Yeah, kind of gave me some peace of mind. From what I heard robbers don't stay around, they sometimes arrive on a motorcycle and if you cooperate and give them your wallet they tend to leave quickly. Of course they might go for the cell phone as well, but I also had a 2nd phone. An old iPhone that I was using for my navigation and to listen to music/podcast. It was super useful for not using battery, it's like having a power charger in a way. I was using my other cell phone (iPhone 13) to film and for the data.
the small things you don t think about that you'll face and give you hard time. he s prepared for it all. it s pretty crazy, this is very next level bikepacking. for me it was the flexible spoon for ease of clean and use of less resources. that sh*t underrated. if anything we need the name of the spoon too, that important pice of equipment.
@@DominickMenardhi, interesting! does using the other phone for data drain its battery? Or it’s not that much compared to just using one phone for everything? Cheers!
the small things you don t think about that you'll face and give you hard time. he s prepared for it all. it s pretty crazy, this is very next level bikepacking. i had to copy paste to a own comment here from the reply i wrote also here
Ahhh wow thank you so much! I only prepared a few months prior to the trip but definitely made my homework, I was surprised how good my setup was without realizing it. I left with a lots of stuff though, I was at 121lbs in Victoria and finished at 106lbs in Ushuaia 😊
How did it go. Where did you ride. I've done 2, 120+ mile routes. Both rides done over 2 nights. Planning this year's although I think I have my route set now. 124 miles with a beach camp planned at the end.
Nice set up high-end equipment that will last a lifetime. I'm still using equipment I bought 50 years ago. The rest is 30 to 40 years ago. Most of the equipment has been used on ocean kayak trips and long-distance river canoe trips and backcountry X country ski trips. For young folks don't walk away because bike touring looks too expensive. Let your gear grow over time. Buy what you need when you need it. Don't get caught up in the newest fad. Stick to the basics.
Absolutely! That’s the beauty of bike touring, although you can have the latest technology, it’s also possible to do the same with any kind of equipment 👌
This is probably the best/most optimized setup I’ve seen so far. I’m also a mtb guy and prefer that over gravelbikes - Recently changed to xc tyres to narrow them down a bit and it feels much lighter to pedal. Best regards from Sweden!
Ahhh that’s nice to read thanks, quite happy with the setup! I was surprised how efficient it was on the road. A nice upgrade I did once I got to Chile was aero bars. Once on the bars you gain 1 to 2km/h and it adds an extra position which is very appreciated on long days. Cheers :))
Content que tu aimes! Ça été tout un processus et encore aujourd’hui je tente de trouver des solutions pour améliorer des petits trucs haha j’adore ça c’est stimulant. Merci du commentaire 😊
Incredibly helpful and fun to watch too! Sorry if someone asked this already (it’s hard to search all the comments) but can you tell me what psi you typically ride in those tires? I’m curious what you’ve found works best with all the gear, water and food loaded on. Thanks!
On the road I started putting more during the 2nd half of the trip and really liked it, I was worried that too much could be problematic with the weird but been running 40psi and even 45 without problems (29x2.25). It was a lot faster than the usual 35psi I was running. Off road I would drop down to 25psi depending. In Baja I was running 29x2.6 and for sandy portions down to 14psi.
Yep, Old Man Mountain racks are tough, got one on the back of my fatbike for adventures. Arkel bags are great too. Awesome vid btw, and I'm not just saying that because I'm Canandian too. 😅
C'est quand même incroyable de réussir à avoir autant de choses sur un vélo, en faite c'est un jeu de tétris gratuit 🤣😂 merci Dominick de partager c'est vraiment, mais alors là, vraiment intéressant. Bonne continuité 😁👌
Berbagi pengalaman touring bike yang menyenangkan.saya senang melihat dan mendengar nya.banyak hal baru saya tahu setelah menonton video Anda.thank u bro.❤salam gowes(riding bike) dari Bogor west Java Indonesia ❤
Totally agree with mtb, even though I personally use gravel. MTB is just great for complex terrain and touring around world, most importantly clearance for bigger tires. For me, due to not wanting multiple bikes, I just went with rohloff belt drive gravel. And I mostly bike relatively ok roads in Europe, occasionally harder terrain, but all in Europe, also aside from summer and some small expeditions, it's my sport and commute bike. One really good thing about gravel is huge frame hole, you can got something like 10-15L bag there. I have ~14L frame bag, 11L handlebar bag, and big backpack strapped into rear rack. All waterproof. This pretty much takes everything I need. Food, extra water, tools, spare parts etc. in frame, heavy stuff. Quick access clothes at front, cooking system, and whatever else I might need. At rear shelter and clothes. Ofc I also have stem food/water bottle bags and top tube bag that acts as my phone holder with transparent touch top. Gear I use is Alpkit custom rolltop frame bag, costs about same as good frame bag that's not custom. Acid toptube View Ortlieb handlebar bag plus Alpkit 30L waterproof backpack on back rack. Two apidura stem bag. For navigation on move I use garmin explore 2. I carry only two bottles of water but I have 3L bladder without hose to refill the bottles. So I actually have almost same amount of water. I really think people should not get bladders that have hoses for bikepacking if you have bottles. That hose is just extra thing that needs cleaning and can leak. And then maybe the best thing ever, bone conduction headphones, definitely not as good as normal ones, but you can actually listen to podcasts, books and music without blocking outside at all.
