 Topic Name: Not touring?
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on: May 12, 2012, 05:18:54 AM
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Velododdo
Posts: 2
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« on: May 12, 2012, 05:18:54 AM » |
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I've just stumbled across this site and have been looking at the set ups. I notice everyone is avoiding racks and panniers. Why? Bikepacking is different to touring?
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #1 on: May 12, 2012, 05:53:11 AM
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annoying crack
Location: brussels
Posts: 127
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« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2012, 05:53:11 AM » |
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Most of the setups you will see here are used for off-road biking. When riding gravel/dirt/fire roads then racks and panniers are still ok but when you are riding more technical stuff, singletrack or rougher tracks, then racks/panniers tend to get pushed to their limits. It's not uncommon to break racks and panniers tend to get in the way when walking/pushing along side the bike on steep climbs (it happens to all of us at some point). Also racks don't do well with full suspension bikes and most modern mountainbikes don't come with eyelets for racks anyway. That said, a lot of us started bikepacking with racks and panniers and did just fine, most of the time.  On the other hand, if racks and panniers are what you have, by all means enjoy the adventures!  |
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #2 on: May 12, 2012, 11:43:10 PM
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jackmarting
Posts: 3
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« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2012, 11:43:10 PM » |
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Most of the setups you will see here are used for off-road biking. When riding gravel/dirt/fire roads then racks and panniers are still ok but when you are riding more technical stuff, singletrack or rougher tracks, then racks/panniers tend to get pushed to their limits. It's not uncommon to break racks and panniers tend to get in the way when walking/pushing along side the bike on steep climbs (it happens to all of us at some point). Also racks don't do well with full suspension bikes and most modern mountainbikes don't come with eyelets for racks anyway. That said, a lot of us started bikepacking with racks and panniers and did just fine, most of the time. On the other hand, if racks and panniers are what you have, by all means enjoy the adventures! Yes he is saying right thing about bikepacking. |
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #3 on: May 13, 2012, 01:58:50 AM
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Velododdo
Posts: 2
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« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2012, 01:58:50 AM » |
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I see. Sounds good. We don't really have the trails here (Tasmania, Australia) to travel off road for days at a time. What countries allow for this type of travel?
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #4 on: May 13, 2012, 06:23:05 AM
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jhl99
USA-PA-SW
Posts: 256
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« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2012, 06:23:05 AM » |
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I notice everyone is avoiding racks and panniers.
I'm doing the opposite! I'm avoiding the frame bag and seat bags. I haven't had an issue with the rack/pannier approach (OK, I broke one rack, but that was operator error). Of course, I don't race and don't have an ultra lightweight disorder!  The tools are secondary to the activity. |
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #5 on: May 13, 2012, 10:45:44 AM
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mattyp
Posts: 50
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« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2012, 10:45:44 AM » |
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i used a bikepacking set up for a mixed route last summer and it was nice to not have so much gear even on the road. i felt like the bike riding was a little easier than with a fully loaded touring set-up. the caveat, especially if riding road for any length of time, is that you can't take as much gear, so you have to decide what you need and you tend to need to stop for food more often.
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #6 on: May 21, 2012, 05:50:39 PM
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Vik
Posts: 34
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« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2012, 05:50:39 PM » |
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 After the tour above I decided I needed to lighten my load and enjoy a bikepacking setup.  It's nice to be able to ride your bike like a mountain bike even with camping gear as opposed to worrying that launching off a rock was going to break a rack or send a pannier flying off the bike. safe riding, Vik www.thelazyrando.com |
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« Last Edit: May 21, 2012, 06:19:57 PM by Vik »
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #7 on: May 22, 2012, 02:05:00 AM
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Dusza
Posts: 37
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« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2012, 02:05:00 AM » |
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Vik, it seems you enjoy pushing a loaded bike up a trial just as much as pumping a flat tire! Going back to the topic, on my last year tour with panniers I've discovered I'd enjoyed the off-road bits the most but hauling two fully laden panniers on them was less than optimal. Not to mention that it opens up lots of hike-a-bike sections otherwise unhike-a-bikeable Less is more I guess. Then again it looks like most of these lightweight bikepacking trips are done relatively close to civilization. One of a few exceptions can be found here (great write up): http://www.bikepacking.net/tripreports/bolivia-bikepacking-nov-2011/If I'd go touring in less developed countries I'd probably revert to using panniers and skip the 29er wheels for a more traditional setup. Better safe than sorry. But it seems that these guys want to prove me wrong: http://revealthepath.com/ |
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #8 on: May 22, 2012, 07:07:52 AM
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #9 on: May 22, 2012, 09:45:16 AM
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bmike-vt
Location: Horgen, Switzerland
Posts: 1122
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« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2012, 09:45:16 AM » |
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Vik, it seems you enjoy pushing a loaded bike up a trial just as much as pumping a flat tire! nah, i think vik just has his inner peace worked out. |
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #10 on: May 22, 2012, 09:52:27 AM
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Vik
Posts: 34
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« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2012, 09:52:27 AM » |
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nah, i think vik just has his inner peace worked out.
Hahaha...if I'm not working I figure I should be smiling - especially if I am exploring on my bike...  If not I might as well buy a TV and see what's keeping the rest of the country occupied...  |
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #11 on: May 22, 2012, 11:00:13 AM
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bmike-vt
Location: Horgen, Switzerland
Posts: 1122
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« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2012, 11:00:13 AM » |
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what is a TV? like a TV dinner? or a TV tray?
or is it those large flattish things that light up rooms most of the day, and make that odd buzz / ringing sound that i hear all the time, sometimes with that fake laugh emanating from it?
is that a TV?
clueless, and happily so, for 12+ years now.
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #12 on: May 24, 2012, 03:05:34 PM
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sam.pederson
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 38
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« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2012, 03:05:34 PM » |
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I do bikepacking with a rack and panniers. Ride fairly aggressively even on my cross bike loaded up.
Some notes from my experiences:
1) Side to side weight sucks ass on technical terrain. The more you have centered, the more your bike feels like...a bike. But heavier.
But with lots of side to side weight, your bike wants to tip over.
2) Panniers are a #$$&#*$&$ pain in the ass when they snag on trees etc. They will be fine but they add a certain width to your bike that's less than desirable, particularly on technical singletrack.
3) If you do go with a rack and panniers, put your heaviest stuff on top of the rack (centered). Put only lightweight stuff in the side bags, that way less side to side weight and your bike handles better.
4) Weight distribution is critical in making your bike handle properly. Too heavy on the rear means the front drifts. Too heavy on the front means you feel like you may go over the bars.
All that said, I still love my panniers. However, I'm hoping to ditch them for a frame bag, handlebar and seat bags. For better bike handling.
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Topic Name: Not touring?
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Reply #13 on: May 25, 2012, 04:31:33 AM
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AZTtripper
Moderator
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1732
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« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2012, 04:31:33 AM » |
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Sam ditch the rack and panniers you'll be glad you did. You don't even really need a fancy bags, except the frame bag, they're nice and all but people make it work with just stuff sacks strapped on. At least for the short term.
It's all about the weight how its distributed and how its carried/loaded on the bike. The problem with rack and panniers is that they add too much weight in the first place.
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