All it takes is one trip to fall in love with bike packing/camping. Best way to see the world. Really enjoy my Ortlieb setup. Rock solid. Looking forward to the series!
Its nice to see you getting into bike packing! As someone who is also into adventures of all types you will love it. Panniers are a must for me with all the gear, and 3-4 days worth of food. The Ortlieb products are second to none. I recently biked from Reno, NV to Mt Shasta, CA on 75% gravel roads.
Niiiiice!! Been bike packing for over 10 years and it's my favorite activity on two wheels. There's lots of new gear out there and tons of locations to visit. Wish ya the best on the new adventures
For Camping and Walking with a Backpack I use a HILLEBERG Soulo red label. For Bike camping I use a HILLEBERG Enan (1.2KG). Both Tents are 2nd hand and ~400€ each. I'm 42 and do Camping all over Europe since the age of 1 with my parents😊. I had so many tents in my life but those two are among the best Solo tents. There is nothing they cant handle if you need a save shelter 😎. Its just what I use for some more remote campingtrips. Cheers from Switzerland
Welcome Clint to the bikepacking family!!! You are going to love the Forgotten Florida ride. My wife and I did it a couple years ago and Karlos puts on an amazing trip.
Excited to see the new content on the Bike packing. Like you I have thought about this for years, and like you say, there is not good time, so just go do it.
In an ideal world where money was no object, I'd opt for a Tailfin setup for bikepacking. Their innovative rack system seems unrivaled for those aiming for a lightweight setup on asphalt and light gravel. However, due to their steep prices, I've instead equipped my bike with a complete Restrap bag setup on my Canyon Endurace. This includes a 14-liter seat bag, a half frame bag, the race version of their top tube bag, and their large handlebar bag, which also expands up to 14 liters. My last long journey was this summer, cycling 700 kilometers from Gothenburg to Norway, mostly camping in the forest with a hammock and tarp. My system weight, excluding water and food, was 22 kilos, including the bike and all gear. The key is to carry minimal clothing. I only brought a lightweight down jacket, a pair of shorts, woolen base layers, and an extra set of cycling clothes, which, in hindsight, was unnecessary. Particularly with jerseys, you can get by with just one if it's merino wool. Of course, it's crucial to have options for layering up over your cycling clothes as it gets colder, so a quality rain jacket and a gilet are essential.
I also went with a rack and rear gravel panniers after using a large revelate design seat pack. It is just so much easier to use and I have plenty of room. Also use full frame bag and salsa anything cages on the fork on a salsa cutthroat. Needed more room for a warmer sleeping bag living in the northeast. 15° bag is bulky even in a compression bag. Yes that rack is really nice and reasonably priced compared to tailfin. Looking forward to your bike packing videos.
Similar to you, I really got into backpacking in my 20s. But, my flat feet really limited my mileage and finally I gave it up. 25 years later i discovered cycling and bikepacking. Bikepacking is by far my favorite thing to do on 2 wheels. Most of my bags Revalate Design. I hate bag wag so, the Revalate Spine Lock seat bag is one of my favorites! A custom frame is on my wish list.
My first bike packing trip was the Colorado trail last summer on my yeti arc. Full frame bag, relevate designs handlebar and aroe spider out back so I could use dropper. Amazing trip. Going back next summer hopefully
I just bought an RLT 9 RDO frame, so I'll be looking to see how you kit yours out. My existing setup is Revelate Designs full frame bag, Aeroe rack with 2 dry bags, and an Apidura bar bag on a hardtail mountain bike.
If you are below 1,7 m. I recommand backpack for bikepacking. Saddle bag is too big, and 29er rear wheel doesn't give you enough clearance, and using dropper post is fun. Framebag is pretty small, you can barely carry anything in there. And the handlebar bag makes the bike nose heavy and it can iterfere with your fork. So a mudguard is essential to protect your bag. Yes, being small has some disadvantages.