Wow thanks for sharing this! 😃 Totally agree with you, if I was going to do Europe I’d go for my gravel bike. In fact, I crossed Canada this summer after the Patagonia trip and went for my gravel, man it was so much faster 😅
Awesome video! Thank you for all the tips. Me and my wife just finished a trip from Kelowna to Vancouver Island. Wish I had seen your video before we left, would have packed better!! 😉 Well, there is always the NEXT trip!!👍
Thanks! Wow that’s funny I’m actually in the Vancouver Island! I’m starting the bike across Canada. I got a different setup for this trip, a gravel bike and the total weight is half of what this setup was. Will definitely make a video about it 😊
@@DominickMenard awesome. That's great to hear. We are back in Ottawa. Now have to work more to save money for the next adventure! Can't wait to see your videos. Good luck and if you pass by Ottawa, give me a shout. We could meet.
I am surprised i havnt heard of your channel before this one just pop up in my feed i guess because this video was in English .. look forward to more English version of your adventure
Yeah would love to reach more people but unfortunately started in French, hard to change on the way. But for tech videos like this one, definitely possible 😊
Quel beau périple! Merci pour le partage de cette aventure captivante. Qu'est-ce qui a motivé le choix de changer les sacoches Arkel pour des Tailfin entre l'épisode 15 (Panama) et l'épisode 16 (Colombie)?
J’aime essayer de nouveau système, je suis curieux. Principalement je voulais alléger mon setup et ça m’a permis de sauver 2lbs. Aussi, plus on a de place plus on en prend alors les 10L en avant au lieu de 17L me forçait à être plus stratégique et ça a fonctionné :)
Nice rig setup, i love the side mirror it's the cheapest yet it probably saved you many times before by providing ocular awareness on what is coming from behind and on the left side yet it was often the most neglected by most cyclist. Prevention is always wiser better and cheaper than cure.
Yessss first time riding with a mirror and I’m sooooo happy I got one! It gave me peace of mind knowing I could see cars coming and anticipate whether the driver saw me or not, I’d 99% of the time people gave me room but for those who didn’t I could react and move to the right a bit. Also, you don’t have to look back your shoulder every time. I’m definitely going to put one on my gravel bike this summer! 😃🙌
What a great vid! Im subbed now. Gonna check out yer other stuff man.! Vive Le Canada! Im from BC/Grew up in Ottawa ps. Love the Arkels! I have some large water resistant ones. Good luck on the rest of your journey!
wow a real die-hard rider across the world, respect. Question would you ever upgrade your bike to a ebike to do these rides what's the advantage and disadvantage besides having to charge the ebike battery. Just found your channel. I thought I had allot of stuff to carry on my bike. Great video and advice. Appreciate it.
Just keeping my electronic equipment (drone, phones, GoPro, laptop, Garmin etc.) can sometimes be a challenge so I can't imagine having an e-bike on this kind of trip. They're definitely times where you wouldn't reach some cities/villages and be stuck having to pedal without power.
Glad I found your video today. Interesting to see you carry more or less similar to my setup. 100% agree with the chair and the peebottle! I also pack a tarp, and one foldable pole that goes with it. It’s great when you can not find a place with shade on those hot days, or to sit out of the wind a little. About the drone: where do you keep all the stuff you need for the drone, like the controller, spare batteries, charger…. I am not using drone mainly because I suppose it will need too much space in my bags. Good luck with your trip! I subscribed now and follow you all the way.
Nice to read this! And good idea for the tarp, I guess it could also be practical to make a little roof to camp from the tent if it rains. For the drone, it's in my handlebar bag. It needs to be easily accessible, this way I can stop and quickly pull it out to make the shot. I have a velcro strap that attaches to my handlebar extension so that I can ride with the controller properly secured. This bag easily unclipped because of the KLICKfix adapter and I can bring it in with me, it has most of my valuables like Passport, laptop, drone, GoPro. Thanks for following me! I film one episode in every country sometimes more. Unfortunately it's in French but when I can I add the subtitles, otherwise RUclips makes an okay job with the auto-subtitles. Cheers :))
A very inspiring and informative video..thank you, Dominick! I was curious why you wouln't have chosen a titanium bike frame like the ones T-Labs make in Montreal? They are light and have great strength and do not flex under load in my experience.
Wow, gotta check out your other videos, especially since it looks like you may have finished. How do you find the load works on your front shock? Any handling/durability/performance issues? Thanks.
Yeah I unfortunately document the trip in French, it’s just more natural for me. Hopefully the auto-subtitles work 😊 I had no problem at all with the fork, I have turned the compression to the maximum and put 140psi, so basically using 2 inches of travel. It wasn’t any issue on the road and allowed for more comfort on off road 🙌
Hola hola y muchas gracias for the video Dominick! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your well tested setup, so many good pointers. BTW, what is the make and model of your helmet? I didn’t see you mentioning in the video? Thanks and greetings from Mexico!
It’s a Oakley, the model is the MTB Drt5 mips, it has those clips in the back to secure the glasses when not wearing it, I love this helmet! They have a new version of this helmet now but both are good choices :)) www.oakley.com/es-es/product/99479EU?variant=190645707959&sizeL
Thanks :)) During the first half (Victoria/Panama) I was wearing Arc'terix Gamma quick dry and during the second half (Colombia/Ushuaia) Parmi Bridge Shorts parmilifewear.com/collections/mens-shorts/products/men-bridge-shorts-black-beauty?variant=41350271172748 If you want to get Parmi gear, I have a 15% off code that you can use if you wish: M-DOM-COMMUNITY Cheers :))
Tengo una dinamo Schmidt SON28 que me permite tener una luz delantera y trasera permanente (si necesito). También puedo recargar usando un adaptador USB. Para una celular no es ideal porque requiere una carga constante y por debajo de 13 kmh ya no genera suficiente energía. Además, estar constantemente encendido y apagado puede afectar la duración de la batería. Sin embargo, definitivamente puede ayudar. Para mi Garmin, por encima de 7kmh carga y puedo recargarlo fácilmente al 100%. La mejor estrategia sería recargar mi “battery pack” y luego recargar mi celular, pero desde que inicio mi viaje es raro que pase más de 2 días sin ver ninguna civilización.
great video, really interesting list! I will do my first bike baking trip this year and surching for a good rain jacket, witch arcteryx Rainjacket do you use and can you recommend it? Greetings from Germany ;)
I use the Beta, I couldn’t find the Beta LT (underarms zip vents) and I love it! I highly recommend, it was one of my favourite piece of gear. The hood has room for the bike helmet, they use a soft fabric where the mouth meets the jacket when you’re fully zipped which is a nice touch. Side pockets are easy to open even with gloves. The fit is adjusted which is great for cycling. I like the wrist adjustment.
