Comments on my setup please

[rhythmtech]

In comparison to some of the other mountain bike setups I've seen on here I am beginning to feel like I am over packed. Although the only thing I have that seems different from most others kits is a not so super light tent and sleeping bag. On a test ride I did 12 miles of trail with what did not seem as n uncomfortable amount effort, so I know I am not too heavy. Any opinions or insight before I head out on a long ride?

[tonymason]

It all depends on what you want. Light weight mt biking (like light weight backpacking) assumes less is more- more trail to ride, more mts to climb, more things to see, more fun pedaling your bike with less pain and suffering doing it.  Light weight travelers tend to enjoy the journey more than the destination. If you are more about the destination and like to spend more time in camp with all the comforts then keep the racks and paniers.  There is no right answer.

[Marshal]

Bikepacking-Dirt Touring?

Way way to many ‘bags’ etc etc for mountainous single track bikepacking

But is that your intent?  IE: I would never take this set up out on hard core single track in the Western Rockies.  But for dirt and gravel roads and some light, flowing single track without much/any hike-a-bike it should get you by and might even be exactly what you need/want.

The prior post—‘less it more’ for the ‘ride’ part of the trip, and there is ‘no one right answer’ pretty much sums it up.

I would encourage you to get out and use your current set up and as you do note what you do and do not like about it.  If you are like most of the riders that frequent this site you will enjoy the trip regardless of the gear—but like most here, you to will begin to mentally refine your set up for the ‘next’ trip within the first few miles—that is part of the fun

[rhythmtech]

I am in Missouri, singletrack is my intent and have ridden several miles enjoyably loaded down but the climbs here are nothing like the rockies. I agree that less bags would be good, but I am not sure how to bring everything I believe I need. Are you guys saying that I need to find a way to pack my stuff smaller profile or remove some gear?

My concerns are as follows - dealing with the ticks and mosquitoes,  unpredictable thunderstorms, and unpredictable low temps at night.  In about a month I can fairly easily drop the sleeping bag for something much lighter like a bag liner.

Gear list:
20 degree sleeping bag
crux lite stove
2 fuel canisters
cook set
plate
spork
pocket knife
hammock tent
tie rope and stakes
water filter
nalgene
food for 2 for 3 days
camp cup
change of clothes for camp

Thanks for the input all

[tonymason]

 Perhaps with a bag liner and no sleeping bag you could drop the front paniers and just strap a stuff sack to the top of the front rack. My experience with paniers is that I tend them to fill them up. Eliminating some of your carrying capacity forces you to pair down (one fuel canister should suffice) and compact your gear (compression stuff sacks are great for hi loft/low weight items). However for the riding your doing your current set up seems to be working. If everything is on your bike and you're not bringing a backpack I'd say keep it like it is.

[rhythmtech]

Perhaps with a bag liner and no sleeping bag you could drop the front paniers and just strap a stuff sack to the top of the front rack. My experience with paniers is that I tend them to fill them up. Eliminating some of your carrying capacity forces you to pair down (one fuel canister should suffice) and compact your gear (compression stuff sacks are great for hi loft/low weight items). However for the riding your doing your current set up seems to be working. If everything is on your bike and you're not bringing a backpack I'd say keep it like it is.

Makes sense, thanks for the input. As soon as all these tornadoes and thunderstorms pass I'll get out and actually do a trip, perhaps the first good weekend in May.

[DaveC]

Gear list:
20 degree sleeping bag

>> Get a lighter bag.  Outside the dead of winter you should be able to get away with a good 30 degree bag that weighs at most two pounds and is the size of a bag of bagels.  Wear insulation to bed and use a hot water bottle.

crux lite stove
2 fuel canisters

>>No way you need this much fuel for 2-3 days.  Bring one small canister, or get an alcohol stove.

cook set
plate

>> Bring one pot, period.  6-700ml for one, 1000-1300 for two.  Eat out of the pot.

spork
pocket knife
hammock tent
tie rope and stakes
water filter

>> Use Aqua mira.

nalgene

>> What for?  Either a bladder or bike bottles instead.

food for 2 for 3 days

>> Only bring what you need.

camp cup

>> See above, get rid of it.

change of clothes for camp

>> Ditch.  No fashion points in the woods.  Perhaps a pair of short or long johns to get out of your riding shorts.


