The basics of bikepacking | A story from the Silk Road

When we set off into the wilds of Kyrgyzstan to explore the Silk Road, we were relative bikepacking novices.
Here's what we learnt along the way.
Thanks to Specialized and Serk Cycling.
Check out the full video and story of our trip here: cyclingtips.com/2019/02/ride-...

[@VenusNouveau2005]

I'd last about an hour riding with someone who had an externally clipped metal mug rattling around on a gravel road.

[@jackdaniell5258]

agreed, it would also be full of dust every time you went to use it

[@sbusiello]

@@jackdaniell5258 i was going to say the same thing

[@HNXMedia]

I have discovered that hanging the mug off the back of your bikepacking bike is some type of "status thing." I agree with the OP, I'd head out on my own if I had to listen to that thing rattle.

[@billmaidment5623]

Maybe they’re trying to catch rain water? Otherwise it’s a dumb place for it.

[@ignaciolopezquintas9499]

yeah...and it seems like the best place to keep the mug away from dirt...All this "fashion" habits are super convenient...

[@markbabcock]

Love the masking effect at 2:16. That was really well done.

[@Celisar1]

Please show us your tent, sleeping bag and mat bc. I cannot imagine for the life of me how to fit all if that into that tiny front bag!!!

[@Celisar1]

Andy Van Bergen Thank you, absolutely will look that up. Still in awe about that incredibly small size! 😉

[@NicoKupfer]

@@Celisar1 Either very expensive equipment, or very specialised (if they knew the exact temperatures at night and so on, they don't over-prepare). Or both.

[@smedleybutler1969]

He said he does not need comfort in camp he sleeps on the ground and covers himself with leaves! As long as he has his cup he is alright!

[@F3udF1st]

He's lying, obviously.

[@connor3510]

Use a hammock if trees are common in your area, and weather and rules permit. Based on temperatures you might not need a mat and can deal with a thin sleeping bag

[@StarEssences]

I love the cycling videos whether they're for traveling advice or bike packing tips that are short and to the point. Thank you for keeping it with enough information to learn from in a short amount of time. :)

[@MrTimstaaa]

I watch a lot of bike channels but I've never heard of yours until now when one of your videos popped up on my feed. Great video and I've already subscribed.

[@GrumpyWookieDotCom]

Brilliant review/comments - I’ve seen lots of bike setups, etc - but never explained so well. Especially the “on the trail comfort” vs. “camp comfort”. Spot on, Andy !

[@nonchalantgarage]

Thanks for the tips! I'll be getting into bikepacking and making more vlogs about it as well. Cheers.

[@robgrubb420]

concise, straight to the point, beautiful setup, put through the paces in a super rough environment makes you expert enough for what I'm doing. great video exactly what bikepackers are looking to watch.

[@CyclingAlaska]

Kyrgyzstan is a fantastic place to travel. Never cycled there, but done plenty of hiking. Thanks for taking us along!

[@smedleybutler1969]

Where do I keep my sourdough starter I never go anywhere without it?

[@tiltil9442]

Crotch, definitely.

[@tallaganda83]

Up the Butler, put the sour in sour dough.

[@eforsmark]

You socks contains all you need

[@KalvinLo]

Put it in your belly

[@tallaganda83]

Never watched this channel before but I love the editing.

[@izhamsaad]

perfect tips, straight forward and easily perceived .

[@matthafer2415]

First bike packing video I've seen where my sentiment about comfortable on the bike or in Camp was really clearly stated great video

[@princeofxane]

Very beautiful video and presentation.

[@Cyclingabout]

Great tips, Andy. 👌🏼

[@treksntarps]

Nice tips there going to gradually dip my toes into bike packing. Cant wait cheers 👌

[@TheWW101]

As a wanna be cyclist, i devour bike riding vids and I especially enjoyed your video, thank you :)

[@codeyorgill]

Good on ya Andy.. Great video!

