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Waaay back in the day, I did a few bothy trips and overnight bike camping adventures and thoroughly enjoyed them. Now a mate and I are starting to plan a few more. These are going to be very relaxed rides to begin with. More likely overnighting at Inns rather than camping, but could transmogrify into more adventurous trips as we get fitter and more experienced. I'm initially looking at things like The Speyside Way or the John Muir Way over a couple of days.
I picked up a half price, bargain gravel bike (Okay, I've wanted a Clockwork since the late 80s, early 90s and I really like the colour. Sue me!), and as I was unpacking it last night I was thinking about where I could fit frame bags etc. etc.
Then it occurred to me that I've still got my old Edinburgh Co-op Revolution cargo trailer folded up in the rafters of my garage. A quick google tells me that I should be able to get a through axle conversion kit that'll allow me to fit it to the Clockwork. Is there any reason why not? Are frame bags an inherently superior evolution over my old bargain basement BoB trailer? I've ridden sections of the WHW and out to Ben Alder Bothy (although that was a puncture nightmare), with the trailer on the back and always found it light, responsive and a bit of a giggle. Here it is doing shopping bag duties when it was last out during Covid.
Oh, and before anyone points out the obvious. I tried putting 45mm tyres on the Boardman CX and riding it on forestry tracks. It was horrible. I very nearly lost the few teeth that I have left and thought I was going blind because the thing was bouncing around so badly.
I'm just curious as BoBs used to be the bike packing thing, but I only ever see bikes festooned with bags nowadays. Are bags superior? Would I be better just tucking my trailer away for the next pandemic? Or do I have a more elegant weapon from a more civilised age in my garage?
B. 😉
I used a BOB to ride in to Claerddu bothy last autumn, as we had an inordinate amount of firewood to take (sawn-up fence posts and the like). It performed the job brilliantly but was a bit heavy, and I forgot I really needed to wrap an old tarpsheet around the bag - some stuff inside got a bit wet from the puddles. The only downside to it seems to be that of being tempted to 'overpack' just because you can. Otherwise on non-technical ground, they're ideal. Mines been to Culra, miles up Glen Ey and Glen Fyne with bothy or camping kit.
I'm just curious as BoBs used to be the bike packing thing,
Really? Glenmore Lodge did run an "overnight adventure" bike leadership module for a while that used BoBs but they were so restricted in routes that it was almost laughable.
My simple answer is just to ask how much a trailer weighs and compare that to soft luggage or a lightweight rack. Then factor in the limits on route choice.
Frame/bar mounted bags are more aero (yes, that's a thing), are light and good ones are both stable and long-lasting. If the terrain/vegetation you are travelling through isn't a problem then racks and panniers do a good job.
FWIW, what you have there is a hardtail. There's no need to pretend otherwise just for the sake of wanting to be trendy. I'm lucky enough to have a hardtail AND a gravel bike. I can appreciate the difference.
If you are starting oit why worry about it.
If you, your kit and the bike all arrive in the same place you have succeeded. Re frame bags etc... there are enough options to fit whatever bike you have which os far more sensible than worrying about the suitability of the bike to fit bags. You can fit and inflatable mat, a 3 season bag and a bivvy bag in a saddle bag. Everything above that is a bonus you don't need to stuff the bike with gear to have fun.
I have one of those trailers, i tried putting the dog in it. It didn't go well. The dog hated it and the trailer immediate collapsed. 🤣
Thanks @scotroutes I didn't realise it was a hardtail. I'll try not to be so light hearted in my posts, shall I? 🙄 Oh, and for what it's worth, I had a flat bar gravel bike in 1992 before they became trendy. It was a Trek 820, so I've been trendier longer than you. 😉
I'm talking about weekenders taking in forestry tracks, quiet backroads and cycle lanes with a nice hot meal a few beers and a bed at the end of each day. I'd be carrying camping kit in case of emergency. I get the weight disadvantage of the trailer. If memory serves, it's about 6kg, but I can't think of any other reason why it wouldn't be a good way of transporting all my kit for a weekend, or even a few days longer. That's why I was asking.
I had a flat bar gravel bike in 1992 before they became trendy. It was a Trek 820
Hybrid. You had a hybrid 🤪
Yeah, the trailer works fine within it's limitations. I managed to fit one to my old fatbike but tyre clearance wasn't great as the circumference is closer to a 29er.
100% go for it, I keep hankering for a BoB again, the good thing about 'gravel' as a trend is that I've stopped trying to cram as much unrideable highland 'singletrack' into my routes as I used to, so the trailer makes even more sense. I also hate strapping things to my bikes.
