Whats the best adventure bike? – bike packing.

Ha, just as well i have not shown you the handlebar mounted coffee cup holder or the minipresso i have ordered , my eyebrows are also raised but that’s purely down to the fact that i have not found a suitable usb powered eye brow and nose hair trimmer.

We adventurers have need to be trim n’ plucked for when we rescue maidens lost in dense jungles or barren deserts, imagine how the newspaper publicity shots would look if i kept my natural look? (your typical short arsed hairy scotsman).

Adventurers have need for moisturiser dispensers too you know………..

if some how something happened to the frame I like the idea it could just be welded back together.

Brant made a point on the Bearbones site about that – http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/10-questions-with-brant.html

I like steel simply because I trust it. Largely psychological. But the main reason I use my steel bike for overseas trips rather than my very similar and sometimes better-suited ti bike is that I can’t really afford to replace the ti one and I don’t want that on my mind. Steel rides great and costs relatively little.

ah now I’m conflicted. So it’s a myth it can be repaired easily. I still like the feel of my Kaffenback thats steel. But now alu and ti adventure bikes?….. this opens up a whole other procrastinating afternoon looking at bike porn.

Wonder if Alpkit could make me a bag to strap on the bike for my nose hair trimmer?…….

Somafunk, I have one of those coffee cup holders on my commuter. With it, I can buy a coffee at the establishment of my choice then ride over to the station and drink the coffee on the train – perfect.

The coffee cup holder has being added to the wish list.

You need a sufficiently tapered coffee cup though.

Amateurs!

http://www.topeak.com/products/Bottle-Cages/modulajavacage
http://www.topeak.com/products/Bottle-Cages/cagemount

I dunno. That looks like it’d be hard to drink from whilst riding.

You just said you drink yours on the train 👿

Sometimes.. but sometimes I sneak a sip or two at traffic lights 🙂

gazerath – Member
ah now I’m conflicted. So it’s a myth it can be repaired easily.

When I was 14, we took a family holiday to Morzine in the french Alps. My parents wanted to go walking and my brother and I took our bikes. All those rumours about these new “long travel” suspension forks being too much for rigid XC bikes proved to be true, when my steerer parted from the top tube at the trials arena. A True Temper Diamond back Apex, Bomber Z1s and the alpine trails proved a floored combination.
My dad, being a practical chap, took the bike to pretty basic garage, situated at the resort. A main dealer it was not. A couple of hours later, I was putting my forks back in, the frame now back in one piece thanks to an oxyacetylene set, copious amounts of braze and friendly french mechanic.
So no, it’s not a myth. An aluminium frame would have resulted in a very moody teenager, stuck in MTB parsdise with nothing to do. Steel can be fixed in the middle of nowhere with fairly crude technology.

I like the description of Morzine as: “the middle of nowhere” 😀

So it’s a myth it can be repaired easily.

Not really a myth, but not something I’d worry about for a touring bike unless I had no job and a few years of riding in backside of nowhere.

Here you go – Bombproof Alu German tourers that travel the world. Get a comfy bike and all’s good.

Money no object I’d probably get a Vaya Ti. But unfortunately, money object so I’ve boshed a triple and a Surly Troll rigid fork on my old 26″ Inbred frame. I’m using racks though, I’m not trendy enough for bike packing.

So no, it’s not a myth

Well the question (in my mind at least) is whether or not your typical crude garage is going to be able to weld the kind of thin tubing that these fancy schmancy bike are made from.

Your Diamond Back was probably significantly lower tech in terms of frame tubing.

Why do old people get annoyed and go on about its not new

I do i suppose have a bit of an issue with the term “bike packing” but I’ll leave that alone for a bit

I’ve spent alot of time, when I was young and thin, rock climbing. In general in the history of climbing and mountaineering the past is well represented. The standards and kit is better these days. But we under stand that the climbers of the past were really good and quite like us

The history of mountain biking (since its invention) seems to be frequently misrepresented. A myth grew up that mountain biking in Britain use to be XC racing in bright lycra around unchallenging courses. Touring always meant panniers and looking at the view. Where as my memory is that the aims of the 80s mountain biker was almost as broad as the and rather similar to the mounatin biker of today. “Enduro is a new thing” but trail riding is some what similar. Something like bike packing is as old as mountain biking

The final irony is that modern “bike packing” bike is an early mountain bike with disc brakes. But to be fair that’s a good thing

Your Diamond Back was probably significantly lower tech in terms of frame tubing.

Lower tech than what? True Temper Lite tube set was pretty decent. It was certainly lighter than my Pomp for instance. This is actually reminding me how nice that bike was to ride. Keeping half an eye out for one…

Well the question (in my mind at least) is whether or not your typical crude garage is going to be able to weld the kind of thin tubing that these fancy schmancy bike are made from.

I’ve still got the frame if you’d like to see it! Most workshops have access to brazing equipment. It can be done with a blowtorch, flux and a rod. I guess you’d probably not want to get a blacksmith involved in surgery to your 953 tubed Fancycycle, but I don’t think thats a typical tubeset of choice for and adventure bike.
My experience answers the question for me anyway.

fin25, that is pretty much what I’m hoping to do with my (ahem) Rooster. How are you finding the Moto’s on the wide rims?

Those Genesis Longitudes have apparently sold out now for the rest of the year (size 20.5 at least). That’s what the LBS told me anyways when I inquired about ordering one and he phoned the supplier.

Bummer.

I’ve got a Fargo because I wanted an adventure/bikepacking bike. I removed the rack and guards almost straight away. Five bottle cages are pointless in the UK and it’s heavy and awkward to carry/get through gaps with the drops. I’ve since built up a Lurcher and there’s nothing the Lurcher can’t do better than the Fargo. Just use whichever bike you’ve got! As Brant alluded to in his responses, which reliable material has Mike Hall chosen for his epic rides?

Why do old people get annoyed and go on about its not new

Because they feel that people are trying to take over the thing that was theirs without acknowledging those who went before. Biking is technology orientated and consequently driven by sales of that kit and therefore marketing or advertising. The industry has to present things as new, but people involved with the old feel they are being ignored and get cross.

NEW for 2016! 26″ wheels with 1.9″ tyres! Make the trails come alive! Works best with 23″ bar and 130mm stem! Bar ends are fantastic too!

Don’t forget your bow and arrow !

YoKaiser, motos are excellent on the 35mm rims, masses of volume, roll really well on the tarmac too. Not running tubeless at the minute, generally putting about 20-25psi in them for the commute, which gives a nice balance of cushioning and speed (and they are really very fast tyres).

Found this whilst looking for info on chains:

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/poll/?o=Sh&poll_id=35

How did it fail?
Tubing cracked: 6votes 6 votes (4%)
Weld failed: 6votes 6 votes (4%)
Other: (specify below) 5votes 5 votes (4%)

Was the frame repairable?
No: 5votes 5 votes (4%)
Yes: 12votes 12 votes (9%)

What did you do?
Repaired by local welder: 9votes 9 votes (6%)
Had new frame shipped to me on the road under warranty: 2votes 2 votes (1%)
Had new frame shipped to me on the road, at my cost: 0votes 0 votes (0%)
Bought a whole new bike on the road: 1vote 1 vote (1%)
Scuppered my tour: 1vote 1 vote (1%)
Other: (specify below) 4votes 4 votes (3%)

My Surly Krampus Ops has certainly proved it’s capability on a few fairly epic bikepacking trips…

http://www.carbon-monkey.co.uk/wp/index.php/2014/09/into-the-fjords/