[Closed] Sick as a dog so, show me you Bivi / Bikepacking / Adventure racing gear.....

two thousand five hundred!

Looking at having a go at a bit of bikepacking , where do i source the large rear seat packs and frame bags seen on alot of the bikes ?

Looking at having a go at a bit of bikepacking , where do i source the large rear seat packs and frame bags seen on alot of the bikes ?

[url= http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16786&category_id=324 ]Alpkit [/url]do custom ones, otherwise head to [url= http://www.backcountrybiking.co.uk/shop-2-bikepacking-gear/ ]back country[/url] for some of Eric's finest...

try here too http://wildcatgear.co.uk/ Ian is a top bloke and his good lady who makes these makes a mean bacon butty 😀

DrP - I used 1000D pu coated stuff from Pennine Outdoors. Not the lightest but sturdy and should be hard wearing. Cheap too and good service. Here's my newly completed seat bag, made from the same 1m piece of fabric, and there's enough left for a bar harness.
[img] [/img]

I think this is the stuff:
http://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/fabrics/medium-and-heavy-weight-weather-resistant-fabrics/p18-cordura

My baby:

Genesis Fortitude Adventure
Wildcat Handlebar Harness
Bikebag framebag
Carradice Barley Saddlebag
Spa Cycles Nidd Saddle
Snugpak Tactical 2 sleeping bag
Klymit inertia sleeping pad
Alpkit hunka bivi
4 cans of strongbow
Smiles

Looking good, rivingtonbt

Cheers Cheez!

4 cans of strongbow

Best bit of kit I bought for late summer rides was a tiny packable rucsac, intended for TDR-style garage-raids but turned out to be ideal for safe storage of a couple of tinnies for hobo-living in cornfields.

Some different suppliers for all the differing luggage types.

http://wildcatgear.co.uk
http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=324
http://bikepack.pl/shop/index.php?route=common/home
http://nologobikepacking.com
http://www.backcountrybiking.co.uk/shop-2-bikepacking-gear/

@ Cheezpleez .... that looks like a cracking job on both frame and seat pack .... time to get some stuff ordered and let the mrs loose on her sewing machine :)..
Did you use any special type of thread ??

While this is back to life - do many people use rucsacs/camelbak Mules etc for bike-packing? Or do I want to have no weight at all on me back?

[quote=yorlin ]While this is back to life - do many people use rucsacs/camelbak Mules etc for bike-packing? Or do I want to have no weight at all on me back?
I prefer to have no weight but I've been happy to compromise on occasion - usually to carry some water. These frame bags tend to rule out the normal bottle cages.

yorlin - Member

While this is back to life - do many people use rucsacs/camelbak Mules etc for bike-packing? Or do I want to have no weight at all on me back?

Have just ordered fabric samples (stop laughing !) , to give this a go ... the wife seems quite keen on making a frame and seat pack for for me 😀

Just a heads up if anyone happens to be in NZ in January AND wants a bit of a ride there is an informal 1100km brevet going on from Tekapo to Tekapo taking in some of the south islands finest trails and scenery. Lots of adventurous sleeping locations on that one.

I'll post my setup once i get some snaps - i just ran it through the Heaphy and back and all worked well. The aerobars may not be a popular choice but on long rides they can be a godsend !!

Dose any body run a bike packing setup that's more refined for very tech riding as opposed to mile munching. ie, long travel FS with a reverb. I can get a RAB bivvy on my top tube, 3/4 thermarest inside my frame (specialized pitch) and then hope to fit the rest on my bars and in a pack. I'm looking for a wing nut adventure pack, a light down bag and jacket. A few other bits and bobs ( brew kit, lights etc) to get started. Running a sadle bag doesn't seem to be an option. Advice would be appreciated

I can get a RAB bivvy on my top tube, 3/4 thermarest inside my frame (specialized pitch) and then hope to fit the rest on my bars and in a pack. I'm looking for a wing nut adventure pack, a light down bag and jacket. A few other bits and bobs ( brew kit, lights etc) to get started. Running a sadle bag doesn't seem to be an option. Advice would be appreciated

When you say, techy stuff what exactly do you mean? The idea is that you pack in such a way as not to compromise your bikes handling, so you can ride whatever you come across. There's usually plenty of technical sections on most rides.

If the Reverb's stopping you using a rear bag then, big/bulky stuff on the bars (sleeping bag, jacket, etc). Bivvy bag and mat on / in frame and everything else in (the smallest) bag ... it's surprising how much you can fit in a wingnut Hyper 2.5.

Yorlin - re backpacks etc I think they work fine provided you are travelling light on a short trip, in fact I think it can be an advantage if you have lots of hike-a-bike to do as it is v difficult to carry a laden bike over say Blacksail pass in the lakes. My main objection is getting a sweaty back when carrying anything. If you are doing a multi day trip without access to a shower or a change of clothes it's nice to let the bike carry as much as poss.

Craig5 - I have done a bit on a full suss but found the added weight meant I had to firm the forks and rear shock up considerably which meant it wasn't as fun as I thought. I also had a rear shock blow a seal out through the Schrader valve so I have decided to stick to rigid - trust me it's not that bad 😉

Thanks stummpym4, it's not the neatest job but I think it'll do. I just used ordinary polyester thread in the end and double-sewed all the seams. I tried using v thick, strong stuff but it just jammed the machine.

A lighter material than the 1000D stuff I used would probably be easier to work with and lighter, but obviously a bit less durable.

Alpkit drybags but otherwise DIY.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/10402783606_22cc0697dd_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/10402783606_22cc0697dd_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/richseipp/10402783606/ ]Nice weather please[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/richseipp/ ]RichSeipp[/url], on Flickr

What size dry bags are people using for there home made seat packs ??
Ive got a 8 ltr one to try but think next size up would be better ?
think next size is 13 ltr

We went out last night to test out our bivy bags in the wind and rain.