Yeah it weighs more, but if you're not racing I genuinely don't think it matters, it changes how the bike handles but in a fun way, just a different experience.
You'll notice how quickly I learned not to fill the bloody thing though, spot the difference between Pic 1 and Pic 3. I eventually went a bit lighter still but it got to the point where I switched to a rucsac (a Wingnut, remember them?) but I don't really think it was that much of an improvement, it's not likely I was riding the gnadgery stuff anyway with a relatively heavy rucsac on my back so the trailer wouldn't have been that much of an impediment...
If you are 'pub-ing' it for overnights, then a rucksack is enough. I suspect a trailer will limit where you can go. I've bike packed on a full suspension MTB, using a rucksack and bar bag when staying in pubs, and for camping, used my CX bike with panniers and a bar bag.
I suspect a trailer will limit where you can go.
Less than you might think, I came to realise that it basically occupied the same 'zone' as your feet and pedals, so until you started literally having to time pedal strokes and hop the back wheel around obstacles, the only real limitation was the weight and/ or extra drag if the trail was overgrown.
If you are 'pub-ing' it for overnights, then a rucksack is enough.
But also this, for 'lite-packing' I'd definitely start with a good rucsac and only lash any additional stuff to the bike if I had to, I used an 8l USWE pack on my last trip, kept light stuff (changes of clothes) in pack, and compact but heavier stuff like tools still on the bike. Was a good way to keep the waterproof accessible also as it tucking into the mesh pocket on the outside of the pack, rather than having it zipped away somewhere.
Less than 10 posts on a bikepacking thread and the debate over what is a gravel bike has begun.. classic.
A BoB's good. Rucsac's good. Racks or softpacks, whatever. Any bike with >28mm tyres can be a gravel bike, just. It might not all be great on that first trip but .. JFDI : )
For the first trip the main thing is going/doing, because if you have some basic sense over what will be ok (like 95% of riders will have) then it'll be good enough that new places, the night skies and dawn brew and tired-but-worth-it feeling will get you out again before long.
With a trailer, I'm more thinking about hoiking the bike over stiles etc. The trailer is certainly narrow enough for some of the so-called bridleways I've encountered, where it was tight with panniers.
Ah yeah fair point, I just sucked it up and unhooked the trailer and did two trips if necessary.
As others have said, you’ll need to check tyre clearance to check the tyre doesn’t hit the trailer. I’ve not seen the thru axle for it but if your bike has a UDH hanger you might also need to change that (tailfin sell one that allows trailer hitch type axles to pass through the UDH.
I had a revolution trailer and used it for a few trips but I’d probably limit myself to shorter trips or gravel riding as it was as heavy lump before you put anything in it!
I suspect a trailer will limit where you can go.
Depends who's riding the bike to which the trailer is attached I think...
Why not try the trailer? If I had one I'd use it. Must be better than a rucsack which are awful to ride with.
Last year I did the Great North Trail on my Ragley Marley which is a very similar "gravel" bike to yours (ie a hardtail with relatively little space in the frame).
My first bit of advice to you would be to suck it and see. Start with a smaller trip and work out what works for you and what doesn't.
Personally I think that for longer trips, not having anything on your person increases comfort and reduces fatigue.
I also found panniers to be a right PITA when pushing.
In the end, I went with an Aero Spider front and rear rack with one of their smaller dry bags on the front, and a large one on the rear. I had a Revelate frame bag with an apidura triangular bladder in the frame, and a large tailfin toptube bag.
The only one that I was not 100% on was the aero handlebar rack, it tended to rotate down over time. Not the worst, but was a bit annoying.
Basically yer pays yer money and yer makes yer choice.
Be careful though, bikepacking is super addictive.
With a trailer, I'm more thinking about hoiking the bike over stiles etc.
I think that getting it through gates would soon become very tiresome.
I reckon a decent cycling rucksack is fine to ride with as long as you don’t overload it. I recently bought an Evoc Explorer backpack. It feels bulky when loaded when you pick it up but when securely strapped on I don’t even notice it. The 30 litre capacity won’t take a full bikepacking tent and sleeping bag set up but it would take all you need if you’re staying in hotels for a tour.
I had one of those trailers and used it a fair bit for on and off road touring. Looking back... it was rubbish! Heavy and draggy. Difficult to load/unload without it trying to fall over. Ruined the bike's handling. I destroyed the "waterproof" bag on a rocky Lakeland ride. And it rattled all the time.
