Been pondering some bike packing trips, but I’m a newbie that was once only focussed on speed and finish lines. I was looking for some recommendations for gear to start out with, what I should perhaps avoid and what I should look out for when planning. Thinking that my Parlee Chebacco would be a good bike for this and I’d appreciate all the advice I can get, thanks!
Hi Billy, my gf and I have used Tailfin carbon racks on our bikes (Tarmac and Aethos) for some long trips. We stay in hotels so as not to carry a tent. The Tailfin racks are great and super light and beautifully engineered (although not cheap!). They also look cool. They clamp to seat post and thru-axle to no contact points on the bike. (And no, I don’t work for Tailfin!). I’ve used the Tailfin panniers too, but if you can fit it all on a rear rack and frame bag, that’s a lot more aero. Make sure whatever you get, you test on an overnight at least once before making a long trip. The bikes react very differently with the added weight on the back. Good luck!
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For a first trip use what you already have or try out a cheap saddlepack and bar bag. Tailfin is nice, I have one myself, but I bought this after 4-5 years of bikepacking.
Just start with an overnighter from home, in familiar surroundings to try it out.
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I have used Old Man Mountain axles and racks on 4 bikes now. Nothing but success there. I tried the gigantic seat packs and they will work, but I didn’t like using them. The standard Ortlieb panniers are wonderful. Standard frame bags are helpful too for the items you want to be easier to access. Personally I like strapping a normal tent to the top of a rack instead of the bikecamp specific handlebar ones.
Edit: I forgot about the Old Man Mountain 7L Hemlock with FLiP Cages I added this year. It’s really about as big as I like going on the fork and they are rock solid. They have been in the pouring rain twice now and everything inside stays perfectly dry. Zero rattle, easy on off, and very functional. Super neat product.
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How did you find the hotels’ reaction to the bikes?
A cheaper alternative to Tailfin is the Ortlieb Quick Racks. Add the thru axel mounting and it’s rock solid regardless of the bike. We did 4 weeks in Europe last year with these racks and Ortlieb panniers (staying in hotels) and we LOVED it. Planning to do another longer and more adventures Euro trip next year adding tents to the setup.
As others have said, the weight really changes the bike handling- it’s not bad but use care on downhills. I almost had a huge wreck descending down a bumpy concrete path through a vineyard- corner tightened up and the weight pushed me out, out, OUT! Yikes!
Hotels were mostly fine with bikes - some we took into the room, some wanted us to leave them in a storage room, stairwell, etc. My advice is take a very good u-lock regardless of the weight penalty so you have piece of mind. The one accom that sticks to mind wanted us to lock our bikes to a flimsy rack in the yard in full view of passers-by in a dodgy part of town. I ended up carrying 2 bikes up 3 flights of very steep, narrow stairs.
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This is 100% not a recommendation because I will be doing my very first overnight bikepacking trip in late July. I have a 2024 Santa Cruz Stigmata in size XL. To plan for this first bikepacking trip - I will be spending a night at a campground - I will be using/acquiring/have acquired the following:
- Route Werks handlebar bag (I have been using this for a couple of years). I am thinking of putting my HoverAir drone and some of its accessories in there.
- Bought a medium Qunature (Rockbros brand) bikepacking bicycle frame bag - it’s more like a half frame bag - that is long enough to store the tent poles. I was looking at the Tailfin half frame bag and I think if I could fit the tent poles in 3.0L version, I would have gotten that instead but it’s too short. I wanted a frame bag with a shape still allows me to fit at least 750-ml bottles in the cages on seat tube and down tube. A larger Tailfin half frame bag that is long enough to fit the tent poles would have prevented me from putting a 950-ml bottle in the down tube. The Qunature frame bag allows me to put a 950-ml bottle in the down tube but not a 750-ml in the seat tube. So I ended up getting a Wolftooth B-Rad 2-slot mounting base to lower the seat tube bottle cage so now it even fits a 950-ml bottle. To allow me to pull/insert the bottles from the sides, I replaced the Tacx bottle cages with the Elite Cannibal XC. In addition to tent poles, I want to put toiletries/bug repellent/sun block/first aid kit in there.
- Ordered the new Tailfin Journey rack - the one without the pannier mounts - and its 10L SpeedPack. I am planning to put a tent (a borrowed Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2)/sleeping bag/sleeping pad/jacket/clothing in the SpeedPack. I am not entirely sure if everything I want to go in the SpeedPack will fit so some of them might have to go to the Qunature frame bag. Or I might strap some on top of the SpeedPack with a couple of Voile straps.
- The Stigmata has a roomy down tube storage and that’s where the emergency bike repair kit already reside.
I am not planning on bringing any cooking utensils because this is just an overnight trip and the campground is not far from civilization. That is, I will be bringing food that is ready to eat with me.
A good resource is the bikepacking channel on Youtube.
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Hey Billy,
A couple of quick questions when sorting out gear is
-how long are you going(how many days/nights)
-how are you going to travel(credit card/less gear vs backcountry/bring it all)
This will help you sort out what you need to carry all the necessary equipment. Keep in mind it’s super easy to over-pack and be mindful of how you load the bike(bulky lightweight can go high. heavy/dense try to keep low)
I work for a bikepacking gear brand and we would be happy to help you dial in a system. Check us out at rockgeist.com; we have a great variety of bags handmade in Asheville, NC and may have exactly what you need. Drop us an email if you have any questions.
Good luck and happy trails
Tim
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Great info, thanks all!
Hotels in Europe , Australia and NZ pretty are easy. Most have some storage room for beverages, a closed garage or some other facility to keep your bike locked away over night. Asking ahead is free too.
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Having done my first overnighter a few months ago I’d suggest, where possible, to just use what you have or borrow stuff. You’ll work out what suits your needs pretty quick and have a better understanding of what you want going forward (if you ever want to go again).
