Surly Pugsley steel frame fat tire bike, paniers front and rear, sleeping bag, bivy sack, no camp pad, no cooking gear for less weight but shelf stable food and lots of body fat on my body (3000 calories per pound of body fat), and because the Arco Desert is extremely dry, a CamelBak, two thermoses with green tea and honey, and four water bottles. Death of thirst has happened to mountain bikers in the area before. Bike repair kit, medical kit, and my Ruger LCP2 because it's better to be armed and not need a gun than be unarmed and need a gun. I haven't used my gun once thankfully but it's a comfortable feeling on my hip.
@@DetroitJohnny my wife and I will be pedaling from hotel to hotel on the 1000 kilometer round-trip Shikoku Circuit in Japan. My Salsa Marrakesh touring gravel bike will carry all our stuff in four paniers, and my wife will pedal a mamachari bike she buys in Matsuyama, and carry just a large tea 🍵 mug and CamelBak with water. I get a daily fun workout and my wife enjoys casually pedaling at the same speed.
Happy with paniers... low centre of gravity & extra pack space if required. Plus a tent... keeps the insects, slugs and weather off, plus you can get changed inside.
I’d go for a tarp (you can make multiple types of shelter), self inflating mat, decent sleeping bag in a bivvi bag, jet boil and wash kit. All you need for 3-4 days.
Bugs! Mosquitos, wasps, huge bumblebees (which will happily walk their way across rough grass seeking a nice warm dark place to sleep), spiders, beetles, ticks … 😳
I ride 60cm (XL/XXL) frames and my wife a 49 XS/S and the difference is crazy. My custom frame bags lets me keep a big Nalgene bottle under it and the holds same amount of stuff my wife has to spread out in fork dry bags and front rack dry bag. If she did trips alone she could work it out in the summer but for cooler weather and the bulkier gear/clothes I think she would need more a traditional touring set up with large front and rear racks and panniers.
1:26 It was funny to me how he said privacy and security and protection from weather factors, yet when he zipped it down there was a hole large enough for a dog to get through hahah. Great video however and i would choose the lightweight option.
He didn't close it all the way. With tents that have 2 entrance (like the one i have), i close only like half of every entrance for better ventilation and avoid the sauna effect in the day. Tents have two zips (first from interior is to keep out insects, the second is for weather/security). Two weeks ago went in a bikebacking from home to beach - 300km one day (299.6km to be a geek). 15:30 hours
You can easily get a tent that weighs same or even less than a typical bivvy/tarp setup with all the benefits of being in a tent. Mainly for me a tent is for keeping biting bugs and bad weather at bay.
Yeah- Wonder how many tarp fans are in B'N'B's or Bothies tonight here in the Scottish W/NW Highlands mid August....Utterly useless against the billions of midges per square mile lol
People often decide against a rack with panniers, as they are bulky and add a lot of areo drag, slowing you down. However a tip I've been using recently is to use a pannier rack but strap a 30L drybag or rucksack to the top using webbing instead of pannier bags. Way lighter and more aero than panniers, but also much more carrying capacity than a seat pack (which probably tops out at under 20L). Kudos to @tristanrid for the original tip 😁
One factor to consider is SPEED: if you are on a race against yourself or on a race for real, being super minimal is a plus, but that way, day by day, your body and the overall comfort experience is going to be effected. Super minimal gears is for + 100 km, luxury is indicated for < 100 km a day.
I toured SE Asia on a super lightweight Giant Defy SL. Contrary to popular belief, you can load the road bikes up. And how hilly it is in that part of the world having a light bike makes you more motivated to ride.
4:45. the reverse aeropress! nice!! ps legend has it the inventor of aeropress also made aerobi.. (the frisbee with a hole in it) Love yer work.. Gonna go on a bike camp next weekend. 🙌
Not to throw shade on British bikepacking, but it is such a different sport in many ways than American bikepacking, especially that in the Western US. Where you might be nearly 100k from any sort of services in the US, is there anywhere in Britain where you are farther than 15k from a pub? The GCN presenters adventures always look like fun and the scenery is excellent. As for the services, I'm envious of those frequent pub opportunities.
While the western US is far more sparse, that should not deter you from going on an adventure! I started with doing a few overnighters in California and after 2 yrs of nearby bikepacking I did a cross country trek from SF to Maine. You can pack the provisions to make any distance possible, but start with something small!
I started out cycle touring, with pannier bags. Then last year I switched to bikepacking kit, much lighter weight. This year I've swapped the rear saddle bag for a tailfin aeropack. Then I realised I can attach two cargo cages to the aeropack. Not so aero anymore! Does mean I can pack my super light campign chair again though, I just hope it still turns out lighter and faster than my old touring setup! I've got a Pedalcell dynamo this year too which I got for cheap so we'll see how that goes :)
I always carry a set of casual clothes, tips for this; get hiking clothes, they are much lighter and can be packed smaller, I also carry camping shoes (Xero produces some very light shoes).