Thanks for the input all

In summary, getting lighter is mostly about the sum of many little things.  Based on the above I would estimate that 1/2 to 2/3 of your stuff you don't actually need.

[rhythmtech]

In summary, getting lighter is mostly about the sum of many little things.  Based on the above I would estimate that 1/2 to 2/3 of your stuff you don't actually need.

Those changes make sense, there are some budgetary constraints given I already own some of the equipment and can't quite justify spending the money at the moment. 

Aqua Mira looks like a good way to go definitely. I own a Steripen, and considered taking it, but because of farming runoff in the area a carbon filter is a must to remove pesticides and fertilizers etc... The nalgene and camp cup I could dump, agreed, seems obvious now that you pointed it out.

Definitely going to try to find lighter smaller sleeping bag arrangements. I have a bag liner which in a month or two will be all I need.

I know two fuel canisters are not necessary for the distance, but I've always carried a backup just in case one leaks out or the threads are damaged etc... Most of the places I've backpacked did not allow campfires or in many cases you had to purchase firewood to have one.

The camp clothes were a pair of lightweight pants and a T-shirt allowing me to be clothed while I hang up the jersey and shorts to dry. I am undecided on bringing a pair of sandals, but I think they would go a long way towards allowing my feet to breath and dry at the end of the day. I suppose ditching them wouldn't hurt.

Thanks for the input! I feel like I will have a great start on this, once the weather backs off around here.

[riverfever]

What trails are you talking about?

[rhythmtech]

What trails are you talking about?

Big Bend National Park TX no fires were allowed
Efforts to curve the spread of the emerald ash borer in Missouri has caused campfires to be regulated, most say it's okay as long as you have local wood some say no fires.
In Moab, UT it seemed like there was just a general shortage of tree wood to burn when I camped there
 
For the Ozark Trail section I plan on riding I believe I can have a campfire, I'll have to double check if I will need to be in a campsite with a fire ring to do so, but if so I can probably leave the fuel behind.
                           
                             

[riverfever]

I'm actually from St. Louis so that's why I asked about trails but the Big Bend and Moab stuff is very different than the Berryman or the OT in terms of what sleeping gear I think I'd bring. Dave threw up some sound advice and I'm right there with him on most of it.

Gear list:
20 degree sleeping bag
hammock
I think that's a lot of bag for all of the places you mentioned. I also should have asked what time of year you're talking about though. I have used a hammock out here. Granted I'm now living at 8500' but I couldn't use it and I'm a warm sleeper. I was really surprised. Even up here I can get away with a 45 bag in even some 30 degree temps in a minimal bivy. It's not real comfy but I can pull it off. My wife and I talked about moving back to STL for quite a while and I honestly think a hammock would be great there and I don't even know that I'd need a bag at all but, again, that's gonna depend on the season. In the winter back there I couldn't do a hammock. I like the idea of a hammock but I'm a bivy guy. 

crux lite stove
2 fuel canisters
You could just use one canister, go with the alcohol stove or just go with Esbit tablets and ditch a lot of crap.

cook set
plate
spork
pocket knife
I see a lot of extra stuff here. I don't know what you're planning on eating but I only bring a ti mug with me and that's it. Ditch the plate and eat out of whatever you cook from. Ditch the spork and use a stick. I don't go anywhere without A knife.

tie rope and stakes
I always have parachord with me to hang food or in case of emergency. You'll need the stakes if you run the hammock with a fly.

water filter
I've used lot's of stuff and had Giardia 3x times now. I've never gotten Giardia since using my MSR filter and I've gotten water in Moab while cattle were standing nearby. I trust it and won't use anything else. The squirts are no fun.

nalgene
Absolutely not. Use the water bottles you already have on your bike.

food for 2 for 3 days
That's so personal. Figure out what works and just bring what you need.

camp cup
Nope.

change of clothes for camp
In camp I usually take off the bib and let it dry out while I take care of my nether regions with a baby wipe. Then I usually change into nothing at all (I ride alone a lot) or some knicker rain pants if I bring them at all.
Thanks for the input all

If I could tow the mountains back there I would. My wife doesn't like it here. I hate it there. What shop do you use there?

