Not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I’d suggest a cradle of some sort to help stabilize the bag. There’s plenty available or you can DIY one with a section of PVC pipe. I split the difference and went with a 3D printed model from Etsy. Haven’t taken any overnighters or rough trails with it yet but so far so good.

 

First I thought about going with some kind of a cradle, but I was afraid it would rotate down eventually. My plan is to ride off road as much as possible, and I want to be able to tackle stuff like rocky singletrack, small jumps etc. So I think ideally I should go with a solution where the bag still rests on the headtube, I guess?

Did you buy this?

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

 

Rather not wear a backpack, but puffy stuff goes on my back when the terrain is rowdy. That makes room in the front roll to roll up the ends more to avoid brake levers and/or eliminate a seat pack.

I’ve spent many days with my brake hoses bent. It doesn’t bother me if not extreme. I’d take that before trying to move a load away from the bike center for a jibby ride.

Your bike has a lot of room for a frame bag in the front tri. Exploiting that could cost time or money, but would be worth it unless this ride is just a flash in the pan. Platypus or other flexible bottles unless a bottle is needed for treatment. Mostly just pack light, small and with efficiency to begin with; leaving out contingency items for short/rowdy outings pays you back.

 

So i'm an absolute noob, I have no idea what i'm doing, and I don't even have my sleeping setup yet. I'm gonna be using a 1 person tent. Based on the measurements I have, I think i'm going to put the tent and the sleeping bag in the front, but that means i'll have to run the handlebar bag at full width, and even then the tent and the sleeping bag JUST fits. The sleeping pad will go to the back I think. I could put just the tent in the front, but then i'll barely have space in the saddle bag (I think). But we'll see how things work out when the camping stuff is all here (hopefully next month).

I thought about a frame bag, but i'm not sure. I have a friend who makes bags, we could make a custom frame bag, and i'd only have to pay for the materials (and probably bring a few beers). I just don't know if I want to sacrifice the bottle. I plan to use my Osprey Duro 6 vest/pack. It's comfy, good for smaller stuff, but it's tiny. On top of the 6l capacity, I can carry two 500ml soft flasks on the front, but I usually carry 1 soft flask and have my phone on the other side.
I don't want to compromise on the sleeping setup, but other than that I only plan to carry the essentials. Where I live there isn't really a big "backcountry" either, you can pretty much always plan your trip around small villages, so I won't be carrying tons of food and water (and a stove etc.).

That harness looks interesting. I think I have some hard foam somewhere, i'll try to make some blocks even just to see how stable the bag is when I can fully tighten everything down.

Edit: So that hard foam that I have isn't actually that hard... But I can see this setup would work so much better even without a cradle or anything.

 

Saw this on bikepacking.com, interesting solution:

Bikepacking handlebar harness system.

Bikepacking handlebar harness system for mountain bikes and gnarly singletrack bikepacking.

www.nukesunrise.com

Looks like something you could bodge together with a couple pieces of PVC and stabilize your existing bag...

 

Definitely doable with PVC, I think the key is the foam blocks which when compressed really lock the whole thing down.

 

I use a Revelate pronghorn for a handlebar bag, which has a number of foam spacers the mounting straps loop through to space the bag away from the bars and levers. I don't recall who but I know there is a bikepack bag co who sells those. Maybe even Revelate could sell you some.

 

Sounds like you’re approaching it thoughtfully, but being non-negotiable on the sleeping kit and frame bottle set you up for a bit less fun while moving.

I’d get on that frame bag option and move your bottle elsewhere or ditch it for a Platypus and hose. A tiny backpack is somewhat a waste. Light cargo on your back will mostly disappear when riding. Minimalist packs that are more like a stuff sack with straps exist. Perfect for puffy stuff and hanging food, easy to put on your bike when empty.

Leaving the tent and pad at home has made short/rough outings a joy for me. Clothing and a good bivy site make up the difference. Beyond the immediate forecast I don’t risk it. For mosquito county a shelter is a convenience but not mandatory. A head net and hard shell clothing works.

I’d look for a UL sleeping bag or quilt and supplement it with clothing or a liner so it’s more useful year round. Sleeping pads are heavenly but it’s one bulky item that’s easy to skip. Some will disagree and want shelter everywhere they go. I’d sooner bring a sheet of Tyvek, plastic or SilNyl for emergency than my UL tent. I would never again depend on a cellophane bag (emergency “blanket”) but it could avert some misery in a pickle.

