It's not touring, it's bikepacking.

Seeking Bikepacking Buds?

2022-02-18T04:39:41+00:00

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rack solutions for bike w/o frame mounts?

2024-04-15T11:50:34+00:00

Asking this for my partner, who is committed to a one-bike lifestyle. He is interested in getting panniers on his steel trek bike for loaded touring/bikepacking, but his bike doesn't have the mounts for a rear rack or any fork mounts.

I'm hoping to crowdsource some creative products/solutions to overcome this. For example, would Outershell's Pico Pannier clamp kit work on a skinny steel frame (their description seems geared for burlier mountain bikes)? Are there other systems out there to attach a rear rack without bolts/mounts, that would be supportive enough to hold panniers?

Thanks for your help!

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First solo Bike packing trip

2026-06-09T21:48:30+00:00

After months of planning, I’m finally setting off on Sunday. This will be my first solo bike packing trip. I’ve chosen the EuroVelo 15 route and plan to be on the road for 14 days. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m very excited.

Here’s my setup for the 14-day trip. Would love some Feedback :)

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Start of my first bikepack trip! Solo and rainy

2026-06-09T11:52:27+00:00

Route: Zurich - Walensee - Chur - Lenzerheide Tiefencastel - Albulla - St Moritz - Maloja - Chiavenna - Splügen - Thusis - Laax - Disentis - Oberalp - Andermatt - Fürka - Grimsel - Grindelwald - Brienz

Yellow bag is some mail I will post later today. Carrying my trailrunning gear as well!

Bike feels balanced. Bike weighs around 29kg without food and water.

34T x 10-44T

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First bikepack!

2026-06-10T01:00:22+00:00

I think the ol’ Stumpjumper makes a better bikepack rig than mountain bike…heavy as hell, but stable. :-) just one night, right outside of town. Pretty straightforward. But fun to finally put the tank to use!

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Is this amount of wiggle normal?

2026-06-09T18:00:27+00:00

First time having a saddle bag, it’s a Apidura 13.5L, I’ve followed the instructions, but just wanted to double check if this is normal?

Thanks in advance

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Analog photos of a recent trip I took in the north of France

2026-06-09T14:03:57+00:00

Really enjoyed that one. It was quite hilly with aproximately a 800 to 1k of climbing every day but I really loved the region and the people I met along the way. I definitely recommend to try it out.

Linked the the Komoot GPX in the post.

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Went for a 2 day trip across the Austrian Alps before exam season hits so I don't go completly crazy

2026-06-09T18:11:56+00:00

Rode from Selzthal over Hohe Tauern to Murau on the first day and then on the second day to Villach by crossing over Innerkrems. Around 240km in total. Also finally did some proper climbs which I always tried to avoid in the past.

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Got my first ever cargo bike and I'm kinda planning a bikepacking trip with my son (need help)

2026-06-09T17:36:58+00:00

So my bike (taran l1s) is getting delivered next week and I cannot stop planning. My son's summer break starts soon and we both lovee being outdoors but this will be our first ever multi-day bikepacking trip together. I used to do solo trips all the time before getting married but haven't done one with my son yet so I'm excited but also a little nervous about packing for both of us (especially for him).

I'm thinking of doing the Bodensee-Radweg along the northern shore from Konstanz to Friedrichshafen. Its about 75km which I figured we could split over 3 days so roughly 25km a day. From what I've read the path is mostly flat, paved, and right along the lake with beaches and playgrounds along the way which seems perfect for a 4 year old. Planning to camp at one of the lakeside campgrounds (hoping at Klausenhorn near Konstanz for the first night) and then take the train back from Friedrichshafen since DB regional trains take bikes.

He'll be in a child seat on the rear rack. The rear rack is pretty long (667mm) and uses the mike hd mount system so even with his seat on there I think there's still a decent amount of space left. The front rack also takes a standard 300x400mm eurobox and holds around 20kg. Also has removable side bars so I can switch between fully enclosed and half-open depending on what I'm carrying.