[rhythmtech]

Riverfever - I go to Maplewood Bicycles, but my wife works there so I don't frequent many other shops in the area. They're a good shop, knowledgeable and helpful. I don't think there are a whole lot of bike packers in the general area though, which kind of limits the expertise available to touring mostly. This forum is a great resource.

I am with ya on the Mountains! Sorry I didn't understand the trail question earlier.

I haven't had a chance to get out yet because of the weather (lots of flash flood warning in the area I want to ro ride) Loaded, I've ridden the Council bluff loop so far to get used to my gear and see how badly the weight was going to kick my butt. I intend to ride on my first real outing the Ozark trail as an out and back from the Bass resort to Hazel Creek while I iron out my setup, which works out to around 30 something miles one way.

So far the weather has been holding me back, this next weekend I am going to be tied up volunteering for a trail build, so I am not going to be able to get out until May. At this point I just need to get out, then come back with more questions. I am going to try to change my setup as best I can before I go e.g.-lightweight blanket and sleeping bag liner instead of sleeping bag, dump the cup, carry only one fuel canister, etc...  

[riverfever]

That is a good shop. I knew Stuart and Tim for a long time before I came out here.

There's not a lot of opportunity there for longer trips and that's a shame. There really is some pretty country down in the Ozarks. I would like to do an out and back on the Katy sometime when my wife and I come back in the summer to visit friends. 

I don't know your sleeping habits but for the majority of the time, you could probably get by with a blanket and liner with the hammock. If you're on stlbiking.com you can get in touch with Mitchthemasher and he can probably be of some help with routes to check out and it will be someone local you can talk gear with. He's got a long history of working in shops, although I think he's doing carpentry now. Super nice guy though. If you talk to him, tell him Chris says hi. Maybe the suggestions Dave and I threw out will help but...you'll start to figure stuff out what works best for you after a few trips. You don't have necessarily have to drop a ton of coin though. I have bags from Carousel and they are great but this year I am using a much simpler stuff sack from Sea to Summit. I think you're better off with soft bags instead of racks and panniers as they seem to break eventually but...use em in the meantime and keep looking/tweaking as that's part of the fun. 

[rhythmtech]

That is a good shop. I knew Stuart and Tim for a long time before I came out here...

Definitely good people at Maplewood. Have been very helpful. I just got in to wheel building and they have very graciously answered all of my insistent questions and laughed with me when I didn't cross the spokes over correctly and had to take the wheel all apart and start over - LOL   

For the sleeping bag I was just going with what I had and was familiar with. The historical hi/lo temps for April were 91/26 so I was somewhat worried about it getting colder than I was ready for. The thunderstorms and tornadoes have delayed my April plans so I'll probably easily be able to lose the 20 degree bag now. I went with racks and panniers because of the videos of the guys on OMM's websites riding down the mountain with all the bags, just looked awesome to me. The first time I loaded the bags I needed some ballast and found out I could fit a case of fat tire in the rears, then I rode to the shop, which of course made me popular. I am already planning to in the least lose the front bags for this first trip, so I am sure my setup will look more and more like some of the others on here eventually.

At least I've got the Ozark trail - 300+ miles long and with many miles bikes are allowed on, including the western half of the Berryman trail. Most of it goes through Mark Twain National forest so camping is easy. Eventually I'd like to try to ride all of it. This link is basically the ride I am going to do initially.

I talked to Jim Davis who rides and is involved with the OT and he mentioned also that I should catch up with Mitch at some point and talk to him. I like forums so I've ended up here, but I'll definitely contact him if this really catches on for me as I suspect it will.   

I really appreciate the suggestions and as soon I get out and do an over nighter or better I am sure I will appreciate everyone's advice even more - Thanks.

[Foster]

You could go without all of this

sleeping bag too...replace with emergency sleeping bag if you wanna be really light.
crux lite stove                   
2 fuel canisters                 
cook set                             
plate                                 
pocket knife                       
hammock tent                   
tie rope and stakes
water filter                         
nalgene                             
camp cup                           

Out of the list that you showed that you were bringing this is what I would get rid of, but my needs are not the same as yours so this is a suggestion if you want to lighten things up a bit.  Looks like everyone kinda made some suggestions on what to use instead, so looks like you'll get it all sessed out.

Have fun on your ride!