A first solo trip and attempt at bikepacking done in December 2020. To understand what works & what doesn't. Learn from mistakes and improve upon.
Something meaningful to remember the year by was much needed and 12-12-2020 is a unique date to do it. Bikepacking on the 'To-Do' list was long overdue. This is my first solo trip and an attempt at bikepacking over three days covering a total of 154 kms [77 kms one way ] over a weekend. This was more to explore tent camping & cooking outdoors, when on a bicycle.
Have to admit that this is NOT the best, ideal and efficient setup, as I make do with the tent and cooking gear that is used when I go camping out on a motorcycle trip. What's important is to understand what works & what doesn't as it differs from person to person. Key is to learn from mistakes and improve upon with a more efficient, lightweight yet practical setup.
Bike
For this trip, I used my Triban 3 (from Decathlon). A road bike with endurance geometry. Aluminium frame and carbon forks with aluminium dropout. Triple chainring, Shimano 2300 groupset & Shimano 2300 STI, 8 speed shifters. The 29-inch sport rims had stiff bead road slick tyres. Not recommended for such a trip but had to make do as no hybrid/gravel tyres were available for immediate use/purchase.
Bikepacking gear
Below is the list of my bikepacking gear setup for this trip, with its contents and review on it.
- Aerobars (handlebar extensions) :-
Aerobars are aluminium handlebar extensions with padded forearm rests allows the rider to get into a more aerodynamic position with a dropped torso. Additionally, the padded rests also makes for another holding position to the hands providing a more relaxed upright position. These also helped to hold tent poles with a zip tie and secure the handlebar bag onto the handlbar via straps. Although these aerobars add an additional 490 grams onto the overall weight of the bike, it was helpful and well worth it. Front end of the aerobars wrapped with tennis racket handle grip wraps for a padded yet firm grip for the hands - an idea given by fellow cyclist and good friend.
To purchase, click link Aerobars (₹2799) - Handlebar bag :-
Getting a handlebar bag specifically made for bikepacking was hard to come by so had to improvise. SW-Motech 8 ltr. waterproof rolltop drybag and a motorcycle tailbag bottom fastening straps was used for this. To retain the bag's position on the bike and to prevent it from pressing/rubbing against the bike frame or brake/gear cables, used a block of styrofoam with arc shapes carved out on top and front such that it rests between the bike's head tube, stem and handlebar bag (packed with sleeping bag, air pillow & fleece pullover). Worked just fine. - Top tube bag :-
My Topeak top tube bag was ruined, so had to get a new one. Got the 1.5 ltr. frame bag from Decathlon. It comes with 3 point velcro attachments and 2 zipper compartments. While the Decathlon website shows its usage as a frame bag or as a top tube bag, it works well when it's hung from the top tube. Not so much when resting on the top tube or down tube of the bike. This bag contained spare tyre tube (in zip lock cover), puncture repair kit, hand pump, multitool, mini snicker bars, folding knife and a buff. As a top tube bag, it kept flopping onto one side throughout the ride and was annoying to a point of me wanting to throw the damn bag away. Not recommended as a top tube bag.
To purchase, click link Top tube bag (₹699) - Frame bag :-
Satisfied with my earlier purchase and use of saddle bag from Trek n' Ride, I decided to test out their frame bag as well. This one is inexpensive yet well made. Material is durable and water resistant, not waterproof. It has one zipper pocket on each side of bag and one zipper on top to bag's main compartment but access to which is cumbersome and inefficient. This frame bag will not suit all bikes. Also, using this will negate the usage of bottle cages within the bike frame. The bag was used to load up all food items - ready-to-eat meals, energy bars, chikkis, dry fruits, 100gm. bottle of peanut butter, sachet with green tea, small bottle of honey, quick boil breakfast items (oats/upma), basic medication & toiletry kit. It's ideal to load up the frame bag with heavy stuff that are not accessed through the day.
To purchase, click link Frame bag (₹899) - Bottle holder on fork :-
The bike frame come with accomodation for two bottle cages. Since the space inside of frame was taken mostly by the frame bag, had to relocate the 2 water bottles elsewhere on the bike. The front fork ends has provisions to fit tyre mudguards. Cut two 6" portions from an old road tyre tube and slid each one up the front forks of bike. Bolted the bottom of the 2 bottle cages onto the fork. Zip tied the top of the bottle cage to the fork making sure the zip tie goes over the tyre tube, that which acts as both protection to the fork as well as a vibration dampener. Perfect!
To purchase, click link : Bottle Cage (₹199) - Saddle bag :-
A saddle bag goes under the seat of a bicycle. The capacity varies with size ranging from 0.6 ltr. to as large as 13 ltr. This rear saddle bag from Trek n Ride (purchased last year) is of 9 ltr. carrying capacity. Well contructed and highly water resistant. It fixes on to the bike with one velro attachment to the seat post and 2 buckle straps through the seat rails. Bungee straps up top to hold flip-flops or rain jacket. Additionally, a shoulder strap to carry bag when off the bike. For this trip, bag was used to carry tent and one track pant.
