrack without all the gear? Unload all your gear and ride around with empty, rattling bags and heavy racks on your bike or pull the pin on the trailer and ride."

No, just take the bags off the bike and ride. Not sure what type of rack you are talking about as no one has mentioned any racks until you brought it up. Not sure what broad mis-information Dustin put out.

I'd say my biggest negative on this type of trip is that I have 3 kids that will want to camp with us. Or I'd have to tell them that they can't come camping with me. So, I love the idea of bikepacking, but foresee it being on an unloaded bike, covering large miles, then rolling into a camp with my family to share the rest of the evening with. We talk about camping all the time and the spring of 2010 will be their first camping trip, somewhere nearby the house.

Oh well, all that said, it probably is not a insurmountable obstacle to overcome and will do some bikepacking with Dustin no matter misinformed he may be.

[ted]

The idea behind a forum is to put information out there for people to discuss.
More often than not things are given a "my way's the only way" designation and that's it.
There are lots of products out there and it would be nice to discuss them and give your opinions and experiences so that others may make their own decision.
To say something has no good reason sounds pretty definitive to me.
Also, I never said anyone was misinformed, just giving out misleading information.
What if someone wanted to ride an Xtra-cycle? It may not be the lightest or "best", but it's still an option and should at least be given a chance to be discussed.

[dgaddis1]

Let's see the pro's and cons of a few systems then, so folks can choose which is best for their needs.

Everyone add stuff I'm missing.

Rackless bags
Pros: lightest, out of the way, versatile (compess to fit size of load), least effect on handling
Cons: not a huge capacity, seat bags may get in your way on really steep downhills

Trailer
Pros: Can carry a LOT of stuff, both volume and weight, can carry big awkward items
Cons: heavy, expensive, big effect on bike handling

Racks and panniers
Pros: more carrying capacity than the rackless bags, lighter than a trailer.
Cons: heavier than the rackless bags, less capacity than a trailer, increased width may be a problem, not easily compatible with all frames

Xtra-Cycle
Pros: large carrying capacity
Cons: heavy, increased wheelbase isn't so great for handling, not easy to remove, not really designed for true off-road riding (not 100% on this one)

[JIMMYC]

i have a few questions

A. from where and to where will be your first trip?

b. will the first trip be a "shake down" for more ambitious trips?

when the late Bruce Norris came to this are from Melbourn, FL he sold everything he had, loaded everything on a Schwinn High Serra with Panniers and road to Augusta.
then one night i ran into Tommy Teeters on the Bartram trail with a backpack, i think he camped near the airstrip.

if it was me i would prolly go with the Bob, i gotta be comfortable and have Coffee in the morning. But i've never bikepacked before so who's to say.

[dgaddis1]

Mar 10, 2010 15:06:17 GMT -5 JIMMYC said:

A. from where and to where will be your first trip?

b. will the first trip be a "shake down" for more ambitious trips?

That's my plan. 1st trip would be a Fri evening, Sat morning. Quick and easy. Probably do Keg -> Mistletoe Friday after work, camp at one of the backcountry campsites on the Rock Dam trail, head back to the car in the morning. Home by lunch.

Then a 3 day ride:
1 - All of FATS -> Ride to Modoc and camp
2 - Modoc/Turkey/Wine to Lick Fork, camp
3 - Horn - head back to the car

OR

1 - Turkey/Modoc/Bartram -> camp somewhere on Bartram
2 - Bartram/Keg/Mistletoe/Keg/Bartram -> camp at the same place as night 1
3 - Bartram/Modoc/Turkey

You could add Wine for more miles.

For a 5 day ride starting at FATS: FATS - Bartram - Keg - Mistletoe - Keg - Bartram - Modoc - Turkey - Wine - Horn - back to FATS ;D

I'm not ready for that much riding back to back. And don't have the time either. I'd like to do it one day though.

[seenvic]

Mar 10, 2010 15:06:17 GMT -5 JIMMYC said:

i have a few questions

A. from where and to where will be your first trip?

b. will the first trip be a "shake down" for more ambitious trips?

when the late Bruce Norris came to this are from Melbourn, FL he sold everything he had, loaded everything on a Schwinn High Serra with Panniers and road to Augusta.
then one night i ran into Tommy Teeters on the Bartram trail with a backpack, i think he camped near the airstrip.

if it was me i would prolly go with the Bob, i gotta be comfortable and have Coffee in the morning. But i've never bikepacked before so who's to say.

A. I dunno. Probably in the Misltetoe, Keg, Bartram, Modoc, Turkey, Wine corridor if you can picture that.

B. Probably. Almost certainly. Although I can't believe how long ago I did the bob trailer ride from NA to Greenwood. Loved it and figured it would have happened again my now. But it hasn't.