I think it depends of the bike design/purpose more than the materiel. One thing I was looking for was lateral stiffness to handle the weight of the bags and equipment. If a bike is not stiff enough, it will wobble at high speed or when pedalling standing up. I've seen a girl with a Canyon carbon hardtail, looks like it's holding up but she's one of the rare bike tour cyclist I've seen with a carbon bike. Personally, I like my bike cause I have peace of mind knowing it's built for all around mountain biking and not for XC racing.
Oui ça été tout un casse-tête! Mais c’est un processus stimulant, je pense constamment à des façons d’améliorer et sauver quelques livres… à suivre 😉 Content que tu aimes le choix de langage, Bikepacking.com l’a déjà inclus dans un article et Devinci va pouvoir l’utiliser aussi sur ces plateformes 😊
Awesome man, a friend of mine told me about you. I crossed Canada last summer solo, also leaving from Victoria (Sooke actually) and averaged 150km a day but I was using a Kona Sutra and going a bit lighter than you but I camped as well so I had similar gear. I live in the Eastern Townships in Quebec but unfortunately I don't speak french, I was curious how km you do per day on average? All the best, I'm sure you are inspiring lots of people myself included. Cheers 🍻
Nice! :)) Crossing Canada is something I'd love to do. As for the mileage, it's not that impressive, I think my average per riding days was 75km for the first half. This trip is also about seeing places on the way and also did a few bikepacking routes on the way. I've been going a little faster in the 2nd half (South America) and since Peru, I'd say my average is 90km. Elevation is a big factor. In Patagonia for example even though you're at sea level I realized in the first few days that for every 100km you have to climb between 900m and 1,300m. My longest day so far has been 226km coming out of Santiago. Glad you took the time to watch the video, cheers :))
Super intéressant tout ça, mais je vais continuer mon camping en pick up/RTT 🤣 Non mais en vrai j'étais curieuse de connaître ton setup, tout est vraiment bien pensé! Merci pour le partage 😊Et bonne idée pour l'anglais. Honnêtement, oui c'est plate pour ton audience québécoise qui ne comprend pas bien l'anglais, mais d'un point de vue visibilité l'anglais va t'en apporter beaucoup plus...
Wow I gained many tips with one single video :D Color coding seems to be 200iq move! I have to ask (not sure if you're still answering), are you comfortable carrying your drone with you? I just bought Mini 4 pro as my first drone, and it just seems so fragile that I really feel uncomfortable to carry it with my bikepacking trips, unless I cover it with huge amount of foam or something :D I just might be too scared for no reason! But I think the frame area gets least amount of shocks/bumps, so that might be the area I'll carry the drone if somewhere.
haha yeah I kept getting confused when taking the bags on and off 😅 Glad you like the idea! Drone is not a problem, I never heard someone regret bringing one of those, if you're into filming and enjoying shots with a different perpectives (I can't count the number of time I was stoked to see what was around after looking at the shots) a drone is definitely worth it! PROTECTION I didn't have any sort of protection to carry it, just a small pouch and for a while I carried it in the handlebar bag. After the bag broke in Peru, I started carrying in the frame bag. These things are bulletproof, I wouldn't worry about it. I would suggest to carry an extra set of remote controller thumb sticks in case you lost one like I did. Also, an extra set of propellers since you will most probably hit branches at some point or crashed it like I did... see video hehe 👉 ruclips.net/video/AAVBzvmjnLM/видео.htmlsi=48PebgB0X4S33KWI&t=624 COMMITMENT This being said, carrying electronics definitely changes the experience... Drone, GoPro, camera (or an extra cell phone for filming like I did), laptop, tripods and cables all add up to the weight. Not to mention the act of filming... stopping breaks the momentum and takes time. Then, you have to manage this content and of course, do something with it hehe Personally I love the process and looking back at the series I've produced on the way is worth every minute I've spent! It's great souvenirs, I also get a lot for the comments I get on this channel and on IG. Hope this helps :))
@@DominickMenard Oh crap your drone really took a hit there :D Maybe I'll trust these drones more then in the future and stop stressing for nothing. Thanks for giving the confidence bro!
cool video man ! I wanted to ask you how you have installed the front cargo system because I bought a mtb to travel too and I don't have how to install a front rack!. looking forward to your answer ! regards
haha yeah crazy how it adds up. I LOVE the 1x system and wouldn't change it. 30T in front with a 10-52T was a perfect setup for bikepacking/touring with a heavy load. I started with a 32T which is fine on the paved road but once you go off road and go up steep sections a 30T is definitely better!
Merci pour ce vidéo, c'est toujours intéressant de remettre en question ce qu'on traine avec nous. Question: tu as des pantalons de pluie: est-ce que tu les utilises ou pas et c'est quoi comme modèle? Bike spécifique ou standard?