Hiking clothes also tend to have some antimicrobial properties as well. Hides the smell a bit better if you haven't found anywhere to have a quick wash
Dudes, your biking advice is brilliant. Your camping advice, however, not so much. I'm a long-distance hiker who has a bike fetish. There are quite a few tricks you can employ that will keep your weight down whilst still being comfortable. You should do a collab with a hike tuber (Paul Messner has just brought a Brompton). If you know your way around the correct kit, you can put less than 10kg on your bike and be warm, dry, comfortable, and well fed for a couple of days.
I always thought the tent that Blake used (and maybe Jenny on GCN+) was cool. The bike wheel made one end of the frame and the other end was pegged out. Looked neat!
I was „bikepacking“ for 5 days a couple of weeks ago with a 50yo Soviet folding bike. I wasn’t doing the whole trip on bike due to time constraints but with the folding bike I could just jump on a train and it counts as luggage. With the D-Ticket it was no concern. Had everything I needed. Had one big bag on the rear rack and a normal everyday sized backpack. If you look up Mifa Klapprad, you see that frame bags aren’t really an option. But since the bike has mounts for a front rack, I will mount one soon, so I can put the tent, sleeping bag and tarp there for better weight distribution. Had a 25€ tent which has the size of a coffin, a similarly priced tarp with 2 rods which I put over the tent as I didn’t trusted the watertightness of the tent, 2 lamps, cooking equipment, clothes, food, water, a battery, soap, other hygiene products. Didn’t missed a thing. It was all holding up 135km/h winds, heavy rain and 30°C heat. Didn’t got wet the tarp was absolutely waterproof, minimal condensation in the tent. It was an absolute blast!
Depending on how long and where I go I´ll choose different setups so for my recent trip to the north cape I took my tent I set it up go to bed and don´t have to worry about a thing for an overnighter close to home I only took a bivy bag and was looking straight into the stars at night (you will not be able to do that in the polar circle in summer xD)
@@gcn It certainly felt like it (well it did to this 60yr old anyway). I did camping bikepacking as little as two years ago riding Brussels - Sweden - Brussels . But for the last couple of years (Touring Denmark last year and the Baltic and crossing Sweden this year) I've been able to carry on Bikepacking long distances despite my advancing years... (and limited ability!)
I'd also add that the accommodation app was more necessary for dealing with the binfire that is Deutsch Bahn whilst (trying) to cross Germany with a bike, rather than arranging accommodation whilst bikepacking a carefully planned route!
For me I like how quick and simple a bivvy is especially if you are riding until it’s dark. I put the mat and sleeping bag in the bivvy and put them all together into a larger dry bag. Then when it’s time to sleep take it out unroll blow up the mat and sleep. Less than 5 mins from stopping to being in bed.
I've got an idea that will probably upset some people. e-bike bikepacking. Pack whatever you need and the motor will help with the load... Unless you run out of battery. Then you'll be lugging around more stuff and a much heavier bike.
You'd have problems with battery for multi-day trips though if it's off the grid where there's no plug you can charge it. Though ebikes do quite well for touring where you hop between towns/cafes and charge daily on hotels/cafes.
I have both bivy+tarp and tent setup. The irony is the 2P tent is lighter and cooler because it's DCF+mesh, but the bivy+tarp is more stealth and is warmer in the winter (less mesh). While it does cost more money to have both kits, I found starting with the bivy and slowly saving up for a good tent was absolutely worth it. I have so much flexibility.
'Credit card touring'. Nick Crane made this popular. My choice is Premier Inn. Bike is a 1981 Falcon Super Tourist with drop bars. 15 litre Chossy saddlebag.
I spent three days backpacking, and I only wore my kit and a pair of flip-flops to change into at night. I went swimming in the Pacific Ocean, into town, the whole lot. An extra pair of clothes takes up so much room when you are limited in space.
the loaded bike trips and info are may favorite. One thing worth mentioning is the cost of custom bags, Conners bike is prefect example of the benefits he had a LOT of wasted space front and bag and under the frame bag. Custom is not really that much more than the better off the rack stuff, in the US we have Rouge Panda not sure how much shipping/tax that would add for you guys. You guys seem to travel of some pretty high end bikes so the Salsa Anything Cradle would be absolutely perfect for your bars. kinda overpriced but built like it would easily outlast several bikes and lets you attach any dry bag (small to XL) to the bars without resting on the head tube and absolutely zero wiggle to bounce.
Interesting. I would try to keep as much weight off of the front of the bike that I could. A set of panniers, a rack-pack on top and a small under saddle bag for your folding tire, tube and other things for tire repair. A front handlebar bag to keep some snacks, extra water bottle and even a folded-up waterproof windbreaker, if the weather gets a bit cool or wet. I have Sunlite rack packs on my regular bike and my tandem. They keep my lock, spare tire, tubes, tools and other things that may be needed on my daily rides, quite handy. I also have a Cannondale handlebar rack, which requires me to remove my water bottle cage and move my headlight, but what it holds more than makes up for any inconvenience. At 66, outdoor camping doesn't interest me, one iota. I would just plan my route to stay in decent, inexpensive lodging. Maybe fifty to seventy-five miles a day, on average. Either way, a good article and video.
Never thought of bike packing/touring, to be about being fast. Social media really has turned the enjoyment of the journey into a race to the destination. It is like they all want to "bikepack" (i.e race to the destination) for an Instagram post. The videos with Jack Thurston highlight this well.
