Velocivixen

I'll admit I've only been camping once - I was 15 years old. I remember it because it was the weekend that Mt. St. Helen's exploded. I basically just showed up & went with my friend's parents. They did all the work.

I'm a native Oregonian and like being in the outdoors. I joke that I like to "visit" the outdoors but sleep in a nice soft bed - like in a hotel. Sort of tongue in cheek yet sort of true. I do love the outdoors and especially I love my state and the beautiful forests and mostly the abundance of trees and lush green.

Fast forward to today. Portland has the BTA - Bicycle Transportation Alliance and they have a FB group for women only. They're planning a beginner's bike packing overnight trip in April. East of Portland off I-84 there's the Lower Deschuttes River recreational area. You park there and they have hiking, horse and bike trails along an old rail line. You can camp along there. The prerequisite for the actual trip is a 2 hour class on what to bring, what to pack, etc. Will be at the Mountain Shop, which is a shop that sells & rents supplies for hiking, skiing, bike packing/camping. So I could just rent a nice, top of the line full squish mountain adventure bike....but where's the fun in that?!

Now to the point. I have a 1994 Trek 730 Multitrack that I bought with the generous help of @oddjob2. It's a 17" bike, sloping top tube, full chromoly main triangle, stays and fork with 700c wheels. I'd like to build it up for the possibility of doing some gravel stuff. I have never mountain biked or gravel biked, except for some very short (like 4 miles) trips up on Leif Erickson trial in Forest Park.

I've already overhauled the bike. It has a steel stem & 4" riser bars with poorly functioning grip shifters. My two handlebar options will be:

1. riser stem with straight bars (off a 1995 Trek 820) and newish grip shifters or friction thumb shifters.

2. Nitto dirt drop stem with Soma Portola drop bars with bar end friction shifters.

I have all the parts for this and don't want to spend any money since I don't know if I'll really do this long term. Just trying it out. It is a triple with 7 speed, and has 700x35 Vittoria Voyager Hyper (smooth) tires. So for gravel I'd need something with tread I presume? What kind? Schwalbe? Clement? Trying to be very low budget.

Handlebars setup? Which way should I go? Straight bars are wider but only 1 hand position. The dirt drop stem would get the bars way up high, thus closer to me. Portola bars are sort of like Midge bars with shallow reach/short drop & flare.

Bike has 2 spots for bottle cages and eyelets for racks in the rear.

I've looked on the forum and have gotten some really good ideas, but some folks build their bikes for actual racing, or endurance gravel riding and that might be overkill for what my modest initial ventures will be.

Thanks for any in put.

icepick_trotsky 

There's gravel, and there's gravel, and there's gravel. The various grades and amount of packing can demand all kinds of different tires. Panaracer Gravel Kings are a great all purpose place to start, I think, but depending on your needs, those Vittorias might do just fine.

I'm always inclined to want multiple hand positions, but to each his (or her) own. I'd try the Midges.

What's wrong with that Straggler you just got? That seems perfect for this sort of thing.

bikemig 

I'm with icepick; the straggler sounds good to me. If you want to use the Trek, I'd opt for the drop bars and bar ends as I find that more comfortable for distance riding. For tires, I'd be tempted to go with the tire you have since you don't know if you'll do this again.

Velocivixen

Yeah, no kidding right? Straggler is pristine & so want a bike that is purpose built and one that I don't have to "worry" about banging up. Maybe lower pressures on gravel would work. I'll find out more in the class. Thanks.

Lascauxcaveman 

I think you need a whole new bike.

Velocivixen

Why?

gomango

The Straggler should be great for this adventure.

I wouldn't be afraid to bang it around a bit.

That's why we buy these things.

As for tires, Gravel Kings are great. Clement MSOs are also great. Especially the 120tpi jobbers.

I wouldn't go out and buy a bunch of racks. See if someone you know has some Revelate bags, strap them on and you should be good to go.

What are you going to do about food and sleeping bags? How about water?

A lightweight tent of some sort?

If this ride is supported, I would carry as little as possible.

Lascauxcaveman 

(Pssst... I'm enabling, just go with it!)

brownplus

Use the frame you have...I did, and never needed an "upfit"

I put these on my old breezer .....

Origin8 Bicycle Drop Bar Ends, Black

and with the wide straight bar, it's all I need....yup, also added a more upright stem and some kenda slant 6 tires....can pretty much go anywhere my mtb's can go. And at least you have a steel frame...that puts you more in the comfort zone already.

Velocivixen

@gomango - The Mountain shop rents Revelate bags so I'd rent some. I would have to see about a tent & such as I have nothing in this regard. Good ideas though. I have a couple of heavy duty rear racks I could take off other bikes if I needed. Apparently mile 14 has "goats heads" but I think they come into season here in the fall. I'm not at all familiar with this part of Oregon actually. Never even seen a goats head. Mr. VV has a hydration back with a bladder in it for water. I would have 2 water bottles also.

This trip is on a trail that families actually ride with kids. Total trip length is 37 miles - that's out and back, so it's basically an overnight quick trip to get newbies familiar with it. Elevation gain is +1456 feet.

If you're interested here's a link to the Deschutes River Trail (lower) with photos.


Deschutes River Trail (Lower) Mountain Bike Trail, Wasco, Oregon

@Lascauxcaveman - OK, you got it!
@brownplus - that's a good looking bike!

gomango

If you use Revelates there will be no need to add the weight of the rack.

Sounds like the shop can set you up for a fantastic trip.

I've been doing this now for a few years, so if you need any additional help, please ask.

Also, here's a link for you to check out.

Bikepacking 101 - BIKEPACKING.com

One of my rigs.