So I think I have enough space. But I also dont wanna carry too much given my route and also wanna use the space to carry things that I will absolutely need on the trip.
Are there any accessories or storage setups that you would particularly recommend for this kind of trip? how do I actually utilise all this space to make the trip fun and comfortable for my kid? Like what do you pack for a 4 year old on a multi-day ride that you didn't think of until you were already on the road? Also how do I pack all that using the space perfectly? Where should sleeping bags and tent go? Would love some tips"

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2 days solo trip from home to visit friends

2026-06-09T12:51:35+00:00

I left home friday around 5 pm with the goal to make it to the Télégraphe and sleep there, meaning I had the hardest part of the ride at the end of a 135km ride.

After reaching Saint Michel de Maurienne at 10pm, I made a stop for a coffee and pizza (and a break!) before the last climb. I arrived at the col right before midnight and setup the bivy. Didn't sleep well although I had no reason not to.

The second day was easier with the Galibier as the first thing in the morning, and then mostly descent for the majority of the route. Only the last 30km were a bit slow with a heavy headwind.

It was my first time using aero bars, I won't go back ! It was so helpful to gain a few kilometers on long straights, and to rest wrists / change positions.

I wish I took more pictures, but I didn't want to stop too often as I left so late.

Anyway, fun times !

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Looking for a bike box in Kiruna (Sweden) around July 7th/8th

2026-06-09T23:38:19+00:00

Hej everyone! I am starting a bikepacking trip this Thursday, cycling from southern Sweden all the way up to Nordkapp.

My flight back home leaves from Kiruna on July 8th, so I will need a standard cardboard bike box to pack my bike for the flight.

Do you know any specific shops, hardware stores, or places where I can reliably source a bike box there?

Thanks a lot for any tips or help!

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Full suspension bike vs gravel for 800-1000km tour?

2026-06-09T15:11:19+00:00

I've got a big trip coming up in the next few months, roughly 800km with 7000m of climbing, almost all of it on paved roads, and I keep going back and forth on what to ride.

The easy answer is the bike I already own: a full-suspension carbon 29er XC with a nice build. It's not the obvious tool for long road days, but I've put it through a 160km day and a 340km/3-day trip and it never gave me a reason to complain. With the suspension locked out, a set of slicks, and some aero bars for extra hand positions and a tuck on the flat stretches, I think it'd handle this just fine.

The other option is to finally buy a gravel bike. I've got $1200-1500 set aside, and I'm tempted if it genuinely makes the whole thing more enjoyable rather than just being a new toy.

Packing is light, under 5kg, so mounting points don't factor into the decision.

So for those who've ridden long paved tours: is a proper gravel bike worth it here, or is a locked-out XC bike on slicks with aero bars already good enough? Mostly thinking about comfort and efficiency once the days get long.

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How do you invest into your bikepacking experience?

2026-06-09T20:14:04+00:00

How do you like to spend your money to make your bikepacking experience lighter, more comfortable and generally better?

What would you prioritise spending your money on if you already had an entry level steel mtb and entry level camping equipment?

Any specific gear you swear down?

At what point is buying higher end stuff diminishing returns?

For context, I’m at a point where I want to build a better bike and get more compact and light camping gear so I can struggle way less on climbs. And I don’t have unlimited budget.

I don’t know what to make a priority, except having a good gear ratio (I also already have a comfortable saddle).

I’m interested to hear what works for each person!

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Help me choose a Hybrid for Weekend Bikepacking : Merida vs Scott

2026-06-10T04:21:29+00:00

Help me choose a hybrid bicycle between the 2026 Merida Crossway L300 vs 2026 Scott Sub Cross 10 Slope. I prefer an upright sitting position and a low step-through frame. My primary requirements are :

Daily commuting (15-20 kms).
Weekend bikepacking trips (2-3 days).
A bike that requires minimal maintenance and can take a beating.