@@DanceCommander There is a word for that, It is called Racing. :-) I understand some people may want to go faster and I feel that is counter to the spirit of bike packing/touring. As I feel that has been historically about experiencing the voyage not just the destination. Nothing wrong with doing it faster but feels like that should be another sport. Perhaps Speed Bike Packing. SBP? We do have Credit Card Bike Packing. So why not Speed Bike Packing. In the end if by yourself easy to do what you like, just be careful if joining others on a trip and make sure everyone is in agreement and have the same expectations for a good trip to be had by all.
@@DanceCommander Nah, we use adjectives all the time to help people out to understand things. Just look at all the different "footballs" in the world. And yes, that is still confusing to and more so in the world. But as I said. In the end, best to have everyone understand what YOU mean by bike packing. If not going to use adjectives best to then explain to your travel partners what you expect. Otherwise everyone has a bad experience.
@@sautez8 I mean, sure. But isn't that just basic communication. I don't call my buddy "Hey - wanna go on a week long bikepacking trip in France in September - please don't ask any questions - see you in 4 weeks" :)
Contrary to the suggestion, don't camp under trees, They are tall and attract lightening. Wind or just age can cause branches to fall off. Rain gets through the canopy and you end up just as wet only the leaves are still shedding water long after the rain stopped. Trees deposit sap and birds and squirrels deposit other stuff, none of which is good for your tent/tarp/bivvy bag/breakfast. Enjoy your camping but best not under a tree.
Camping under an isolated tree surrounded by open land would definitely be dumb if a thunderstorm comes. However, in a forest it's pretty safe and offers a lot better shelter from strong winds plus much more seclusion if you're stealth camping. You just have to be careful about where you set up camp making sure you're not near any dead trees/limbs. Ive found sap (except maybe if you're in a pine forest?) and deposits from wildlife to be complete non-issues.
This week, Giraffe and Spaniel slow it down with and talk bike packing logistics. Seriously, I would love to give bike packing a go here in the North Florida/South Georgia area. Unfortunately, we don’t have right to roam like in the UK.
In my experience you have to be very sure of the weather and lack of midges (Scotland...),. Generally when I'm packing ofr a trip I decide it isn't worth the risk and take my Big Agnes bikepacking tent. Considering it is 1.2kg for a 2 man tent it doesn't seem like much of a penaly over 2 bivis and a tarp, for a lot more security.
The light camping setup is only practical when you're sure the weather is going to cooperate for the length of the trip and you know the temp will stay quite warm.
The whole cooking gear if its small and decent is expensive, so not necessarily cheaper than paying for a breakie or evening meal. Especially if you're not sure on if you'll do it again
So are we saying that we don't have to worry about choosing a bike which is compatible with old school classic panniers to be able to go bikepacking or carry moderate cargo? This is a revelation in my quest to buy a bike. So I can just buy a decent second hand road bike and then get the various bags? Game changer.
It is not just bear country. Scouts are taught not to put any "smellables" (food, toothpaste, etc.) in their tent because it can attract wildlife. While you certainly don't want to attract a bear, you also don't want to have a skunk or raccoon visit your tent. Even mice can chew holes in your tent in short order to get to any food inside.
Well the bikepacking kits are great when you have a large frame. I have a small one so cannot fit a saddle bag (distance from saddle to tyres not enough) and same for the bar bags... so panniers it is 😉
My idea of luxury bike camping is a separate support vehicle carrying all the heavy stuff. People to set up the tents, do the catering and make sure there's a camp fire. There of course would be comfortable seats to sit in as you sit around the fire discussing the days ride.
Do NOT store food in your tent if you're in an area with bears. Store it in an approved bear resistant container (or hang it properly) according to appropriate guidelines and requirements.
True if your in Bear country, here in the UK there are no bears, there’s not a lot apart from the odd fox or badger that might disturb you. Where they are in Dartmoor in the south of England you might get a wild pony but the uk is petty free of any large predators
I think this needs more attention to the range of outdoor gear. If you're riding a bike worth a few grand then why would you spend £60 on a camping mat instead of something like a Rab Stratosphere 5.5 (£120) or a NeoAir XTherm (c.£200) which are significantly warmer and smaller packing than any of the above? The idea that a foam and air mat is the best choice for comfort hasn't been true for well over a decade.
Anyway, the kislux fakes seem to be of equal or better quality than the real thing, and I can use the remaining money to buy groceries and pay some bills
@@MrROBERTLEWIS, no that's usually known as credit card touring. Bike touring was the phrase used by folk travelling with a bike with all the kit they needed until bikepacking started to replace it over last couple of decades. Also folk who bikepack, will stay the odd night in a hotel to charge battery banks or if get caught out for some reason.
Bike touring is usually with touring bikes with pannier racks on the front and back, think Ortlieb 😅. I prefer on the road with the road bike and Airbnb, without panniers.
Never put food in your tent unless you want uninvited guests. Mice, squirrels, and raccoons will chew their way in. I am a backpacker and the only thing that goes in my tent is sleeping essentials, clothes, and me. But then I only use a tent when there are no trees because I prefer a hammock. 😁
Why is it that you never mention Tailfin as an option to a saddle bag or Tailfin in general? I have a tailfin rack & bag and I think it’s vastly better than a wobbly saddle bag & holds more at 20lt.
