Racks/Packs vs. Backpack?

[nerdwin]

I'm planning a 10 day trip through Oregon & California, on pavement (40%), fireroads (40%), and double-track (20%), on a cyclocross bike with drop bars. The bike has zero bosses for racks, so I'd need to go the Carousel/Revelate seatpost & bar bags OR wear a backpack. My entire kit fits in a 22 liter bag, and weighs about 8lbs.

With the Carousel/Revelate gear, I'm worried about thigh chafe on the seat post bag, and losing my hand-positions on drop bars with a their handlebar bag set-ups (no designed for drop bars apparently).

The backpack is just about perfect, but it's well...a backpack, on my back...9 hours a day.

Anyone have any experience or opinions to share? Thanks in advance!

[Spoonie]

8lbs?  Fark...

Not a crosser, but my setup on my Niner a while back



used a FreeLoad rack.  I've since been using a revelate designs seatpack.  I'm a chronic thigh rubber but Have not had any issues so far with mine.  I do find the seatback sitting up does impact your ability to get off the back where as the freeload was out of the way.  That setup, plus a 6L camelback, was enough for about 20lbs of kit.   The only problem with a freeload would be if you have pencil thin seat stays.  It's also a bit annoying strapping something to the top every day.  you have to re-tighten a few times no matter what you do.

There are probably numerous ghetto options to get a bar bag that fits within the drop outs.  a Silnylon compression sack and some straps come to mind.

HTH

Cheers
Spoon

[baddy13]

Ok funny you should post this cos was wondering what to do myself for my South to North Wales trip.  Have just completed a 3 day trip round the Peak district (England) and took a rucksack.

So here are my thoughts, make of them what you will

I try to do as much off-road as possible and was therefore worried about stability with panniers.
I am also used to riding with (albeit a light one) rucksack

My kit fitted into a 45L rucksack but I took some luxury items (i.e books to read) and will probably be able to cut down the weight.
I was also not camping but staying in Youth Hostels.

3 days are different to 9 or 10 days, however my shoulders did not ache from the rucksack at all and I had good balance on downhill off-road.
I was able to carry everything with me and didn't have to leave kit with my bike if I went into a shop.

The rucksack i took was a cheap £20 one.  the main bonuses being a cushioned back, which was very comfortable and a waist strap which i believe is essential as it takes the weight off the shoulders.  You can also use the chest strap to help with this, although i didn't.

Hope this helps or at least gives a view from the other side of the coin to most people.
Did think though that it had been a good idea to do a short practice trip, as it gives packing practice and let me see whether what i wanted to do was physically possible so you might want to do the same if time allows.

Did have a few things on my bike like water bottles, tool kit etc but nothing big and heavy.
Hope you find a system which works well for you!

[bmike-vt]

I don't chafe on a Revelate seat bag, and with the right sized dry sack up front I can use all hand positions on my road machine.

[Done]

Some thoughts that I wrote on this topic a while ago:

http://tobygadd.blogspot.com/2011/01/panniers-for-2011.html

[nerdwin]

Thanks for the great advice and ideas so far! I'm starting to get kind of stoked on the backpack idea. I guess I need to try a few shakedown rides, but I think I prefer the idea of a light bike vs. a light back.

This is my current favorite...the http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/packs/pawn-rolltop-pack---small.html?c=96.

[fotooutdoors]

I will start by stating that I never ride with a backpack on my back.  This past weekend, I decided to try out bikepacking, with stuff strapped on my handlebars (didn't lose hand positions on a standard drip bar, 44cm wide), a rear rack for my sleeping bag, and carrying some on my back (15 lbs?).  My  lower back and butt did not like the weight.  I'm assuming your 8lb kit does not include food & water, so at times your backpack's weigh will increase significantly for a short time.  Of course, different people have different tolerances, so I think it's a great idea to do a few shakedown rides of mileage/roughness/time comparable to a normal day on your tour.

[Outsider]

I prefer not riding with a backpack if possible. When talking about bikepacking with camping equipment etc, the backpack is usually heavy enough to offset any possible advantage of a lighter bike. I found I can ride rather technical trails with my Fargo loaded for a few days out. The equivalent load in a 30 l backpack is not as comfortable.



The backpack cannot be avoided when riding the FS bike, though.

[tonymason]

Here are my 2 cents. I have done trips with panniers, with bags attached to frame and bars, and with backpacks.  I found the more weight on my back the less I enjoyed the ride. This was even more true on dirt/paved roads probably because I was maintaining the same postion versus shifting around redistributing the weight/ using different muscle groups when riding trail.  Getting at least some of your gear on your bike will save your back and butt from unnecessary punishment.  That being said if your kit only weighs 8# and you have plenty of places to resupply with food its probably not a big deal. I'd find a lighter weight backpack than the one you posted to carry it in though.
Tony

[Hubcap29erMan]

Went out this past weekend with 8lbs on my back the rest on the bike.  Around mile 23 my butt was killing me, took the backpack off and threw it over the bars on top of my bar bag.  Instant relief.  Hard to imagine those few pounds making that much difference but I would say get as much weight on the bike instead of on your back.  I was watching the Tour Divide movie and you will notice that Matthew Lee keeps almost everything on his bike, he does have a small fanny pack.  My 2 cents.

[Eric]

nerdwin, that Chrome bag is intended for urban stuff and commuting, it is built way way overkill and heavy for what you want to do.

[easy_rider75]

I'm new to the forum but me I have  ridden  plenty of times with  way more than  8 pounds in a backpack though  admittedly when I did years ago I had a rack  with a basket on and used to  dump the pack in that. But I used to ride  with a pack pretty regular  and never thought much bout it then again if long distances these days doubt my back  could  handle it. Me I'm sorta planning to  do a combo of all three well cept for the panniers gonna be using a  large saddlebag such as a Caradice and backpack combo

[timtanium]

I registered just so that I could add my 2 cents as well. I bought some XTR-level racks and panniers a little before the new 'rackless' style took off. I see how the new style is better, because pounds of pannier strapped to pounds of rack makes a "light" hardtail weigh over 30 pounds... even before you start to put things in it. That having been said, I really, really like the way my bike rides with the panniers. Maybe more importantly for the OP, my bike doesn't have eyelets for rack mounting, either. There are a bunch of racks like Spoonie's, that attach differently, work without eyelets, work with disc, even with full suspension. I have been really happy with my Old Man Mountain racks, which were originally designed for full-sus bikepacking. I did a trip on my FS bike with the Old Man racks, it worked great and the bike rode amazingly well. As a disclaimer, I do not work for OMM. I've just used their stuff for a long time, and I'm stoked on them. They hold up great, and I really can't say enough good things about them.