Bikepacking FAIL?- What WORKED and What DIDN'T work on the Ochoco Overlander!

[@michaelmcarthur7134]

Guy at 1:15 here. Great idea sharing this with the crowd. Double wall tent is way to go was my Ochoco learning and what I'd change for next time. Am super impressed with that little Sony camera! Basket + bag was handy + silent, on Chunder Mt descents. Sausage-roll...well we live with it on these trips but never love them. Count me as part of the crowd looking forward to see how you load up the Bombora.

[@pk512279]

You can lubricate the zips, either candle wax, soap or a crayon should do.

[@pedroblasco4924]

Hand lotion also works :-)

[@GrahamAtDesk]

Hi Russ. Great vid, as usual. The Carradice bag is almost certainly the Nelson Longflap. I think it's a great size for a general purpose bag. And as you were describing the zip issues with the top tube bag zip, I was thinking "mag tank". And then one appeared on screen! I love mine, but have had a couple of friends had theirs release accidentally. One was on rough off road terrain with a camera inside. Another lost his phone after he lay his bike down. I tend to reserve mine for gravel rather than mountain biking, but have cartwheeled my MTB without it releasing. Brilliant bags though, especially for general purpose riding and gravel. Essentially waterproof and just so accessible. On being directly on the sleeping mat, I like a silk liner. It's very small, really comfortable against your skin, keeps the slight draughts out, helps keep the quilt clean, and packs down really really small. Would recommend. And I have a question - do you need to take steps to keep the dowel on the front bag off the carbon fork? I've never had a carbon fork but can imagine that could be problematic.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Thanks for the beta. On the Bearclaw the dowel rested not he head tube and not the fork so it wasn’t problematic. There are some foam spacers which act as a stand off but they compress and move around. Looking for a denser material.

[@byronstumman7420]

I’m noticing that very few people seem to be using rear panniers when bike packing. Is there a particular reason for this? I’m using one to haul lunch, clothes and bike locks for a daily commute and it seems to work just fine. Maybe a video to go over various types of rear packing options pros and cons? Sausage rolls, caradice bags, rear panniers, other rear rack bags, other saddle bags...

[@hlight2320]

Rear panniers tend to bounce around a lot on rougher roads

[@MrMortrisha]

I think it's mostly fashion and a personal choice. My hunch is rack/pannier look like conventional touring biking. Gravel/backpacking/adventure is trying to claim it's own 'space' in the field and look a little different. Nothing wrong with that. But nothing wrong with rack/pannier either most of the time. If you you are really going in narrow singletrack, or your bike can't take a rack, or you are in a race, or have a very short chainstay - bike packing kit is needed. Otherwise, yes you'll lose a little speed. You'll gain space that can be useful (food/water) but doesn't have to be filled. Easier to get on/off and often cheaper. I know people will downvote this.

[@SteveFullerBikes]

Weight is a bit of a concern for many people. Rack plus pannier is more in dead weight than the weight of a large empty seat pack. Fewer things to fail with a seatpack as well (bolts, welds, etc). If you're really out in the sticks and are pushing uphill and through brambles and such, anything sticking off to the sides can be a pain to deal with. Some of it is style and choice too.

[@MoisheLettvin]

I used panniers (Ortlieb backrollers) on the southern half of the GDMBR a few years ago. They were great, until the mounting started to fail. They never fell off, but they started detaching at the bottom of the rack and bouncing a lot, and I ended up using paracord to try to keep them stable. I didn’t have much weight in them, but I think the vibration/bouncing was just too much for them. I may use panniers, but with different mounting, on future trips - mostly because having a rack was great for carrying a 5L water bladder.

[@jonamcc]

ran this route on a flat bar Macho Man steel cross bike, 700x47 front, 700x43 on the back. Aside from the really chunky forest road climb towards the end, I found this combo perfect.

[@curtbrown7967]

Oh yay. Love your solid, straight forward reviews.... more upgrades to my packing bags. BXB Goldback - now ordered. Stoked. Thanks Russ!

[@dontspamkoth]

I had the same problem with my Blackburn top tube bag sagging off to the side. I used a Voile strap in the front and that solved the issue.

[@pedroblasco4924]

I had the same problem and ended up passing the stem strap through the upper loop? (Don't know the exact word in English). The strap is not flat now, it is in diagonal and the top tube bag is reall stable.

[@pedroblasco4924]

I had the same problem and ended up passing the stem strap through the upper loop? (Don't know the exact word in English). The strap is not flat now, it is in diagonal and the top tube bag is reall stable.

[@jaydesimone4297]

I saw the mag lock bag but the lack of water resistance concerned me. I look forward to seeing your experience with the bag's performance.

