How To Pack Your Bags For Bikepacking

[@gcn]

Do you have any bag packing tips you want to share? Let us know!

[@jackhammer40k_]

Mug on seatbag: practicool

[@swarnendumunshi]

You should have discussed about installation of rear bike rack and pannier packing.....so that even a tour of more than one day can be covered easily......and the mention of the fact that 40:60 ratio must be maintained for weight distribution in rear and front respectively....

[@adamr6629]

Where did you leave your bike box?

[@cz8085]

just take a backpack like this one: www.ortlieb.com/de/Velocity/

[@DRMatt-zd4rh]

bonus tips: if you have aero bars, you can keep a small bag between them with small/ quick access items, letting place on the top tube for the mattress. bottles on the fork balance the bike ant les you put a full frame bag, wich is way bigger. some saddle bags include a rigid horisontal support that lower the bag and reduce ''swing''. NEVER take a backpack heavier than a kilo, after a couple of days your knees, back and hips will tell you. its also good to keep tools and a spare tube close, as searching them can add a lot of stress in case of a mecanic in a no man land...

[@HSV-mb9gf]

*I did my last overnight Bike & Camp in jeans and a T-Shirt on a heavy bike with panniers.* *Moral of this is don't get too caught up in having the right gear or looking the part just go out there and enjoy*

[@KandiKlover]

True I prefer real touring bikes and regular clothes too. 2400 miles on flat pedals thank you

[@brozerosucks]

I mean being well prepared makes it 10x easier to enjoy than having to deal with things cause a person decided to procrastinate or their to cool to get "all that lame cycling gear" I mean my ass has no problem with some nice padding from the chamois and not having to worry since I brought the right shit and my personal pride didn't get in my way. Pride that's the one thing that's going to fuck you over in the long run

[@gravedoja]

My first bike packing trip was in 92 I think, gear stuffed into a kwicksave bag and tied onto a rear rack, no tent or sleeping pad just a cheap sleeping bag and some clothes, it was the summer though. I have a photo somewhere.

[@RafaelZanolla]

A golden tip I found elsewhere here on KZbin is, whenever you look for something in your bags / panniers while out on a trip and manage to find it on a different one, consider moving it to the first place you thought it was, as it is already etched in your mind. I applied it on the last trips I took using a more traditional touring setup and, simple as it is, it really helped me define places for the weird bits like toilet paper or my buff. Also, please make Global Bikepacking Network a thing!

[@MrSpeakerCone]

I'm an experienced outdoorsman and I have to say you're running a pretty spartan setup here. One thing you should consider is your morale; Make sure you're equipped to have a nice time not just on the bike but off it as well. For example, I like to bring a book, a card game if traveling with others, some extra tasty food, some flip flops so I can give my feet a rest at the end of the day, a flask of whisky, that sort of thing. I'd also recommend skipping the expensive titanium spork and going for a plastic spoon and chopsticks. Maybe a small plastic bowl too; I've burned myself many times trying to eat out of a cooking dish. Spend the extra 9g, honestly

[@JamesAnderson123]

The quality of GCN content these days is phenomenal. Josh is a natural. Really great work all. Thank you.

[@gcn]

James Anderson Thanks James, always great to hear such amazing feedback!

[@bicycleutopia]

Both these guys are articulate presenters. How rare!!!! Somin really is great in front of the camera: he's funny; doesnt interrupt his guest; his comments ADD to the guest's info, for expansion of emphasis.

[@MidtownSkyport]

Josh is a natural in front of the camera. More from him, please :)

[@Niskiss]

"I'm not cool." he needs to calm down though...

[@utopia2112]

@@Niskiss it was all the coffee ;-)

[@JapaneseReds]

MidtownSkyport Yeah, that coffee gag was dead natural 🤣

[@gkazanjian5976]

I run a very identical bikepacking setup with few minor differences: 1. a small tent goes into the frame bag, in addition to tools and spare tubes. 2. Contrary to Josh, I prefer as little weight as possible up front (better handling), so I pack all my clothes into the seat post bag with the exception of sleeping bag and mat that go onto the handlebars. 3. I ride a small sized frame, so often I do not have space within the frame for 2 water bottles. Instead you can duck tape (or zip tie) old-style water bottle cages (like the ones on Si's bike) on the fork blades.

[@acousticgearhead7820]

Love that you are doing this bike-packing/gravel special! The real question I keep asking myself though is: When will we be able to get a hold of those fetching not-quite-baggy shorts?

[@KeirGroves]

They're Assos and can be found on the Assos site, although without the GCN logo!

