(Part 2) Best products from r/bikepacking

The one time I flew a bike to Europe, I used 2 boxes. On my way back, I used a single box + a backpack that I purchased over there. I had a bike shop back at both ends (The one in the US was much more expensive, but also did a way better job.). You will probably pass the weight limit that most airlines have, so splitting into 2 is way cheaper.

I don't think you really need to try to lock all of your bags when you are in a store. Just U-Lock your bike and you should be fine. Chances of stealing your bags off your bike outside of a store with a bunch of people around is pretty minimal. I carried a [day pack](https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Summit-Ultra-Sil-Day-Pack/dp/B0763MGRJ3/ref=asc_df_B0763MGRJ3/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309820094345&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8930152768236168621&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9052350&hvtargid=pla-632735717672&psc=1_ I could load with my valuables (camera + lenses and ipad mostly) if I needed to leave my bike somewhere I was worried about. Get a day pack like that, its tiny and a lifesaver.

Honestly, if I had it to do over again and was planning to do mostly road/hardpack for a few weeks or less, there is a decent chance I would just rent. You can probably get rentals for 15-20 euros a day including bags and depending on the route you decide take, you might be able to pick up and one end and drop off at the other. You certainly don't get as nice of bike, but its less of a pain in the ass, and could be cheaper after taking into account $300-400 to fly the bike and get it boxed up.

My best resource was finding out that the owner of my local bike shop did a lot of bikepacking in europe. His best piece of advice was to wear normal athletic shorts and synthetic underwear with a nice saddle rather than bike shorts that are hard to wash and get gross pretty fast.

Is it a 2017 frame or earlier? The 2017 uses knot boost but the spacers make it work woth 135’s. FWIW, this is the set I bought for my new Ogre ebike build. They have held up well over the 2000 miles I have put on them. On the cheaper side. I’m sure there are much better options, but these were a great bang for the buck option for me.

Yo you should definitely go with the bladder!

I did the GAP and CO at the end of this past summer and used essentially exactly the water storage system you're describing. I had the medium sized 12L Apidura full frame bag, and used this skinny, tubular 3L /100 OZ water bladder along the top "shelf" of the bag. It fit perfectly, and the tube routed out of a covered access hole in the front of the bag. I also carried a Nalgene in a pannier, and a 621 ML/ 21 OZ capped water bottle in a bottle cage on the bottom of the down tube. I thought this system worked extremely well- especially the bladder. I found myself refilling the bladder with water from the Nalgene, as the bladder was so easy to drink from while riding. It holds all of that water weight in a great spot to minimize impact on handling, too. Here's a picture of my rig- you can see the bladder hose on the handlebar roll.

The best thing I bought for my bikepacking rig (and just really nice for mountain biking in general) is a Blackburn Outpost frame bag. It's a great bag for the price: pretty roomy, durable so far, and decently water resistant. It takes away my water bottle cage-space, but makes great use of the inner frame-space.

I just came across this post. What you want is this map: http://www.amazon.com/Benchmark-Oregon-Road-Recreation-Atlas/dp/092959150X

This has all the forest service roads in Oregon reliably marked. These are mostly gravel, and they're much more extensive than velodirt and oregonbikepacking. You can pick your own route too, which is a plus. I've spent a few months total on gravel roads, between Patagonia and winding down gravel roads on the stretch of the Cascades between Seattle and Eugene, on my Surly LHT. It's great fun. Even single track can be fun. If you're worried about it, maybe fit some knobby tires and lower the tire pressure. It is a chore sometimes, and I've now bought a Pugsley because I want to make it a bit easier on myself, but some of the most fun I've had while touring is hauling my bike over stretches of nasty gravel roads/singletrack that I didn't anticipate being as difficult as they were.

Just go look for the forest service/gravel roads in that atlas. They go everywhere, and they're often a great compromise between single track stuff and pavement.

My journeys in the NW are here. I didn't do much in Oregon because I'd been on the road for a long time and just wanted to be home, but I did a lot in Washington with a similar atlas and it was awesome.

I also have Blackburn Outpost racks. I use some generic 8L drybags. They are slightly bigger than Anything Bags which isn't saying much. The 3rd picture here shows this front fork setup. Depending on what you mount, your turn radius may by affected if it hits the down tube.