I don't believe you have used panniers. Why is it more likely to overload a pannier! Plus looking at the bike set up shown panniers have lower centre of gravity = more stable. Finally how long does take to mount and dismount frame bags? Ortlieb bags are a couple seconds.
Don't get it. If I'm out and about for days I'm taking 2 full pannier bags and strap a duffelbag on top, have a handlebar bag and a small backpack. Maybe you got restaurant money I don't.
Comfortable and steady thanks. But you can combine the two. I would not bring a heavy tent, when you can get one, which is ultralight made of Dyneema Composite Fabric also called cuben fibres. They often weigh the same as a tarp - unless it is made of cuben fibres. And they do not take up much space.
Like the Bonfus Duos 2P, which is 595 g. Or you can even make one yourself. Extreme Textil, in Germany, has cuben fibre for sale. It is 100% waterproof and weighs less than most other lightweight material.
If you are bringing a warm jacket (synthetic or down) anyway, then it is enough to bring a half sleeping bag, which goes to your waste. Then you sleep in you warm jacket and have better movement than in a full sleeping bag. The half insulated air mattress is also a good idea. You simply use one of your bags under your feet. Then it does not matter that it is only half. Space and weight saves.
Which kind of bikepacking do you prefer? 🏕
Staying in a nice bed and breakfast or hotel
@@DetroitJohnny Respectable
Surly Pugsley steel frame fat tire bike, paniers front and rear, sleeping bag, bivy sack, no camp pad, no cooking gear for less weight but shelf stable food and lots of body fat on my body (3000 calories per pound of body fat), and because the Arco Desert is extremely dry, a CamelBak, two thermoses with green tea and honey, and four water bottles. Death of thirst has happened to mountain bikers in the area before. Bike repair kit, medical kit, and my Ruger LCP2 because it's better to be armed and not need a gun than be unarmed and need a gun. I haven't used my gun once thankfully but it's a comfortable feeling on my hip.
@@DetroitJohnny my wife and I will be pedaling from hotel to hotel on the 1000 kilometer round-trip Shikoku Circuit in Japan. My Salsa Marrakesh touring gravel bike will carry all our stuff in four paniers, and my wife will pedal a mamachari bike she buys in Matsuyama, and carry just a large tea 🍵 mug and CamelBak with water. I get a daily fun workout and my wife enjoys casually pedaling at the same speed.
Happy with paniers... low centre of gravity & extra pack space if required. Plus a tent... keeps the insects, slugs and weather off, plus you can get changed inside.
"The Tour is won in bed" : Luxury that contributes to a good night's sleep will have added benefits on the bike that "out weigh" the extra kgs.
Bed and breakfasts/ hotels = win win … nothing to carry = lightweight and better beds
@@JIMMYHIBBS1Win lose* camping is free.
I’d go for a tarp (you can make multiple types of shelter), self inflating mat, decent sleeping bag in a bivvi bag, jet boil and wash kit.
All you need for 3-4 days.
Pick a bad spot to camp ( ie. mosquitoes or black flies ) and your “tarp or tent?” question will be answered immediately
Bugs! Mosquitos, wasps, huge bumblebees (which will happily walk their way across rough grass seeking a nice warm dark place to sleep), spiders, beetles, ticks … 😳
9:21 axle mounted racks are great. they can handle alot of weight and the compability is also much better.
As someone who rides a 47cm frame, can I just say how jealous I am of how much space Conor has on his bike to attach stuff! ;D
I ride 60cm (XL/XXL) frames and my wife a 49 XS/S and the difference is crazy. My custom frame bags lets me keep a big Nalgene bottle under it and the holds same amount of stuff my wife has to spread out in fork dry bags and front rack dry bag. If she did trips alone she could work it out in the summer but for cooler weather and the bulkier gear/clothes I think she would need more a traditional touring set up with large front and rear racks and panniers.
1:26 It was funny to me how he said privacy and security and protection from weather factors, yet when he zipped it down there was a hole large enough for a dog to get through hahah. Great video however and i would choose the lightweight option.
But why wouldn’t you want to let the dogs pass? 🐕
He didn't close it all the way. With tents that have 2 entrance (like the one i have), i close only like half of every entrance for better ventilation and avoid the sauna effect in the day. Tents have two zips (first from interior is to keep out insects, the second is for weather/security). Two weeks ago went in a bikebacking from home to beach - 300km one day (299.6km to be a geek). 15:30 hours
I'd rather have the tent. A good night's sleep is better than saving a few lbs.
Also, tents also protect against insects and light rain.
@@sepg5084yeah I get bitten alive by bugs so I need the mesh! Have done enough camping under the stars in guides and rangers!
You can easily get a tent that weighs same or even less than a typical bivvy/tarp setup with all the benefits of being in a tent.
Mainly for me a tent is for keeping biting bugs and bad weather at bay.
Yeah- Wonder how many tarp fans are in B'N'B's or Bothies tonight here in the Scottish W/NW Highlands mid August....Utterly useless against the billions of midges per square mile lol
Came here to say this. As soon as you add a tarp to your bivvy you might as well have a tent.
