Road bike bikepackers (roadie bikes off-road)

[cackalak]

Just curious if there were any others that were using road bikes on off-road/dirt road bikepacking ventures.  Inspiration is from XO-1.org (Rough Riders), but even before finding that site, I was doing a lot of dirt road rides on my road bike with slightly bigger tires.

I've got an old Trek 500 that I use, shod with 700x32's.  Not bad of a ride, and the road sections getting to, or in between the trails is much more pleasant/faster.  So much so that my Karate Monkey is not seeing much use.  I am now thinking that my Cross Check will be transformed into the main bikepacking rig, as it will give me a little more versatility vs. the Trek.  I will probably keep the KM for those super chunky rides, but I just love the speed and weight of these "road" bikes.

[Area54]

Absolutely - fast and light. I've got a Kona Dew Drop that sees a bit of work, but am planning some even lighter ultra trips on a Cervelo RS.

[bmike-vt]

IMG_9474a by mbeganyi, on Flickr

been modifying this setup. can run road tires with fenders, up to a 40ish cross type tire without fenders.

[cackalak]

Thanks for the replies.  bmike-vt - Nice set up.  I'm guessing you have to deflate the tire to squeeze them past the calipers?  If I ever go custom, I am going to go with calipers (or maybe reluctantly, disc).  The canti's on the Cross Check is a pain to set up.  Beau-coup clearance, though.

What's been more eye-opening for me was what I could climb and ride on slick/semi-slick tires.  Next step may be to see about a tubeless set up.

[bmike-vt]

on that setup, with campy levers and shimano brakes, i could pop open the lever and the brake and get a 35 in there, inflated, occassionally having to adjust the screw tension on the brake lever to move the pads further out.

on my new setup, with SRAM levers, no option on the levers, so on a 32 or larger i might have to deflate a bit if i don't have enough adjustment at the cable stop. 28s go in and out fine.

i wish i had this setup for paul racer brakes...
http://www.paulcomp.com/racer.html

i can put the racer mediums on my build, using the center mount ones, unless i get a new fork. those offer some big clearance for fenders and 32s...

[JRA]

If you like XO-1.org
You might also like:
http://gravelgrindernews.com

[Michael_S]

There is a lot of middle ground between road touring and bikepacking on technical trails. Lots of dirt roads and double track that can easily be handled on a 35-40 mm tire. I had a custom 650B touring bike built recently by Matthews Cycles of NM that will handle 35-50 mm tires. With Grand Bois Hetres it is fast on pavement getting to the dirt and does really well on dirt roads and smooth singletrack. 

On the subject of rim brakes, some well adjusted canti's are the best option for this kind of bike. I'm running Paul Neo-racers and they are easy to adjust and great stoppers.   Maybe not as good as brazed on Paul Racers ( have those on another bike) but the Racer's max out at about 45mm tires.   The longer reach caliper brakes just don't have the leverage to stop a bike on steep trails.   I know Pauls stuff isn't cheap, but it's US made and having good brakes is a really good idea on steep dirt downhills

mike

[cackalak]

Hey, Michael_S - No doubt it's probably operator error on the brake set up!  I was never good at that.  But getting these canti's "well adjusted" definitely takes skills, which I don't have.  Post up some pictures of that custom bike, if you can.  Need some more inspiration.

[Michael_S]

Hey, Michael_S - No doubt it's probably operator error on the brake set up!  I was never good at that.  But getting these canti's "well adjusted" definitely takes skills, which I don't have.  Post up some pictures of that custom bike, if you can.  Need some more inspiration.

Some canti brakes are tough to get the tension equal even with the right skills.  The IRD Cafams work well and are a bit cheaper than the Pauls.

Here is a link to my flickr page to see the 650B bike.  It's perfect for dirt road rides and ultralight touring. I just got a Revelate seat bag and it fits on there nicely. I'm running the new Vee Rubber Speedsters which are great tires for mixed surface rides.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37347002@N05/sets/72157634847568447/with/9777755082/

mike

[thesergeant]

I do, but it depends alot on the terrain. I'll float between 28c, 32c and 35c tires depending on the terrain.  If I need a tire greater than 35c I grab the mtb.

[Area54]

I do, but it depends alot on the terrain. I'll float between 28c, 32c and 35c tires depending on the terrain.  If I need a tire greater than 35c I grab the mtb.

That looks FAST!

[tranzfuse]

IMG_9474a by mbeganyi, on Flickr

been modifying this setup. can run road tires with fenders, up to a 40ish cross type tire without fenders.

That's a beautiful bike you have there. I believe I see the Indy Fab logo on the seat tube? Could you share a few more details about that beauty? Titanium?

[bmike-vt]

Thanks!

Yes, Indy fab, Ti club racer. That setup had campy 10 spd rear with a TA Carmina front double. Honjo fenders, Brooks Ti Swallow. SON dyno upfront and an edelux.

Shimano 'long' reach brakes allows me to run 28s with fenders or 35 cross tires without.

Currently moved to 9spd bar ends with SRAM brake levers. Got tired of spending $$ on campy cassettes.

[tranzfuse]

Thanks!

Yes, Indy fab, Ti club racer. That setup had campy 10 spd rear with a TA Carmina front double. Honjo fenders, Brooks Ti Swallow. SON dyno upfront and an edelux.

Shimano 'long' reach brakes allows me to run 28s with fenders or 35 cross tires without.

Currently moved to 9spd bar ends with SRAM brake levers. Got tired of spending $$ on campy cassettes.

Really, really nice.

I've been considering investing in a titanium touring bike lately. I was looking at Lynskey, but this has me thinking twice. Damn the internet!

Have you ever had it set up with racks and panniers? (I know this is bikepacking.net, sorry if racks/panniers offend anyone!)

And any regrets spending that kinda dough on a custom bike, or has it lived up to your expectations?

[bmike-vt]

It has. Built primarily as a randonneuring rig, but with soft bags a capable lite touring bike. I have used a small front rack on it for a big front bag. That goes on and off.

Regrets? IF talked me out of couplers. And I should have had the frame made for Paul Racer brakes. Would allow larger tires and fenders. I thought, at the time, that I would never want to exceed the 28s and fenders - bit I was coming from a carbon go fast bike.

Other regrets? While I love this bike - I did toss around the idea of getting a steel 'of fast' frame and a steel touring setup. Painted white and black in opposite ways. That would have been fun.

But so would have getting a used BMW Gs bike that I was smitten with instead of spending the $$ on pedal powered 2 wheeled travel.

[bmike-vt]

Here is a recent pic, sans bags, running a Marks Rack upfront and a large ortlieb out back. No fenders. Just cracked my 2nd set of Honjos - waiting to get something else, and I'll probably put some 35s on there for an overnight.



IMG_1906 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

[cackalak]

That IF just looks great.  I actually decided to order up another frame, since I never really liked the Cross Check's super short headtube.  So I ordered a Black Mountain Cycles cross frame.  I like the slightly lower BB and longer chainstay.  I think it will be a fun bike.  Only bad thing is the new frame won't arrive until Jan of next year...

[keywee]

I had a great time riding last weekend. I used bikeroutetoaster and combined with the OSM maps, ended up with a tasty mix of bridleway/back roads. My Grand Bois 700x28c shod Singular Osprey was great! Get out there, ride what you got.

[cackalak]

Just picked up another road-ish bike.  Rawland Stag with 43mm Hetres.  Really liking the ride!

[esskay1000]

Just took my cross bike which is basically a roadie w/30s on from Pittsburgh to DC on the GAP/C&O combo, all gravel and dirt (and mud).  Could've easily run the whole thing with 28s.