Do yourself a massive favour and buy a Tailfin rear rack/pack as an excellent starting point, then add to it as needed. My mate refused to buy Tailfin as it's "Too expensive". Three saddle packs and three different brands of rear rack later and he is now going to buy a Tailfin set-up. Meanwhile, my Tailfin has done twice the miles on a variety of bikes and still works perfectly. I'd probably get back half of what I paid if I decided to sell it!
I reckon a decent cycling rucksack is fine to ride with as long as you don’t overload it. I recently bought an Evoc Explorer backpack. It feels bulky when loaded when you pick it up but when securely strapped on I don’t even notice it. The 30 litre capacity won’t take a full bikepacking tent and sleeping bag set up but it would take all you need if you’re staying in hotels for a tour.
Meh, My Last overnighter in June I had a couple of dry bags, a half Frame-Bag probably totalling ~30L(ish) but my Bivvy Bag was in a separate bag on my fork leg, I didn't take a tent or even a Tarp, I was completely reliant on that bivvy bag plus tree cover (and weather staying inline with the forecast). It panned out but was a bit of a gamble...
I'd say 30L of luggage capacity is doable for 1-2 nights, but you'll probably be packing lighter and certainly won't be using a 2 person tent and lots of bulky cooking kit and/or food...
I had one of those trailers and used it a fair bit for on and off road touring. Looking back... it was rubbish! Heavy and draggy. Difficult to load/unload without it trying to fall over. Ruined the bike's handling. I destroyed the "waterproof" bag on a rocky Lakeland ride. And it rattled all the time.
Do yourself a massive favour and buy a Tailfin rear rack/pack as an excellent starting point, then add to it as needed. My mate refused to buy Tailfin as it's "Too expensive". Three saddle packs and three different brands of rear rack later and he is now going to buy a Tailfin set-up. Meanwhile, my Tailfin has done twice the miles on a variety of bikes and still works perfectly. I'd probably get back half of what I paid if I decided to sell it!
Must admit, bit like your friend, I've been tempted by the tailfin but put off by the price.
I've had a go with a saddle pack which was ok but I'd really prefer something like the tailfin but it is a hell of a lot of money to commit if you're not sure you'll keep doing it or how often.
I'm sure quality is brilliant and as you say hold second hand value, but do wonder if there are any more reasonably priced alternatives?
Well designed, made by people earning a living wage and good back-up, if needed, doesn't come cheaply.
People talking about carrying 30l of luggage? That's massive! I'd suggest half of that volume if using B+Bs, and a few more if bivvying. Carrying a one-man tent and minimal cooking gear takes mine to about 20 litres for several nights away. Going by weight, then I would aim for 20kg (bike and kit) plus water. IME, 17kg and the bike feels normal; 27kg and it is a sole-destroying pig.
I’d say go for it. You have the bike and the trailer so you are good to go. You will work it all out as you go and things will evolve… but the trailer will work and you will have fun.
I mentioned a 30 litre backpack but didn’t mean packing it to the gunnels. I found the following weight guide for a bikepacking rucksack. I was suggesting it for a tour using hotels which would be on the lighter end of the weight range.
Typically, a fully loaded 30L backpack can weigh anywhere from 15 to 30 pounds (6.8 to 13.6 kilograms), depending on the type and quantity of gear packed.
For example, a 30L backpack loaded with camping gear, including a tent, sleeping bag, and cookware, may weigh around 25-28 pounds (11.3-12.7 kilograms).
On the other hand, a 30L backpack packed with hiking essentials like clothes, snacks, and a first-aid kit may weigh closer to 18-20 pounds (8.2-9 kilograms).
The more you spend on lightweight kit, the more carrying options open up to you. I can handle an overnighter with a 25L rucksack but you're not going to manage that with a Eurohike tent and ex-Army sleeping bag.
To an extent, the cost of kit can be balanced against the cost of an expensive rack.
FWIW, one alternative to Tailfin would be Aeroe.
To the OP - go with what you've got. See if that rekindles the bug. Then work out if it's limiting you or can be "improved" with a bit of spending.
To start with, if B&B/pub, you won't need the trailer. I managed with a camelbak rucksac which I managed to cram a couple of bits in (t-shirt, lightweight pants etc as well as tubes/pump), then the bar bag had some lightweight trainers, a few toiletries.
Avoid taking too much. The trailer could be handy if camping, but pack light. Panniers are fine for me as I commute to work with two. I initially used my existing Ortlieb panniers, but have since bought lighter Ortlieb gravel panniers.
Tor Divide are doing a 'social' bike packing overnighter in the Peaks in September, setting off from Manchester with a choice of 3 routes, to Bamford, then back the next day. I could be tempted if the weather is dry.
