I’m riding in France, my first self-supported 4-day camping trip. Any suggestions or warnings about how I packed?
The tent and the poles are on the handlebar and a tad too long. When I pack again I will change their place with the sleeping bag.
The sticker-covered black container on the fork contains snacks and repair kit and it provides easy access with a twist lid (it was an old protein powder container).
The orange/yellow thing attached to the saddlebag is a lightweight backpack and carries bulky/pointy stuff such as my cooking kit that I couldn’t fit in the drybag comfortably. First 20kms were OK, but taking the bag on my back is an acceptable plan B.
Saddlebag contains 2 boxers, 2 bike shorts, one shirt, a rain jacket / wind breaker, a can of tuna, towel, and some pasta.
Top tube bag contains charging kit, medicine, toiletries, documents, multi tool.
Food and water are easy to come by. One bottle cage carries air mattress. The third cage will take a Decathlon camping chair.
Any ideas for how to:
1) Get rid of the backpack
2) Get more space on handlebar so that I can use the hoods
3) Have additional 3-4 litres of easy access volume so I can carry my medicine, towel, swimming suit, etc. which I want to access during the day without unpacking the saddlebag.
by stat-insig-005
7 Comments
Hi there and happy riding.
I used a pannier rack and bags as well as the big saddle bag. That gave me a lot of capacity. Which leads on to another piece of advice, don’t overpack. Lastly, go slow and enjoy the journey.
Have a great trip.
Get a dry bag for your sleeping bag, even short easy rain can bring a big trouble in the current setup
agree with dry bag for sleeping bag and I would consider putting that container in the place of that third bottle holder. Mount a dry bag to the other fork too and put your shoes and backpack there. I would not like the “mess” on my saddle bag for potential extra swaying and a cleaner packed bike that cannot snag people or items.
https://preview.redd.it/vxfl19tmz5lf1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2462190e3277cb34bcef515a19d20b5e0224b0c3
not sure what the black container on the left side of the fork is for, but that seems like a bad use of that space. a second dry bag like the one on the other side would be a better choice.
5.8L ortlieb fork packs are the best purchase ive made.
make sure that all that stuff is secured really well, then check again. if something comes loose on your fork it might mean a trip in an ambulance (looks like yours are pretty good)
in the back what happens is that on a rockin descent something comes off and you figure it out much later
Haha! yeah, It’s a cliche (I actually forgot my wooden kuksa that I like much more) but still I feel kinda proud being part of the biketouring/packing community.