All good 🙂

[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/10472433013_e1d9973d97_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/10472433013_e1d9973d97_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/richseipp/10472433013/ ]Bikepacking[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/richseipp/ ]RichSeipp[/url], on Flickr

@stumpy_m4 I use an 8 litre one, I found a 13 too unstable.

Here's the results of the inspiration...
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[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
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Want to have a go making a seat pack system too....!

DrP

RP, what bivi bags are those please, they look useful when it's windy outside.

Good work DrP. In my experience making a seat pack is a good bit more tricky.

@cvilla

They are Integral Designs Cocoons which Rab have rebranded as the Ridge Raider. [url] http://www.needlesports.com/ [/url] have them on a 1/2 price sale atm.

In my experience making a seat pack is a good bit more tricky.

I can imagine...
I've made some mock ups in cardboard as there's a bit more '3d modelling' involved.
Did you try to copy a current design (i.e wildcat tiger') or just wing it?

DrP

Sterling work DrP. In these days of butterfly stitches and keyhole surgery it must be difficult to pick up the necessary sewing skills 😉

I really must get around to cobbling together a frame bag for my Inbred sometime soon. I've been gazing at the material for the last two years.

Did you try to copy a current design (i.e wildcat tiger') or just wing it?

I took the pattern for mine from the link below, but my translation was not thought through properly.

My current set up has no harness just 4 webbing straps. 🙂

[url] http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,2611.0.html [/url]

TBH for the work involved in thinking it all through and maybe making a prototype or two I would say it's worth in this instance just buying one.

Another consideration is, unless your machine will handle a thick thread is that the harness unlike the framebag has a good deal more stress on the stitching. I exploded my harness stitching quite easily cinching it all down nice and tight even though it had all been double stitched.

DrP ... frame bags looks excellent what size frame is the scandal ? ....only asking as im about to try and make one for my 16" scandal and looks quite small compared to yours 🙁 ...
Keep em coming people

The frame is a medium -18 inch, but the internal triangle area is a lot smaller on this frame compared to most other similar sized frames...
My old steel frame would have a bag with perhaps 10 more litres in it, for a similar sized frame... Skinny tubes etc..

DrP

Little halloween solo bivvy adventure last night - started out calm and mild, ended up blowing a hooley in the pouring rain!!
[img] [/img]
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DrP

Well done for getting out DrP! Overall still a positive experience?
Or just character building? 🙂

..mostly character building...Plus, I wanted to 'test out' the frame bag wouldn't fall apart on it's first outing.
The bivvy spot is only about 10 miles from home, so wouldn't be the end of the world if it's innards spilled all over the South Downs....

However, bivvying [b]is [/b]more fun with
a) friends
b) nice weather...

DrP

How stable are these large seat packs ? .... do they move much or are they rock solid ?

Just noticed that the Lamina 35 sleeping bag is £60 on Sport Pursuit at the moment.
I've had it for the last 3 years and loved it.
Cheapest lightest synthetic bag I know of.

[img] [/img]

Thanks! Got the Lamina 45 as I wanted a left-hand zip and probably won't be doing much when it's too cold...

Minor PSA - Salsa Anything Cages (the new 2014) version available just now... not sure how many he has.

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/new-2014-salsa-anything-cages-fargo-enabler-3762-p.asp

Got mine, they seem pretty strong, 146g for the cage, 177g altogether, which is a fair bit more than what the packaging says, guess it's the old packaging though. Seems like a decent bit of kit. If it breaks off I will report back! 😮

richpips
What size dry bags are they?
Does the front move about much wi just one strap on it?
What's in them?
And re the rear one how do you manage to keep it up for so long? 😉

richpips
What size dry bags are they?
Does the front move about much wi just one strap on it?
What's in them?
And re the rear one how do you manage to keep it up for so long?

13l on the front of mine, all the others are 8l.

Surprisingly stable, though you could add another shorter strap to the headtube if you were caning it over big stuff.

Bivvybag and sleeping bag up front, clothes behind.

The rear I used 3 straps which all needed to be tight. Really fiddly to get it right. Since then I've gone back to a conventional seatbag: more weight empty, stable, and quick to get things in and out of it.

Massive thanks to Stuart at Bear Bones Bikepacking.

Ordered a MyTiMug Stove kit on Sunday night. It came today.

He put up with a fair few noob questions from me.

Thank you Sir.

Has anyone used the Wildcatgear Tiger seat bag?

Thinking of credit card b & b for a few days, don't want to use panniers so wondering whether this plus a backpack would be sufficient.

Thanks. 🙂

Has anyone used the Wildcatgear Tiger seat bag?

Yes and it's very good.

It basically holds a dry bag very secure so you can just unclip & remove the dry bag to open / take with you.

Makes for very easy to use storage

Has anyone used the Wildcatgear Tiger seat bag?

I would think you'd manage, but it depends how many changes of clothes you want to take 🙂

What's peoples tarp recommendations. Looking for 2x2 or bigger, plenty of attachment points and eyelets that won't rip with a bit of a wind. I'd say a decent tarp is my only let down and the moment.

I await some wisdom, cheers all.

Alpkit Rig7

https://www.alpkit.com/products/rig-7

Thanks Alex and Tiger for your replies. I don't have a dry bag and don't really think I need one although do have a rucksack liner that could be adapted.

I've done minimalist before but, in any case, this would definitely be a Spring or Summer adventurette. 8)

8l £7

https://www.alpkit.com/products/airlok-xtra

Ah, thank you Tiger. Looks useful!

I can't seem to find out the actual measurements of the Tiger pack, could anyone give me an idea? Thanks. 🙂

Looks good that one Tiger, nice size and weight too.