My Newest Bikepacking Setup – RideCycleSpin

Over the previous few years, there was a noticeable progress in bikepacking. With the addition of routes and occasions such because the Central Ontario Loop Path (COLT), Simcoe County Loop Path (SCLT), BT700, Grand-Nith-Ramble, Cannonball 300 and most-recently the Log Driver’s Waltz (LDW), bikepackers have a spread of occasions that provide completely different ranges of issue. These occasions vary in distance from 160 km (SCLT) to over 800 km (LDW).

My introduction to bikepacking began in 2017, first with an in a single day to Turkey Level and later a four-day journey across the COLT. Since that first yr, I’ve experimented with completely different packs and equipment setups and some time this might be an on-going course of, I assumed I’d share my present set-up (which I used for a three-day journey across the SCLT again in August).

This picture reveals my Salsa Fargo arrange in the beginning of the journey (I want to recollect to take drive-side photographs of my bike!).

• Saddle bag: Arkel SeatPacker 15
  • Informal garments, sleep pillow (inflatable), additional biking garments, towel
  • Strapped to the pack: Teva sandals, chrome steel espresso mug
  • I really like this seat bag. It holds so much and it comes with a strong steel rack that attaches to the seat and seat publish. The setup prevents the bag from swaying. Very strong system
• Body bag: handmade
  • Instruments, mini lock
  • Tent poles
  • Some snacks and meals
• Handlebar system: Revelate Harness, 15 L dry bag and Revelate Egress Pocket
  • Drybag: Tent, Fly, floor sheet, sleeping bag
  • Egress Pocket: Transportable charger and cable, snacks, first help package, toiletries
  • This handlebar system replaces my earlier set-up from Arkel that I simply couldn’t get working correctly. The straps stored loosening, which resulted within the bag decreasing and rubbing my entrance tire. The Harness by Revelate attaches firmly to the handlebar and the dry bag straps in securely. The Egress Pocket wraps across the drybag/harness and is a really helpful addition for issues that must be accessed readily. The pocket may also be used independently, with out the harness.
• Prime Tube Bag: Oveja Negro Snack Pack
  • Snacks, electrolyte tablets, gels, gummies
  • This small 1 litre bag is helpful for snacks. Mine has a gap within the high that has been repaired with hand stitching, however I’m in search of a alternative. I discover these high tube luggage very helpful on all my rides.
• Feed Baggage: (1) Revelate Mountain Feedbag, (2) Randi Jo Fabrications Bartender Plus
  • Over-sized (1 L) water bottles
  • These feed luggage are unbelievable. I like have water bottles proper at my fingertips (actually!). Each of those luggage embody small aspect pockets, which I take advantage of for gummies and different fast snacks.
• Fork Racks: Blackburn Outpost Cargo Cages (2)
  • (1) 1 L Water bottle
  • (2) Camp chair in a 3 L dry bag
  • These fork racks are a brand new addition to my gear. The Salsa Fargo has braze-ons for fork cages. These cages from Blackburn permit additional water and equipment.

My setup allowed for 3 extra water bottles on the body, making a complete of six! That will appear to be so much, however I sweat A LOT and due to this fact, I drink so much. I don’t wish to run out of liquids!

Gear:

• Tent: MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-person
  • When tent procuring just a few years in the past, I sat in a one-person tent and felt claustrophobic. This two-person tent offers loads of room for one particular person. Now that the tent is just a few years outdated, it’s beginning to present some put on. The tent poles want some restore, so I’ve been involved with MSR and I’m ready to listen to about getting the poles mounted.

• Sleeping Bag: MEC Draco Down Sleeping Bag
  • Good heat down sleeping bag that stuffs right into a 5 litre stuff sack.
• Sleeping pad: Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Mat
  • I nonetheless have issue getting an excellent evening’s sleep after I go bikepacking. It could must do with my sleeping arrange. This mattress could be very snug and packs to about 1 litre. It additionally inflates in a short time with a stuff sack that doubles as a hand pump for the mattress.
• Pillow: MEC Air Pillow
  • I believe this pillow could also be a part of the rationale I don’t sleep properly. I've a fussy neck and again and this pillow simply by no means feels snug. I’m going to must attempt completely different camp pillows.
• Camp chair: Helinox Ground Chair
  • This chair folds up properly and is pretty mild. I didn’t understand how essential a camp chair was till I camped with out one. How else would you sit across the camp fireplace?
• Camp range: JetBoil Flash
  • This compact system by JetBoil can boil one litre of water in beneath 2 minutes. That’s ok for a fast cup of espresso within the morning plus breakfast oatmeal or cooking dried dinner meals.

There are a number of references on-line about “how to backpack”. After I began in 2017, I blogged about my set-up. Some issues have modified in my gear since then (together with my bike), however I wish to point out that there’s no proper or unsuitable approach. Some individuals use bivvies, that are sleeping/mini-tent setups. They’re tremendous mild, however they’re not for me. Different cyclists use old style panniers to hold gear. Until you’re doing a number of technical singletrack, panniers will in all probability go well with you simply fantastic, though some bikepacking purists would possibly frown upon it (Truly, I don’t know if there may be such a factor as a bikepacking purist).

My level is, you don’t want so much to get began: An honest mountain, cyclocross or gravel bike, and a few primary tenting gear – tent, sleeping bag. And a solution to carry gear (it may even be a backpack). Routes are popping up in all places and I plan to begin creating simpler and shorter routes, so hold an eye fixed out!