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How steep of a seat tube angle is too steep for all-day riding?

2026-06-10T03:55:24+00:00

I've been seriously eyeing the Panorama Taïga EXP 3 as an ATB that's closer to the MTB side than my current gravel ATB, since I'm hankering for some more off-road riding and it turns out I'm not needing to be fast on the road like I felt like I would when I built the gravel bike. I like that the Taiga is Canadian (like me), has nice light Reynolds 725 tubing, is ready for suspension if I want it later, just barely fits a PNW Coast dropper post at my saddle height and frame size, and is belt compatible (I'm told that later this year they'll set up the custom ordering to be able to order it with a Rohloff and/or belt, something I'll want to do if I can scrape up the funds for it).

Literally the only concern that I have is that the seat tube angle is 75°, a lot steeper than my current bike's 73° and seemingly steeper than most other bikes that are marketed toward bikepacking/touring. I know sounds like a tiny detail to obsess over, but combined with going from an 8mm offset seatpost to a 0-offset dropper post, this works out to a BB that's 31mm further back, which is pretty substantial. When I look for advice online, 75° seems to be the borderline and 76° is solidly in the "good for climbing but not for long-term comfort" category. Panorama does market it as being for long distances, but reviews for this particular bike are sparse.

I was just wondering if anyone with a bikepacking rig with a 75°+ seat tube angle might be able to comment on how it feels to ride for long stretches, and any other cockpit considerations that help (like maybe flatter grips to make up for having a little more weight on the hands)?

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First bike packing trip completed!

2026-06-08T21:06:43+00:00

As a follow up to a previous post about doing a shakedown ride with bags attached to my bike for the first time I figured I’d give a quick summary of how the actual bike packing trip went.

Route: Traws Eryri (North Wales, UK) 125 miles (mix of off and on road) over 3 days and then 2 days back to the start via road only (about 70 miles). A few technical sections but virtually all the off road downhill parts were rideable and only a couple of short uphill hike a bike sections.

Accommodation: Stayed in a mix of air b’n’bs and hotels, no regrets on this as camping would have been a bit much extra to deal with I think for a first trip and the weather wasn’t great…

Weather: rained every day, heavy rain the first 3 days in the morning but dried up towards the end of the days, strong winds but mostly tail wind. On the last 2 days there was only the odd light shower but the wind was now a head wind

Gear Highlights:

Bike - Sonder Camino Ti w/Force, was brilliant, no issues apart from slight slipping in a couple of gears on day 3 towards the end of the ride once all the wax had long gone from my chain (went away after overnight drip waxing). Forgot to weigh it with everything attached but think would have been in the 25-30kg range

Tyres - Cinturato M front and H rear (both 50mm and set up tubeless around 28psi) these were faultless. Good grip, rolled well, comfortable and no punctures. Was my first time riding them (I usually use lighter weight carcass tyres but figured I’d best switch to something more robust). Only spun out the rear a handful of times and was always when trying to standing climb steep rocky sections, never lost the front end. There were a few short sections of broken slate trails which I was really worried about slashing a sidewall on but had no issues

Gearing - I fitted a 36t wolf tooth chain ring and the 13sp Garbaruk 10-52 cassette. The combination worked really well, I quite often used the 52 to grind up 15-20% climbs and when these were off-road it was the difference between me hike a biking (as friends on the trip had to) and riding - personally I hate hike a biking and as still recovering a bit from a fractured hip I wanted to avoid it as much as possible

Waxed chain - I was using my winter mix of Silca hot melt wax + 2 endurance chips + 1/3 bottle of synergetic lube mixed in. I’d already decided not to do this next winter as although it does last longer in wet conditions it’s not enough to justify having a more gunky drivetrain and mess in general, I’ll just use a new chain with lube instead and use waxed chains in drier conditions. On this trip it held up better than I expected (I used gear wipes then Silca drip wax each evening to replenish) but not being able to top up lube mid ride is a pain once the squealing starts and you still have a couple more hours of riding. I haven’t measured the chain wear but it can’t have been doing much good! I also think lack of any lubricant contributed to the slipping gears I had on day 3

Wheels - DT Swiss G1800, they weigh a lot but the near silent freehub was much more pleasant for me and my companions on this more chilled type of riding (for normal riding I usually use carbon wheels with louder ratchet freehubs).