[@adamb7426]

I would love to have that front bag for my everyday commute but for camping I'll stick with the sausage roll. Great breakdown video...👍

[@MatthewJohnson85]

Have you tried using a silk sleeping bag liner? They're super light and keep you separated from your pad and your quilt. As an added bonus your quilt will stay cleaner and you won't have to wash it as often.

[@shelleyshell9441]

Excellent content! The information you present is always easy to understand and authentic. Thanks for that 🙂

[@gravelcowboy]

Great review as always. I don't bikepack but gravel ride and most of the gear crosses over. I just don't need as much of it as you do. OK, now to the Blackburn Outback Top Tube bag. I have one and experienced a little of the "lean". However after moving the stem strap up to the top slot of the bag and really pulling it tight, most of the lean was fixed. But it still did slightly so I wrapped two pieces of inner tube around my frame (steel) where each of the straps were and it has never moved since. I noticed that it looked like you only used one strap on your top tube. I like the Outpost bag so much I was willing to make it work because it is the perfect bag for my use. Why? The mesh pocket, that's why. If you gravel ride in rural Oklahoma, you need dog spray and you need it fast. If you have to dig it out of a zippered bag you have already been bit.

[@biking261]

I have an Alpkit top tube bag that always leans to one side and rubs the inside of my knees when out of the saddle, so I can relate to your annoyance of that top tube bag.

[@jaydesimone4297]

Consider a ThermaRest inflatable pad if you hate having to inflate the pad by mouth. You can get a battery powered inflator (that can be hacked into a deflator, too) for minimal weight. I have one and love it. It's considered a luxury item for backpacking since it's just more weight to carry, but for bikepacking it wouldn't likely be noticed.

[@Mclovinthedank]

I love your bike. Im going to build something similar this winter! just subscribed!

[@GeekonaBike]

Squirt wax lube is good at smoothing binding zippers

[@utah1man]

that's what she said

[@DannyHealy1989]

I love Raceface MTB shorts, good for commuting or gravel. Pedal wise, the Raceface Chesters are great flats and work so well with FiveTens. I've an old set of DMR vaults also that I'm currently running because they stick better when wet, I find the plastic pedals with metal bolts are not very good in the wet.

[@sixty8falcon]

Hi Russ, really enjoy your channel. Just finished watching your and Laura's Ochoco Overlander video. Curious what your front of bike setup was? Looks like a great use of storage and water/snack access

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Bags by Bird bag.

[@sixty8falcon]

@@PathLessPedaledTV what is the bottle holder you were using?

[@luisorozco3130]

Big Agnes has a inflation pump for your sleeping pad!! They are like 30 or so bucks and save lives haha. Also double purpose as a closable bag (;

[@luisorozco3130]

@@JohnT98284 true! Never thought to use it as that because then it would be wet lol

[@Oddity26]

It's called the pump house and it's well worth it imo. Airs up my big Agnes slx with about 8 full pumps. Portable shower? Hmm I'll put that in my back pocket thx

[@MeNtAlmil]

Yea Russ I have the same pad as you and with the pump house I fill my pad up in 4 'bags' of air. Acts as the stuff sack and a shower if you need that. www.bigagnes.com/Pumphouse-Ultra

[@isgrimner]

I'm late, but was thinking the same thing. I use a Big Agnes Q-Core SLX for my sleeping mat, and bought the pump house to blow it up. It does kind of suck you have to spend an additional $30 for the pump, but it does double as a stuff sack/drybag.

[@mabeldk432]

get the nemo cosmo sleeping pad. comes with a built in foot pump. does make the package slightly bulkier but worth it in my opinion. i love mine.

[@mabeldk432]

Also pro tip: REI has the old versions for cheaper under their Outlet/Clearance section. Have to click tech specs to know which size it which but saves you some money if you wanted to try it out. They may even have one you can see before you buy it if you have an REI near you.

[@RobertPersons]

Have you ever used (or considered) hub dynamo's for your long trips for keeping your battery bank topped off? Great video.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Used one in the past. I have too many bikes to build enough dynamo wheels. IMO a battery bank is the best bang per buck. I was able to easily keep everything charged for 4 days without charging it up. Could have gone 5. Don't usually tour where there is no access to electricity for that long.

[@willstonvelo8100]

nice one, come to same conclusion about bike packing bags , the carridace saddle bags work well , I swapped from using alpkit ones , easy to take off as well cracking vids all best Will

[@chiaracaielli3188]

Hi Russ, some tips on how to protect the frame from bags rubbing would be much appreciated! thanks!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Here you go : kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2OwhqWnmNKjjtk

[@franta5832]

Not having used it, I think that style of front bag is much more user friendly than the sausage roll, mostly because of ease of access. I think some sort of T shaped lower dowel connecting with the brake/mudguard bolt on the fork woul make it super stable.

