More Bikepacking Advice

[oxoman]

Just returned from 1st trial run carrying all the gear. Luckily most used, but need to cut the weight down. Main issue is comfort, I didn't realise just how much more pressure it puts your butt through when pedalling circa 22kg including bike. Current saddle was a brooks cambium which has been great until now, is it worth going full brooks b17 or a saddle with a cutout. Ditching the carradice sqr slim i use for comutting for a lightweight rack and drybags, saves me nearly a kilo in one hit. Is it worth replacing lightweight alloy poles for carbon fibre or fibreglass ones, supposedly lighter. Advice gratefully received.

 

[chriswoody]

Saddles are a very personal thing and difficult to advise on. Personally I use a Brooks Cambium as well and love it, however, I soon discovered after purchasing that padded shorts really don't work well with it. For me I use thin Merino Wool boxer shorts under thin baggy MTB shorts, I've used this combo on thousands of kilometres of bikepacking trips and love it.

You can always shave weight, but it's a case of spending lots of money and potentially sacrificing comfort. With regard tent poles, I really wouldn't be looking at fibreglass poles their heavy and prone to failure. I use an Alpkit Soloist tent, a good trade off between lightweight/small pack size and cost.

 

[oxoman]

Cheets for the reply Chris. I recently got the zephros 2 so pretty light as well. I prefer to put outer and inner up together, been caught out to many times backpacking. Alot of the stuff is from then. I understand the saddle issue, might have to play with that one. I'm changing my rear bag out already so that saves me a lump, plus instead of tool caddy I'll just small drybag it

 

[teeonethousand]

This might seem bleeding obvious but my biggest challenge when loaded up was getting on or off. I was nearly caught out a couple of times as I stepped over the cross bar ...my little legs couldn't clear the bag and rack to swing over the saddle. The different balance of the bike seemed worse at day end .....when I was tired.

Have a great time.

 

[oxoman]

Cheers T, your not wrong very awkward even when reasonably balanced. I did enjoy it and will go a bit further next time, just 50 miles roughly each way.

 

[chriswoody]

been caught out to many times backpacking. Alot of the stuff is from then.

This is where I started as well. I spent a lot of time Sea Kayaking and backpacking in the mountains. I figured I could use the same stuff to go Bikepacking as well. It soon became apparent to me that whilst stuff could easily go into a 60L backpack, or 70L of Sea Kayak hatches. Trying to put that same kit into 35L of bikepacking bags was much more of a challenge.

I've since swapped the old Thermarest for a Sea to Summit Ultralight pad, the 3 season down bag for a 1 season down bag. The stove has been downsized to a MSR pocket rocket, essentially everything has been downsized, but not at the expense of practicality or comfort and subsequently it's much lighter.

Tool wise, I've never taken much with me to be fair. I have a small crank brothers multi tool, nitrile gloves, tubeless plugs, a couple of quick links, spare brake pads, cable ties and a small bottle of chain oil. All of this goes into a small tool caddy. I keep the bike really well maintained and I'm generally happy it's in top shape before a trip.

Bags wise I prefer I complete soft bag set up. My seat pack is the heaviest bag at 550g, but overall their all quite light. I've gradually built up my stuff over the years and I'm quite happy now with everything.

 

[oxoman]

Cheers Chris. Definitely went with to much repair stuff. Now reduced, I swapped my pocket rocket and pots for a jetboil. The Carradice is 1.3kg on its own so being replaced with small lightweight rack and a drybag saves me nearly a kg.

 

[Baldy]

Only carry enough food to get you to your next resupply point. Unless you're going seriously off piste you can nearly always find somewhere to buy food enroute. Saves a lot of weight.

 

[oxoman]

TBH i didn't take much and what I did was dry. I know whereabouts your coming from though.

 

[Jameshow]

Saddles are so individual tbh.

Poles not worth the bother tbh.

I like to carry enough to be comfortable in the evening so light weight tights (ron hill tracksters etc) are great. Wear them over shorts on cold days.

Also a thermal jacket is good for evenings and early morning starts. Put it on if really cold at night.

 

[oxoman]

Ok I'll ditch the pole idea. Jacket I've got from mountaineering and weighs next to nothing. Won't be doing any mega cold so shorts will do at the moment. Mates got the same bike as me with a saddle with a cutout so going to try that on a ride.