Forum menu
Use google/ask around.
Join the bearbonesbikepacking forum and ask there.
Find some good blogs.
Mostly, I just make mine up using the OS maps. It helps that I'm in Scotland and don't have the Englandandwales access laws to contend with.
If you're after some ideas up this way, I have a blog you could peruse.
quick question. not sure whether to buy the 13 or 20 litre airlock drybag for my handlebars. needs to be able to fit comfortably on the bars without hitting brakes etc. not sure if the 13 will fit in my sleeping bag, mat and bivi in? anyone got experience of how much stuff they can fit in a 13L bag?
cheers.
13L = Summer
20L = Winter
Both fit
You might find the 20L simply too deep to fit as the lower part of it could drag on your front wheel - especially if you have front suspension/are riding a 29er.
I can certainly fit a summer bag, mat and bivi in a 13L bag.
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5596/14870782167_c43bddeffb_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5596/14870782167_c43bddeffb_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oE5DrZ ]DSC_0143[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5587/14870568590_8702ca0483_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5587/14870568590_8702ca0483_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oE4xXC ]P1010496[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
IMHO, a 20L bag would only make sense if it was the same overall diameter of the 13L but just longer
I've managed to squeeze an Alpkit Hunka XL, Decathlon 5 degree light sleeping bag (2/3 season bag) & Forclaz inflatable sleeping mat into the 13L airlok dry bag.
Thanks that answers it perfectly. 13 will be more than enough for the gear iv got. cheers.
@DTJC
I've a 13 litre Airlock dry bag and last weekend I got: An Alpkit Hunka XL; a PHD Minim Ultra sleeping bag; a Cumulus 150 quilt and an Exped Synmat winterlite sleeping mat (and inflator bag) into it and had room for a bit more, probably a thermal or two.
For information I've also an Alpkit tapered airlock for the seat post so 13 litre and a Wildcat Ocelot partial frame bag at 4.5 litres so that's just over 30 litres in total. More than enough for summer but I tend to need a backpack for the extra bulk of winter kit.
cheers whitestone. very useful info.
I've only just found this thread. Full of epic.
I'm planning a short trip round the Chilterns to test out the equipment and see whether I enjoy it.
Have no luggage bags , but will look to buy, only a front handlebar and seat post one I think (only got a full sus) at a later date. Any good bargains out there at the moment?
For now ill take a 30 litre rucksack.Think i'm just taking a lightweigh hammock and tarp,bivi, lamina sleeping bag, jet boil, jacket, beanie, boil bag supplies and jelly babies as well as normal bike equipment.
If you are looking for bargains check out the classified forum on Bearbones http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=9 Ian from Wildcat had a sell-off of various stuff last week but there's plenty of stuff appears on there. Also worth checking the MYOG forum.
Sure that I or someone else mentioned it on this thread but you can mount an Alpkit tapered Airlok directly to the seatpost/saddle rails as an ultra cheap way of getting a saddle bag. Maybe not as convenient as a dedicated harness but for £13 or whatever it is now you can't really go wrong. You can also strap a dry bag directly to your bars though it's worth protecting the bars and frame with tape.
Our first bikepacking trip (before we'd even heard the term) we just used 25 litre rucksacks and did a ride (Corrour to Roy Bridge) that we could have done in a day very easily but took it steady and stopped in Meanach bothy for the overnight bit.
Over time, if you get into it, you'll figure out what works [b]for you[/b] and what doesn't and modify/buy accordingly. It's worth trying to be flexible with kit: two two season sleeping bags or quilts are more use in the UK than a single 4 season bag for example.
[img] 
[/img]
gourdon 25l
Rab survival bivvy
pipe dream 250
rig 3.5 tarp with bearbones pole a bears and ti tykes
Hipflask
8gram stove - 400ml ti mug, lighter , fuel and coffee.
microlight down jacket , a buff , some gloves
Petzl e-lite and the cordillera
Put on my trainers and did something really odd.... left the bike at home as i was visiting family and wanted to leave late/back early - 5k out to a spot on the cliff top where i used to camp as a kid, bivy out and continue another 5k around the trails i did as a kid.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Ready for tomorrows overnighter
[img] 
[/img]
Packed in a very very similar way to JohnClimber on Monday night!
Went up to Higger Tor for my first ever bivy bag experience (I normally Hammock). As a limbs-out sleeper, I was worried, but the Hunka wasn't too restricting. Although it was overkill on the hot night.
Managed to pack enough on the bike that my backpack was left at home - much nicer when on a road bike ime.
