Happy Feet

This is a really good point to consider.

I don't remove the frame bag and if I were in an area where theft was prevalent and or had to lock the bike up outside a hotel (for example) it would be a pita. One reason they work for bike packing is that you usually dont worry about that.

Horses for courses as they say

alan s 

This is one of my touring bikes with a combination of bikepacking and traditional touring gear. The front half is bikepacking and the rear is traditional rack and panniers. Works for me.

Tourist in MSN

One more note on water - you might note that the photo of my bike with the panniers, etc., I had three Smartwater brand one liter sized bottles in the cages. Needed an extra velcro strap on teh one below the downtube to keep it in the cage. Smaller bottles do not fit the cages that well but the one liter size do. There also is a brand Life WTR (in Canada Life Water) that has one liter size bottles that fit cages nicely. I have started using those bottles for touring because they are light and fit in cages well. They were intended to be disposable, but I re-use them. I think they have about a two month life span. And if I am flying somewhere with my bike, yes I am bringing along empty (disposable) water bottles.

In this photo, I am mixing two Life WTR and one Smartwater bottle, all are one liter capacity. That size does not come with the flip top lids, I used lids off other bottles.



If you use the regular small size water bottles that are about 22 oz, you need three of those to equal two of my one liter bottles.

But, smaller size frames might not be able to fit those large tall bottles.

u235

Loading up stuff on your bike that you will need for a few days and then actually going somewhere. Use the best tool, or at least what you have to get the job done for where you are going. Call it what you want touring or bike packing, it is the same thing. I do think some people do go out of their way to apply a specific tag or name to it. The bike and the gear are the tools, not the event.

I'm sure many people have watched Iohan Gueorguiev on youtube but if haven't already he does a lot with full rack and gear and a more scaled back without racks when going light. They both can work, it depends.

Tourist in MSN

Yeah, all my bags come off my bike and go in the tent every night, exception is the small bag with a pair of tubes and a tire lever.

But mountain biking, if you do not need anything out of the bag when you are in the tent, no reason to take the bag off the bike.

Papa Tom

I don't want to mislead anyone. My so-called "tours" are generally 40-50 miles a day in populated areas and they usually only last a weekend. Once I get going, though, I don't like to stop very often, so that's my only reason for wanting two accessible water bottles (and sometimes a third in my trunk bag). You made a very good point about taking the frame bag off when you stop. I use a quick-release Topeak rack bag/pannier set primarily because I want to be able to get it on and off quickly when I DO stop. I guess a frame bag would become a nuisance after a while.

Why don't they just build a locking storage space into the triangle of the frame?

Anyway, we seem to have hijacked this thread with another discussion about bags, haven't we?

Miele Man

Do you mean something like this?



Cheers

Papa Tom

I've seen that picture before and vowed to make myself one. Of course, it never happened. Is that yours?

Miele Man

Are you asking about the image of the wine-bike? If so, no it's not mine. I did a Google Images search and found it here:

https://winepredator.files.wordpress...04/bikebar.jpg

Cheers

Happy Feet

I like that wine bike frame bag (box?). It reminds me of the Swiss Army bikes with a similar compartment. I could see that being a somewhat functional piece of kit for a commuter or rinko type bike that didn't need to be locked up. Looks clean without doodads hanging off. In the compartment could be tools, tube, pump, lock for quick stops, rain poncho and even a storage battery to power lights or cellphone/gps - all with their specific spots. Just stays with the bike and always available.

Miele Man

I could see making one out of fiberglass and polyester or epoxy resin and having it be lockable.

Cheers

alan s 

This would work for me.

djb

Holy chain porn Batman!

MarcusT

So, in conclusion with a firm understanding. Bikepacking can be defined as:
The type of bike you ride
and/or
the bags one mounts on their bike
and/or
the terrain one rides
and/or
where one sleeps
and/or
how much gear is carried
and/or
if one has the proper clothing, facial hair and tattoos?

Ok, I made that last one up. No one needs to bite on that one

Happy Feet

When I want to learn more about a subject I go to the source.

So simple: Go look on bikepacking.com and see what they say about the main thing they promote https://bikepacking.com/

Here's the first two paragraphs under bikepacking 101 What is Bike Packing?:

Simply put, bikepacking is the synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping. It evokes the freedom of multi-day backcountry hiking, but with the range and thrill of riding a mountain bike. It’s about exploring places less traveled, both near and far, via singletrack trails, gravel, and abandoned dirt roads, carrying only essential gear. Ride, eat, sleep, repeat, enjoy!

A common misconception is that bikepacking requires a small fortune to fully appreciate: the perfect bike, custom bags, and all the latest ultralight camping gear. While investing in quality gear is never a bad idea, it’s certainly not a necessity to get you up and running. Start by using what you own and picking a short (20-50 miles) overnight route near home. Discover what you really need through experience. Check out this Advice for New Bikepackers from five experienced riders.

Ghazmh

I consider bike touring to be on paved surfaces. I consider bikepacking to include but not limited to unpaved trails and backcountry terrain. Let’s not forget that defining a specific sub category opens up another market for specialized category specific merchandise to sell.

indyfabz

So if I start a day on a paved road into Avery, ID, jump on the unpaved former Milwaukee Road right of way to the unpaved Route of the Hiawatha Trail then an unpaved Forest Service road to the unpaved NorPac Trail and then onto I-90 to the paved Trail of the Coeur d'Allenes I have gone from bike touring to bikepacking back to bike touring all in one day?

PedalingWalrus

Beginning Again: First Impression of Bikepacking

alan s 

Depends on whether you used knobblies.

indyfabz

No. Inverted tread. Conti Top Contact II. 37c.

Leebo

Don't over think it. Ride your bike away from home, repeat until needed, return when done. New England bikepacker here. I use a Surly Krampus, 29 x 3" tires, frame bag, fork bags, handlebar bags and a small rear rack with bags. Change it up as needed, as by the trip. I seek out the woods, the dirt, the singletrack and off road. Generally hit pavement and bikepaths on all my rides to connect. Touring I think as smaller tires and mostly pavement with some dirt roads. Cheers. Enjoy the ride.

mev

Too constrained. There are a lot of interesting places to tour in this world that aren't all on paved roads...

djb

damnit mev, stop that, those photos make me want to jump on a plane somewhere!

Great set of shots

cyccommute 

Depends on where you are biking. First, I never take the bike bags into a tent. Although I believe that bears are mythical creatures...I've never seen one in the wild despite 40 years of tromping around in the woods...I'd rather not risk encountering one, just in case. And, just in case bears are real, I either hang my bags from a tree or put them in bear boxes if the campground has them. It's far easier to do so with panniers than with bikepacking gear.

djb

Hey there PW, that is one hell of a well written piece, thanks a lot for putting it up.
She wonderfully describes the different experience of traveling in more isolated territory, but at the same time, she really did encapsulate the whole traveling by bike experience, the adventure, the quiet, experiencing the terrain and nature thing, that wonderful mix of isolation and human contact thing.
i really liked also how she emphasized how in more isolated areas, you've got way more responsibility of dealing with problems, managing distances, water, food, and not messing up and hurting yourself.
This last part certainly touches on how quote backpacking unquote clearly is a popular thing, but just as with hiking or whatever in isolated areas, folks who have no experience with stuff, whether dealing with any mechanical stuff or simply directional self awareness, have more need to be responsible about this and that...

Again, really great piece, even to an old guy probably old enough to be her dad.

PS, that shot of the sandals---holy kajeepers! Yup, tubeless certainly has its place...