People talking about carrying 30l of luggage? That's massive! I'd suggest half of that volume if using B+Bs, and a few more if bivvying. Carrying a one-man tent and minimal cooking gear takes mine to about 20 litres for several nights away. Going by weight, then I would aim for 20kg (bike and kit) plus water. IME, 17kg and the bike feels normal; 27kg and it is a sole-destroying pig.
The bags I use most are a 10L Restrap bar bag, 14L Restrap seat pack, 2.5L Restrap frame bag, and a Madison fork bag on each side which are probably 2L each. Pretty much dead on 30L.
For 5 days on the Badger Divide, with poor weather forecast and carrying a lightweight stove I had no space left at all. For a 3 day weekend in good weather with no cooking kit I have loads of space left. The bike feels pretty much the same once I get used to it whichever load I'm carrying.
Just for reference - my tent weighs 1kg and packs small enough to fit in a fork bag. Sleeping bag is small but could be smaller; roll mat is a lightweight inflatable job. I carry as few clothes as possible. The only luxuries I carry are a Kindle/book and maybe a monocular. I could get my pack size lower but the only realistic thing to spend on would be a much more expensive sleeping bag and probably an expensive down jacket (for cooler evenings) but those two things aren't going to give significantly more space.
but do wonder if there are any more reasonably priced alternatives?
Restrap make their version and Ortlieb's quick rack might do the trick. In the past we'd have used P-Clips, a seatclamp rack and any basic Alu rack or a seatpost beam rack - if it's only for a few days on moderate trails and not over-loaded it'd be fine. Tailfin kit looks great, it's high end specialist gear though - like a £900+ sus fork or Di2, nice to have but you don't need to spend that much.
Its quite easy with B and B esp in warmish conditions. The trailer seems exessive and would be a faff I would think.
My wife and i did Sandstone Way over a week or so ( i forget exactly 4 or 5 days? ) , i had both our kit in a seat bag.
She had a dry bag on her handlebars for her ride essentials. ( Her bike too small for a seat bag.)
A small rucksack for me as well and tools down low on a downtube bag on the frame.
( she loved it btw !)
My very first adventure was rucksack and dry bag on handlebars . MTB bars arw quite handy , esp for a starting out and strapping stuff on.
Make sure you enjoy it before splashing the cash. on the fancier stuff. An Alpkit dry bag has strapping tab options on it.
Lots of bits come up secondhand , esp as Tailfin type racks are popular and in "fashion" good kit but needs to be used a lot for the money.
A rack and dry bag is useful too and I use this for my tent if taking it and just strap a dry bag on.
The expensive racks thing is a facet of recent bike-packing I watched a YT review of the new Restrap Switch the other day, it looks great but the Trustafarians doing these reviews don't really talk much about pricing but even they Baulked a bit at the price of the optional extra Drybag cage. - I also notice you can get a knock-off of an Aero spider rack from E-bay or amazon for ~£25, which is kind of tempting for an occasional "bike-packer" like me.
My most recent solution: My beam rack Thread from a couple of months ago Ended up looking like this:
Long and the short of it I was able to carry a 20L Airlock on that sub £10 Beam Rack another 8L Dry bag on a bit of bent rod looped over my bars, plus a TT bag and a chalk bag converted into a "stem cell" that totted up to ~30L of capacity. But as noted if B&Bing I would probably have gotten away with just one 15-20L Dry bag, most of the volume in the Red 20L bag was taken up by Sleeping bag, mat, down Jacket (all worth having when sleeping in a ditch, not really needed for a room above a pub).
I now have ambitions to DIY my own lightweight rear rack, maybe make a full frame bag, and probably buy some cheap clip-on Aerobars to lash a dry bag under in the future, I reckon that would improve the options for carrying stuff.
One of the joys of bikepacking is you can do it with whatever you’ve got to hand.
OP - suggest you give your old pal, Kenny, a call. He has given up riding and has loads of good kit gathering dust.
Start off with what you have and enjoy it. When you get the bug buy Tailfin.
buy a Tailfin rear rack/pack as an excellent starting point, then add to it as needed
If you have the budget, then tailfin make beautiful things. But a rack and bag is close to £400.
If budget is a bit tighter then an ortlieb quick rack is very good.
I use mine with some tailfin panniers, a fork bag and/or a 20l dry bag strapped to top
Tor Divide are doing a 'social' bike packing overnighter in the Peaks in September, setting off from Manchester with a choice of 3 routes, to Bamford, then back the next day. I could be tempted if the weather is dry.
I can highly recommend this. I did it last year (and signed up for this year too) and had a great time, despite hideous weather. Really nice bunch of people.