The climb up past Stanage
[img] 
[/img]
Glorious sunset
[img] 
[/img]
Bivy spot
[img] 
[/img]
Superb sunset and a lovely view to wake up to too.
Will definitely be back.
Tested quite a few things - first CX bivy, first bivy bag, first use of a little Alpkit stove, first use of the Wildcat Cheetah, first use of the new Wildcat tapered and double-ended dry bags.
Everything was rock solid as usual. The deep shape of the double-ended dry bag was perfect for the drop handlebars and rigid forks, but I'm dubious about it on my flat-barred FS bike.
That red glow from my water bottle isn't some kind of blackcurrant energy drink, but peaty water from the stream nearby (Burbage Bridge) in my TravelTap filter 🙂
The morning ride is always a highlight - Stanage Pole is back!
[img] 
?oh=7ae16af5b225b20dce3a3b4623852c06&oe=5836EC18[/img]
Last Friday nights beach ride and bivi with 2 mates and a drone
PSA - Just found an inflatable pillow in Poundland.
I bought it to experiment with bonding some foam to one surface to see if I could make a comfortable alternative to the usual rolled-up clothing-in-a-drybag I normally use.
Then I tried it and thought it was pretty good un-modified. It's got a flocky/microfibre surface and I like it a little under-inflated.
Anyway - it's 43g and a good size (over a foot wide)
[img] 
[/img]
This weekends very, very wet and windy (and my delayed) Welsh Ride Thing.
[url= https://johnclimber.com/2016/08/21/3-seasons-in-one-day-and-not-one-of-them-summer/ ]BLOG[/url]
Not sure if it counts as bikepacking as i cant abide camping (unless with a hammock which i will do again next summer) but here are the set ups ive used for overnighting. Genereally hostels.
Carlton 'gravel' Singlespeed.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Gazelle Mondial Road tourer.
[img] 
?oh=dfcc374014047d33b9601658ce5f6dfb&oe=5839568C[/img]
And the newest member of the family. Genesis Vagabond custom build (which i love but cant really justify so feel free to make a decent offer. XT m8000 1x11 with an oval CR)
[img] 
?oh=5c6b32655ee69067991916547f2ffef7&oe=58816371[/img]
[img] 
?oh=e7ca25aa138f6951e4de8d5695ef064f&oe=583DE41F[/img]
Ooh love the Carlton. What front rack does it have? Where did you get it? Looking for something like that for my tourer.
Cheers
Keith
rack is a homemade job. bent up some steel ando bolted some wood to it. add some point clips, and you have yourself a working front rack.
[img] 
[/img]
p clips... not point clips
How did you manage to build a Shimano 1x11???
what derailleur/shifters are you using on your Vagabond?
It all works fine with m8000 short cage, 105 shifters and a JTek Shiftmate 8. oh and an absolute black 34t oval.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cables/jtek-shiftmate-8/
ive heard that the lindarets version of shiftmate is better, but havnt tried it and didnt have time to order one
Ben that Genesis looks outstanding - make sure you don't regret selling it! I think I'm a bit envious as my bike looks like quite a hideous creation in comparison 😀 It's purpose is getting me a few miles out into the wild and then I make a coffee and chill for half an hour (got a 3 month old baby, so some quiet time is nice)
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Skatefurther Ben - Nice bikes! What bag is on the front of the Carlton out of interest?
Putting some kit together to do some bike packing over winter.
I'll need to mount 2 bottle cages to my forks (Rigid Stooge) to clear space in the frame for a frame bag, and I've spotted a fair few on here doing it. What are you using to mount them?
Looking at getting 2 cheap alu cages and then mounting them onto the forks with 2-3 jubilee clips and rubber pads. Would that be secure enough to hold 2x750ml bottles (1 each side)?
JohnClimber - Member
Last Friday nights beach ride and bivi with 2 mates and a dronewww.youtube.com/watch?v=EfbnNXqwZNM
You do know you're spending the night in a well known cottaging area John? 😯
Jubilee clips will be absolutely fine unless you're planning to do anything majorly gnarr
I have fargo forks on my bike so it has mounts on the fork legs already
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
full load for a 1400km trip
Had an interesting 62mile loop yesterday evening/this morning as a mate and I loaded up our cx bikes; his commuter, my racer, and went looking for the Grwyne Fawr bothy. We'd planned for worst case scenario so were fully tipi'd and bivi bag'd up but the bothy was empty so we had it to ourselves when we got there at 9pm after some hike a biking.
It was a little easier to see this morning!