Bags - all the Tailfin stuff worked predictably brilliantly. No issues with anything getting loose, breaking or water ingress. Only tiny niggle I had was the bar bag being a pain to do the roll and loop closure thing without that loop occasionally being a bit in the way when using the drops of my low flare bars. I wish you could close them like you have the option with their panniers using t-straps (possibly you can, I’ve emailed them to ask but don’t have any to experiment with).

Jacket 1 - 7Mesh Guardian Air worked really well, decently breathable and very waterproof. It’s still a bit on the baggy cut side for my liking (I’m a M/L in most cycling stuff but ended up getting size S as the M I ordered first I could have got two of me into, I probably should have tried XS but then not sure if body or sleeve length would be an issue). Its ability to stuff into its pocket with clips on it to attach to your bike is genius and worked great with the end of my Redshift kitchen sink loop bars.

Jacket 2 - I also took a Gabba for the 2 days of road riding and I’d forgotten how good it is. I don’t often cycle outside if it’s mild but wet as generally just postpone for a day or two until it’s dry so hadn’t worn it for months. It was perfect in 12-16c with drizzle and surface water on the roads (with a s/s merino base layer)

Shoes - Quoc Gran Tourer XC. Really comfy, dried fairly quickly and for me a good balance between stiffness for pedalling and being able to hike a bike in them.

Gloves - Castelli Perfetto, I also took fingerless mitts but never wore them. The Perfetto’s are so versatile and even though I usually ride in padded gloves they were really comfy.

Overall I had a really enjoyable week, despite the weather and having wet feet for most of it! I’m not sure I’ve been bitten by the bike packing bug yet but I def want to do some more in drier conditions and maybe abroad (although it’s hassle enough flying with a bike, not sure I want to deal with the extra of all the bags to!). I think next trip I might just catch a train and cycle back over a couple of days, still not camping as that would be a whole load more expense and I’m not sure I’d actually enjoy.

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Budget saddle pack recommendations

2026-06-09T21:42:47+00:00

I’m looking for a ~10L saddle pack for short summer trips. I’ve found a topeak backloader for £43, and I want to hear others’ recommendations for this price point.

Thank you in advance! :)

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Looking for a front rack

2026-06-09T17:35:51+00:00

Hey there,

I'm looking for a possible front rack which would fit my Rockrider EXPL500. It's a 29" MTB with a quick-release wheel, suspension fork and unfortunately no eyelets.

I found this one that should work, but I don't know whether I can trust the velcro mount: https://www.bike-discount.de/en/topeak-tetrarack-r1-front-rack?delivery=CZE&currency=EUR

I am pretty new to this and I'm looking for a way to spread the weight I carry on my rear rack without necessarily putting it on the handlebars.

Does it exist? Should I rather go for only a fork bag? Is there a way of using an axle pack? Thank you for any advice.

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First bikepacking trip – what length TPU straps for a 20L dry bag on a rear rack?

2026-06-09T19:23:51+00:00

Hi everyone,

I'm preparing for my first bikepacking trip and I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure a dry bag to my rear rack. The dry bag will be mounted lengthwise (parallel to the bike): 20L and about 25cm (10") diameter, no panniers

I was looking at TPU straps, but I'm not sure what length I should buy. Also, are TPU straps the best option for this setup, or would you recommend something else?

I'd appreciate any advice, especially from people who regularly carry a dry bag on a rear rack. Thanks!

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CargoBike x Rooftent, Anyone?