Good advice Clint, especially re.business, at 63 im busier than ever, in all respects. Fortunately in 2021 my son organised a Lands End- John O' Groats bike pack trip. 1000 miles in UK. We used Ortlieb kit, top drawer. Used a bivvy and 2 season sleeping bag and we did some staying in Travelodge as well. Excellent rack
You asked what gear we use.. I invested in the rear rack made by Aeroe which can be used on hard or soft tails. It also accepts different sized and manufacturers dry bags. I use a Priority 600x with Pinion gearbox. With all that said I like the idea of a simple rear rack with a backpack strapped to it. It allows for easy travel and removal for hiking your bike on your back. (Yes that’s a thing). I use a full frame pack .. and camelback (I drink more often with camelback). Good luck!
Look at front racks as well so you have options for your pannier placement. The Tubus Tara front rack and the Tumbleweed racks are great. For bags look at Revelate, Roadrunner, Swift and my favorite small maker Jack Supply Company.
Looking forward to the new videos. I really think you made a good choice on the bar bag, for three or four seasons I tried several strap on bar bags/harnesses ... they bounce end up rubbing the head tube and block your hands from the tops of the bars (nice back stretch position once in a while) and I always dreaded load them back on the bike (not as easy as it is at home with tons of light and the bike leaning solid of something) I dont mind an ultra light strapped on seat bag when I want to go with less stuff but I just never got along with the bar bags. I use a Salsa Anything Cradle and a dry bag but same deal, hardware keeping it out a bit and rock solid clamped on the bar. I love my hammock in the summer but fall and winter it gets kinda big so end up with a ultra light tent and air pad instead... looking forward to seeing your set up, my gut tells me I need down quilts that pack up smaller for my hammock vs my cheapos
Ive never raced and Im not a 120lb cyclist, I simply like riding my bike, allot, I had a road bike that I wound up putting cyclocross tires on because I couldn't stay off the dirt 😂 fast forward I have a dropbar mtb (salsa fargo) a gravel bike (jamis renegade) and a "mostly pavement" bike that all have been bikepacked on. Saddle bag with my hammock and blanket, handlebar bag with my clothes, snacks and toiletries, half frame bag with food and charging cables. My very first bikepacking trip was magical Im not sure I will ever get that feeling back again but it is deff something I try and make time for atleast once a year
Full frame bag by Rockgeist, dropper friendly seat bag or 7L panniers (OMM rack), Tailfin fork mounts and racks and bags, Jerry tank, Tailfin toptube, Rogue Panda blue ridge mount with diy dry bag. Desert rides have no water on the trail, I could carry about 8L with this set up, no backpack.
I think you'll enjoy this. You know what you're getting into based on your backpacking experience. I have done bike tours across entire continents back in the late 80s and early 90s. Now I'm down to short credit card touri g. I like to have a hot shower, a hot meal and some muscle relaxers (🍺🍺) at the end of the day.
Looking forward to the videos. I bought Tailfin rack and panniers. There’s also a bag for the top of the rack. I haven’t had a chance to use them yet. I’m thinking about the California coast in June. I’ll take the Amtrak north and ride home to Southern California. I have the Ortlieb seat pack and frame pack that I have used. I didn’t really like the tail wag of the seat pack. There’s a learning curve in packing the bag to reduce tail wag but there’s still some.
I use TOPEAK TETRARACK R2. I specifically chose that so that I can use my double suspension carbon bike for occasional bike packing. No need for a specific bike packing bike if you do bike packing not that often.
I'm also just getting into it but, doing baby steps at the campsite five miles up the road. I'm just buying cheap gear to see what works, what doesn't. Hell I may not even like it. Good luck with your new adventures. :)
At my age exploring beats racing… anytime! And the best way to *see* Florida is riding a bike imo😁 Done approx State Road A1A from Key West to Fernandina Beach on a superlight eMTB. I felt fast, nimble and at ease even in headwinds and rain. Pavement, gravel and some (off route exploring) trails. Minimal pack w/Aeroe spider rack and Sea-to-Summit Big River bag. Some last-ditch clandestine camping but all went well🤫
Dude, this is so awesome, I'm so excited to see the bike packing adventures. I think Bike Adventures are more fun than racing, its like the purest form of biking. Riding for the fun of it! Happy Adventures.
Ortlieb all the way, have seat pac, frame pack, handlebar bag and accessory pack and 2 fork packs, great set up for all your kit for a multi day adventure in all seasons in Scotland, all set up on Bombtrack Hook EXT, good this about the multi bags is that exam bag has a specific type of kit.
