Probably the craziest thing you will see here...me bikepacking

[Crossup]

After reading this post you will no doubt have trouble believing I can take advice Why?

Well here's what I'm up to...going out this spring on my first attempt at this...I'll be BACKPACKING on a full downhill bike.

Backround: I've gotten into backpacking and after a week trip on the Appalachian Trail hiking I think I've got a pretty good gear setup and have proven I enjoy it. After a 25 year on/off stint racing motocross I got into mountain biking to fill that need for speed/air time and once I experienced Whistler on a Specialized Pitch there was no way I was going short travel. Since then(seems like a life time)I ponied up for the Swiss Army knife of bikes a Canfield ONE v2. Being of modest stature I built it using the lightest components available and was rewarded with a barely 35lb ready to ride weight. This bikes real claim to fame however is not its very substantial downhill capabilities but rather its billy goat like ability to climb and convert your pedaling into uphill motion. The only real downside to this bike in this context is that there is very little room to put gear on the bike due to the 8" travel, which is partially why I'll be backpacking.

So now you know what I'm doing, my reason posting here is to garner advise/information that could help me succeed and enjoy my first go at this. I know from my hiking that the reality of it is quite a bit different from what one imagines and I'm hoping to minimize the difference between what I expect vs reality.
Basics: I'll be carrying about 33lbs in a 50L pack(Osprey Stratos 50) for a week outing and riding in roughly the same  trails/area mentioned here:   http://bikepacker.com/bikepacking-stokesville/

[Crossup]

Forgot to mention I'm a young pup of 67... and already a question has occurred to me. What if anything do people do to secure their bike will camped, especially when hiking etc away from camp?

[evdog]

Sweet bike! 

You may not be able to use a frame bag but you could certainly use a handlebar bag and top tube / feedbags, possibly even a seat bag if you can forego using the dropper (and depending on saddle height).  This would help take some of the weight off your back and these bags can always be strapped to your backpack when you go hiking.  The handle bar bag is easy to DIY with a compression sack and a couple nylon straps.  Should be very stable as you can use the triple clamp to help lash it down. 

There is always debate about weight on the bike vs weight on your back, but I think you would find riding with 33lbs on your back tough.  It will hurt your shoulders and your butt.  I've tried using a larger backpack with no seatbag on a couple trips where I knew there would be technical descending, and the extra pack weight killed my shoulders.  The 'bros up in BC all seem to bikepack with just a backpack though so what do I know.  The best advice may be to do some overnight bikepacks before your trip with your planned weight and see how it goes.  If you can handle it ok, fine - if not, you'll be able to adjust before your week long trip.  With bikepacking there is often some trial and error in your setup.  Day 1 or 2 into a week long trip isn't the best time to realize something in your setup isn't working. 

One thing to definitely look at especially with the larger pack is whether your suspension can handle it.  With air suspension you just add air pressure.  With coil, you may need to put in heavier springs if compression/rebound adjustments aren't enough to account for the extra weight. 

As for bike security...I usually am riding the vast majority of the time so it isn't an issue.  You could bring a small cable lock, which will keep the honest people honest.  But that isn't very safe to leave for any length of time where there may be people around.  Any time I've left a bike I always make sure it's well hidden.  You can't steal what you don't know is there.

[Crossup]

Thanks for the input. You right about the weight being something to be sure about- I trained with my pack for a few weeks before my AT hike and felt good about my pack....4-5 hours into the hike I realized comfort is relative and it took days for my shoulders to acclimate to the strap weight. But there is little I can do about it except take breaks, however my breaks were mostly just leaning forward enough to put the weight all onto the flat of my back...2 minutes of that and off I'd go for another stint. I should be able to do that without even stopping on the bike.

The good news is I've ridden for a few hours with up to 55lbs in the pack and while one obviously has to be careful, it was quite manageable riding. I did have the good fortune to fall over once when I stopped(stepped on a rock that rolled out) which ended up with me nearly upside down. No damage but a real eye opener to how that much weight up high can take you for a ride. I made a point of getting up without taking the pack off even though it probably took me 2 minutes. I do think I will revisit this again before my trip as I've changed seats and realise now you cant really tell until you spend the time in the saddle.

[Crossup]

Any and all comments and input are welcome as thats why I'm here. What really I'm hoping you guys can do is tell me those things you were surprised by, unprepared for or other wise did not know until you hit the trail....I'm thinking there will be a whole new set of issues to watch for like getting cleaned off the bike when you snag your pack on a branch.

[fotooutdoors]

I will echo evdog; try to get some weight onto the bike. I have carried up to 45 pounds backpacking, and it didn't beat me up too badly. On the bike, I like to keep my backpack below 10 pounds, or my butt starts getting beat up within an hour or so.

[Crossup]

I agree I have to be concerned with the butt. Realistically I cant get very much weight onto the bike but perhaps I'll have to go to a huge/soft seat to make this work. The main thing is you have identified a real concern I had not, and my recent experience hiking proves you can not do a quick test- I'll need to spend a day riding a local park to see how much of an issue this will be.
 Maybe I'll luck out as I always ride with  a Camelback HAWG at around 10lbs(I carry a bike shop, hospital and grocery store)minimum.  But for sure you may have saved my trip from certain failure if I don't address this.  At this point I guess its time to start playing with what I can get onto the bike- I know nothing can go behind the seat but there is a little room under the seat nose and of course the handlebar area

[mtnbound]

I would agree with what is above.  I think you should get as much off your back as possible, though what everyone can handle on their back will vary widely.  I can handle up to about 15-20 lbs before it is not bearable/workable.  From the picture, I think you can have a small seat bag, a handlebar bag, a gas tank and a jerrycan (small bag that goes up against the seat post) and move at least 10 lbs onto the bike.  I tend to put water and some food in my backpack (Osprey Talon 22) so as I eat, the lighter my backpack gets while the load on the bike remains steady (except for small snack items in the gas tank on the front stem).

Of course, as mentioned above, it is best to test all of this out on an overnight trip to see how everything works, best place to stash gear, etc.

Regardless, just go and have fun!!!!!

[Crossup]

I've started checking out Revelate products since REI carries them and given my application I think chances are good any given item may end up being returned so thats probably the best source for me. Having REIs flagship store 20 miles away is nice but going into DC kills at least half a day for me as I take the Metro in to avoid traffic and parking- no fun at all with a full size van.
 I'm pretty sure I was unable to even hang a tiny bag off the back of my saddle but since I'm going to replace my rear shock spring with a higher rate Ti piece I'll mock up things to know for sure exactly how much room there is.