Oui encore aujourd’hui je me pose des questions haha bien que j’étais super satisfait des Arkel j’ai changé de sacoches pour la 2e moitié 🙈 Pour les pants c’est les Conspiracy de Race Face, un fit cycliste. Je les adore, le look est génial je les porte au campement parfois quand c’est froid. Ça pas l’air d’un pantalon de pluie comme on retrouve habituellement. www.raceface.com/products/conspiracy-pants
It’s the Gauge model by Giro. It’s funny cause it’s a mid-level shoe, I think I paid 90usd and it’s one of the best shoes I ever had! Super confortable, the style is sober so perfect on and off the bike on touring trip. I changed the laces for black though, they came with a bright red pair. They are resistant, the sole is not too stiff but enough to give me a good feel and efficiency, I’m really surprised by those!
Pas pour la première moitié mais pour la seconde oui j’avais un petit bike liner de B3nth. Pour la première moitié j’avais des boxers normal, de B3nth également.
Hi, how did you mount your racks on the frame/fork? As far as I see, the frame originally doesn't have mounting points, but yet I see the top of the rack is mounted directly. The bottom is through the axle? And the fork?
The bottom part is fixed on the axle and for the top I added some anchors to screw the top part. You can also buy a seatpost collar with rack compatibility, I think Salsa makes one.
The fake wallet is so smart, I'll definitely bring one of those on my next big tour!
Yeah, kind of gave me some peace of mind. From what I heard robbers don't stay around, they sometimes arrive on a motorcycle and if you cooperate and give them your wallet they tend to leave quickly. Of course they might go for the cell phone as well, but I also had a 2nd phone. An old iPhone that I was using for my navigation and to listen to music/podcast. It was super useful for not using battery, it's like having a power charger in a way. I was using my other cell phone (iPhone 13) to film and for the data.
the small things you don t think about that you'll face and give you hard time. he s prepared for it all. it s pretty crazy, this is very next level bikepacking.
for me it was the flexible spoon for ease of clean and use of less resources. that sh*t underrated. if anything we need the name of the spoon too, that important pice of equipment.
@@DominickMenard You're a legend. I'll keep the 2nd wallet and phone in mind.
I made a fake wallet, and it was pickpocketed the very first trip. I was very pleased with myself and will always do it in future on longer trips!
@@DominickMenardhi, interesting! does using the other phone for data drain its battery? Or it’s not that much compared to just using one phone for everything? Cheers!
To give the bags a colour code is brilliant! Great video, very inspiring. Have a safe journey
Glad you like the idea :))
the small things you don t think about that you'll face and give you hard time. he s prepared for it all. it s pretty crazy, this is very next level bikepacking.
i had to copy paste to a own comment here from the reply i wrote also here
Ahhh wow thank you so much! I only prepared a few months prior to the trip but definitely made my homework, I was surprised how good my setup was without realizing it. I left with a lots of stuff though, I was at 121lbs in Victoria and finished at 106lbs in Ushuaia 😊
So interesting! I did my first bikepacking trip this summer because you’re so inspiring!
Wow glad to hear this Antoine 😃🙌
@@DominickMenardI'm thinking ab it as well I have a bike from the 80s I'm actually considering using
How did it go. Where did you ride.
I've done 2, 120+ mile routes. Both rides done over 2 nights.
Planning this year's although I think I have my route set now.
124 miles with a beach camp planned at the end.
Nice set up high-end equipment that will last a lifetime. I'm still using equipment I bought 50 years ago. The rest is 30 to 40 years ago. Most of the equipment has been used on ocean kayak trips and long-distance river canoe trips and backcountry X country ski trips. For young folks don't walk away because bike touring looks too expensive. Let your gear grow over time. Buy what you need when you need it. Don't get caught up in the newest fad. Stick to the basics.
Absolutely! That’s the beauty of bike touring, although you can have the latest technology, it’s also possible to do the same with any kind of equipment 👌
Great information thanks
Glad to hear it, thanks 😊
This is probably the best/most optimized setup I’ve seen so far. I’m also a mtb guy and prefer that over gravelbikes - Recently changed to xc tyres to narrow them down a bit and it feels much lighter to pedal. Best regards from Sweden!
Ahhh that’s nice to read thanks, quite happy with the setup! I was surprised how efficient it was on the road. A nice upgrade I did once I got to Chile was aero bars. Once on the bars you gain 1 to 2km/h and it adds an extra position which is very appreciated on long days. Cheers :))
Merci Dominick! Très intéressant pour les gear junkies... et les curieux! Beaucoup d'expérience, ça paraît!
Content que tu aimes! Ça été tout un processus et encore aujourd’hui je tente de trouver des solutions pour améliorer des petits trucs haha j’adore ça c’est stimulant. Merci du commentaire 😊
Great vid, dude. And nice rig too, thanx.
Thanks Phil 😃🙌
Super précis, thanks Dominick!
Plaisir 😊
Awesome video!
Thanks :))
Great video, safe travels!
Thanks :))
Thanks , the bladder in the frame bag is a good idea. The bladder in my Camelback always leaks. Maybe your setup can solve it.
Yeah the Apidura will sit better in the bag and avoid spilling for sure :)) It also maximise the volume since because of it's shape.
THANK YOU!! SERIOUSLY.
Ahhhh thanks, glad you like it :))
Great video, very valuable information! Thank you for taking the time to make this. I really appreciate this.
So happy to read this, thanks 😊👌
Incredibly helpful and fun to watch too!
Sorry if someone asked this already (it’s hard to search all the comments) but can you tell me what psi you typically ride in those tires?
I’m curious what you’ve found works best with all the gear, water and food loaded on.
Thanks!
On the road I started putting more during the 2nd half of the trip and really liked it, I was worried that too much could be problematic with the weird but been running 40psi and even 45 without problems (29x2.25). It was a lot faster than the usual 35psi I was running.