To purchase, click link Saddle bag (₹1,199) - Tent :-
The tent used is purchased from Decathlon. The Arpenaz 2+ tent [discontinued] is good but weighed 2.9kg and that's heavy to take on a bicycle. A good lightweight tent for bikepacking/trekking should be about 1.5 kg but comes at a steep high price. Something most definitely to consider. This tent is usually folded 3 ways & rolled up, but here the poles were packed seperately while the tent folded 4 ways & rolled up to reduce size of the packed tent. - Tent poles carry bag :-
To carry the tent poles seperately and securely, a trekking poles carrying bag was purchased from Amazon. This bag is water resistant and comes with a shoulder carrying strap on it too. Had the tent poles placed safe inside of it and zip tied the bag onto the bottom of aerobars on the bike.
To purchase, click link Tent poles carry bag (₹374) - Sling bag :-
The Tribord 12 ltr. waterproof drybag from Decathlon [discontinued] purchased several years ago had been used extensively and served very well. With no place in saddle or frame bag for clothes, had to use this. Bag consisted of 2 cotton tshirts, a quick-dry towel, 3 innerwears, mobile chargers & miners head lamp with extra batteries. Bag had more space meant for the smaller waist pouch (in case it rained). Down side to this cross shoulder sling bag when riding the bicycle is that it kept sliding to the front - very annoying and distracting. A backpack would serve better but neither would be recommended for long rides on a bicycle. - Waist pack :-
The Crampster Hippo 2.0 oversize waistpack purchased 6 years back has served very well over the years. Built well with a 2.4 ltr. carrying capacity, it comes with airMesh padded contact area lumber support with secret pocket and a shoulder strap. Meshed bottle holders on either sides that held a 0.8 ltr water bottle and 0.8 ltr. fuel canister (for the stove), each secured with plastic carabiners to hooks on bag. The large main zipped compartment comes with a small organiser pockets within. This area held a 1.1 ltr stainless steel pot with lid (in a zip lock bag), the stove in bubble wrap and secured within the pot, a 0.4 ltr. stainless steel mug, stove pump & lighter (in a zip lock bag), strainer, fork, knife & spoon. A small zipped compartment in front is good for easy access items - chapstick/lip balm, basic front/rear bike lights & a 50 ml. bottle of hand sanitizer.
To purchase, click link Waist pack (₹1000) - Waist pouch :-
This is a trekking travel organizer from Decathlon that served as a small secondary waist pouch. Weighs 175 gms. It comes with 2 large zip and partitioned pockets + 1 extendible gusset pocket on the front. Also has a vertical loop strap at the back with which one can attach it to the belt of your backpack. This pouch held 2 mobile phones, visiting card holder for id/debit cards & some cash, pocket tissues pack, keys, pen, earphones.
To purchase, click link Waist pouch (₹599)
Gear purchases were mostly from Amazon and Decathlon
Day 01 : Saturday, 12 December 2020
Bengaluru to Sathanur [ 77 km ]
Started by 7:30am and reached the campsite by 1:30pm. Took pictures and short few video clips before unpacking, setting up tent, freshening up and settling in for the rest of the day.
Day 02 : Sunday, 13 December 2020
At the camp site relaxing on a hammock for most part of the day. From 10 am onwards, several cars poured in with single parents and their children to spend the day at the camp site. They left by 5pm leaving the camp site back with the clear sounds of bird chirps and solitude.
Day 03 : Monday, 14 December 2020
Return from Sathanur to Bengaluru [ 77 km ]
Started out late from the camp site by 8:40am after having taken my medication and morning tea. Ride till Kanakapura main road was pleasant as I rode through the village roads. By now the sun was up overhead and the road widening work on Kanakapura road left me with a boring and rather tiring ride back. Reached my home in Bengaluru by 3:20pm.
A brief on Bikepacking
For those new to or not so familiar with what bikepacking is. There is Bike Touring and then there is Bike Packing. The general understanding of bike touring is travelling/touring long distances that is spread over several days, months or even years. Now touring usually consists of panniers on racks fitted on the back and front of the bicycle, besides other forms of luggage - all of which will hold gear that is useful, necessary and even some amount of luxury to the rider for the duration of the tour. Bike Packing on the other hand is travelling short distances that can last a day to a few days. Concept of bikepacking is all about packing as light as possible, keeping the overrall weight of gear on the bike to the least possible. With luggage to a bare minimum just enough to support the rider for the duration of the ride. Luggage on the bike is usually centered to within and along the length of the bike.
Bikepacking with a touring setup is an overkill while Touring with a bikepacking setup is spartan and extremely challenging for the rider. The kind of bike, the luggage system and gear for either bike touring or bike packing is very subjective and differs with personal preference.
