Personal setups » Singlespeedpunk Bikepacking kit

For my stag (bachelor) party last year thought I would do something different and ride the length of Wales with a couple of friends and the best man over 4 days. I started gathering kit and trying to figure out how to carry it all and what I really needed. Turns out I could have left some stuff, brought some stuff I forgot and cut back others. In the end Tym’s bust hand (complete with wires holding it together) meant that Matt, Sheldon and me went from Tym’s place in Shrewsbury rather than Chester and kept (mainly) to country lanes as Matt’s Audax bike might not have been great on mountain tracks!

I used my Carousel Design Works frame bag, a Blackburn rack and two Alpkit.com dry bags lashed to the bars and rack to carry stuff. I also had my ancient Source hydration pack for water and a few bits even though I hate riding with stuff on my back.

Bars: 8L dry bag, Alpkit Hunkka bivvi bag and Highlander 1.5 season down bag (Ebay special). Lightweight poncho / tarp with paracord ties and 6 steel pegs. 3x straps to tie it on.

Frame bag: CDW with 2 compartments and zip-out divider. Waterproof lower zip, streatch gusset on upper. Amazing bit of kit.

Lower pocket: 1x 29er tube, Topeak pocketrocket pump, Topeak Hexus tool, Leatherman folding knife, Rock N Roll chain oil, rag, spare bolts, patch kit, tyre boot and spokes. 4x Lithium AA’s. Pretty much your normal stuff.

Upper pocket: First aid kit, snacks (too many), maps, sun cream, insect repellant, Assos “minty arse lard”, multi use soap, toothbrush and paste. Coffee press / mug combo with 100g of java. Small coil lock (OK for beer garden security!)

Rack: 13L dry bag with 3/4 self-inflating sleeping mat rolled to give bag shape and protect stuff. Cycling shorts, baggy shorts, merino boxers, merino socks, merino T shirt. Ti 1L mug and lid, Coleman micro gas stove and 100g cartridge, lighter, bin bags, scouring pad, spork, Ti+Rose wood Chopsticks (Alpkit again!) Toilet paper.

Bungee Net: on the top of the bag for extra food (in orange silnylon bag in photo, other is rubbish awaiting a bin) and drying shorts / tops on the move. Held on with micro carabinas.

Source Hydropack: 2L H2O, Montane Velocity jacket, Montane superlight rain trousers, glasses case (and regular glasses, bag and cleaner) Rico GR-D camera and spare battery, wallet and keys.

Bike: Solitude custom 29er, WTB Vulpine tyres, 34:20 freewheel / 34:18 fixed. Garmin Legend GPS, Fenix L2D Q5 front light, Cateye LD600 rear light on rack.

I would junk the coffee mug / press and pack a towel next time. A Wingnut Gear pack is also looking good for extra clothes and stuff I need on the move, plus the low carry position should make it better on my shoulders and neck. Less snacks as we were never far from a shop or cafe (love this tiny over crowded island!) and 2kg of “just in case” food is crazy! Everything else worked really well, despite me deleting the GPS track on day 1 and relying on the much drawn over paper maps.

Pictures of the trip can be seen at: here thanks to Sheldon, camera maestro!

Oh, and the “GDR” in the title stands for the “Get ’em Dai Ride” 🙂

Alex