[@ScoutJoe]

awesome tips! and cool shots as well

[@outbackwack368]

Very nice and to the point! Would like to see all your kit laid out that went in the packs, and also your overall impression of the bike, kit and riding. Thanks!

[@FrancoisCoquemont]

I am impressed you are able to put all your sleeping equipment in that small handlebar bag. Looking forward to read the longer piece.

[@Bikepacking]

@Andy Van Bergen cool setup not sure about the cup must be a trending thing lol there a million ways to pack ... that's what I love about bikepacking

[@josh33172]

That is the struggle, and a big reason why gravel bikes don't follow the traditional bike fit standards. Shorter stem, wider bars...very few tents packs actually between 42c bars. The wider and flared bars on the other hand do a much better job of it. Also the flare helps with shifting (irrelevant w/ electronic), and another overlooked aspect is that wider bars are more compliant and inherently have more flex!

[@willek1335]

@@josh33172 Get an UL tarp. That thing fits inside your clenched fist. zpacks.com/products/flat-tarp-7-x-9-w-8-loops

[@TravelingThru222]

Great setup, im thinking of downsizing and a setup like this is what im looking for.

[@angangaus]

You look and sound like a pro. Thank u

[@clu51]

love it, thanks for sharing

[@mariosanchez547]

I am seriously considering packing a few of my important belongings, getting on my bike and just going. This is that time for me to leave everything and set out to re-discover my own happiness. It's been quite some time since I've had the time (open window) to explore my options and do something great. This year will be the one.

[@fabienpenso]

And then corona happened.

[@thomasnugent7602]

Very good ideas, Thank you very much

[@FollowThomas]

I have the same setup and I love it!

[@cliffordchaperon6795]

great - I feel like giving it a go

[@nateums]

great video and editing!

[@Biketouring]

Enjoyed the video! Keep it up :)

[@Rshorttt]

Like how you did this!

[@MrShoji5150]

I think the most important thing about bike pack is find nice place to spend night...

[@sympnoia]

Really want to get into bikepacking but coming from a bicyle touring experience the minimalism is daunting. And my touring setup was a hybrid of bikepacking with framebags mostly and I was half the weight of other tourers ive seen with full pannier setup. I would pack a shitload of chews and gels.

[@danielhornekp.arealestatea6033]

Thank You good information!

[@milessmith589]

Great summary

[@clayguinard3651]

Very good approach to your gear and who

[@Jonas-mh7xv]

Muito legal o vídeo!! Saudações dos ciclistas do Brasil!!

[@ronnie8446]

Its nice to see what people take on these trips, but you seldom see a video of the kit laid out then packed away in the bags. Done a few weeks in Kyrgyzstan and it was easy to see who was unsupported by the amount of gear carried due to the unpredictable weather.

[@GoatRidesBikes]

"You can go to a 650b and mount a 1.5 inch tire which is absolutely huge." Poking holes in that, I just picked up a Salsa Journeyman drop bar bikepacking/adventure bike. It comes stock with 650b x 2.1 inch tires and can fit up to 2.2 inch.

[@andrewroozen9151]

I have been wondering what sort of bag set up I should get for my Norco Search, thanks Andy.

[@steveretiredandcycling]

Great video! Good suggestions. I would love to do the silk road. Just finished bikepacking 827 miles from Key West Florida to South Carolina. Celebrated my 68th birthday on the trail.

[@nanciparoubek3256]

I'd love to ride the silk road too!

[@steveretiredandcycling]

@@nanciparoubek3256 Yes Nanci, it looks like a wonderful challenge!

[@user-jm7lf3zs3y]

Wow my country! 🇰🇬

[@lennart8996]

Great idea

[@blackwatch_TV]

Excellent synopsis

[@stevenf4511]

Great vid, Andy. Just wondering how easy it was to take the water bottles out of their cages with the frame bag in the way.

[@markusunterwegs]

So perfect 😎

[@FutureMark809]

38c isn’t very wide and 1.5” isn’t an mtb tyre!

