I'm a roadie...sorry.

Trying to convert from backpacking for touring to bikepacking for touring.  I recently bought a nice bargin at Walmart and got the sleeping bag I wanted.  Boy was I surprised the other morning when I woke up at 34 degrees and I was still warm in that bag that packs smaller than any bag I've ever seen.  Nice down bag, I believe it was the only down bag Walmart.com carries.  Sleeping bag taken care of.

I know I want swap over to using a bivy bag versus the one man freestanding tent I've been using since I thru-hiked the AT in 1997.  It weighs too much and packs too big as well.  For most of the places where I end up camping, putting up a hammock isn't an option, if you want to remain hidden at least.  I always stealth camp...typically in baseball dugout or other facilities where I can get at least a roof over my head and I have a 'guaranteed flat ground underneath me so I don't have to worry about things poking up at me overnight.  I still need the bug protection though for the brunt of summer bug season.

The one thing I can't figure out is what are you guys using for sleeping pads?  Currently I use one of the blue close cell foam pads cut in half but it packs so darn big that it would be impossible to take something like that bikepacking.  The NeoAirs don't pack that small do they?  I have an old Thermarest that bubbles out at the head when you inflate so it might be under warranty since the leak is internal and not external.  It doesn't pack all that small hence why I still find myself questioning what you guys use that you can pack in a seat bag, frame bag or handlebar bag.  Everything seems like it would be too big.

I have to admit I know the biggest item in my pack weight wise is one other thing I'm looking at changing and that's the thing I'm on right now...the laptop computer.  I know I won't go to an iDiotphone or a Stupidphone but I definitely want to get something smaller both dimensionally, so it might fit in the frame pack, as well as something lighter weight...8 pounds for the laptop and accessories is crazy...that's almost 1/3 the total weight of the pack when loaded.  Couldn't believe it when I weighed it this morning.