Show Us Your Cockpit - Photo Thread

[Chunt]

I thought this would be a fun and informative new thread. It's the thing we look at all day and everyone's got a slightly different take on how to set theirs up. From basic bike controls, immediate food and gear access, to navigation, it's an important area to focus on and reflect the personality, interest and ingenuity of the individual rider. From the spartan stripped down racer, to a control deck to rival a space shuttle, they're all different and cool reflections of our needs and thought process's and most are a work in progress for all of us. Whether you're a racer, or a touring paced rider, an adventurer or a hard core explorer, everyone has an approach to what works best for them.

I'll go first. Not that mine's any more impressive than anyone else's!

Ergon GP3 grips
Syntace C2 aero extenders
Garmin eTrex Vista HCX GPS with Garmin loaded with 1:24,000 topo maps and Garmin detailed street mapping software
Small simple bike computer - for navigating with map or que sheet only (or when you just don't need the GPS) I also have a small compass to go with the non-GPS nav system. Being an orienteer, I really prefer map and compass in a lot of situations for the wider POV, plus it's just plain fun.
REI fold over map case (not sure these are available any longer) for maps and que sheets. It's velcro attached to aero bars. There are a few makers and designs of these map holders, but I absolutely love this one.
Revelate large gas tank for camera and spare batteries and cards (holds a Canon G12 digital camera with HD capabilities - not shown)
Carousel bag under seat area for POV camera, batteries and mounts (GoPro Hero 2)

Bag shown underneath bar is a Carousel bag with Big Agnes UL1 solo tent, Big Agnes insulated inflatable pad. Bag on front of Carousel bag holds marmot rain jacket, rain pants, reflective ankle bands for visibility on extended rain days and keeping cuffs out of gears.


MootsCockpit1 by M Chris Hunt, on Flickr


MootsCockpit2 by M Chris Hunt, on Flickr

[Mark_BC]

Do you have any pictures of the bike from the side as well?

[Chunt]

Do you have any pictures of the bike from the side as well?

Sure Mark, but one of the things I'd like to make this thread different from the Show Your Rigs thread is this one is specifically showing the cockpit from a riders perspective. Focusing more on controls, mounting and placement of nav equipment and such.


Bikepacking North Carolina Pisgah N.F Clawhammer overlook by M Chris Hunt, on Flickr

[Adam Alphabet]

Couple shots from my CT through last August. All bags and map case homemade. Eric the Blacks guidebook (bought and) photocopied onto waterproof paper in the map case with my own notes written on them. Toby's track in the Garmin Dakota, Cateye Strada Wireless for double checking. All mounted on a carbon Haven Bar. Ergons, XT brakes, x9 shifters, Chromag Stem under there too.

1) before Mount Princeton
2) on the way to Molas

Cool thread idea Chunt, interested to see others setups.
Adam.

[Adam Alphabet]

I've tried all different types of front end setups for road/dirt road touring and for my last few trips I have really liked the 'tour divide knock off' setup.

For a trip to Panama and Costa Rica last November and December I wanted to try a more swept bar so I grabbed a 23 degree Salsa bend 2. I wouldn't run one on my mountain bike for mountain riding but a nice shape for this application.

Homemade bags and map case. Some bags from the CT bike above, some bags more touring specific (larger volume, more feature rich, more durable materials). Ever present Ergon grips, pauls love levers attached to v-brakes, dura ace shifters on pauls thumbies set friction to a 3x9 drivetrain, cateye strada wireless. Profile t1+ for 'hammering out' road miles .

A comfortable and reliable set up for mixed terrain touring. Works for me.

[hikernks]

[novarider]

Mines pretty simple. I attached a profile design aerobridge to mount the GPS so its visible while riding either set of bars. A small cyclocomputer is mounted just in front of the left pad (not visible), and my gopro mount is also attached to the bars. I replaced the fork and decided to setup a twin bar system with the aero bars on top and riser bar below. This raises my position in the aero position and makes it more comfortable. This picture is before I mounted Fenix flashlights to the bottom of the aero bars (similar to stappy td rig), and cut the aero mounting bar to length. My map is also normally attached between the aero bars on top. Ergon grips, xt shifters and avid speed dial levers to round out the pit.

[Buttermilk]

I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue...

[NT]

Roger, Roger.