IMG_3021 by gomango1849, on Flickr

Chrome Molly

Before committing to a bike for the type of camper you are now, I'd suggest getting the camping part a little more refined. You will get better at the camping part with experience and may need less bike/packs as you refine your needs. I'd suggest the rental route until you are good at it and decide it is something you want to continue to do. Sorry for no fun answer.

gomango

Good points.

No one ever reminded me to bring waterproof matches, rope, a lightweight tarp and a decent knife for example.

Learned the hard way.

arex

Bear spray. LOTS of bear spray.

Henry III

This totally reminds me of my step dad. He buys a brand new Ford Explorer but doesn't drive and then "has" to buy a beater Jeep Cherokee(by no means is it a beater either) so he doesn't rack up miles or scratch it. The Straggler would be the ultimate gravel bike as well...that's what it was designed for. Girls makes my head hurt. Lol.

If you just have to build up the Hybrid then basically look at your Straggler for ideas. Seriously. As for Goatheads...bring patches and tubes. I never had to deal with Goatheads this early in the year because everything is still soft and normally don't deal with them until summer when everything dries up and the thorns start falling. No matter what tire you use with flat protection it's going to go through. I kid you not as these things are like tacks. Slime tubes...thorn resistant tubes it didn't matter. I changed umpteen tires at the shop just because of goatheads. Our greenway was littered with them after they would weedwack the sides of the path and spread them everywhere. Not to mention if you use like super thorn resistant tires, tubes or lines then it just makes your bike ride like a turd and dead.

gomango

VV- Check out these links for more ideas/info!!!

Boyz on the Hoods

Bikepacking and Bike Expedition - Mtbr.com

https://forums.mtbr.com/bikepacking-b...r-1002586.html

RobbieTunes

Mule.

tarwheel 

I would use some tires with tread. I rode a weeklong gravel tour with friends, one of whom had voyager hyper 32s on his bike, and he was not happy with them for that purpose. If you hit any mud, they are next to useless. We both ran Clement LAS 33s on the next trip and were very pleased with them. Another friend used Clement USH 40s and very pleased with them too.

MeadMan2

It sounds as though the trail is crushed lime stone, not gravel. *700 by 28 or 30 should work fine. *If it is on an old rail line, it will be flat so don't worry about super low gears, just low enough to handle your camping gear. *I have been doing 5 day bike camping tours on Wisconsin bike trails, which are crushed lime stone, on my Gary Fisher hybrid (rigid fork). *At my age, the most important piece of camping gear is a comfortable mattress.

Sir_Name 

I love backpacking and camping (longest trip so far was 12 days in the Adirondacks), bikepacking sounds like a blast as well.

You have some great advice here and a great set of people and resources on tap at the shop. My $0.02 would be to focus on planning, focus on packing, but also focus on enjoying it. The main draw to this type of thing for me, and I assume most, is being able to disconnect from the day-to-day, keep things simple, and go for some adventure. Morning coffee over the fire after a night in the woods is the best coffee (bonus points if near a stream or lake, sounds of wildlife nearby, etc.).

Take your time and keep an eye out for interesting things.



A few more of my cents on packing:
Bringing everything you need and nothing you don't is an art & science - sounds like your shop will help there. Keep loads taut and where they're easy to carry - sounds like the shop should be of help there to. Rent as much as possible until you know what you like and what you don't. Try a few different inflatable sleeping pads or other crash pads to help the night stay comfortable as can be. I've never used inflatable pillows, but have heard good tings and I'd be tempted to add that little weight if going by bike. I'm guessing the group will discuss food and water, so not much to say there.

Re questions on bike gear:
Sounds like your current 35mm smooth tires should be fine. Bring something to address possible flats and a dollar bill or two for a boot if necessary (a torn sidewall can end a gravel ride quick - depends on the gravel, though I've been surprised in the past). Of the two bar options listed, I'd choose Portolas over the straight bars, though it's less of a factor on this length of ride (think of it as two 19mi rides). Build it up, then ride and post any thoughts/questions here.

Salamandrine 

Well for me those tires and a Trek Multitrack sound just about right. If those pictures are representative, it looks like your basic gravel road, not some rutted single track trail. I've taken my Masi on far, far worse.... However, going to some fatter tires would give you an extra margin of control, and since it sounds like dirt riding is new to you, it may be a good idea to go fatter.

I'd go for the drop bars for more hand positions. Don't slam the stem though, it's important to be able to keep your weight back on downhills.

Flat bars are more for crazy single track rock hopping stuff IMO.

Velocivixen

Wow, thanks guys! Also will check out the links. @Henry III - is absolutely correct. I saved and saved for my Straggler and it's set up for me, so I may be just spinning my wheels with this hybrid build.

I'll call ahead to the Shop or visit in a few days to speak in real life. The only thing I've committed to thus far, is taking the bike packing class at the Mountain shop. It's women only so I also hope to connect with others who could maybe show me the ropes. I don't know if the shop rents tents, etc., so that will be the difference whether I do the trip or not.

gomango

Renting a lightweight tent is a great plan. Make sure you can fit your other bags in there if rain is on its way.

Nothing worse than waking up with wet gear.

Btw I bought a $400 tent on CL for peanuts.

Sir_Name 

I meant to add: if you end up doing the trip, bring a tarp just big enough to fit under the footprint of the tent to keep moisture from seeping through and into your stuff (even if it doesn't rain). Hope it works out!

Salamandrine 

Oh, I didn't notice that in your bike list. Yeah, geez, take that. It's perfect. Why would you ride something else if you have that?

IMO your time is better spent concentrating on getting some basic camping gear. Also might be a good time to practice riding on dirt. It does take practice. The rear brake suddenly becomes more important than the front