Just got my salsa cutthroat to do just this. Bag selection is going to be difficult as I am debating in going with a Dropper/Suspension route. Just hit the notification bell since I am sure you will have relevant and great content with very knowledgeable followers chiming in.
I went a different route, I got a pop up slide in truck camper with solar. I've got the stuff to bikepack on full suspension mtb, but the trails I enjoy, you really shouldn't be jumping and dropping down them with a rack.
I recently switched from a Revelate seat bag to this same rack and panniers. Unfortunately the combo didn't work well on my Salsa Warbird. There wasn't enough clearance and my heels would brush against the panniers with each pedal stroke. The combo works better on my Fargo and provides enough clearance. Just finished a 4 day trip with the new setup. So far so good and no more tail wag with the big seat bag.
@@srb6345 The Ortlieb Quick Rack. It was a close fit. I wear size 46 shoes. If you have a smaller foot it might just clear. My wife uses the same rack on her Bombtrack gravel bike and has no problem with clearance.
I want to try it with a hammock but the I couldn't sleep good, at all really, but I think I set up wrong or wrong hammock. Looking forward to these bike packing videos. Didn't sleep good the only time I tried it I was trying to say 😊
I can’t sleep well in a gathered end hammock. Bridge style hammocks are the best. The Eno skylight is a great one and there is a 25% off sale on Enos’s site right now.
I kind of disagree with about what touring is and what bike packing is, Yes, you might go more offroad when bike packing but you don't have to. The thing about those touring panniers is that they swallow gallons of gear. Tent, sleeping bag, camping stove, tools, spares, enough food to survive in the wilderness for a week, etc. I use that setup when I'm going on a multi-week ride in scarcely populated areas where hotels and supermarkets are few and far in between. The bike needs to be sturdy and heavy to be able to carry all that stuff without breaking down. My bikepacking gear doesn't swallow nearly as much stuff. I typically use them when going on hotel-only rides in populated areas, where I'll eat at restaurants and stay at hotels, bringing just some clothes and a toiletry bag, Or I'll go on a short wilderness trip, with a claustrophobia-inducing lightweight tent (Vango Hydrogen F10), a super-compact and lightweight sleeping bag (Thermarest Hyperion) and sleeping mattress (Thermarest Neoair Überlite, it takes less space than a can of beer) and a minimalist camping stove (Primus Lite+) that's really only good for boiling water, plus a few freeze-dried meals. This kit is a lot lighter than the touring kit, and is a good match for a lightweight carbon gravel or road bike. Oh, and the Germans have a hilarious word for those bike packing seat bags: Arschrakete, which translates to ass-rockets! 😀
Can you do us a favour before your next video and do something very un-American and learn how to pronounce ORTLIEB? It begins with on O, not an A. And secondly, is this a sponsored video? Because there's no real reason to use one brand of bags because no one brand makes the best bag for every location.
I watched some videos put out by Ortlieb before making this video and that is how they pronounce it. I wasn’t sure so I wanted to do so before I pronounced it. I’ll link it below. I did not receive any sponsorship money for making this video. ruclips.net/video/T8pSRrYE3b4/видео.htmlsi=ysvMbJobG1hPgrO7
bike packing doesn't get the coverage it deserves on Utube. Three sub 10K subscriber sites that I really like are PNW bikepacking Green travel bike turing Pedal power adventures These all deserve way more coverage than they get. DT
YES!! I've never been a racer but I've always been an explorer.
All it takes is one trip to fall in love with bike packing/camping. Best way to see the world. Really enjoy my Ortlieb setup. Rock solid. Looking forward to the series!
Its nice to see you getting into bike packing! As someone who is also into adventures of all types you will love it. Panniers are a must for me with all the gear, and 3-4 days worth of food. The Ortlieb products are second to none. I recently biked from Reno, NV to Mt Shasta, CA on 75% gravel roads.
