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I dont run sealed cartridge bearings. Perhaps this explains a lot.
GT85 is amzing stuff. 😀
Fargo fully loaded & geared with awesome BB7s:
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Another Fargo, by the sea, home made frame bag, wildcat in the main for the rest.
And the constantly adjusted and maintained SS with (for me) the bearbones. 😉
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Nice pics. Has anyone seen the surly ECR? Does anybody know if there are any other frames accepting a knard out back?
Knard-able:
Pugsley
Travers Rudy Fat
Mukluk (I believe)
Perfect thread for a miserable wet Sunday stuck indoors doing boring Sunday stuff
[quote=forexpipz]What are the chances of two XT brakes going down simultaneously?
Happened to me. Both ends failed within a few miles on a couple of hours ride in the Pentlands one evening. It was very cold (minus 5). Suspect something happened to the seals, lost all braking. I don't trust Shimanos system in the cold now for this reason, and dislike them for other reasons (no replaceable seals). Suspect that proper brake fluid systems are better for robustness (e.g. Hope).
A Fatback will also take a knard on rabbit hole in the rear.
Hardrock 29er, stock other than Reba's instead of stock fork and Fleegle's:
[URL= http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/bokonon/1009788_10151484648920544_653975317_n.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/bokonon/1009788_10151484648920544_653975317_n.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
Homemade frame bag, homemade harness for the handlebar roll, strapped up alpkit/ortlieb dry bags. The rear dry bag now has a better strapping system, and I've slashed the amount of stuff I take with me, making the handlebar roll smaller.
On the subject of handlebars - some people strap up over the bars, some strap under the bars - to a certain extent this seems related to the amount of stuff (it needs to be smaller to fit down under) but is there a handling advantage to having it lower? (I'm guessing there is) I've avoided putting the kit lower down because it seems easier to strap it up out of the way of the hoses/cables, am I missing out?
On the subject of handlebars - some people strap up over the bars, some strap under the bars - to a certain extent this seems related to the amount of stuff (it needs to be smaller to fit down under) but is there a handling advantage to having it lower? (I'm guessing there is) I've avoided putting the kit lower down because it seems easier to strap it up out of the way of the hoses/cables, am I missing out?
The lower you can get any weight the better.
Mounting it lower can be a bit more complicated as there are cable routings to take into account but that's not too much of an issue.
The only other downsides you may have from mounting things high up are it may obscure your view of the trail and limit the mounting options for lights.
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Fargo
Bam
[IMG] http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg535/basil179/scotlandeaster2013020_zps3d6df01c.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg535/basil179/scotlandeaster2013020_zps3d6df01c.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL][/img]
I have an 800mm bar on my ss in the hope that this setup lends itself to a larger dry bag.
Having said that the wide bar is hellish fun and not just down hill. Surprisingly fun uphill too with bar ends.
Knards on the back did you say...
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And a couple of others while we are here...
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We all know its coming some day. Its after the 29+. Yep. 29er fatbikes. Somebody will do it in 2014.
OK weird question has anyone's bike gone missing while they were sleeping? Only thing that really puts me off the idea a little
I carry a Abus Granit 54.
Insurance and peace of mind.
I lock mine to trees etc. At worst my bike is locked and then para cord to me!
Where I sleep? Nah!
With luggage you cannot really leave your bike anywhere public
I was wondering about running a black cord to the zip on the bag or something
Are we only doin 29"ers ? ... as im a short arse and still ride a 26" .. here is mine before my aber to Birmingham trip [URL= http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/DSC03135_zps7837628f.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy195/stumpym4/DSC03135_zps7837628f.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
OK weird question has anyone's bike gone missing while they were sleeping?
Nope. You're not going to be camping out anywhere near anyone so whos going to take it?
I usually take a small lock to use if I need to pop into a shop.
Just getting my bike sorted for this years travels. Just got some Wildcat bags freshly made (seat sling and frame bag). Handlebar sling, bag, and feed bag are Revelate Designs. Going to have to rework or replace the handlebar sling as it doesn't work well with the current setup.
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This was my Cube Attention 29 before it's first outing. The sleeping mat on the bars now goes in a drybag, along with a tent. Using cheap Tesco kit at the minute (hence the large size of the post mounted sleeping bag) but looking to start upgrading. Also considering having a go at making a frame bag.
[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/9118208520_2ec9fb31c4.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambrianbiker/9118208520/ ]The Bikepacking Machine[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/cambrianbiker/ ]durhambiker[/url], on Flickr
Bikepacking ? I call it touring .!!
Bikepacking ? I call it touring .!!
Its a broad church but its all about getting out there 😀
OK weird question has anyone's bike gone missing while they were sleeping? Only thing that really puts me off the idea a little
We hosted an Australian cyclist last year who had been all round the world on a shoestring, travelling extensively in Asia and S America. He had never had bother with thieving......until the morning we met him. In Inverness 😳
He was woken at 6.30 am by the sound of a jakey attempting a getaway with his bike through bushes where he had camped on the [url= http://www.explore-inverness.com/what-to-do/outdoors/ness-island-walk/ ]Ness Islands[/url]
He gave chase and the jakey ran off, dropping two cans of Tennents super. He had one for his breakfast on a bench there and then, giving him a warm glow which he basked in for the rest of the day 🙂
I don't bring a lock bikepacking, what's a deer going to do with a fatbike?