Off road I would drop down to 25psi depending. In Baja I was running 29x2.6 and for sandy portions down to 14psi.
Yep, Old Man Mountain racks are tough, got one on the back of my fatbike for adventures. Arkel bags are great too. Awesome vid btw, and I'm not just saying that because I'm Canandian too. 😅
Haha yeah Arkel makes durable products! 😄🍁🙌
LA VIDÉO QU’ON ATTENDAIT DEPUIS SI LONGTEMPS 🥳
Haha ouiiiiii 😆🙌
This was great, thanks! I’m with you on the milk frother, I bought one to go with my aeropress
Haha love it 😊
Thank you Dominick !!! See you somewhere in the world🚲
Thanks! Yesss see you on the road maybe 😊
Agreed decoy wallet is smart w old cards. I dig the setup. ETR!!!
Thanks :))
Excellent vidéo, j'avais vraiment hâte de découvrir ton équipement. Très bonne idéé de l'avoir réaliser en anglais, j'ai adoré!!! Bravo :)
Ahhh merci Seb, content que tu as aimé 😊🙌 Oui j’ai eu quelques commentaires sur l’anglais mais je crois que dans l’ensemble on apprécie 😊
C'est quand même incroyable de réussir à avoir autant de choses sur un vélo, en faite c'est un jeu de tétris gratuit 🤣😂 merci Dominick de partager c'est vraiment, mais alors là, vraiment intéressant. Bonne continuité 😁👌
Haha effectivement c’est un jeu de tetris au quotidien 😅
Thanks for the video, I have the same bike and am looking to set it up for bike packing. I will be buying that same frame bag now!
Nice, glad to hear that! :)) Enjoy the ride!!
Great vid!!! This has really helped me for my preparations for riding around Australia.
Awesome! Glad it helped! Have a good time :))
Good video dom. Thanks a lot.
Thanks :))
Great list. Love the fake wallet. Lol. Very clever
Haha yeahhh glad I didn’t have to use it though 😅
Glad these videos exist. I went to local REI for ideas and they had hardly anything
Yeah it’s tough to get equipped, lots of cherry picking online. Glad the video helped 😊🙌
Berbagi pengalaman touring bike yang menyenangkan.saya senang melihat dan mendengar nya.banyak hal baru saya tahu setelah menonton video Anda.thank u bro.❤salam gowes(riding bike) dari Bogor west Java Indonesia ❤
Merci beaucoup du commentaire, j’apprécie 😊
Totally agree with mtb, even though I personally use gravel. MTB is just great for complex terrain and touring around world, most importantly clearance for bigger tires. For me, due to not wanting multiple bikes, I just went with rohloff belt drive gravel. And I mostly bike relatively ok roads in Europe, occasionally harder terrain, but all in Europe, also aside from summer and some small expeditions, it's my sport and commute bike.
One really good thing about gravel is huge frame hole, you can got something like 10-15L bag there. I have ~14L frame bag, 11L handlebar bag, and big backpack strapped into rear rack. All waterproof. This pretty much takes everything I need. Food, extra water, tools, spare parts etc. in frame, heavy stuff. Quick access clothes at front, cooking system, and whatever else I might need. At rear shelter and clothes. Ofc I also have stem food/water bottle bags and top tube bag that acts as my phone holder with transparent touch top.
Gear I use is Alpkit custom rolltop frame bag, costs about same as good frame bag that's not custom.
Acid toptube View
Ortlieb handlebar bag plus
Alpkit 30L waterproof backpack on back rack.
Two apidura stem bag.
For navigation on move I use garmin explore 2.
I carry only two bottles of water but I have 3L bladder without hose to refill the bottles. So I actually have almost same amount of water. I really think people should not get bladders that have hoses for bikepacking if you have bottles. That hose is just extra thing that needs cleaning and can leak.
And then maybe the best thing ever, bone conduction headphones, definitely not as good as normal ones, but you can actually listen to podcasts, books and music without blocking outside at all.
Wow thanks for sharing this! 😃 Totally agree with you, if I was going to do Europe I’d go for my gravel bike. In fact, I crossed Canada this summer after the Patagonia trip and went for my gravel, man it was so much faster 😅
Cool looking setup. It's an art form. 🌻
Indeed! Thanks 😊
Coolio, thanks for the video
Glad you liked it, thanks 😊
Ah bien! J'avais pas du tout pensé au trépied pour mon prochain voyage! L'élève dépasse le maitre! 😀
Haha 🙈 J’aimerais éventuellement faire une capsule sur la façon que je filme et l’équipement que j’ai avec moi :))
Awesome video! Thank you for all the tips. Me and my wife just finished a trip from Kelowna to Vancouver Island. Wish I had seen your video before we left, would have packed better!! 😉 Well, there is always the NEXT trip!!👍
Thanks! Wow that’s funny I’m actually in the Vancouver Island! I’m starting the bike across Canada. I got a different setup for this trip, a gravel bike and the total weight is half of what this setup was. Will definitely make a video about it 😊
@@DominickMenard awesome. That's great to hear. We are back in Ottawa. Now have to work more to save money for the next adventure! Can't wait to see your videos. Good luck and if you pass by Ottawa, give me a shout. We could meet.
Great video
Thanks 😊
Great video and great insight into all your gear dude.
Glad you like it :))
Good luck to Mark and yourself! He and you have made the perfect life decisions!❤😊 From your Anglo\Saxon relative!❤😊
🙇♂️
Great video ! Love it! Awesome set up!
Thanks 😊
I am surprised i havnt heard of your channel before this one just pop up in my feed i guess because this video was in English .. look forward to more English version of your adventure
Yeah would love to reach more people but unfortunately started in French, hard to change on the way. But for tech videos like this one, definitely possible 😊
@@DominickMenard COOL LOOK FORWARD TO MORE TEC VIDEOS
Great tips, nice setup and very thorough!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks 😊
Well thought out pack list. Thank you.