People often decide against a rack with panniers, as they are bulky and add a lot of areo drag, slowing you down. However a tip I've been using recently is to use a pannier rack but strap a 30L drybag or rucksack to the top using webbing instead of pannier bags. Way lighter and more aero than panniers, but also much more carrying capacity than a seat pack (which probably tops out at under 20L).
Kudos to @tristanrid for the original tip 😁
Nice trick, I would give you the hack sticker, but UA-cam looks a bit buggy
One factor to consider is SPEED: if you are on a race against yourself or on a race for real, being super minimal is a plus, but that way, day by day, your body and the overall comfort experience is going to be effected. Super minimal gears is for + 100 km, luxury is indicated for < 100 km a day.
I toured SE Asia on a super lightweight Giant Defy SL. Contrary to popular belief, you can load the road bikes up. And how hilly it is in that part of the world having a light bike makes you more motivated to ride.
4:45. the reverse aeropress! nice!! ps legend has it the inventor of aeropress also made aerobi.. (the frisbee with a hole in it)
Love yer work.. Gonna go on a bike camp next weekend. 🙌
Great tips boys. Nothing quite like sleeping under the stars!
Not to throw shade on British bikepacking, but it is such a different sport in many ways than American bikepacking, especially that in the Western US. Where you might be nearly 100k from any sort of services in the US, is there anywhere in Britain where you are farther than 15k from a pub?
The GCN presenters adventures always look like fun and the scenery is excellent. As for the services, I'm envious of those frequent pub opportunities.
I hope not
While the western US is far more sparse, that should not deter you from going on an adventure! I started with doing a few overnighters in California and after 2 yrs of nearby bikepacking I did a cross country trek from SF to Maine. You can pack the provisions to make any distance possible, but start with something small!
Hello mate, well that’s Europe, unless you are in north Scandinavia, a town is always within a couple of hours ride.
I started out cycle touring, with pannier bags. Then last year I switched to bikepacking kit, much lighter weight. This year I've swapped the rear saddle bag for a tailfin aeropack. Then I realised I can attach two cargo cages to the aeropack. Not so aero anymore! Does mean I can pack my super light campign chair again though, I just hope it still turns out lighter and faster than my old touring setup!
I've got a Pedalcell dynamo this year too which I got for cheap so we'll see how that goes :)
Thanks for choosing Tailfin. We hope you've got some adventures planned this year?
I always carry a set of casual clothes, tips for this; get hiking clothes, they are much lighter and can be packed smaller, I also carry camping shoes (Xero produces some very light shoes).
Hiking clothes also tend to have some antimicrobial properties as well. Hides the smell a bit better if you haven't found anywhere to have a quick wash
Thank you Conor , JLW , and crew. I am planning my first overnighter , I'll see what works ?
Let us know how you got on
"Leaving no trace" *two minutes later shot of a lit stove burning the grass in its vicinity* ;)
6:14 i carry a tiny stick stove with me where ever i go. it takes very little space when folded so i feel it's very much worth it to always carry it.
I’d love to see a video on bike packing with the family. My two (8 and 10) are up for a ride, but I’d love to get them on a multi day trip.
Dudes, your biking advice is brilliant. Your camping advice, however, not so much. I'm a long-distance hiker who has a bike fetish. There are quite a few tricks you can employ that will keep your weight down whilst still being comfortable.
You should do a collab with a hike tuber (Paul Messner has just brought a Brompton).
If you know your way around the correct kit, you can put less than 10kg on your bike and be warm, dry, comfortable, and well fed for a couple of days.
I always thought the tent that Blake used (and maybe Jenny on GCN+) was cool. The bike wheel made one end of the frame and the other end was pegged out. Looked neat!
Nice video. Instead of worrying about boiling water for drinking, and wasting the fuel supply, best to carry a light weight filter.
I was „bikepacking“ for 5 days a couple of weeks ago with a 50yo Soviet folding bike. I wasn’t doing the whole trip on bike due to time constraints but with the folding bike I could just jump on a train and it counts as luggage. With the D-Ticket it was no concern. Had everything I needed. Had one big bag on the rear rack and a normal everyday sized backpack. If you look up Mifa Klapprad, you see that frame bags aren’t really an option. But since the bike has mounts for a front rack, I will mount one soon, so I can put the tent, sleeping bag and tarp there for better weight distribution.
Had a 25€ tent which has the size of a coffin, a similarly priced tarp with 2 rods which I put over the tent as I didn’t trusted the watertightness of the tent, 2 lamps, cooking equipment, clothes, food, water, a battery, soap, other hygiene products. Didn’t missed a thing. It was all holding up 135km/h winds, heavy rain and 30°C heat. Didn’t got wet the tarp was absolutely waterproof, minimal condensation in the tent. It was an absolute blast!
A 1-person tent is only a few hundred grams heavier than a bivvy. I'd pay that cost for the luxury.
Depending on how long and where I go I´ll choose different setups so for my recent trip to the north cape I took my tent I set it up go to bed and don´t have to worry about a thing for an overnighter close to home I only took a bivy bag and was looking straight into the stars at night (you will not be able to do that in the polar circle in summer xD)
Best bits of kit to take Bikepacking - both very light and increases comfort - a credit card and an accommodation booking app on your phone!