[@gcn]

Hey Acoustic Gearhead, thanks! Keir has got it right there, they are on the ASSOS website. They were branded with the GSN logo as a one-off 👍

[@shenava]

Aero schoolboy error - inside of mug facing into the wind creating a wind scoop. Watt a diference it makes ;)

[@GrahamAtDesk]

shenava If you put it the other way round you end up with shit in yer mug. Josh has clearly been there...

[@gcn]

😮

[@ahabsbane]

"Watt a difference" I see what you did there, pun point awarded!

[@annie7395]

5:44 the delivery is just so good

[@SiliconEngineer]

Absolutely loved every one of the Morocco bike packing series episodes. Every bit as cool as it is inspiring. Much respect, Sir Si!

[@ftrujillomunizaga]

Adding a 15lt backpack to my 2 main back and front bags makes the perfect setup as i cant't live without my camelbak. 2 bags 1 backpack and im set for a full week!

[@phxrsx]

Its pretty amazing you guys can produce so much content from just a simple machine.

[@rohan-ghosh]

I just brought my first real bike and I find biking SO ADDICTIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@EspenFrafalne]

If you ask me, panniers are essential for a nice comfortable trip, where you have plenty of space for everything you need, and a few "comfort items". Those smaller bags are mostly for people who want to go as far as possible in a day - although some of them make a great addition to panniers, and they are also perfect for daytrips. I REALLY like ultralight gear and all that stuff - but as many ultralight backpackers have come to realize; the weight is only one of the factors for how enjoyable the trip will be. I like to have enough room for my a tent, sleeping bag (or quilt), sleeping pad, cookset, food, water, waterfilter, monocular, video-glasses, battery banks, solar panels, GPS, and maybe some clean clothes. And if i had a hammock from "hummingbird hammocks", id bring it in addition to my tent, as well as on daytrips.

[@DaveWarnock]

I find it really useful to combine bike packing front luggage with rear panniers when doing fully loaded road touring. Did the Loire for 2 weeks last summer. Used my Wildcat Gear Fat Lion to carry a 3 person tent including poles, plus a Lioness for my passport, money, sunglasses etc.

[@gcn]

Great stuff!

[@rhysrunsriot]

Damn, the knee thing was a good tip - I just got back from riding across Germany. I had to carry a lot in my rear bag and it did swing quite a bit despite the straps being as tight as I could pull them. Will try that next time.

[@gcn]

Rhys Howell A great top tip from Josh!

[@brotherfranciz]

Wow, some really useful information here! 👍 I've been thinking about bike packing lately, due to Covid-19 restricting overseas holidays. I think bike packing would be a perfect local holiday and probably a covid-safe way of exploring the local region (Victoria, Australia in my case).

[@TrailsofCalifornia]

Such a great help! Planning a bike packing trip of my own. Thanks for the tips!

[@powpowvideos]

Im looking forward to putting this into practice! A friend and I are planning to do the Trans-Am next summer, so this help sooooooooo much

[@MountainousAmbitions]

I did LEJOG with 1 pannier bag and a backpack with a camel bladder. Packing was never an issue - just remember to put the heavy kit at the bottom and keep the important stuff (i.e. phone / food / layers / spares) accessible (i.e. in your backpack). What this video proves is that if you want to waste half an hour getting packed and setting off every morning then use multiple packs.

[@nooksak1]

I have that same top tube bag and love it!

[@gcn]

nooksak1 Great!

[@aperezy17]

Thanks for this video. I found that the best saddle bag is made by an interesting British company named AlpKit. The bag is called Big Pappa. It has an extra strap to avoid bag movement. Thks again

[@bhumiriady]

Fantastic video as usual! It's important to correctly pack your items before going out bikepacking! Hats off to Si and Josh!

[@gcn]

Thanks! Omaris Bhumiriady

[@bhumiriady]

You're welcome! (^_-)

[@ivarbrouwer197]

I had my sleeping bag+bivy rolled in one go to fit in the handlebar bag: if rolled correctly it fits in one go and you get a consistent width and you don’t want to open and close it all the time...

[@petinka721]

GCN made it again! Thanks for all good tip and they will be valuable in this summer.

[@gregoxenham2842]

This is a really great machine and has inspired me more to find out about 3T

[@gcn]

Nice. We've certainly enjoyed riding them!

[@JGstunts22]

@@gcn what model are they

[@flpirate45]

Small front and rear Panniers are my choice. Thanks guys for the video,I just don't like the seat post method.

[@gcn]

That's cool - you can certainly fit a bit more in panniers!