I love the camping experience and have hauled copious cargo to do it. But that’s the antithesis of my MO for sporty rides. Less gear means you pack up quicker and have more fun riding. The seat pack is a good one to eliminate. It’s more issue on technical terrain than a front roll, although a massive (especially wide) front roll is not awesome either.

Agree that foam spacers can help the front roll fit.

 

Just want to second doing something in your front triangle - lots of room in there.

COBikeman

 

The main reason I want a tent is because i'm scared sh*tless to sleep alone outside. 😅 I've never done it before, and even though I have all of this gear already (and more on order), i'm not actually a 100% sure that i'll have the balls to do it. I'm hopeful tho, and i'll try to force myself to do it.
When I think about it, sleeping in a tent just feels much more safe (I know that's dumb) and comfortable (but still scary). When I think about sleeping in something like a bivy, it sounds even more scary and claustrophobic. I know that's all in my head and I have no actual experience, but still.

I'm quitting my job in May, the plan is to start with overnighters, and work my way up to longer tours. I plan to go abroad as well, and i'm planning some trips where i'll travel somewhere, camp at an actual campsite, leave my stuff there, and do some day rides and visit bikeparks.

I'll think about the frame bag and i'll hit up my friend to see if we can actually make something. We made a half frame bag for my gravel bike, I absolutely love it, but on that bike I can fit two bottles and still use the bag... 🙂

 

Nothing wrong with your personal feelings re:tent/tentless. I prefer the added comfort of a tent myself but sometimes go without. Get your legs under you first and adjust as things progress.

 

It's normal to be apprehensive about sleeping out the first time. Try and go with some friends at first if you can. Or She&I suggestion to sleep out at home is a good one. I do tons of solo camping. It's very relaxing especially when weather is nice. I only bring a tent now when there is a chance of bad weather.

As others did I highly recommend a frame bag as well. Lots of riders fit a hydration bladder in their frame bags. But they also carry lots of other items well. The frame is a space you don't want to waste. A water bottle can be carried in a feed bag on your handlebar or even in a cage on your top tube. Lots of options there.

 

Yeah the plan is to possibly start in my backyard, then go to a place in the "wild" that I know well. I have one friend who might be interested in overnight trips, but i'm doubtful that it'll actually happen TBH. I always envied people who are comfortable sleeping out alone, so I really want to work my way up to it.

I think for now i'll wait for my sleeping setup to arrive, play around with where to put what, and see how the bike feels loaded up and then go from there. I'll measure things out and see how big of a frame bag I could fit.

 

Would either of these be an option? The rubber harness block would space your bag out far enough as long as you have enough strap to go around everything.

Replacement Harness Blocks

Replacement rubber blocks for the Harness handlebar system, to stabilize Harness on handlebars

www.revelatedesigns.com

Products | Revelate Designs LLC

Revelate Designs LLC Products:

www.revelatedesigns.com

 

Would either of these be an option? The rubber harness block would space your bag out far enough as long as you have enough strap to go around everything.

Replacement Harness Blocks

Replacement rubber blocks for the Harness handlebar system, to stabilize Harness on handlebars

www.revelatedesigns.com

Products | Revelate Designs LLC

Revelate Designs LLC Products:

www.revelatedesigns.com

I think i'll just buy some hard EVA foam and make my own spacers. I live in Europe and i'd have to order the Revelate stuff from abroad. The rubber block gave me an idea for a DIY solution.

I think first i'll wait for my "handlebar extender" to arrive from Ali, we'll see how it works out.

I'd recommend something like the Salsa Anything Cradle. I've done like a thousand miles with plenty of technical singletrack with one and never had a problem. I'm short and any dangly bag ends up rubbing on the tire. I also don;t have much triangle space. The cradle ain't cheap but it's very solid. I have loaded it with a 13l dry bag and a 2-person tent.

I looked at the Anything Cradle but ruled it out due to the price and the weight. Maybe I should have gone with it with just a cheaper dry bag.

 

I'd recommend something like the Salsa Anything Cradle. I've done like a thousand miles with plenty of technical singletrack with one and never had a problem. I'm short and any dangly bag ends up rubbing on the tire. I also don;t have much triangle space. The cradle ain't cheap but it's very solid. I have loaded it with a 13l dry bag and a 2-person tent.

 

Yes, this is super solid. I have one.

 

The Aliexpress handlebar extender thingy and the straps are here:

Still playing around with setup but so far it's very promising. Very minimal wiggle when cornering, almost no up and down movement on bumps and jumps.