But is it still bikepacking? 🤔
Arguably it's bike touring, which isn't bad either 😊
@@gcn It certainly felt like it (well it did to this 60yr old anyway). I did camping bikepacking as little as two years ago riding Brussels - Sweden - Brussels . But for the last couple of years (Touring Denmark last year and the Baltic and crossing Sweden this year) I've been able to carry on Bikepacking long distances despite my advancing years... (and limited ability!)
I'd also add that the accommodation app was more necessary for dealing with the binfire that is Deutsch Bahn whilst (trying) to cross Germany with a bike, rather than arranging accommodation whilst bikepacking a carefully planned route!
Agree with the bivvy. Get yourself a head net for defence against the mozzies and you're good to go 🤘
Awesome video guys and the best combo 😅
For me I like how quick and simple a bivvy is especially if you are riding until it’s dark.
I put the mat and sleeping bag in the bivvy and put them all together into a larger dry bag.
Then when it’s time to sleep take it out unroll blow up the mat and sleep. Less than 5 mins from stopping to being in bed.
I've got an idea that will probably upset some people. e-bike bikepacking. Pack whatever you need and the motor will help with the load... Unless you run out of battery. Then you'll be lugging around more stuff and a much heavier bike.
You'd have problems with battery for multi-day trips though if it's off the grid where there's no plug you can charge it. Though ebikes do quite well for touring where you hop between towns/cafes and charge daily on hotels/cafes.
You payed £100 for my 2 person 1.3kg tent - its bloody brilliant!
I have both bivy+tarp and tent setup. The irony is the 2P tent is lighter and cooler because it's DCF+mesh, but the bivy+tarp is more stealth and is warmer in the winter (less mesh).
While it does cost more money to have both kits, I found starting with the bivy and slowly saving up for a good tent was absolutely worth it. I have so much flexibility.
A Durston tent perchance?
@@imajez1- tarptent.
'Credit card touring'. Nick Crane made this popular.
My choice is Premier Inn.
Bike is a 1981 Falcon Super Tourist with drop bars. 15 litre Chossy saddlebag.
I spent three days backpacking, and I only wore my kit and a pair of flip-flops to change into at night. I went swimming in the Pacific Ocean, into town, the whole lot. An extra pair of clothes takes up so much room when you are limited in space.
the loaded bike trips and info are may favorite. One thing worth mentioning is the cost of custom bags, Conners bike is prefect example of the benefits he had a LOT of wasted space front and bag and under the frame bag. Custom is not really that much more than the better off the rack stuff, in the US we have Rouge Panda not sure how much shipping/tax that would add for you guys. You guys seem to travel of some pretty high end bikes so the Salsa Anything Cradle would be absolutely perfect for your bars. kinda overpriced but built like it would easily outlast several bikes and lets you attach any dry bag (small to XL) to the bars without resting on the head tube and absolutely zero wiggle to bounce.
Interesting. I would try to keep as much weight off of the front of the bike that I could. A set of panniers, a rack-pack on top and a small under saddle bag for your folding tire, tube and other things for tire repair. A front handlebar bag to keep some snacks, extra water bottle and even a folded-up waterproof windbreaker, if the weather gets a bit cool or wet. I have Sunlite rack packs on my regular bike and my tandem. They keep my lock, spare tire, tubes, tools and other things that may be needed on my daily rides, quite handy. I also have a Cannondale handlebar rack, which requires me to remove my water bottle cage and move my headlight, but what it holds more than makes up for any inconvenience. At 66, outdoor camping doesn't interest me, one iota. I would just plan my route to stay in decent, inexpensive lodging. Maybe fifty to seventy-five miles a day, on average. Either way, a good article and video.
Never thought of bike packing/touring, to be about being fast. Social media really has turned the enjoyment of the journey into a race to the destination. It is like they all want to "bikepack" (i.e race to the destination) for an Instagram post. The videos with Jack Thurston highlight this well.
What if some people just enjoy riding faster? Or just riding with less effort?
@@DanceCommander There is a word for that, It is called Racing. :-)
I understand some people may want to go faster and I feel that is counter to the spirit of bike packing/touring. As I feel that has been historically about experiencing the voyage not just the destination.
Nothing wrong with doing it faster but feels like that should be another sport. Perhaps Speed Bike Packing. SBP? We do have Credit Card Bike Packing. So why not Speed Bike Packing.
In the end if by yourself easy to do what you like, just be careful if joining others on a trip and make sure everyone is in agreement and have the same expectations for a good trip to be had by all.
@@sautez8
Honestly, to me, that sounds a little bite like gatekeeping. "I was here first, and you're not doing it right"
@@DanceCommander Nah, we use adjectives all the time to help people out to understand things. Just look at all the different "footballs" in the world. And yes, that is still confusing to and more so in the world.
But as I said. In the end, best to have everyone understand what YOU mean by bike packing. If not going to use adjectives best to then explain to your travel partners what you expect. Otherwise everyone has a bad experience.