Glad you like it :))
Quel beau périple! Merci pour le partage de cette aventure captivante. Qu'est-ce qui a motivé le choix de changer les sacoches Arkel pour des Tailfin entre l'épisode 15 (Panama) et l'épisode 16 (Colombie)?
J’aime essayer de nouveau système, je suis curieux. Principalement je voulais alléger mon setup et ça m’a permis de sauver 2lbs. Aussi, plus on a de place plus on en prend alors les 10L en avant au lieu de 17L me forçait à être plus stratégique et ça a fonctionné :)
WOW Super helpful ! Merci Dom 🙏 ça donne des idées 🚴🏻
Content que tu aimes :)
Nice rig setup, i love the side mirror it's the cheapest yet it probably saved you many times before by providing ocular awareness on what is coming from behind and on the left side yet it was often the most neglected by most cyclist. Prevention is always wiser better and cheaper than cure.
Yessss first time riding with a mirror and I’m sooooo happy I got one! It gave me peace of mind knowing I could see cars coming and anticipate whether the driver saw me or not, I’d 99% of the time people gave me room but for those who didn’t I could react and move to the right a bit. Also, you don’t have to look back your shoulder every time. I’m definitely going to put one on my gravel bike this summer! 😃🙌
Yay I have it both on my bikes on both ends of the handle bar.
Great vid, dude. One of the best on touring. Thanx.
Ahhh so happy to read this, thank you so much 😃
Thanks man I really appreciate the deep in depth video of your gear. Sub and liked.
Thanks glad you liked it 😊🙌
Vraiment instructif même si je me concentre sur la conversion de ma van! Bravo pour tout ton beau contenu en général et ta belle énergie!
Ahhhh beau projet ça doit être excitant de monter une van! 😃 Merci encore :))
Super vidéo ! Et vraiment big up pour réduire au maximum le plastique à usage unique, je vois pas souvent des cyclos qui parlent de ça !
Ahhhh merciiii 🥰
Great video! Lots of info for beginners. Would you mind sharing a list with all the items?
Yeah no problem, send me an email domckmenard@gmail.com
What a great vid! Im subbed now. Gonna check out yer other stuff man.! Vive Le Canada! Im from BC/Grew up in Ottawa
ps. Love the Arkels! I have some large water resistant ones.
Good luck on the rest of your journey!
Glad you like it! haha yesss vive le Canada! 😆 Yeah Arkel make nice stuff, it's super resistant! Thanks :))
Interesting video ,rubber side down !
Thanks! 😃 And what do you mean by “rubber side down?”
keep your wheels on the road ie don't crash.@@DominickMenard
Great video. I love my Devinci as well
Great to read this, thanks :)
Nice set up!
Thanks!
Merci! Vraiment très intéressant et instructif. J étais bien curieux de ton setup.
Oui tellement content d’avoir fait cette vidéo! Depuis le début de mon voyage que c’était sur ma To do list 😆
Thank you. Buen Camino.
Gracias ☺️
Great job. Love your gear. Thanks for sharing
Thanks 😊🙌
Great Video Dom! You’re very well equipped and I wish you the best of luck for the rest of your trip to Argentina 👊🏼😎
Thanks man 😊
Great adventure
Thanks 😃
This was useful, thanks
Thanks 😊
Thanks friend great video an love the English version your the best
I knew you would like it 😃 Thanks Dan!
great video! thanks for the tips
Glad it was helpful! 😃👌
wow a real die-hard rider across the world, respect. Question would you ever upgrade your bike to a ebike to do these rides what's the advantage and disadvantage besides having to charge the ebike battery. Just found your channel. I thought I had allot of stuff to carry on my bike. Great video and advice. Appreciate it.
Just keeping my electronic equipment (drone, phones, GoPro, laptop, Garmin etc.) can sometimes be a challenge so I can't imagine having an e-bike on this kind of trip. They're definitely times where you wouldn't reach some cities/villages and be stuck having to pedal without power.
Glad I found your video today. Interesting to see you carry more or less similar to my setup.
100% agree with the chair and the peebottle!
I also pack a tarp, and one foldable pole that goes with it. It’s great when you can not find a place with shade on those hot days, or to sit out of the wind a little.
About the drone: where do you keep all the stuff you need for the drone, like the controller, spare batteries, charger…. I am not using drone mainly because I suppose it will need too much space in my bags.
Good luck with your trip! I subscribed now and follow you all the way.
Nice to read this! And good idea for the tarp, I guess it could also be practical to make a little roof to camp from the tent if it rains.
For the drone, it's in my handlebar bag. It needs to be easily accessible, this way I can stop and quickly pull it out to make the shot. I have a velcro strap that attaches to my handlebar extension so that I can ride with the controller properly secured. This bag easily unclipped because of the KLICKfix adapter and I can bring it in with me, it has most of my valuables like Passport, laptop, drone, GoPro.
Thanks for following me! I film one episode in every country sometimes more. Unfortunately it's in French but when I can I add the subtitles, otherwise RUclips makes an okay job with the auto-subtitles.
Cheers :))
@@DominickMenard je parle Français aussi. Donc pas de problème pour te suivre!
Fantastic channel! Iv subscribed, love the vids buddy
Glad you liked it, hope it helps :))
A very inspiring and informative video..thank you, Dominick! I was curious why you wouln't have chosen a titanium bike frame like the ones T-Labs make in Montreal? They are light and have great strength and do not flex under load in my experience.
Thanks :)) I ride for Cycles Devinci so I had to choose from the lineup 😊
Nice video.
😊 thanks!