Not nearly as thought out and dialed as some of the sweet set ups above.
Ergon grips- love the bar ends, I live in them as much as possible.
Narrowish bar for fitting between tight trees
Garmin Legend Etrex GPS mounted to stem via the Chunt method: http://www.bikepacking.net/individual_setups/chunts-bikepacking-setup/
Bolder Bikepacking (http://bolderbikepacking.wordpress.com/) harness and pocket. Harness holds either a 10 or 13 liter drybag with sleeping bags for the wife and I and tent, plus poles.
Pocket holds maps, compass, and odds and ends.
Revelate Gas tank for snacks

I'd like to try out a king cage water bottle mounted on the stem, but then I'll need to figure something else out for the gps. Also considering a swept bar, and would love to find a fold up map case solution like shown above. That said, it's nice to not have toooooo much stuff on the front end. Keeps the steering nice and doesn't clutter up the view.

[NT]

Chunt, your gas tank looks massive. Custom?

[Chunt]

Nice simple rig NT. Totally right about keeping the weight down on the front end, if you can help it. The foldover map case is something I haven't seen again for years. This was a Novara one (REI brand). The closest thing I've seen was something called a BarMap Case of the Gods or something like that. It was a quad fold though and IMHO folded the map too much. I'm honored I could inspire another hack job adaptation on that GPS holder. Glad it's working for you! I nearly sawed through my left index finger on the last one I made. My gas tank is the biggest Revelate one they make. Not sure I'd totally recommend it as it's almost TOO big and can inspire overloading causing it to sway a bit. IMO it needs a more substantial front velcro attachment and another strap underneath. Still, it's nice for a lot of light items. Holds my Canon G12 and more. One thing if you do put a camera in it remember to pad the bottom with some closed cell foam. There's great potential for the shocks from the top tube to transfer to the items in the bag (camera). I worked as an equipment manager for a major metro newspaper for twenty years and the saw a LOT of damage to photo equipment. Number one and two were shock and impact damage. Damage that's not covered under most warranties BTW.

[bmike-vt]

my fargo cockpit:

IMG_8198 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

etrex20, revelate gas tank for the canon G12, eye drops, lip balm. i often slip a map into the revelate pocket straps. snacks and on the bike stuff in the pocket. sleeping bag, air pad in the dry bag. miscellaneous crap stuffed in or though the straps as needed. you can see the pole for my tartptent contrail sticking out, tucked under the straps.



fargo cockpit by mbeganyi, on Flickr

i tried some spacers on this setup. didn't work out so well. first pic up top is my current setup. although i do like having the mt feedbag on there, but i tap my knee on it when climbing, so its been relegated to the pugsley.


IMG_2245 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

this year i've added a full frame bag (was using a tangle and janndd last year). that will likely get a bladder that will feed a hose over the bars. and i'll be budgeting for some syntace bars to get my light and computer out of the way.

i've take to wearing a wrist compass this winter for ski / pugsley / hike. really like it, and will strap it to the aerobars or wear it on the bikepacking rig.

[caseygreene]

How do you like that feed bag? Does it move around a lot?
Been looking at getting one.

[Done]

How do you like that feed bag? Does it move around a lot?
Been looking at getting one.

I love my feedbag! It doesn't move around at all. Really a great way to carry lots of goodies. Nice mesh "trash cans" on the side.

[caseygreene]

Sweet Toby, thanks. Hey btw, have you ever used 2 of them?

[Done]

Sweet Toby, thanks. Hey btw, have you ever used 2 of them?

I have a Lefty, so only one fits. But I'd use two if I could!

[caseygreene]

Right on Think im going to try double fistin' it.

[murf]

Here is 2 jpaks ruck sacks mounted


Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Buttermilk]

Casey - I run two feed bags on mine and love it. Sliced bread, headlamps and feed bags. My frames out on a warranty switch...when it returns I'll build it and post some photos. This is a cool thread idea.

Chunt - is that a GoPro I spy on your bike in the first photo...would love to see some footage from that spot. I bet it's cool watching the front tire do its thing.

[Mark_BC]

My Mukluk has a pretty small frame triangle so I was thinking of using two gas tanks, one on the stem and one on the seatpost (instead of a jerry can on the seatpost). It looks like it should work, right?

Regarding GoPro's, man those are hard to mount well. Most places they end up vibrating too much, or they are in a bad position. I got some interesting footage from one on the front fork leg. Under the seat doesn't turn out too well, you just see my legs going up ad down. On the handlebars means that it turns left and right too much. Ideally you want it on the stability of the frame, but then you don't get a nice view out the front from anywhere on the frame. I am thinking maybe the chest mount is the best spot.