I want to get into this bikepacking thing, and I need to buy a new bike for that. I am aex backpacker who cannot continue backpacking because of back problems. But I can ride a bike just fine. I have been commuting to work by bike all my life, enjoy random 10-30 mile trips (asphalt, usually) on weekends, and have recently been enjoying single track mountain biking. Aspirationally this is a bike for single track bikepacking. But in reality usage is more like to be:
bikepacking single track : 10%
bikepacking gravel: 10%
bikepacking asphalt 10%
day trips single track 10%
day trips gravel 10%
day trips asphalt 10%
commuting, asphalt 40%
What I care about most:
comfort,
price/value
low and easy maintenance
What I don't care about: speed, "performance", etc. I just want the cycling equivalent of backpacking.
Suggestions?