@@sautez8 I mean, sure. But isn't that just basic communication. I don't call my buddy "Hey - wanna go on a week long bikepacking trip in France in September - please don't ask any questions - see you in 4 weeks" :)
Contrary to the suggestion, don't camp under trees, They are tall and attract lightening. Wind or just age can cause branches to fall off. Rain gets through the canopy and you end up just as wet only the leaves are still shedding water long after the rain stopped. Trees deposit sap and birds and squirrels deposit other stuff, none of which is good for your tent/tarp/bivvy bag/breakfast. Enjoy your camping but best not under a tree.
Tree hater! 😂
@@amolek10 Love trees. Hug one once in a while. Respect them always. Just don't spend the night directly under one.🌳🫂💚😊👍
Camping under an isolated tree surrounded by open land would definitely be dumb if a thunderstorm comes. However, in a forest it's pretty safe and offers a lot better shelter from strong winds plus much more seclusion if you're stealth camping. You just have to be careful about where you set up camp making sure you're not near any dead trees/limbs. Ive found sap (except maybe if you're in a pine forest?) and deposits from wildlife to be complete non-issues.
Mosquito bites when no tent 😬😬
This week, Giraffe and Spaniel slow it down with and talk bike packing logistics. Seriously, I would love to give bike packing a go here in the North Florida/South Georgia area. Unfortunately, we don’t have right to roam like in the UK.
In my experience you have to be very sure of the weather and lack of midges (Scotland...),. Generally when I'm packing ofr a trip I decide it isn't worth the risk and take my Big Agnes bikepacking tent. Considering it is 1.2kg for a 2 man tent it doesn't seem like much of a penaly over 2 bivis and a tarp, for a lot more security.
If I will ever go for bike packing I bring my Long distance hiking Gear :) only change will be the lycra . :)
Just birning down the field with that stove at about 5minutes in
I feel like the tailfin aeropack is the best of both worlds between a rack and a seat pack. It is pricey tho
Or, and work with me here, get a hotel room. I prefer the ones with free breakfast.
That aint bikepacking.
The light camping setup is only practical when you're sure the weather is going to cooperate for the length of the trip and you know the temp will stay quite warm.
The whole cooking gear if its small and decent is expensive, so not necessarily cheaper than paying for a breakie or evening meal. Especially if you're not sure on if you'll do it again
That bivvi bag is an invitation for tics to get a easy meal...😂
Was about to write the same. Especially if you are in an area with increased risk of ticks. Would certainly take a tent for protection.
Tents don’t provide any protection against ticks either.
I'm in Scotland so a bivvy bag with a bug net is a must, midge protection is essential.
So are we saying that we don't have to worry about choosing a bike which is compatible with old school classic panniers to be able to go bikepacking or carry moderate cargo? This is a revelation in my quest to buy a bike. So I can just buy a decent second hand road bike and then get the various bags? Game changer.
If you are in actual bear country, do not keep your food in your tent! Do you want to get eaten by a bear? Because that's how you get eaten by a bear!
thanks for the advice
yeah .. not an issue in the UK ( but sound advice in other countries )
The next time GCN is in Canada we can go Bear-ke packing
It is not just bear country. Scouts are taught not to put any "smellables" (food, toothpaste, etc.) in their tent because it can attract wildlife. While you certainly don't want to attract a bear, you also don't want to have a skunk or raccoon visit your tent. Even mice can chew holes in your tent in short order to get to any food inside.
Hikers call people in sleeping bags in Bear Country Bear Burritos. 🤣
Well the bikepacking kits are great when you have a large frame. I have a small one so cannot fit a saddle bag (distance from saddle to tyres not enough) and same for the bar bags... so panniers it is 😉
Depends. I ride a Scott Addict small and I have a half frame bag from Tailfin and a saddle bag from Topeak
Would love to see you guys try to load up a bike way beyond the weight ratings and then ride it just for the laughs.
Aussie here… no way Bivy! Mozzies, snakes, drop bear … do I go on?
You've got bears in Aussie?
Jeez, climate change has gone mad...
Just use a swag bag. Best of both worlds
will you go through the bags and equipment used please so we can see what it all is.
What about a bike lock for when you need to restock supplies? How do y'all handle that?
My idea of luxury bike camping is a separate support vehicle carrying all the heavy stuff. People to set up the tents, do the catering and make sure there's a camp fire. There of course would be comfortable seats to sit in as you sit around the fire discussing the days ride.
Light and steady for me!🤣
Exciting :) 🎉
Do you have a video of how to pick a suitable bike? Maybe something similar to GTNs video “the bike you want V the bike you need”
Conor does Tramping and Hank does Glamping
If I pedal all day, I'm sleeping somewhere I can get a hot shower and sleep in a bed with clean sheets. And restaurant meals.
I tried both. But I agree with you, until now I enjoy the most when I cycled light, fast and at the end of the day apartment waits me:)
Same!
That aint bikepacking. Wet wipes are all I need in terms of showering lol.
@@falcoperegrinus82 Congratulations. You can come pick up your medal you stinky bastard :D
Do NOT store food in your tent if you're in an area with bears. Store it in an approved bear resistant container (or hang it properly) according to appropriate guidelines and requirements.