[@vannicrider7953]

@@gcn but nowhere near as trendy and en vogue. I will stick with them though. No weight distribution or access to kit issues.

[@Boopop1024]

I know bikepacking is very much in vogue at the moment, but could you do a series in bike touring (.inc camping) at some point? Feeling a bit left out! Cheers :)

[@gcn]

Hey Tom, great idea, it's certainly something we can look into

[@TheKimjoh560]

I tried a bunch of different setups on a bunch if different bikes. I wouldnt concider myself experienced by any stretch but I would never go without a hydration bladder. Water is just just too important in order to have a good time both on and off the bike. If you dont finnish the entire bladder you will have some warm water to clean yourself with as you change your clothes I would ditch the bottle cages and bottles on these bikes, aswell as the front bag and let the hydration bladders pack and one of those large triangular framebags pick up the slack I would not want to sleep on the ground after lots of hours in the saddle. Treat yourself to a hammock a decent one is only a couple of hundred grams. Never underestimate the value of a good nights sleep if you are riding the next morning. Oh and bring a lightweight multitool with pliers and a a knife or scissors. Paired with your bike specific tools you can improvise a fix for most thingsusing that.

[@utopia2112]

Assuming there are trees where you are camping (for your hammock).

[@tommymusicofficial]

Brilliant video. Been trying to find this sort of thing with a great level of detail everywhere. Thank you GCN

[@gcn]

Tommy Harrold Glad we could be of help!

[@rossmcarthur7955]

4:20 legit coffee sip

[@StarEssences]

I recommend a thule rack; these fit both in the front or rear on practically any bike; They hold up to 40lbs on the sides of them and 55lbs ontop :) Easy on and off too!

[@chrisbaylis4733]

Super useful as we have our first trip coming up!

[@Fixajo]

7:09 "Am I allowed to stick that in there as well?" "You can fit it wherever you want" HAAAAH!!

[@Wollenschrank]

Great vid, usefull informations. Thank you and greetings from Magdeburg/Germany. God bless you.

[@soloist777]

When are you guys going to come down under? You need to do a bike packing trip across the Nullarbor - Melbourne to Perth. Better yet, up the west coast from Perth to Broome. If you do, I'd love to join you.

[@IainMorrison]

More content like this please! Can you do a video about what clothes to wear while bikepacking? Josh looks like he has some great trekking shorts vs Sean Conway who wears a pair of bibs for 9 months on the trot...

[@gcn]

Hey Iain, really great you are enjoying the bike packing content. We have a special askgcn with Josh so stay tuned!

[@logtothebase2]

It's nice that the deeply unfashionable cycle touring sub sport has had a fashionable rebrand and you can get a a snappy set of handbags to strap to your trendy gravel bike. But seriously get a set of panniers additional a few more items and go in comfort and go for way longer

[@HSV-mb9gf]

So true, a little more effort riding and slightly less distance coverd each day is worth the extra days you can comfortably spend in the middle of nowhere finding yourself.

[@Tneknos]

Using that logic why not go the whole hog and get a trailer? Then you can carry so much more. Sometimes people miss the point. Challenge yourself to survive with the minimum. That in itself can be part of the fun. It's not for everyone and each to his own.

[@HSV-mb9gf]

@@Tneknos Does surviving with the minimum mean stopping at every cafe along the way and renting rooms every second night because all you have is an emergency bivy, sounds nice.

[@alvarodamatta7973]

Give us some insight on that Morocco trip!

[@myfrequencies1912]

Just watched the big Morocco trip video. Great work.

[@bosanderspublictheology]

So many good little pointers! Thank you

[@mikolajbe]

Hi! It's a great video :) Could you make one about travelling with a trailer? Maybe a comparison between travelling with your stuff packed into a trailer and on a bike, which would say which way is more efficient and which is more comfortable. Maybe it depends on a type of roads one travels or some other features. It would be really interesting to watch. Cheers!

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

Try two Carradice Camper Longflap Saddlebags you can use one as a Handle bar roller pack..and the other as your saddle bags...

[@kieranrae]

ha, what's with the toptube bag hate? it's my favourite bag on my bike

[@TheOfficialRannysHobbsPH]

Now i have an idea for my bicycle, i love cycling and touring. Thank you for the idea

[@SPN-78]

Who'd had thought bag packing could be so interesting. Great video!

[@gcn]

Steve Norris Cheers Steve!

[@shpadoinkle_wombat]

What about first aid kit?

[@JS-tb9hu]

Important

[@mariuskaupas]

Rain keeps the blood away

[@Dusty357]

Gaffa tape and bog roll and some paracetamol, all go in my toiletries bag. That's all my first aid kit.