Bought some foam too but it didn't work out too good. This Apidura bag just doesn't really like extra stuff between the bag/straps and the handlebar.

I do wish my front brake hose was a little longer, but I don't think i'm gonna have any issues at sag.

 

When strapping/clamping extra stuff to your bar, are people generally staying with aluminum bars? OR still going with carbon? I just got an enve carbon bar for the rise and dampening. But they were spency and I'm wondering if they are going to get beat up quick and if I should just look for some high rise alu bars to swap them out?

Thanks for any opinions/experiance!

 

When strapping/clamping extra stuff to your bar, are people generally staying with aluminum bars? OR still going with carbon?

Wrap your carbon bars with electrical tape where the straps contact it.

Costs at least a nickel, solves any wear issues.

 

I just got my first bikepacking bags, planning to start using them this summer.
View attachment 1974561

looks like a nice bag set up. What size is your seat bag?

 

It's 6l, all the bags are Apidura Backcountry.

Should have my camping/sleeping setup at the end of the month, can't wait! Hope everything is gonna fit in the bags. 😬

 

If you're using the handlebar extender option, make sure you're still securing the bag well to prevent it from bouncing up and down. This is how I looped my straps. By anchoring it down to the fork, there is absolutely no motion, but it doesn't rub on the head tube.

 

If you're using the handlebar extender option, make sure you're still securing the bag well to prevent it from bouncing up and down. This is how I looped my straps. By anchoring it down to the fork, there is absolutely no motion, but it doesn't rub on the head tube.

Thanks for the tips! For my short test I routed the straps like this:

Seemed rock solid. The bag does rest on the headtube this way, but i'm thinking that might not be such a bad thing (?), since it might take a bit of load off my cheapo handlebar extender. I bought some paint protection film, i'm gonna install it in a few places where the bags contact the frame.
But i'm sure i'm gonna experiment with different setups when I actually start using my gear for real.

 

That should be fine too. My bike has a very protruding headtube badge that shreds bags, so I try to keep my stuff away from it.

 

Got my camping stuff yesterday, first test ride done. It was awesome!

Packed pretty much everything other than toiletries and a few other small items. The bike climbed much much better loaded up then I expected. Got a PR on an uphill section and got a KOM on a short DH. 😅 The front bag stayed rock solid. The seat pack does wiggle up and down and sideways a bit. I can't actually feel it tho. It does hit the tyre sometimes, but I have a 210 dropper, so I might reduce the travel a bit. Really the only "issue" is that even with the post down the seat pack is up in my ass which makes steep stuff a bit weird, but i'm not planning to enter enduro races loaded up so it'll be just fine. Now i'll just need to tackle the sleeping outside bit!

One thing I noticed is that unless I angle up the handlebar extender thingy a bit, it will hit the top tube if the bars go past 90 degrees. That will only happen if I fall, although the handlebar bag and the top tube feed bag will probably stop the bars (?). Should I worry about that, or just angle the thing down how I want and send it?

 

HOw much stuff are you carrying? How long of a trip is that set up for?

 

As I understand, you've used them already, did they exceed your expectations?

 

They, as in? The bags? Or everything? 🙂

 

Done my first "real" overnighter. 147km split into two parts. It was great! Thought i'm gonna sh*t myself but sleeping alone outside was great. Zero fear. Never woke up to any weird noises. Felt at home really.

Gear is working pretty good for the most part. My pillow is a bit uncomfortable and my face kinda went a bit numb from it sometimes. 😁 A longer and wider sleeping pad wouldn't hurt either.
The handlebar bag is doing it's job fine. If I have the extender thingy tilted up it rotates down a bit after some rough riding, but then it stays there and doesn't move so that's okay.
My only issue is with the seat bag. It flops around a lot. The part that rests on the seatpost/dropper adapter feels like it has some kind of reinforcement plastic in it, however it's not strong enough so it kinda just folds in, and that causes the strap and everything to loosen up. I'll have to come up with something to solve that.

Riding the bike with a load is way better than I expected. Climbs that were super hard unloaded are still hard, but mostly doable. I'm doing the same kind of average speeds as I did without any load, or at least i'm not soooo much slower that it would be very noticeable. And about 2 weeks ago I switched from a Dissector Rekon combo to a DHR2 Dissector combo... 😁 Which is way too overkill for bikepacking, but I wanted to see how it would perform.

 

Outstanding!!! 👍

 

Nothing is perfect.. but have come to the conclusion that a light front rack is My most versatile option.