2026-06-08T09:01:47+00:00

Hi all,

Voilá: I present to you the 'tentfiets' (biketent).
Pictures of our prototype that isn't working yet )!' but we're building on it with lots of enthousiasm and a total lack of realism (yay for romance above ratio).

Got the advice to post our crazy project on here as well, if you like to read more on the Story of Origin and How We Got Stuck in the Process, read further

So to all of you who are interested in how we got to this idea en why on earth we're trying to create this biketent (fietstent in Dutch)....here's a little background info (haha, not so little, i'm in my storytelling mood and not smoothing it out with AI and breaking all current internet rules of keeping it short and with a lot of language mistakes b/c it's not my mothertongue. So enjoy!. )

About one and a half years ago. we were asked by an acquitance if we were interested in buying an electric cargo Bullitt frame (Larry vs Harry). But since we already have tons of bikes (we're Dutch) we didn't know what to do with it.

But it's such a beautiful bike and it was a good offer so we started to imagine what we could do with it. Suddenly some loose ends inside my head found eachother and I started to wonder if it would be possible to combine the bike with a daktenk (rooftent) and with that, combine two passions of ours: cycling and camping

So within a week we went to a rooftent shop nearby and asked the owner what he thought of this crazy idea.

He loved it!

And said we could borrow an old tent to make a prototype.

Then we phoned the Bullitt guy, shared the idea

He also loved it!

and offered us that we could borrow the bike as well.

Thus, we now had a crazy idea ánd a bike and a tent and no costs yet. We took some old wood from the basement, build a 'cage', screwed the tent on top and voila: prototype 0.1. We actually took some old tent poles to stabilize the whol thing (hahaha, really laughing at our complete ignorance of "Weight distribution" 😄 back then)

There was this annual 'crazy on wheel' camp event nearby (15km) where all kind of weird vehicels gather to show off their crazyness. I knew this was the place I would have to be, both to do our first try out, but also get imput from other liked minded creators

Cycling there was quite scary, the wooden cage was definitely stretched to it's maximum capacity and i had to manouver through small pathways and descent quite a steep hill for Dutch standards. But I felt incredible cool on my bike.

And even cooler when i entered the campingground, put my bike on the brake, unfolded the tent and sat next to it on the ground with a cold beer.

All within 10 minutes.

So many people liked the idea, and all of them worried for the stability. And that...........was exactly what worried me as well.

When i got into bed that night, I had ten people standing around the biketent watching what would happen....I climbed the three stairtreads cautiously... tried to enter the tent without much movement, turned to my back.....and then the bike tilted and it all collapsed. But no bruises, only a few on my ego

So i unscrewed the rooftent, put it on the ground and actually had a good night sleep.

The next day i skrewed the tent to the wooden cage again, cycled back home and the next chapter began.

I had learned three things:

the wooden cage wasn't strong enough
we would have to find a way of counterbalancing the tent or fixating the bike
we had to find a way to fixate the hinge

So we went online, bought aluminium profiles (around €600,-), build a new cage and added an extra support to the bike.

And if you've read all the way to this part of the post then you now know where in the process we are right now. Because this is exactly where we're stuck. The last time we tried that bike still tilted.

We have a cage, we still have the tent, we have some pictures an video's but unfortunately we had to bring back the Bullitt frame, being very gratefull we were able to borrow it for this process.

We still love the idea and we have some thoughts on how we can improve.

Best option now seems to put the tent on a rail that you can slide back so the hinge isn't next to, but in the middle of the bike, and then 4 poles on each corner of the tent to fixate and distribute the weight of the tent.

But we haven't gotten there

So being stuck, i though i just throw it on the internet and see if it can do it's old skool magic. And it seems to work! It's so motivating to hear that others have also imagined this crazy idea, so many people loving it and already getting nice and smart suggestions. Please keep them coming.

And for all of you who are wondering: "but why?????"

I'd like to quote our youngest child: "just because!!!!"