Link for the tor divide thing suggested by fossy. It took me a couple of search variations to find it.
https://tordivide.co.uk/peakgravelovernighter2026
Annoyingly does not sit well with home and work plans.
Most variants of most opinions have already been expressed, so instead I will say the thing I reacted to most strongly: I'd do anything not to go bikepacking with a rucksack. I think it'd put me off for life.
(Like, I MTB with a very small rucksack carrying tools, extra layer, etc, maybe a bladder but that's the limit of what I'll put on my back. Hell, I can barely ride to work with a rucksack).
Moving any mass to the bike will, frankly, make your back and core a lot happier. It's still sprung mass, it's just in a different place. But it frees up your body for dynamic movement, takes strain off your back, lets you go further. The thoughts of any of my 60-100km bikepacking days with a rucksack make me feel sick, and would have put me off the idea of bikepacking in general. For a fast overnighter in good weather you might get away with something light enough, but otherwise, it's just a long while to spend bearing weight on your back whilst also trying to ride a bike. Simple/jury-rigged bag setups will get you a long way, and you might be able to borrow things from friends. Some of the magic of bikepacking is about travelling light, quick, and offroad (as opposed to touring with racks, panniers, and slicks); anything that bogs you down sucks some of that joy.
I also will +1 the grumbling about the thought of a trailer given the sheer number of gates on most routes in the UK, but otherwise, it's not a bad idea, and puts the weight in a place that is not your back.
I can't add much to the above other than when I've done multi-day rides staying at pubs/hotels I've been really honest with myself as to what i need and reduced what I carry as far as possible. I use a topeak tool bottle (small, useful for fragile items like razors) that goes in one of my bottle carriers, a 1.5 litre frame bag (that's used for stuff I'll need during the day plus small bottles of things like lubes, shampoo etc), a saddle bag (for tools and mechanical bits) and a 3 litre Evoc hip bag that everything else goes in. I only carry one set of clothes for the evening (they all fit in the hip bag), and just enough in the small bottles for the number of days I'll be away. It took a bit of trial and error to find a frame bag that would fit around my water bottle and tool bottle, but other than that it's been fine (though I accept that everyone is different with regards to on-frame storage, but it doesn't bother me).
+1 against just putting it all in a rucksack. Absolutely awful way to carry kit on the big ride
( And I should know given the ridiculous amount of shit I take even on a day ride 🙂 ).
You guys must have a different philosophy from all the mountain bikers I see. They always have backpacks, even in day rides. I too always hated riding with a rucksack until I bought a couple of really good cycling backpacks. One from Osprey and one from Evoc. These packs are really comfortable. I wouldn’t pack them heavy though. If you keep it light they are fine for all day rides and don’t impact you moving around on the bike on techy terrain.
You guys must have a different philosophy from all the mountain bikers I see. They always have backpacks, even in day rides. I too always hated riding with a rucksack until I bought a couple of really good cycling backpacks. One from Osprey and one from Evoc. These packs are really comfortable. I wouldn’t pack them heavy though. If you keep it light they are fine for all day rides and don’t impact you moving around on the bike on techy terrain.
Camelbaks were the default uniform for trail riding maybe 15 years ago, but they’ve fallen out of favour with quite a number of people now. Sweaty backs, in-frame storage, just wanting to be more agile on the bike.
As for “keeping it light” that’s fine, but overnighting by definition will involve carrying more stuff and travelling further, why would you choose to lash that to your back? However comfortable your backback is, no backpack is always more comfortable…
You guys must have a different philosophy from all the mountain bikers I see. They always have backpacks, even in day rides. I too always hated riding with a rucksack until I bought a couple of really good cycling backpacks. One from Osprey and one from Evoc. These packs are really comfortable. I wouldn’t pack them heavy though. If you keep it light they are fine for all day rides and don’t impact you moving around on the bike on techy terrain.
I much prefer riding without a pack. It wasn't until I started riding on the road/gravel that I realised quite how much I like riding without one.
I think the reasons we ended up with a pack as default on MTBs were as much around bottle space and flung up filth (noone wants to drink from a bottle covered in dog egg/sheepshit spatter 🤮) and fashion with baggier kit that doesn't support larger stretchy lycra pockets.
There's probably also the remoteness thing. If I run really low on water on a road ride I am rarely more than 30-40 minutes from a pub/village shop/tea room. I wouldn't say that's as regularly true off road.
Appreciate the OP's on a hardtail but in the more forward position of a road or gravel bike I would definitely prefer on the bike over on the back.
Lose yourself on bikepacking.com they have an article on there about going out on your first trip using the kit you already own.
edit : here it is
https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-101/
