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    First time bikepacking, gear help needed!

    I ordered a frame bag. Doesn’t quite fit like I thought it was going to. Any ideas on how I can just make it work. Anything I could possibly put to utilize the space?

    I’m short so my bike is small. Finding gear has felt a little challenging. At least until I can change out my fork for an adventure one.

    This weekend I’m doing an overnight for a shakedown. Any advice or recs is appreciated!

    I’m in Oregon, I will be packing most of my food and filtering water for my trip this weekend.

    by notrobinsons666

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    11 Comments

    1. big_papa_nuts on

      Just loosen the top straps so the load sits on the down tube. You won’t need much overlap in the upper straps to hold the bag upright, but if you use them to carry the whole load they may fail.

      I actually ran my MTB frame bag on my gravel bike like that for a weekend trip once and it was fine.

    2. ulla_h on

      Is there enough space between your rear wheel and the saddle bag? Make sure it is according to the manufacturs specs. They do move quite a bit when the road gets bumpy, and you don’t want the tire to rub there all the time.

      Also be super careful that the straps from the saddle bag can never ever reach the wheel, even after riding 100 miles on bumpy streets. One such strap in the spokes can do a terrible amount of damage to the wheel, your gear, and you.

      As for the space below the frame bag, tent poles might fit there, your pump (most come with a holder for the bottle holder thingies anyway) or a small dry bag with tools, or 2 inner tubes strapped with zipties to the frame, or…

    4. rollingstoner215 on

      This bike looks pretty kitted out to me, I’m not sure what else I’d add

    6. headpiesucks on

      Put a drink bottle cage in there. Or a small tool kit cylinder. Or a pump. Fill the space and add support for the bag

    7. Adventureadverts on

      Frame bags are really difficult to fit to frames. I had to go into Campfire cycling in Tucson to try dozens before I found a good compromise which happened to be oneja negra.

      The alternative to just trying them on is getting a custom one or just having on that doesn’t fit, sadly.

    8. jgauth2 on

      I feel like you can slide the bag to the front more for a better fit. If that works you could put a bottle behind the bag

    9. machinationstudio on

      I’ll put a bottle cage in the frame under the frame bag, get a small bottle, and use it as your tool box, saving space in the bag for food and stuff.

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