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My buddy and I spent about a week doing the Ohio to Erie Trail! Me on my modern Trek, him on a 1970's Schwinn

2026-06-08T20:07:55+00:00

After doing our first century back in November, we planned to do the OTET starting in Cleveland and (mostly) camping along the way back to Cincinnati! About 50% bikepacking and 50% biketouring all-in-all.

It was an amazing trip and we have so many new adventures waiting for us soon!

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Bikepacking + Hiking in the UK: How do you handle bike security when hitting the summits?

2026-06-09T15:02:06+00:00

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to get into bikepacking here in the UK, and I want to use it as a way to head out for long trips that combine riding with getting up into the mountains. Specifically, I'm looking to log some Quality Mountain Days (QMDs) for my Mountain Leader DLog, so I'll be leaving the bike behind for hours at a time to complete proper mountain routes.

My main hesitation is security. If you are doing a "bike-to-hike" style trip, what is your strategy for leaving your bike and your gear safely at the bottom?

A few specific questions:

• The Bike: Do you try to find hidden spots to stash and lock it in the wild (forests, behind stone walls), or do you stick to locking it up in more public spaces like village halls, cafes, or farmyards after asking permission?

• The Bags/Possessions: Obviously, valuables (phone, keys, wallet, electronics) stay in the hiking pack. But what about frame bags, sleep systems, or cooking gear? Do you leave them attached and trust a small cable lock/obscurity, or pack a ultra-light packable daysack to carry the essentials with you?

• UK-Specific Tips: If you’ve done this in places in Scotland like the Highlands, are there specific places or setups you found worked well for leaving kit secure? I believe Loch Lomond might work well.

Would love to hear any advice, gear recommendations (like lightweight but effective locks), or general strategies you use to get peace of mind while you're on the peaks.

Thanks in advance!

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Bike packing the olympic discovery trail july 11th-17th

2026-06-09T15:30:17+00:00

Gonna be bike packing the olympic discovery trail in Washington state and was curious if there was anyone else interested in joining me for a short period of time or possibly the whole route, I have campsites reserved for every day of the week until I get back to lapush

Ill be starting in lapush riding to port Townsend and returning to lapush, this will be my first solo trip over 100 miles so im super excited I think it would be alot of fun to meet others on the trail and ride

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Rate my self build set Up

2026-06-09T00:22:12+00:00

Self build up bike with hub dynamo.

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Do you carry anything to fix your free hub if it breaks?

2026-06-09T10:44:17+00:00

okay, so here's what happened. The weekend before last, I was on a weekender tour that entailed passing through a major city on the US east coast. Traffic was crazy so there was a lot of riding up on the sidewalk and jumping off the curb with fully loaded bikes. Also carrying the bike up 3 flights of stairs and sneaking it into an airbnb. Don't know if that's relevant.

Then last week, I was going to go for a ride and I noticed when I went to pedal, nothing happened. I didn't know what was happening, so I flipped the bike over to have a closer look, then it worked normally. So I went on a few rides no problem. On Sunday I was going on a ride and the first 10 miles were fine. After that, I noticed pedaling was harder and the bike wouldn't coast as long, but I chalked it up to soggy trails since it did storm the night before. But then suddenly, the free hub shit the bed and the bike just stopped working.

Luckily, my wife was able to come get me, but I am a little shook because that could've easily been a nightmare situation. Usually when I ride there isn't anyone who can come get me.

So I took it to a shop, doesn't seem like a hard fix for the shop to do, but as expected it's gonna take over a week for them to get a new free hub from Shimano. Again, not really an issue for me now, but I could easily see this ending a tour.

So I have a few questions:

Was me beating the bike up the weekend before potentially a factor in the free hub breaking?
When I first noticed the issue, if I stopped riding right then and there and just took it to a shop, is it likely they would've been able to fix it and not need to replace it?
Is there anything you can carry to fix this problem if it happens? The repair job seems about moderate in difficulty, but seems to me that the torques involved are pretty high so I don't know if it's realistic to do this with compact tools on the trail.

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