[@Crotoua]

Hi, using a Burley travoy I would be interested by your thoughts re: the bikepacking vs trailer debate, in the case of this journey : more drag and weight but less weight and stress on the bike components, and more stability. And also easier accès to your stuff.

[@markconnelly1806]

I would not put ID or credit cards or big cash in any bag on the bike. If you are in a sketchy area, someone can steel your bag or even bike when your guard is down.

[@1houroflove186]

So your tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag all fit in the handlebar bag? Wow. I wish you listed the CAPACITY for each bag. I just completed a 3 year trip w/one backpack 40 Liters (legal size for airplane carryon).

[@bikepacking330]

좋은 영상 잘보고 갑니다.

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

Could you do a video about Tadpole Trike (s)...and touring?

[@tubestick00]

I always opt for maximum bike comfort and minimum camp comfort. Being hungry for me is part of the challenge. Seeing how minimally I can travel

[@manoranjanlongjam214]

✌✌ thank you

[@ImranWorldCyclist]

Great insight...i would still prefer side pannier bags and carrying a heavier load. You get used to it within a very short time thats its not really an issue. A Brooks saddle and gel bar tape takes care of the comfort...Afterall I'm touring not racing!

[@JS-tb9hu]

Why would you prefer heavier bags? Just prefer more luxuries? Bike packing bags mean you can travel further in a day

[@lautoka63]

JS I've done it both ways: France with panniers and the Tour Aotearoa (google it) with seat pack, frame bag and front roll. Panniers are nicer to being able to get to stuff more easily; bike-packing gear better for going off the beaten track and down narrow trails (& narrow swing bridges). Horses for courses: what matters is being out there and enjoying it.

[@stevepayne2795]

Panniers are great for the tarmac roads but on bumpy gravel I found the bike stiffens and you get all the impact, brooks saddle is a good shout though, B17

[@mathorak7073]

Every mountain biker laughed out loud when he said 1.5in was huge 😂. Great vid tho, loved it very helpful and entertaining.

[@myfrequencies1912]

I was looking at the "future shock" thing & had to rub my eyes, it looked like the top of the steerer tube was bouncing up & down! & here's me with my old air sprung forks....

[@hamSAH713]

for a gravel or roadie, that is really big

[@evanbennewies6864]

Super helpful! I'm looking at a very similar set-up for a cross-Canada trip this summer. How much/what non-ride-snack food were you able to carry in your saddle bag?

[@Cyclist1014]

Hey :) im going across Canada too. I'm still planning a date around work. When are you going?

[@TheTravelVlogger]

Great info! What a trip. How many kms/miles....how many days???

[@mazditzo]

is that saddlebag burra burra? specialized itself does not recommending to be use with carbon seatpost since the clamp gonna crush it

[@sergiosenpai]

Great bikepacking! Tube or tubeless?

[@kiwidavecz]

Which spring did ou use in the Diverge's headset?

[@clayguinard3651]

Can you tell me what you do for work? Who or how did you kno how to map and plan all this

[@fbaqueda]

Thanks for the video. Any chance you can post a list of the equipment?

[@Bikepacking]

@Andy Van Bergen look forward to it

[@JS-tb9hu]

What brand tent and sleeping bag did you use?

[@larsholgerpalm1730]

I would clip some tt bars on for that long of a ride. Sorry if my typing is bad.

[@lennart8996]

Where do you leave the box that you ship your bike on? And how do you get the bike back to your home?

[@WanderABit]

At (0:13) you ride in aero position (but without handlebar extension) -- does your handlebar have some flat section that you can rest your hands like this? Or is this practice and taking some more risk?

[@cazaputas_42.]

No todos entenderan, quizás por la geometría de mi gravel a mi me pasa que usando el bolso detras del manillar sobre el tubo, me molesta al pedalear sentado y de pie en caminos rectos y subidas, sin embargo me encanta como luce la estética de todo el conjunto.

[@jaycollins6792]

Great video. Feeling inspired 👍🏻🤘

[@mdq8318]

Cool water bottle with the skull design... what brand is it?