True if your in Bear country, here in the UK there are no bears, there’s not a lot apart from the odd fox or badger that might disturb you. Where they are in Dartmoor in the south of England you might get a wild pony but the uk is petty free of any large predators
You can store food in your tent if the bears in your area are not dangerous. Brown bears don't attack human sleeping in their tent.
Conor trying to convince us he can do minimalism...dude takes more on his rides than you could fit on a small planet
2:58 …..let me begin
I came to win, battle me, that's a sin
what orbea bike is that? doesn’t look the the terra gravel bike?
I think this needs more attention to the range of outdoor gear. If you're riding a bike worth a few grand then why would you spend £60 on a camping mat instead of something like a Rab Stratosphere 5.5 (£120) or a NeoAir XTherm (c.£200) which are significantly warmer and smaller packing than any of the above? The idea that a foam and air mat is the best choice for comfort hasn't been true for well over a decade.
Hooped bivvy - all the benefits of a bivvy and most of the benefits of a tent
Anyway, the kislux fakes seem to be of equal or better quality than the real thing, and I can use the remaining money to buy groceries and pay some bills
bike touring > bike packing
Bikepacking has basically replaced the term bike touring for travelling with your bike.
Genrally, Bikepacking means staying in a tent or wild camping, and bike touring means staying in a hotel or similar
@@MrROBERTLEWIS, no that's usually known as credit card touring. Bike touring was the phrase used by folk travelling with a bike with all the kit they needed until bikepacking started to replace it over last couple of decades.
Also folk who bikepack, will stay the odd night in a hotel to charge battery banks or if get caught out for some reason.
Bike touring is usually with touring bikes with pannier racks on the front and back, think Ortlieb 😅. I prefer on the road with the road bike and Airbnb, without panniers.
@@imajez1 no. bike touring is staying in hotels, bike packing is camping with a bike.
Whwn are we gonna get a Conor/Hank buddy cop movie fighting crime on the mean streets of Bath?
Really basic question no one ever addresses: how many pairs of cycling shorts do you take? (And shirts.) Wearing the same every day? Do you wash them?
2. You only need one which you wash out but in case of an accident it's always good to have a spare.
I also take 2.
I have done a few week long trips, and I brought 2 sets of shorts and 3 shirts... it's nice having clean things to change into.
Never put food in your tent unless you want uninvited guests. Mice, squirrels, and raccoons will chew their way in. I am a backpacker and the only thing that goes in my tent is sleeping essentials, clothes, and me.
But then I only use a tent when there are no trees because I prefer a hammock. 😁
It depends where you camp. Here in Northern Europe all animals simply avoid human and it's very safe to keep your food in a tent.
Do you share equipment when bike packing
What is the tent shown in this video please?
I think it's an Alpkit Jarran - somat like that anyway!
You can have best of both World if you can pay the price for the ultra light stuff. 😅
Why is it that you never mention Tailfin as an option to a saddle bag or Tailfin in general? I have a tailfin rack & bag and I think it’s vastly better than a wobbly saddle bag & holds more at 20lt.
#askgcn - if loose cloths are slower that tight cloths - wouldnt riding naked be the fasted?
Depends how tight / loose your skins is! 😂
It probably would. Specially if you see a policeman appear somewhere. You’d be really fast
I'm wondering if Connor has ever slept in a bivvy bag in the rain. Rain and midges for maximum misery! 😂
I don't believe you have used panniers. Why is it more likely to overload a pannier! Plus looking at the bike set up shown panniers have lower centre of gravity = more stable. Finally how long does take to mount and dismount frame bags? Ortlieb bags are a couple seconds.
have to take a shower after one day sweating. And washing clothes.
Its Oregano color of Canyon?
Bike goes in tent with me so its there in the morning
But will a tent protect you from cows??😊
Jurassic Park taught us they don’t detect movement, so as long as you’re silent, you should be fine inside a tent
What about staying in a hotel? I think bike packing isn't for me😅
Premier Inn
2 days after I buy a bikepacking bike? uh oh
Coincidence doesn’t exist
Bike packing? Oh that's with the silly wobbly saddle bags?
Always lightweight, every time.
Never store your food in your tent!!!
Don't get it. If I'm out and about for days I'm taking 2 full pannier bags and strap a duffelbag on top, have a handlebar bag and a small backpack. Maybe you got restaurant money I don't.
Bivys are miserable.
Whole video is biased
Comfortable and steady thanks. But you can combine the two. I would not bring a heavy tent, when you can get one, which is ultralight made of Dyneema Composite Fabric also called cuben fibres. They often weigh the same as a tarp - unless it is made of cuben fibres. And they do not take up much space.
Like the Bonfus Duos 2P, which is 595 g. Or you can even make one yourself. Extreme Textil, in Germany, has cuben fibre for sale. It is 100% waterproof and weighs less than most other lightweight material.
If you are bringing a warm jacket (synthetic or down) anyway, then it is enough to bring a half sleeping bag, which goes to your waste. Then you sleep in you warm jacket and have better movement than in a full sleeping bag. The half insulated air mattress is also a good idea. You simply use one of your bags under your feet. Then it does not matter that it is only half. Space and weight saves.