Figured out very quickly that it is easy to over pack and weight is weight no matter how fancy your bags are. It all counts.
I’m still working out exactly what tweaks I’d make for next time but I definitely won’t be using anything that requires a rack. Strapped to the frame or fork from now on. And leaving as much as possible at home.
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Yes, I was thinking the same, at least initially, to go lightweight for the first couple of small trips to see how it goes. I always overpack (the mechanic in me) so I think this will be a good exercise to slim down my kit. Thanks!
- you will absolutely not get it right on the first trip, or the second, and probably not the third.
- while canvassing advice is very sensible, what’s right for others may not be right for you, as it depends very much what you can strap to your bike, what you feel is important, where you plan to go and for how long.
- So, expect to get 70% of the way there from advice and research, but the last 30% can only be from figuring out what works for you, for your particular length and type of trip, by actually doing some trips.
However, here are some things I’ve learnt.
- I didn’t like having a drybag strapped to my bars because it fouled my hands on the hoods, and it’s constant bouncing was distracting and very annoying - I now use a front rack, but a good cradle could be an alternative.
- My low stack front end also caused issues with the front bag, as there was always a risk of it dropping onto the wheel, except when the dynamo light was fitted to the fork but then the bag just blocked part of the beam as a result of sitting on the light.
- The front rack also provided a place to mount the light where the bag wouldn’t interfere with it.
- I had loads of issues with the large strap on saddle bags, between not liking the way they tend to swing about to having issues with the bag catching the rear wheel (low-ish saddle … I’m short), so I now use a rear rack too.
- Rear rack also allows for sus-seatpost or dropper post.
- Try to get the weight centered (or at least between the axles) and as low as possible - so heavy stuff inboard and low down.
- Be willing to spend a decent amount once, on small light items. I can guarentee if you try to spend less on even slightly heavier and/or bulky items, you’ll quickly regret it.
- Be prepared to be very smelly - take basic sanitary items to keep key body areas clean and comfortable, but accept the dirt and smell in order to carry less.
- Think carefully about what you actually need, not what you want, then ditch whatever you don’t actually need.
- Try to ensure as much kit as possible serves more than one purpose - if something can do two jobs, then you can leave something else behind.
- There are some tiny stoves out there, and for very little money (I can get my stove, gas canister and wind break into my titanium mug), and dehydtrated meals are a great way of carrying loads of food in not very much volume.
Given the bike you mention, a front rack is probably not an option, but tri-bars would provide bag support and an alternative position to ride in, or get a good front bag cradle.
As some others have suggested, Tailfin rear rack or similar is absolutely the way to go.
After that, look at frame bags, maybe even a full frame bag and a hydration vest.
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Excellent advice, thank you!
I’ve a friend that makes custom racks (https://passandstowracks.com) that might be able to make something work for a front rack so that could be a good option, like you advised.
Yes, hopefully I don’t overthink it, but I will most likely bring too much the first few times! ; )
I’m a Tailfin guy too and adore their stuff, just wish they came in fun colors! I move the rack from road to gravel to Mtb for bikepacking and commuting and have had it for over 5 years now, it’s exceptional.
I’m not certain that’s what I’d buy in today’s market since I don’t know it super well, but I haven’t regretted them for a second.
Oh, and when my thru axle broke as I removed it, they sent me a new one the next day, lickety-split.
I originally had the rack and made my own bags, but I got their panniers this year and they’re top notch too.
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You have to finesse it a bit with hotels. First, I don’t ask if it is ok, I just do it after checking in and try to keep the bike out of view. It is amazing how you can walk up in bike kit just filthy and some people don’t notice. Secondly, if they give me a problem I say “I need the bike in my room because all my medications are there.” That’s BS, of course, but some clerk is not going to challenge something like that. And when I say that, I don’t say it in an “asking” tone but a polite but firm “telling” tone and then I immediately just march off to get the bike, not brooking any dissent.
Even small hotels have not had a reply to that. But I’ll make a point of thanking that person later as I check out, if I can, and not leaving the room a mess for small hotels.
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I’m a massive fan of the Tailfin rack system (I have a Kickstarter version of the Aeropack). All you need is a large pile of cash or a second mortgage to get into the system. Fortunately, once you have the core rack/pack, depending on the leg, you can use their panniers, 3rd-party with adapters, or 3-bolt mounts. If you’re going to buy something to get started, spend your money here and you’ll have a strong foundation for the rest. As has been said above, try to balance the load fore-aft as much as possible, and if you can borrow to test things, by all means do it. You most certainly won’t get it right on the first attempt(s), so it’s important to keep trying, even if it means calling in sick. They’ll be fine without you for a few days.
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I’ve done many cycling trips across France and Spain and had minimal issues with secure bike storage at hotels. I always ask ahead so I dont surprise them.
I cant recommend Hôtel De La Porte Dorée in Paris enough. They will keep your bicycle luggage for the duration of your cycling trip and allow you to use the breakfast room to build and take apart your bicycle. They dont charge anything for this service, you just need to book the start and end of your trip at their hotel.
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Thank you - great advice!
A friend and I have done a few bike packing trips together in France. Again, always staying in hotels to avoid carrying a tent.
One tip we’ve picked up is aiming for the cheaper chain hotels (usually on the outskirts of cities) never have any issues with the bikes in the hotel rooms. Ibis Budget, B&B Hotels, these type of hotels.
We find it gives us more flexability then pre-planning all the hotels and calling ahead. We have a rough idea of how far we want to go each day and where we want to stop. Then we just look for these chain hotels in those towns/cities. The rooms are usually pretty small and aren’t anything special. But we only really need a shower and place to sleep each night.
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