[@steelcityadv3190]

Awesome video. Very informative in your comparisons. Thanks!

[@davehoover8853]

Sorry - cannot catch the name of the front and rear bags you are using. I would like to look into these. The front bag appears to be “freestanding “ off the handlebars. The rear appears to clip into the seat rails, but I see you have a rack under it. I really can’t work well with a rack. Can the bag work with just the seat rails and seat post? Great review of the gear you used!

[@phxrsx]

The Klymit Static V works great. Blows up with a few breaths.

[@brettfoster6786]

Great review👍 I would like to have a frame bag with a built-in gas tank bag . less straps . tank bag would not rotate .

[@andymorris8981]

Yay... been waiting for this thanks Russ!

[@buckettraveler8398]

4:34 Did you try waxing the zippers? I had a backpack that the zippers were always stiff and someone said wax them. It lasted for like 6 months at a time. It was my fave backpack at the time and I used it for three years waxing it every 6 or 8 months.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

No. Had nothing available and switched the day before the event.

[@buckettraveler8398]

@@PathLessPedaledTV I meant since. It sounds like you liked the bag a lot more the zippers were the weak point for you. If you greased them and they worked better maybe you could go back to them?

[@phildurry7004]

I'm glad to see those pedals are still holding up after all this time. I'd be curious to hear what other parts and gear have worked the best for you long-term. I think part of how one justifies a purchase price is the long-term durability of that purchase. So what other things have worked well even after years of use?

[@Eric-Red]

Hey Russ. What size quilt do you go with? I'm 5,7 195 and wondering if you went Regular/Wide or Long/Wide. Cheers!

[@roadbikecommuter5355]

Hi, I like all of your nerdy videos. I wonder if you plan on attaching a front basket on one of your bikes in the future and doing a review on how it felt to be using that kind of load hauling system? Keep doing what you do I find your channel the most interesting when it comes to cycling, made me stop watching GCN 😃

[@mikefox2924]

I was trying to find it in the comments but was the the bagxbird gold digger medium? or what was the bag? Great video as always.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Bagxbird medium.

[@velo.voyageur]

Love my Revelate MagTank. End up taking it on most rides.

[@AJHillis]

Check out the recent Nemo pads. I got one instead of a Thermarest specifically because it's quieter. Also comes with inflation sack!

[@alexball5907]

Not sure that Carradice bag is a Barley. I don't think they did a long-flap version of it. It might be a Pendle. However, Carradice do so many different models and have had so many variants over the years, so who knows!!! Interesting to see your views on the Bags by Bird bike as a comparison.

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

Big Agnes has a bag system to inflate their pads, check out their website.

[@nphipps2]

Expedition Overlanding Nomadic Adventures yes! Called the BA Pumphouse. I have it for the same BA pad.

[@dec60fan98]

As always great content! I am in the process of looking for new cycling shoes. Sometime ago you posted your choice of shoes, can you send the info/recommendation. Thanks

[@drfdwf392]

Russ, can you please do a side by side video of the Carradice barley, nelson long flap, and the camper long flap, and compare how much they can carry, and how they look mounted on a bike? There's seriously not much content on the internet about it except few old blurry and terrible photos that make it very hard to estimate their capacities. Seriously, even the best-selling ever popular barley barely has any video content on youtube. Oh and if you do make one, please try not to use gopro or ultra wide lens when showing the inside of the bag,. The distortion would make it even harder to see its actual size. Thanks!

[@FatTraction]

Thermarest neoair with Speed valve. By far the easiest sleeping pad to inflate

[@bobbys7330]

Regular Chapstick works well on zippers and you can find it about anywhere.

[@1uniqueislander968]

Sony action cam 👍👍 great camera used for past 5 years! AS300 and FDR X3000

[@jorrdang]

Curious what size laptop you carry in your BxB bag? Also what size is the BxB bag? Been considering grabbing one for adventures but as always look for multiple ways to utilize a bag for everyday purposes.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

It was a custom goldback designed to fit between 46cm Cowchippers. Laptop is a 13in MacBook.

[@jorrdang]

Path Less Pedaled that’s rad! I also carry a 13” MacBook so cool to know it will fit!

[@pwitts]

I have a klymit sleeping mat. It comes with an inflation bag, but I never use it. More hassle than it’s worth. Great sleeping mat though

[@767bob]

Since you did used a rack to support the rear bag, a small rando style fwd rack could have supported your fwd bag with no issues.....that if your fork can handle it....

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

That one doesn’t take racks otherwise I would have.