Muito bom o seu trabalho Dominick
Gracias Marco :))
NICE
Thanks :)
Wow, gotta check out your other videos, especially since it looks like you may have finished.
How do you find the load works on your front shock? Any handling/durability/performance issues? Thanks.
Yeah I unfortunately document the trip in French, it’s just more natural for me. Hopefully the auto-subtitles work 😊 I had no problem at all with the fork, I have turned the compression to the maximum and put 140psi, so basically using 2 inches of travel. It wasn’t any issue on the road and allowed for more comfort on off road 🙌
Hola hola y muchas gracias for the video Dominick! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your well tested setup, so many good pointers. BTW, what is the make and model of your helmet? I didn’t see you mentioning in the video? Thanks and greetings from Mexico!
It’s a Oakley, the model is the MTB Drt5 mips, it has those clips in the back to secure the glasses when not wearing it, I love this helmet! They have a new version of this helmet now but both are good choices :)) www.oakley.com/es-es/product/99479EU?variant=190645707959&sizeL
Great content. What brand of shorts are you wearing?
Thanks :)) During the first half (Victoria/Panama) I was wearing Arc'terix Gamma quick dry and during the second half (Colombia/Ushuaia) Parmi Bridge Shorts parmilifewear.com/collections/mens-shorts/products/men-bridge-shorts-black-beauty?variant=41350271172748
If you want to get Parmi gear, I have a 15% off code that you can use if you wish: M-DOM-COMMUNITY
Cheers :))
Domi, podés explicar el sistema que tenés para generar energía? Te encontré por Fede Farrell y me volví super fan !! Saludos desde Argentina!! 😊😊
Tengo una dinamo Schmidt SON28 que me permite tener una luz delantera y trasera permanente (si necesito).
También puedo recargar usando un adaptador USB. Para una celular no es ideal porque requiere una carga constante y por debajo de 13 kmh ya no genera suficiente energía. Además, estar constantemente encendido y apagado puede afectar la duración de la batería. Sin embargo, definitivamente puede ayudar.
Para mi Garmin, por encima de 7kmh carga y puedo recargarlo fácilmente al 100%.
La mejor estrategia sería recargar mi “battery pack” y luego recargar mi celular, pero desde que inicio mi viaje es raro que pase más de 2 días sin ver ninguna civilización.
That was cool 😎
Thanks :))
great video, really interesting list! I will do my first bike baking trip this year and surching for a good rain jacket, witch arcteryx Rainjacket do you use and can you recommend it? Greetings from Germany ;)
I use the Beta, I couldn’t find the Beta LT (underarms zip vents) and I love it! I highly recommend, it was one of my favourite piece of gear. The hood has room for the bike helmet, they use a soft fabric where the mouth meets the jacket when you’re fully zipped which is a nice touch. Side pockets are easy to open even with gloves. The fit is adjusted which is great for cycling. I like the wrist adjustment.
Thanks for posting Dominick! Great video and full of useful information.
Would you consider using a MTB with a carbon frame instead of aluminum?
I think it depends of the bike design/purpose more than the materiel. One thing I was looking for was lateral stiffness to handle the weight of the bags and equipment. If a bike is not stiff enough, it will wobble at high speed or when pedalling standing up. I've seen a girl with a Canyon carbon hardtail, looks like it's holding up but she's one of the rare bike tour cyclist I've seen with a carbon bike. Personally, I like my bike cause I have peace of mind knowing it's built for all around mountain biking and not for XC racing.
Great vid - thanks for sharing 👍👍 with all the gear on the bike, what do you for security when you leave the bike for visiting a store, beach etc??
I was carrying a Abus Bordo Lite lock :) But the idea is never to leave the bike unsupervised for long periods.
bravo
Merci 😊
Good job man! Do you use a cover on the saddle for comfort or do you have special pants?
No saddle cover, didn't have chamois either for the first half (Canada, Panama) of the trip.
Bon équipement malgré la limitation d’espace et de poids.
Bonne idée la présentation en anglais
Oui ça été tout un casse-tête! Mais c’est un processus stimulant, je pense constamment à des façons d’améliorer et sauver quelques livres… à suivre 😉
Content que tu aimes le choix de langage, Bikepacking.com l’a déjà inclus dans un article et Devinci va pouvoir l’utiliser aussi sur ces plateformes 😊
Awesome man, a friend of mine told me about you. I crossed Canada last summer solo, also leaving from Victoria (Sooke actually) and averaged 150km a day but I was using a Kona Sutra and going a bit lighter than you but I camped as well so I had similar gear. I live in the Eastern Townships in Quebec but unfortunately I don't speak french, I was curious how km you do per day on average? All the best, I'm sure you are inspiring lots of people myself included. Cheers 🍻
Nice! :)) Crossing Canada is something I'd love to do. As for the mileage, it's not that impressive, I think my average per riding days was 75km for the first half. This trip is also about seeing places on the way and also did a few bikepacking routes on the way. I've been going a little faster in the 2nd half (South America) and since Peru, I'd say my average is 90km. Elevation is a big factor. In Patagonia for example even though you're at sea level I realized in the first few days that for every 100km you have to climb between 900m and 1,300m. My longest day so far has been 226km coming out of Santiago. Glad you took the time to watch the video, cheers :))
Super intéressant tout ça, mais je vais continuer mon camping en pick up/RTT 🤣 Non mais en vrai j'étais curieuse de connaître ton setup, tout est vraiment bien pensé! Merci pour le partage 😊Et bonne idée pour l'anglais. Honnêtement, oui c'est plate pour ton audience québécoise qui ne comprend pas bien l'anglais, mais d'un point de vue visibilité l'anglais va t'en apporter beaucoup plus...