[@raycasleong8325]

thank you.

[@srfive3]

Novice Tip: Consider taking a 5-8 hour primitive survival class that covers the environment/region you ride in. This can save on load out weight and cost of gear when you can simply utilize your surroundings for shelter, water, fire, food, etc or just have the skills in case of emergency. Nothing like a little mental prep to take you on some awesome adventures.

[@ChuckNoctis]

I think the Pamir Highway is getting to popular. Is there no other small gravel roads to take thru the mountains?

[@lowanlam]

pleases tell me that this set up can ride how many days?i didn't see you bring food,what do you eat in these days?

[@tubeetogoo]

lowan lam Food needs weight

[@princeT-369]

hi Andy, what's the best route to take on the silk road n what cost are we looking at? cheers

[@drmubashir724]

Lovley video, but Wat if your bike got broken down i.e a punctured tire? Thnx

[@warricktyler6759]

Wow just what clothing do you have in there and how long are you going to be using it for ?

[@hesgone6699]

I'm hopefully going to cycle tour central Asia soon. Did you wild camp? Any problems with people or animals when camping?

[@biketour1789]

Super beitrag danke...

[@SebasEstuvoAqui]

Cool! But where do you put your cameras, dron, etc?

[@David_Rafuse]

In the support vehicle.

[@ricardos.4456]

Why you didn't add the fact you all had a supporting vehicle? With those setups you can't survive on your own, not without enough food or a tent. And that's a basic! Great setup and editing :)

[@tungruffel]

How do you fit the camping gear in the handlebar bag?

[@tiltil9442]

Snugly.

[@verdomtnochmal]

Did you ride tubeless? I've been riding tubeless for a season now and while I love having more flats (especially no more pinches) I suffered a lot of random pressure loss on longer rides (a few days). I kind of like the safety feeling of just changing the tube instead of worring to find a bike shop with a compressor.

[@odys3803]

I didn't caught you. You caught yourself. On the camera. Nice bike and setup.

[@billpoindexter]

fun video. take me with you next time! Please

[@marceloguimaraes7445]

What is the brand of the frame and handle bar bags you have ?

[@SeanPlunkett013]

outstanding

[@bascelik91]

I am planning a trip with my MTB. I am not sure is it the best bicycle for long trips, but I do not have another bicycle. Can you give me some advice, regarding the gear and equipment? Is MTB capable for long trips, since you are using more "road" style bicycle? Thanks

[@lowanlam]

Which camp you buy?it is so small!

[@peterghimme9661]

Nice editing.

[@hardtailrider4685]

I realized that you can pack a lot in little space. There isn’t lots of videos on bike packing, but there is videos of light weight hiking, so if you are bike pack you might only really need a med kit, tool kit and larger tent to keep you bike safe from weather and people. A lot of the those items can be split between the pack and the bike bags. This video is helpful kzbin.info/www/bejne/noLEm5SCic9_bNE

[@Bigsbeee]

Do you recall the frame size of the black Diverge please ?

[@AlysterGynn]

awesome

[@alexmorgan3435]

If you have fleet of support vehicles then perhaps you can carry as little as this.

[@aurboda]

exactly 😂

[@Aurelisk]

Where did you get your glasses at buddy?

[@johanschimmel1086]

Guys, I want to start setting up Bike packing, can you share which brands of bags you used? I see the specialized 'S' all over but if you can provide the names of the item GREAT. Thnx

[@chap666ish]

What about tools, lights, spares, batteries, inner tubes...?

[@lmhr9]

we're running the trigger 38c - But you can get 1.5 inch tyre in there. "Which is massive" 38mm = 1.5 inches.

[@gowikuscommunityproduction4605]

自転車 | ハッピーバイク | happy bike | 快乐自行车 | happy bike | Bicycling happily

[@nurshatsakishev8910]

Hi. I'm from Kyrgyzstan. Nice video about bikepacking! 👍 I also use bike for travel, but still don't know which packing is better)) And, how do u like our country?