[@NickMaovich]

frame bag / top tube bag

[@EspenFrafalne]

Good idea... I gotta get me one of those first aid kits...

[@Wolfman1250s]

Excellent work! Loving this series!

[@yojerico5856]

Great powerbank to add to that setup ZNEX NOTSTRØM | Water (IP67), Dust + Shockproof Power Bank

[@operationmindfuck7145]

A good rucksack you can strap around your waist would be good for bulkier items like sleeping bags

[@markbee58]

Best kind of bike.

[@Group51]

Carridice do a larger 16l saddle bag. Very sturdy and long lasting. SQR Tour and Slim.

[@philhersh]

Extremely useful video. Thanks!

[@BTinKH]

One of the most essential items is a zinc oxide containing powder. Sprinkling on your shorts, armpits, and shoes and socks will extend the time between changes, and make you more pleasant to be around in general.

[@nizarfakhoury]

Excellent summary, thank you!

[@getoutmore]

How exactly did he secure his "cooking system" on top of the seat pack? Was hoping for a closer look at that. Would have been very helpful

[@TGRacing]

Did you take any casual shoes? And, if so, where did you pack them ?

[@josephfarrugia2350]

A Medium size frame for Si on the Exploro? Maybe he's running a long stem? I'm 5' 7" (170cms, 29.5" inseam) & the geometry of size M with a 85-90mm stem with 25-30mm spacers is a practically a perfect fit for me.

[@Whippasnapper]

this bloke josh is a good presenter, sign him up

[@mohammedhammam4981]

I know this may be a tad unrelated, but I really like these cycling shorts, not too tight, and more suitable to an urban venture, which makes me wonder if they would be available in your store?

[@abota]

How is your pot attached to the seat bag? Looks like some type of strap. Is it commercially available? I’ve always found the pot difficult to pack on the bike.

[@chadcrummelperc]

I was wondering same thing? anyone?

[@ScotsChurch]

If you mount your water bottle under the frame in Oz, especially on bitumen roads, be prepared for the reflective heat to make it taste like warm plastic and barely drinkable

[@gcn]

Good point ScotsChurch

[@mungfillet6648]

Gcn is the best,even before the bike packing videos😀

[@gcn]

Shemil sha Thanks!

[@MrLobsterity]

i have the same tires on my touring bike :) but i just throw everything into a 40L rear rack bag and tie a 2-man camping tent on top of it

[@sventice]

What rear rack bag are/were you using?

[@JGstunts22]

What tires? Also what bike are they using ?

[@MrLobsterity]

@@sventice The rack is Topeak Super Tourist Uni; The bag was "500 double rear pannier bike bag" from Decathlon. Now i'm using two separate 15l bags, 13$ each, also from Decathlon, called "100 rear pannier bag" :) their 15l bags are far more comfortable, because they hang further from my legs and i can't hit them with a leg accidentally.

[@MrLobsterity]

@@JGstunts22 Continental SpeedKing 2.2. It's one of the most "road" tires for mountain bikes. On the offroad it's not a competitive racer, but doesn't force you to dismount on sand or mud, because of it's wideness. Don't know anything about their bike

[@Huneidu]

I'm going to give panniers a go.

[@sariuitto]

Thanks guys, this was really useful video! :)

[@jvapfialho]

Any particularly reason for wearing the GCN Training kit rather than the Pro?! Thanks and keep up with the great work. Cheers from Brazil!

[@gcn]

Hey Joao, no particular reason, just a little more relaxed fit for bikepacking 👍

[@MatthewNash92]

im not convinced about these frame bags, are they really better than a rack and rear panniers ??

[@destk9658]

THANK YOU very much. This is really good. Well explained, practical and different. Seems like a "modern" way of packing for a tour (becoming more common nowadays). What's your (Simon/Josh?) take on the "old-fashioned" panniers on the side of the wheels?

[@Slimmilar]

@GCN Please do a video on how to take an ebike on an international flight and pay attention to the battery pack. Thanks.

[@4zur3]

Use 4 bags on the bike or use 1 rucksack on your back. Only experience with rucksack 10 day mtb ride. Went well.

[@jonathanhacker6913]

Loving this bike packing special. Actually made me keen on trying it myself this summer. Can you give a rough guideline on average daily distance or average daily time spent in the saddle?

[@Hashslingingslasher-]

Sucks you didnt get an answer. Ever get round to giving it a go?

[@wowmusicbg]

Brilliant episode, loved this one. Question, how often did you guys need to fill up your food/water supplies on this kind of a remote trek?

