n00b Q: Best (cheapest) n00b setup? and other q's.

[nickt]

Hi my name is Nick! I am thinking about getting into bikepacking but i have some questions.

where do you get those badonkadonk saddle bags (any dealers in tucson)? does anyone know a place in tucson where i can try some pearl izumis x- alps on?

whats is the best cheapest setup?

Im thinking about getting a talon 22 because they are sick. I want to keep most of my shit on my back/badonkadonk saddlebag. i live in tucson, i dont want go out for for a 4000 mile ride, but it would be sweet to shred out like 30-50 miles and camp drink some beers, start a fire, and ride back in the morning.

thanks for holding my hand

nick

[sean salach]

The best cheapest setup setup is the one you have now. If you have a mountain bike that falls somewhere between xc and all mountain, you're good to go. Strap a sleeping pad and maybe a sleeping bag to the bars, get or make a frame bag and a seat bag(or get a rear rack and strap a bag to it), and head out.

The big saddle bags are made by Revelate designs, Carousel designs and maybe one or two more. I would try contacting them. Jandd makes a pretty big saddle bag, but it's a little bulky and awkward compared to the newer ones. Plenty of people still use a dry bag or stuff sack strapped to a rear rack as well. Jandd also makes a fairly small, but convenient frame bag that should fit in one direction or another on whatever bike you have.

[nickt]

thanks for the answers.  this is a great resource.

[nickt]

How do the big saddlebags connect to the seat. i dont use a normal saddlebag because the velcro strap shreds my shorts (big legs).

[riverfever]

Most of the saddlebags are going to attch to the seatpost with a tall (4-5") section of velcro that wraps around the post. Up top they will have a strap that gets inserted between the saddle rails and then comes over each rail and then hooks back to the bag on the outside and allows you to cinch them real tight.