Niiiiice!! Been bike packing for over 10 years and it's my favorite activity on two wheels. There's lots of new gear out there and tons of locations to visit. Wish ya the best on the new adventures
I’m excited about your new series. I was thinking of doing some ultra-light bike trips and was looking at the Apidura bike bags.
looking forward to this series because love your perspective on all things cycling
Same. First trip next week! Taken me a long time to muster the courage and energy.
For Camping and Walking with a Backpack I use a HILLEBERG Soulo red label. For Bike camping I use a HILLEBERG Enan (1.2KG). Both Tents are 2nd hand and ~400€ each.
I'm 42 and do Camping all over Europe since the age of 1 with my parents😊. I had so many tents in my life but those two are among the best Solo tents. There is nothing they cant handle if you need a save shelter 😎. Its just what I use for some more remote campingtrips.
Cheers from Switzerland
Welcome Clint to the bikepacking family!!! You are going to love the Forgotten Florida ride. My wife and I did it a couple years ago and Karlos puts on an amazing trip.
excited for your impressions/input on bikepacking.
Sounnds exciting. Looking forward to the videos.
Excited to see the new content on the Bike packing. Like you I have thought about this for years, and like you say, there is not good time, so just go do it.
In an ideal world where money was no object, I'd opt for a Tailfin setup for bikepacking. Their innovative rack system seems unrivaled for those aiming for a lightweight setup on asphalt and light gravel. However, due to their steep prices, I've instead equipped my bike with a complete Restrap bag setup on my Canyon Endurace. This includes a 14-liter seat bag, a half frame bag, the race version of their top tube bag, and their large handlebar bag, which also expands up to 14 liters. My last long journey was this summer, cycling 700 kilometers from Gothenburg to Norway, mostly camping in the forest with a hammock and tarp. My system weight, excluding water and food, was 22 kilos, including the bike and all gear. The key is to carry minimal clothing. I only brought a lightweight down jacket, a pair of shorts, woolen base layers, and an extra set of cycling clothes, which, in hindsight, was unnecessary. Particularly with jerseys, you can get by with just one if it's merino wool. Of course, it's crucial to have options for layering up over your cycling clothes as it gets colder, so a quality rain jacket and a gilet are essential.
I also went with a rack and rear gravel panniers after using a large revelate design seat pack. It is just so much easier to use and I have plenty of room. Also use full frame bag and salsa anything cages on the fork on a salsa cutthroat. Needed more room for a warmer sleeping bag living in the northeast. 15° bag is bulky even in a compression bag. Yes that rack is really nice and reasonably priced compared to tailfin. Looking forward to your bike packing videos.
Hi Clint! New sub here. I appreciate your gear videos as a backpacker.
Similar to you, I really got into backpacking in my 20s. But, my flat feet really limited my mileage and finally I gave it up. 25 years later i discovered cycling and bikepacking. Bikepacking is by far my favorite thing to do on 2 wheels. Most of my bags Revalate Design. I hate bag wag so, the Revalate Spine Lock seat bag is one of my favorites! A custom frame is on my wish list.
My first bike packing trip was the Colorado trail last summer on my yeti arc. Full frame bag, relevate designs handlebar and aroe spider out back so I could use dropper. Amazing trip. Going back next summer hopefully
I just bought an RLT 9 RDO frame, so I'll be looking to see how you kit yours out. My existing setup is Revelate Designs full frame bag, Aeroe rack with 2 dry bags, and an Apidura bar bag on a hardtail mountain bike.
If you are below 1,7 m. I recommand backpack for bikepacking. Saddle bag is too big, and 29er rear wheel doesn't give you enough clearance, and using dropper post is fun. Framebag is pretty small, you can barely carry anything in there. And the handlebar bag makes the bike nose heavy and it can iterfere with your fork. So a mudguard is essential to protect your bag. Yes, being small has some disadvantages.
Good advice Clint, especially re.business, at 63 im busier than ever, in all respects. Fortunately in 2021 my son organised a Lands End- John O' Groats bike pack trip. 1000 miles in UK. We used Ortlieb kit, top drawer. Used a bivvy and 2 season sleeping bag and we did some staying in Travelodge as well. Excellent rack
You asked what gear we use.. I invested in the rear rack made by Aeroe which can be used on hard or soft tails. It also accepts different sized and manufacturers dry bags. I use a Priority 600x with Pinion gearbox. With all that said I like the idea of a simple rear rack with a backpack strapped to it. It allows for easy travel and removal for hiking your bike on your back. (Yes that’s a thing). I use a full frame pack .. and camelback (I drink more often with camelback). Good luck!