[img] https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtJK__hWAAAZYWD?format=jpg&name=large [/img]
Home now and bike stripped and ready for tomorrow's race.
Anyone doing the capital trail next weekend?
(Particularly if you're planning on doing it over 3 days and driving from the SE, there's places left and I'm tempted, but can't even afford petrol at the moment!).
BB200 the following weekend for me. (Capital Trail would be a damn sight closer mind you!!!)
How do people find the Alpkit Joey harness? Tempted by cheapness but does it flap like sleeve of wizard?
Also considering DIY as I have some cordura at home. Have seen a few bits on Google but has anyone got anytemates.or plans?
I bought a Joey but sent it back before using it. I found the webbing and straps were in the wrong place for my bike and it was going to sit too high and not really protect the head tube which is one of the reasons for getting it.
If you like the idea and you're handy (which I'm guessing you are given you've bought material) it's very simple so you could knock something up quickly.
I went DIY after that, but admittedly haven't perfected it - due to lack of time more than anything.
After looking at the pics of the Joey I thought that maybe the case so looks like diy is the way to go.
When you made yours how did you pad the harness, did you use foam or anything to stiffen it?
Also did you do anything to keep it off the cables like with Revelation stuff?
Was thinking of using some thin foam or plastic, maybe both if it doesn't make it too rigid.
Also did you find it better to attach it to the forum crown or headtube?
While I'm at it can someone point me in the right direction in terms of decent thread and what to use as binding for the edging please?
Noticed your post on BB stayhigh. There's some pics of my harness on a thread in the MYOG forum from not too long ago. Should answer most of your questions. Yes I know it looks proper s*** 😀
Thanks for the link NW, I kinda like the anarchic spotty look 😉
Saturday nights excursion into the Chilterns.
The original plan was to bivi in some woods I'd found on the map, a nice small wood on top of a hill, miles for anywhere. Anyway, I got there, there's a big no entry sign as it's a wildlife reserve for nesting birds and judging by the noise there were a lot of them!
Continued back down the hill and decided that pitching in the corner of a field was probably the sensible option rather than pressing on in the dark without any real plan of where to go. Stupidly I'd not bothered to bring a map as it's an area I know the trails well enough!
20miles there, 20 to the outlaws for a fry-up in the morning, and another 10 back home, just enough to feel like I'd done some work.
And proof you don't need to be in the middle of nowhere to enjoy a cheeky night under the stars and wake upto a lovely inversion/sunrise!
[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8280/29615064674_3b072bda42_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8280/29615064674_3b072bda42_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/M7YWXm ]2016-10-10_10-20-51[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/7614571@N05/ ]thisisnotaspoon[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5680/29949124750_41b728c13f_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5680/29949124750_41b728c13f_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MCv6nQ ]2016-10-10_10-21-02[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/7614571@N05/ ]thisisnotaspoon[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5679/30130515042_11b53ceedf_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5679/30130515042_11b53ceedf_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/MUwLoE ]2016-10-10_10-21-12[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/7614571@N05/ ]thisisnotaspoon[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5660/29615084734_16a70ffc60_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5660/29615084734_16a70ffc60_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/M7Z3Vd ]2016-10-10_10-21-43[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/7614571@N05/ ]thisisnotaspoon[/url], on Flickr
Kit list:
Alpkit kanga + airlock with a vango self inflating mat and an ME Daragon Series sleeping bag (no idea what rating it is/was, but it's chuffin toasty even at 5C outside!)
Ibrea Bike frame bag with a Gelert solo tent.
Alpkit Koala with down jacket, waterproof, ronhills, merino LS top, silk bag liner, 650ml Ti mug, bearboned 18g stove, roasting tray windshield, foil bubble wrap pot cosy, travel shampoo bottle of meths and striker.
Camelback with 3l of water and bike stuff.
Podsac chalk bag with a bag of wine gums, bar of choclate and phone.
Dinner was cous-cous and choritso cooked in a bag in the pot cosy whilst I brewed a cuppa in the mug. Genius , whoever came up with that washing up saving idea!
The Bearbones 200 was last weekend and I thought I'd give it a go..
http://www.blog.scotroutes.com/2016/10/bearbones-200-wales-for-weekend.html
[img] 
[/img]
You make it sound easy scotroutes....
Consider that the fast folk were getting round in under 16 hours. That'll put my performance in perspective.
Indeed, some fast and fit folk out there
Even so, 200km is a good achievement in a day and a bit.
You make it sound easy scotroutes....
How hard can it be? 200km is only 120miles! That's an easy road ride 😉