[@charlesphelps2730]

Now you have to come out and enjoy the the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. This will determine if you are ready for bike packing.

[@TheOneGoodRoad]

Those setups are incredible.. love it.. :)

[@gcn]

TheOneGoodRoad Cheers!

[@peternoble4172]

Comments on sleeping mats, please? Inflatable or foam with silver backing? The latter is much lighter but bulkier, that should not be a problem if it is attached to the webbing on the seatpost bag, though.

[@marcerta9635]

Hi, Which bag sizes did you use in the video? Thanks,

[@livilleura3587]

Fuck u m8

[@swifty0000007]

Ok so where do you put your tent? Sounds like Ray Mears ( camped out wild) v Bear Grills ( hotel every night)😕

[@mykytajex2248]

Josh organised his bags for a rear spoiler effect. That way he can descend at higher speeds and make car noises while he rides.

[@ryancarroll8086]

Love the content, doing my first overnight trip soon! What wheels and tires are you guys running?

[@TheDarkPebble69]

Ribble bikes for the win

[@danielwang5467]

What about a bike lock

[@kelvinyonger8885]

Bikepacking is mostly camping, I doubt anyone is gonna steal your bike. Anyway, what would you lock it around? For bike touring though it might be more useful.

[@Huibelpaard]

The Safeman cable lock is compact and relatively lightweight (costs about 22 euros) and if your friend has one too, you can combine the locks

[@delrodgers3267]

Ya don’t need it when you’re backpacking

[@delrodgers3267]

Bikepacking

[@EspenFrafalne]

@@kelvinyonger8885 I try to lock my bike to trees...

[@Demy1970]

Also, someone mentioned Tailfin packs, what is the best for carbon fibre pinnarello

[@seadbiberovic8063]

This is very nice video. Pleace tell as how much is weight all equpiment ? And wich is average speed was on the your journey ? Thank you very much.

[@grahamramsay3402]

2 Chaff bags up front add more useful storage. Even 2 water bottles.

[@Artiskon]

nice videos about bike packing ! tell us more about your: mugs / pots, stoves and stuff like that :)

[@Zwiesel66]

Very informative video, thank you.

[@IchBinOtto]

Hello, I am looking for small reflective triangle as on saddle bag. Can anyone know where to buy it?

[@yorbalindason]

The REI Link 11L seat pack that I bought slaps the back of my legs. Do all seat mounted bags do that? It’s not a workable solution.

[@geryon]

Wouldn't placing your toilet paper roll wrong be more of a number 2 lesson?

[@gcn]

😵

[@GreenRC24]

LOL

[@12copablo]

Hi! Great video! You don't take any food? You always buy the food from restaurants?

[@gabrielmarias972]

Were you normally carry dry meals or food for 2-3 days? The Apidura front bag is the 9litres version? In bumpy roads move too much? Thanks

[@jorishurk1273]

i have a question, how do you go to a grocery store when bikepacking solo, do you remove all the bags when leaving the bike, seems like a lot of work (and carrying all those bags in a store isn't ideal), but leaving it is quite risky.

[@markovich88]

use a small cafe lock cable , can thread it through all main bag openings.

[@noedelacroix9207]

that so true arm warmer are really heavy

[@NinjaElephant]

9:25 „... doing a Tom Dumoulin“ that poor guy will never get rid of that.

[@gkazanjian5976]

love it that the expression is part of the lingo now.

[@sudduthjonathan]

I think we’ve now reached the point where we can just abbreviate it. “Hold up, I gotta pull off for a quick TD”. 😁

[@michaeldennis1021]

Hi what bivi bag and sleeping bag did you use. Full gear list please. Love this video Well done lads🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️

[@metanon2010]

What if you've got cables running under the top tube? Will the top tube bag interfere?

[@haydendmorrison]

I have a lot of dry bags from hiking and pannier cycle touring to keep the stuff inside dry. I guess the only way to know is to try it but do you know of anyone who has had success strapping standard dry bags to their bike in place of a handlebar roll for instance? It seems like an ideal place to put my bivy and sleeping mat with some simple compression straps. Also, I have a traditional style ortlieb handlebar bag, is there any benefit to a bar roll over a normal bar bag? I can see the benefit for mtb where I don't want my stuff flying out or the mount coming loose but for bike packing I can't see an issue. Great series of videos, cheers

[@gkazanjian5976]

I've done exactly that numerous times: sleeping bag + mat in a compressed dry bag, tied to the handlebars using velcro straps. works quite well.

[@haydendmorrison]

Great, thanks! I'll give it a go when I get back from work