Look at front racks as well so you have options for your pannier placement. The Tubus Tara front rack and the Tumbleweed racks are great. For bags look at Revelate, Roadrunner, Swift and my favorite small maker Jack Supply Company.
Looking forward to the new videos. I really think you made a good choice on the bar bag, for three or four seasons I tried several strap on bar bags/harnesses ... they bounce end up rubbing the head tube and block your hands from the tops of the bars (nice back stretch position once in a while) and I always dreaded load them back on the bike (not as easy as it is at home with tons of light and the bike leaning solid of something) I dont mind an ultra light strapped on seat bag when I want to go with less stuff but I just never got along with the bar bags. I use a Salsa Anything Cradle and a dry bag but same deal, hardware keeping it out a bit and rock solid clamped on the bar. I love my hammock in the summer but fall and winter it gets kinda big so end up with a ultra light tent and air pad instead... looking forward to seeing your set up, my gut tells me I need down quilts that pack up smaller for my hammock vs my cheapos
Ive never raced and Im not a 120lb cyclist, I simply like riding my bike, allot, I had a road bike that I wound up putting cyclocross tires on because I couldn't stay off the dirt 😂 fast forward I have a dropbar mtb (salsa fargo) a gravel bike (jamis renegade) and a "mostly pavement" bike that all have been bikepacked on. Saddle bag with my hammock and blanket, handlebar bag with my clothes, snacks and toiletries, half frame bag with food and charging cables. My very first bikepacking trip was magical Im not sure I will ever get that feeling back again but it is deff something I try and make time for atleast once a year
Full frame bag by Rockgeist, dropper friendly seat bag or 7L panniers (OMM rack), Tailfin fork mounts and racks and bags, Jerry tank, Tailfin toptube, Rogue Panda blue ridge mount with diy dry bag. Desert rides have no water on the trail, I could carry about 8L with this set up, no backpack.
I think you'll enjoy this. You know what you're getting into based on your backpacking experience.
I have done bike tours across entire continents back in the late 80s and early 90s.
Now I'm down to short credit card touri g. I like to have a hot shower, a hot meal and some muscle relaxers (🍺🍺) at the end of the day.
Looking forward to the videos. I bought Tailfin rack and panniers. There’s also a bag for the top of the rack. I haven’t had a chance to use them yet. I’m thinking about the California coast in June. I’ll take the Amtrak north and ride home to Southern California. I have the Ortlieb seat pack and frame pack that I have used. I didn’t really like the tail wag of the seat pack. There’s a learning curve in packing the bag to reduce tail wag but there’s still some.
I want to see the bike. I love setup videos!
I use TOPEAK TETRARACK R2. I specifically chose that so that I can use my double suspension carbon bike for occasional bike packing. No need for a specific bike packing bike if you do bike packing not that often.
I'm also just getting into it but, doing baby steps at the campsite five miles up the road. I'm just buying cheap gear to see what works, what doesn't. Hell I may not even like it. Good luck with your new adventures. :)
At my age exploring beats racing… anytime! And the best way to *see* Florida is riding a bike imo😁 Done approx State Road A1A from Key West to Fernandina Beach on a superlight eMTB. I felt fast, nimble and at ease even in headwinds and rain. Pavement, gravel and some (off route exploring) trails. Minimal pack w/Aeroe spider rack and Sea-to-Summit Big River bag. Some last-ditch clandestine camping but all went well🤫
Dude, this is so awesome, I'm so excited to see the bike packing adventures. I think Bike Adventures are more fun than racing, its like the purest form of biking. Riding for the fun of it! Happy Adventures.
Installing my rear rack is pretty easy, but now I gotta buy the Ortlieb Quick-Rack!
Last weekend I was at The Hub (Brevard, NC) and chatted with a few guys heading out bike packing (gravel bikes) into Pisgah. They were loaded up!!!