Oui c'est ce que je me disais pour cette vidéo :)) Merci! 😃 🙌
Super vidéo, ça aurait été bien d'avoir plus de specs sur le bike lui-même (groupset, roues et pneux, suspension, scelle, etc...).
Oui effectivement ça pourrait être une vidéo en soi 🙌
Wow I gained many tips with one single video :D Color coding seems to be 200iq move! I have to ask (not sure if you're still answering), are you comfortable carrying your drone with you?
I just bought Mini 4 pro as my first drone, and it just seems so fragile that I really feel uncomfortable to carry it with my bikepacking trips, unless I cover it with huge amount of foam or something :D I just might be too scared for no reason! But I think the frame area gets least amount of shocks/bumps, so that might be the area I'll carry the drone if somewhere.
haha yeah I kept getting confused when taking the bags on and off 😅 Glad you like the idea!
Drone is not a problem, I never heard someone regret bringing one of those, if you're into filming and enjoying shots with a different perpectives (I can't count the number of time I was stoked to see what was around after looking at the shots) a drone is definitely worth it!
PROTECTION
I didn't have any sort of protection to carry it, just a small pouch and for a while I carried it in the handlebar bag. After the bag broke in Peru, I started carrying in the frame bag. These things are bulletproof, I wouldn't worry about it. I would suggest to carry an extra set of remote controller thumb sticks in case you lost one like I did. Also, an extra set of propellers since you will most probably hit branches at some point or crashed it like I did... see video hehe 👉 ruclips.net/video/AAVBzvmjnLM/видео.htmlsi=48PebgB0X4S33KWI&t=624
COMMITMENT
This being said, carrying electronics definitely changes the experience... Drone, GoPro, camera (or an extra cell phone for filming like I did), laptop, tripods and cables all add up to the weight. Not to mention the act of filming... stopping breaks the momentum and takes time. Then, you have to manage this content and of course, do something with it hehe Personally I love the process and looking back at the series I've produced on the way is worth every minute I've spent! It's great souvenirs, I also get a lot for the comments I get on this channel and on IG.
Hope this helps :))
@@DominickMenard Oh crap your drone really took a hit there :D Maybe I'll trust these drones more then in the future and stop stressing for nothing. Thanks for giving the confidence bro!
cool video man !
I wanted to ask you how you have installed the front cargo system because I bought a mtb to travel too and I don't have how to install a front rack!.
looking forward to your answer !
regards
It’s the Divide from the Old Man Mountain Racks with the axle mount setup. It works great, definitely the best option out there!
Money in shoe is smart!!
Haha yesss 🤓
The english is PERFECT im danish keep it up for us not french speakers
Glad you like it, thanks for the compliment 😊🫶
awesome. this video is bible to me
Haha wow I love it, thanks 😃
Sick setup
Glad you like it 😊
And I thought I over pack. I am amatuer compared to you. Are you happy with the 1x system? I am thinking of going back to a 3x8. Safe travels Sir.
haha yeah crazy how it adds up. I LOVE the 1x system and wouldn't change it. 30T in front with a 10-52T was a perfect setup for bikepacking/touring with a heavy load. I started with a 32T which is fine on the paved road but once you go off road and go up steep sections a 30T is definitely better!
@@DominickMenard Thank you.
A pee bottle! That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing, which water bottles are those?
haha yeah! The pee bottle is a HydraPak Stash 1L
I want to know information about the pouch that is attached to the stem bag
They are from the Roadrunner company 😊 (fed bags)
Très bon vidéo informatif. Quel est le modèle de ton sac de guidon avant?
Merci! C’est un Brooks Scape 10L
Merci pour ce vidéo, c'est toujours intéressant de remettre en question ce qu'on traine avec nous. Question: tu as des pantalons de pluie: est-ce que tu les utilises ou pas et c'est quoi comme modèle? Bike spécifique ou standard?
Oui encore aujourd’hui je me pose des questions haha bien que j’étais super satisfait des Arkel j’ai changé de sacoches pour la 2e moitié 🙈 Pour les pants c’est les Conspiracy de Race Face, un fit cycliste. Je les adore, le look est génial je les porte au campement parfois quand c’est froid. Ça pas l’air d’un pantalon de pluie comme on retrouve habituellement.
www.raceface.com/products/conspiracy-pants
It's funny how easy it is to get a really heavy bike set up
Haha indeed 😅
Bonjour Dominick... J'aimerais savoir quel modêle de sacoche tu utilises en avant... merci
C’est des Arkel modèle Orca 35L (la paire) :)
What model are your black biking shoes?
It’s the Gauge model by Giro. It’s funny cause it’s a mid-level shoe, I think I paid 90usd and it’s one of the best shoes I ever had! Super confortable, the style is sober so perfect on and off the bike on touring trip. I changed the laces for black though, they came with a bright red pair. They are resistant, the sole is not too stiff but enough to give me a good feel and efficiency, I’m really surprised by those!
tu checkeras ca , radio canada : Un remonte-pente pour vélos unique en Amérique du Nord ouvre en Alberta
Oui je crois avoir vu ça passer!
Dom, avais tu une culotte padder pour le fessier?
Pas pour la première moitié mais pour la seconde oui j’avais un petit bike liner de B3nth. Pour la première moitié j’avais des boxers normal, de B3nth également.
Hi, how did you mount your racks on the frame/fork? As far as I see, the frame originally doesn't have mounting points, but yet I see the top of the rack is mounted directly. The bottom is through the axle? And the fork?
The bottom part is fixed on the axle and for the top I added some anchors to screw the top part. You can also buy a seatpost collar with rack compatibility, I think Salsa makes one.
Just one question about such a trip, how do you transit the Darien Gap?
I took a plane but you can also get on a sailboat 😊