The racks loaded have some wobble to them and I had one mount work itself loose after a day of single track. So like any rack you just need to check the connections. I think some people wrap a third-party strap like a Voile around the fork and the bag to reduce this wobble.

I mainly like them because I can install them quickly for a weekend trip and then take them off to get back into commuter mode. And they're pretty inexpensive. If you're adding a little extra storage to your current setup, they're great.

Separating your tent poles and strapping them under your top tube with Voile straps might be an option.

I bought this, and so far it seems pretty nice. I have nothing to compare it to because it's my first go at bikepacking gear, but I like it and it worked great on my first trip.

RockBros 100% Waterproof Bike Bags 2 Intergrated MTB Handlebar Cycling Tube Pouch Panniers Accessories Quick Release Frame Bags 19-20L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0791YD55H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZtnRBbVWACC1T

Thanks!

This is the exact light I have mounted on the bike right now:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WPFVPC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's a cheapo $25 chinese thing. And it's AMAZING!

A few years back I was organizing a nightly 40mi ride as that's the only feasible time to ride in Vegas in the summers. I bought that thing on a whim and loved it. Ended up telling everyone I was riding with about it and I think at last count 20-something friends had also bought it.

This model seems discontinued, but there are many many clones and alternatives, probably better stuff now.

I recently picked up a Blackburn frame bag and I’m quite impressed with it. It’s a half frame bag, but it’s expandable if you need more room. The quality seems good and it fits my bike almost perfectly. https://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-Outpost-Frame-Bag-Medium/dp/B013VQ1F2Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525205437&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=blackburn%2Bframe%2Bbag&dpPl=1&dpID=31lmxwk8gKL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

I did the C&O Canal Towpath in a day in July 2016. I used a really cheap Ibera frame bag. Worked like a charm! I made a slight modification in the form of a tiny slit so that my phone charger cable could go through with the zipper closed. I've been commuting with it now for about 18 months and it's still holding strong!

I loved my Towpath adventure, but I have some recommendations if you're interested.

Fellow 1.60ish person here. This is the setup of my last tour: <https://imgur.com/a/N7S8xf6>

Frame, top tube and stem bags are DIY. On the front is the sleeping bag, -pad and tent in drybags in a Roswheel harness. On top is also electronics and valuables in the beige fanny bag. On the back is a 10l saddlebag with clothes, cooking kit and some food. The blue drybag on top has extra food and packaging supplies for flying home again.

With a larger saddle bag and in warmer areas with better supply options you might get away with a smaller sleeping bag and eliminate some of the bulk upfront and the extra food bag.

Thank you! And sure, here ya go 🙃

Back seat post rack with bag = Ibera PakRak Bicycle Seat... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YSN5W6?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Top frame bag (front) = https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/cockpit/Magtank

Top frame bag (back) = https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/cockpit/Jerrycan

Feedbag on handlebars = https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm/store.catalog/cockpit/MountainFeedbag

Front rack = https://www.rei.com/product/117429/salsa-exp-series-anything-cradle-dry-bag-and-straps

Dry bag/ compression sacks = https://www.rei.com/product/730882/sea-to-summit-event-compression-dry-sack

Cheers!🍻

SPD's. Gives the ability the walk short distances. In road clips you'd have an issue if need to push on really steep bits.

Friend uses these for best of both worlds: https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-Shimano-A530-SPD-Pedals/dp/B07C59VPXW

I'm got an alcohol stove, GSI Tea Kettle, and a titanium spork. I take a little aluminum cup that I use for instant coffee/tea but I've been thinking about getting a sea to summit xmug because they pack down nice. One of my favorite things is a little table by cascade wild.

>foam earplugs

I invested in these for concerts and now I use them when camping as well: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J5FBDMC/

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They are so much more comfortable than foam plugs, work much better, and stay in your ear. They are also more difficult to lose.

A LONG time ago I had a BBB XL Bottle cage. It's specifically designed to carry 1.25L-1.5L bottles. Not sure if that's what you're looking for. If I were doing it now, I'd probably just use some of those Voile straps and the appropriate B-Rad system to convert it from a 2 to 3 bolt system plus an Anything cage or some equivalent. This would also resolve any issues of the bottle being positioned poorly in the main triangle, such that it won't clear either the top tube or the seat tube.

https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/collections/b-rad-system

https://www.amazon.com/BBB-bottle-holder-water-Fueltank/dp/B002S3JX7I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8