The Hub…Brevard…Pisgah…😍❤️
Ortlieb all the way, have seat pac, frame pack, handlebar bag and accessory pack and 2 fork packs, great set up for all your kit for a multi day adventure in all seasons in Scotland, all set up on Bombtrack Hook EXT, good this about the multi bags is that exam bag has a specific type of kit.
Just got my salsa cutthroat to do just this. Bag selection is going to be difficult as I am debating in going with a Dropper/Suspension route. Just hit the notification bell since I am sure you will have relevant and great content with very knowledgeable followers chiming in.
I think the rack is the way to go. It seems to be out of fashion but I'm all about the rear rack.
I went a different route, I got a pop up slide in truck camper with solar. I've got the stuff to bikepack on full suspension mtb, but the trails I enjoy, you really shouldn't be jumping and dropping down them with a rack.
I recently switched from a Revelate seat bag to this same rack and panniers. Unfortunately the combo didn't work well on my Salsa Warbird. There wasn't enough clearance and my heels would brush against the panniers with each pedal stroke. The combo works better on my Fargo and provides enough clearance. Just finished a 4 day trip with the new setup. So far so good and no more tail wag with the big seat bag.
What rack did you use on the Warbird. Was looking at the quick rack until your comment
@@srb6345 The Ortlieb Quick Rack. It was a close fit. I wear size 46 shoes. If you have a smaller foot it might just clear. My wife uses the same rack on her Bombtrack gravel bike and has no problem with clearance.
Could you do a video about finding the correct width saddle ?
I want to try it with a hammock but the I couldn't sleep good, at all really, but I think I set up wrong or wrong hammock. Looking forward to these bike packing videos. Didn't sleep good the only time I tried it I was trying to say 😊
I can’t sleep well in a gathered end hammock. Bridge style hammocks are the best. The Eno skylight is a great one and there is a 25% off sale on Enos’s site right now.
@@ClintGibbs I appreciate that, I will check them out.
I kind of disagree with about what touring is and what bike packing is, Yes, you might go more offroad when bike packing but you don't have to. The thing about those touring panniers is that they swallow gallons of gear. Tent, sleeping bag, camping stove, tools, spares, enough food to survive in the wilderness for a week, etc. I use that setup when I'm going on a multi-week ride in scarcely populated areas where hotels and supermarkets are few and far in between. The bike needs to be sturdy and heavy to be able to carry all that stuff without breaking down.
My bikepacking gear doesn't swallow nearly as much stuff. I typically use them when going on hotel-only rides in populated areas, where I'll eat at restaurants and stay at hotels, bringing just some clothes and a toiletry bag, Or I'll go on a short wilderness trip, with a claustrophobia-inducing lightweight tent (Vango Hydrogen F10), a super-compact and lightweight sleeping bag (Thermarest Hyperion) and sleeping mattress (Thermarest Neoair Überlite, it takes less space than a can of beer) and a minimalist camping stove (Primus Lite+) that's really only good for boiling water, plus a few freeze-dried meals. This kit is a lot lighter than the touring kit, and is a good match for a lightweight carbon gravel or road bike.
Oh, and the Germans have a hilarious word for those bike packing seat bags: Arschrakete, which translates to ass-rockets! 😀
Thanks for the post! Very informative. And thanks for the German vocabulary lesson 😊
Clint, Have you got any suggestions about what to do if you don't have brazons on your bike?
This rack has mounts that can be clamped on any bike’s seat tubes. So it will work with pretty much any bike.
Can you do us a favour before your next video and do something very un-American and learn how to pronounce ORTLIEB? It begins with on O, not an A. And secondly, is this a sponsored video? Because there's no real reason to use one brand of bags because no one brand makes the best bag for every location.
I watched some videos put out by Ortlieb before making this video and that is how they pronounce it. I wasn’t sure so I wanted to do so before I pronounced it. I’ll link it below. I did not receive any sponsorship money for making this video.
ruclips.net/video/T8pSRrYE3b4/видео.htmlsi=ysvMbJobG1hPgrO7
bike packing doesn't get the coverage it deserves on Utube. Three sub 10K subscriber sites that I really like are
PNW bikepacking
Green travel bike turing
Pedal power adventures
These all deserve way more coverage than they get.
DT