Bruce Norris put many ideas in my head when I met him a long time ago. One of those was riding the entire length of the Long Cane District.....and each of us did it on our own using different routes. The route I took became the Long Cane Massacre Ride in 1999....which is where I met Jimmy C for the first time, I think.

But it was those long rides that Bruce put in my head that led to this line of thinking for me.

When I talked to a fella who stayed at my house about 10 years ago, he was doing this with panniers instead of a trailer. He was the first person to ride the entire Great Divide Trail and the first to ride across Australia. So, I gave him some props for knowing a little bit about what he spoke. Drew Walker is his name. Love that guy, but he is a little wacky. He worked at HKSP for us for a week and every time I ride the section he built I think of ole Drew Walker and what a character he is/was.

Then when on the bikepacking.net site I noticed no trailers.

When on the site covering the Great Divide Ride/Race.....no trailers.

So, from I am sitting, here are a small niche of people doing this stuff called bikepacking....without what I thought was a key element....a bob trailer. So I decided it may be time to rethink this. And at least give it a try, trailerless.

Plus I can ride F/S without the trailer. I am in the camp that feels strongly pulling a trailer with a F/S bike will put a hurting on the pivots as they aren't designed to take that side to side load.

[JIMMYC]

yeah Bruce and i learned alot from each other, not a ride goes by he doesn't cross my mind.

i can see why a trailer would strain a FS. i'll have to check out that site.

my way of thinking they are two very differant activities, backpacking (smelling the flowers) and mountian biking (focus on what's in front of you). i'm very interested on how your trip turns out.

[dparrott]

You could add Wine for more miles

Well, if I did that, I'd probably do less miles!

Frankly, it doesn't matter if you use panniers or a Bob or balance everything on your head - just go have a blast.

I frequently use a Bob to haul around a chainsaw - no big deal except it can be tough in tight, twisty sections and some spots that I would normally ride, I get off and walk. I remember one time I had it loaded down with saw, dirt tools and a couple of 4x4 timbers going in the service road at Keg and there are a few serious hills there - now that was a load.

[Mark Y]

Mar 10, 2010 10:00:24 GMT -5 dgaddis1 said:

Let's see the pro's and cons of a few systems then, so folks can choose which is best for their needs.

Everyone add stuff I'm missing.

Rackless bags
Pros: lightest, out of the way, versatile (compess to fit size of load), least effect on handling
Cons: not a huge capacity, seat bags may get in your way on really steep downhills

Trailer
Pros: Can carry a LOT of stuff, both volume and weight, can carry big awkward items
Cons: heavy, expensive, big effect on bike handling

Racks and panniers
Pros: more carrying capacity than the rackless bags, lighter than a trailer.
Cons: heavier than the rackless bags, less capacity than a trailer, increased width may be a problem, not easily compatible with all frames

Xtra-Cycle
Pros: large carrying capacity
Cons: heavy, increased wheelbase isn't so great for handling, not easy to remove, not really designed for true off-road riding (not 100% on this one)

Thanks Dustin for the info. There is merit to the notion that accurate info be disseminated as there are bunches of folks like me who depend on the more experienced to give us good advice. I was just talking to Dale Parrot the other day about this very subject of using a bob for traveling vs backpack etc., so hearing all angles is very useful.

[brianW]

from my hiking background, there are few ways of thinking about overnight trips.

One camp are the "ultra-lites" which is all about hiking/backpacking with extremely lite gear. i have heard of people going multi-days with packs less than 15 lbs. however light weight comes with a higher cost.

Dedicated backpacker. light weight is good but not the over all factor. multi-day hikes for me I had a 25-35 lbs pack. sometimes heavier. gear is less expensive then lite-weight gear but usally still have to go to a specialty store (AWOL. REI, EMS)

The last group would be the cheap-o's or first timers. 9ok I came up with the name) Went out with way to much gear, stuff they would not use etc. most folks do not have dedicated backpacking equipment and use whatever they have. The gear is heavier and less expensive and can find it at Wal-Mart. Nothing wrong with it and it is a great way to find out if you really like being 5, 10, 20 miles out in the woods. Some of this gear is just as good as the dedicated stuff at a fraction of the price.

Of course you could blend them all together and be some form of hybrid mutt backpacker? Wait I might fall into this group.

One thing I have heard when people have discussed this topic in the hiking communities that I 110% agree with "Hike your own hike" if it works for you who cares. I believe the same could be said about bike camping and in mt biking as a whole "ride your own ride"

On a side note: I would really love to see one (or more) dedicated backcountry camp site on Bartram and Keg w/ tent platforms. The more people out on the trails (hikers, runners, bikers or backpackers) the better it is for the outdoor community. If they were close to shore kayakers could use them also.