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Lurcher. This was my full winter setup for biving in January so it's a bit packed up.
Looking at doing some bike packing stuff myself over this next year. Primary trip will be a rather long road one (LeJog), but after this I'd be more interested in doing more off-road stuff. Bearing in mind I'd be camping and want to be completely self-sufficient, how do you find the frame-bags, mixed with the saddle and bar bag for capacity?
Enough for tent, sleeping bag, thermarest, stove, food and layers? Obviously, I'd take my camelbak too.
[quote=bedmaker ]
I don't bring a lock bikepacking, what's a deer going to do with a fatbike?
Fatbikes are great for ruts 🙂
So, maybe a dull question, but why do 29ers seem more popular for adventure type cycling? Do they suit ss better than 26" for some reason?
Or is just a transfer from US adventure stuff where 29ers are more established? Or just niche for the sake of it?
Are there just as many 26" bikepacking bikes out there?
Ok, I can see the point of not using panniers (rattly, wide, broken clips etc), I'm a little surprised there aren't more racks though. There's some big saddlebags here sat in exactly the same place as they'd sit if they were strapped onto a rack.
I can see that a rack would be perhaps an extra lb or so but is surely more secure and versatile.
Pah double post
Fewer and fewer bikes come equipped with rack mounts these days, so you could end up compromising your bike choice. Sure, you can attach something with P-clips and a natty seatpost collar, but it's never going to be as robust - plus the weight of your gear swinging back and forth on a rack is just causing stress that might result in rack failure. Soft luggage systems seem to get round most of these problems (but see my photos above for some bikes with racks).
Where can I find these cheap XT brakes of which you speak?
No pics yet but Ive got my El Mariachi built up with BB7s. When I was up in Aviemore midweek I popped in to see Andy at Backcountry Biking to pick some Revelate bags. I think I have everything I need to get out in the wilds now.
how do you find the frame-bags, mixed with the saddle and bar bag for capacity?
As a general rule i'll generally split my gear into 3 sections.
1)Stuff that needs to be kept dry (sleeping bag, sleeping clothes etc) Generally held in a 8l drybag. Bar mounted.
2)Stuff that would be good to keep dry but if it got a bit damp that's ok. (tent, sleeping mat) 6l seat mounted pack
3)Heavy stuff (stove, tent poles, tools, food) Frame bag. Depending on frame size depends on size, but mines ~5l and its surprising the amount of stuff you can cram in.
So, maybe a dull question, but why do 29ers seem more popular for adventure type cycling? Do they suit ss better than 26" for some reason?Or is just a transfer from US adventure stuff where 29ers are more established? Or just niche for the sake of it?
Are there just as many 26" bikepacking bikes out there?
Over open ground the bigger 29er wheels roll better and cover the ground quicker. When you're covering large distances it adds up. I run a 26er (no funds to change at the moment) and its worked perfectly well.
The difference in wheel size was noticeable on last summers trip to the States. Others were riding 29ers and on the descents I found I had to sit in someones wheel to keep up as there bikes rolled better than mine due to the bigger wheels.
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/9547720367_2888ac9337_z.jp g" target="_blank">
Thanks Chew. Most of my kit is spretty small and lightweight, however I suspect my sleeping bag (Mammot Wave 3) will be the clincher here. Might look at the getting a more lightweight bag for the summer season.
Looking at putting a 29er front wheel on if I manage to get the matching front forks for the Hummingbird!
[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/9300357329_dcefaaf02d_o.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/9300357329/ ]DSCF3439[1][/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/10760168253_4e2514c7ec.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbosussexmtb/10760168253/ ]Loaded bike[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimbosussexmtb/ ]South Downs MTB Skills[/url], on Flickr
Here's mine, need a frame bag.....
Rich.
You do know you can get travel limiters to run a 29er wheel in your fork don't you?
Fewer and fewer bikes come equipped with rack mounts these days, so you could end up compromising your bike choice. Sure, you can attach something with P-clips and a natty seatpost collar, but it's never going to be as robust - plus the weight of your gear swinging back and forth on a rack is just causing stress that might result in rack failure. Soft luggage systems seem to get round most of these problems (but see my photos above for some bikes with racks).
Ah ok fair enough. Used to touring and camping with rear panniers, but I've often carried soft loads in a dry bag strapped onto a rack. Making the jump this year from camping to bivvying and so I'll be using as much kit as possible that I already have in case I don't get on with it....
I know Stu cheers was thinking of the rigid route for better climbing 🙂
[quote=Pickers ]Making the jump this year from camping to bivvying and so I'll be using as much kit as possible that I already have in case I don't get on with it....
That's the best way. You'll learn loads about [i]your[/i] preferences as you go along.