[@SteveFullerBikes]

The zippers on the Blackburn bags WILL fail. I've gone through two of the top tube bags. I love the pockets on the bag, but the zippers are definitely a weak link, even with occasional use and diligent bag washing. On mine, the zipper webbing separated from both the body and the lid of the bag.

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

Blackburn needs to sort out their zippers. I don't know if it's because they are trying too hard to worry about waterproofing, but all of their bags suffer from shit zips

[@WanderABit]

If you can live with vertical valve you could consider Klymit Insulated Static V sleeping pad on MassDrop. First I bought it, and then realized I over paid because it is available there, other than valve, and especially considering the price, this is pretty sweet deal, because the pad somewhat folds keeping your arms on the pad. Also it is a tad wider than typical pad. The only major issue is this dumb valve -- not only it is poorly designed, but Klymit put it vertically. So it is annoying when you put your hands over your head and when you roll down the pad. But... if I need it, I would buy it again. UX/price ratio kills any competition.

[@mitmon_8538]

I would LOVE a sleeping pad that was silent, but I imagine that would add quite a bit of weight. I have to use earplugs every time i camp due to rolling around on my pad, like you experienced. Oh, and tell us how you really feel about sausage. : )

[@AJHillis]

Check out the recent Nemo pads. I got one instead of a Thermarest specifically because it's quieter. Also comes with inflation sack!

[@SMH-m3c]

ha ha, we all feel things different, my Ortlieb frame bag zipper are sooooooo annoying with how they open and such =D

[@trishdiaz6146]

how many steel framed bikes (Surlys) vs lighter racey bikes were out there?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

50/50. It was an interesting mix. Def don’t need a racy bike to ride it.

[@DavidSmith-zu6eu]

Russ, aside for cycling, I'm a total watch nerd. Is that a SKX with an aftermarket nato strap? Are you a watch guy too? 🙂

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yeah. Getting into watches. It's a Citzien Promaster Diver on a nato :) Have a SKX0013 also tho.

[@michaeldismukes4439]

Nice watch.

[@arminhess1512]

how many SD cards do you use on such a multi-day trip? Or do you copy data to your smartphone/notebook/pad every night?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

1 124G card. 5 hours of footage.

[@arminhess1512]

thanks Russ!

[@waisinglee1509]

Don't you mean 27.5 by 2.3? (@ 1:40)

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Same thing. 650b = 27.5

[@njcranes]

$130 for a t rack? OMG. I've got a bridge for sale in Brooklyn, ijs.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

OMG!!!!! You’re right. Should be $5

[@arobins74]

"... descending chunder mountain..." Lol.

[@EastofSublime]

I admire your professionalism, but I do wonder if you're starting to embody everything this channel set out to do. This has become an event-centred channel that makes me feel both out-of-the-loop and un-stoked.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

The Ochoco Overlander is an event in so far as people are riding at the same time, but it is quite literally the only organized gravel/bikepacking event/semi-supported tour with no competitive element to it. There aren’t any timed sections like Grinduro or Rebeccas Private Idaho. It is meant to provide a safety net for those that are bikepacking curious, or those who want to go bikepacking and have food cooked at the end of the day. Not quite sure why that would make you feel out of the loop. If anything my hope was to present a completely non-competitive option as a counter point to all the gravel races or introduce a new region to ride and its small towns. Also from a production perspective I sunk in 5 days worth of time, resources to drive out there, 2 hotel nights, gas, food, etc., Of course, I’m going to repurpose some of the b-roll to make videos that made that trip worth it.

[@EastofSublime]

​@@PathLessPedaledTVI really mean no disrespect with my comment. Priorities change, etc. I just think back to BourbonXBikes and some of your earlier shenanigans and honest and enjoyable it was. My reply to your comment above would be that I encourage you to take time to enjoy life-not everything has to be a job or a side hustle. "Sinking time into something" sounds like you're not stoked about it either. Again, no disrespect, and I apologize if that sounds like unsolicited advice (which is the worst).

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

Take a shot every time he says sausage or flacid.

[@TheGoatMumbler]

Obviously weight is of no concern here so run what ya like!

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

#flacid

[@albertbatfinder5240]

Mate, you’re somewhat obsessed with gear, but I suppose it a harmless pursuit. I get the feeling that everything you raved about last season will need to be turfed out and improved upon next season. Why not budget $1500 a month for gear and have an endless stream of parcel couriers beat a ceaseless path to your door :)

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Mate, don't know if you noticed, but it's my job to obsess about gear on the channel. That's sort of like writing to Bicycling Magazine and say, hey why do you keep reviewing new bikes?

[@albertbatfinder5240]

Path Less Pedaled Ok, but they don’t generally buy the bikes they review. I had always presumed you bought this stuff.

[@waisinglee1509]

@@albertbatfinder5240 Bwahahahaha...no way he is buying this stuff.