Packing question for the bike-packers.
#1
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Packing question for the bike-packers.
I have a Ridley Kanzo Adventure which I mainly ride for fire roads and gravel, but it has multiple mounts designed for overnight trips as well. I'm also a backpacker for context.
I've been working out a bag system using my favorite Revelate brand and the one issue I just can't work out is how to pack one-person tent poles on a drop-bar bike. When collapsed, the poles are 19.5" long which is too long to fit between the levers on the handlebars and just a hair too long to fit inside the top tube with a large frame bag (the 56cm frame has 19" of space between the seat tube and head tube).
Absent strapping tent poles with zip ties somewhere I'm at a loss of how to pack them. Can experienced bike-packers give a backpacker some guidance?
I've been working out a bag system using my favorite Revelate brand and the one issue I just can't work out is how to pack one-person tent poles on a drop-bar bike. When collapsed, the poles are 19.5" long which is too long to fit between the levers on the handlebars and just a hair too long to fit inside the top tube with a large frame bag (the 56cm frame has 19" of space between the seat tube and head tube).
Absent strapping tent poles with zip ties somewhere I'm at a loss of how to pack them. Can experienced bike-packers give a backpacker some guidance?
#2
Senior Member
Downtube being longer than top:-
If you have a close to full size framebag, where there's straps wrapping around the downtube, you can use those strap points as anchoring spots from where to wrap around velco straps holding tightly the poles.
i.e. the poles end up being strapped somewhere along the downtube side e.g. non drive-side. You'll only need two velco lengths at opposing pole ends.
Even if you have a smaller framebag that has only one downtube strapping point for example, you can use that point and a second position against your downtube bottle cage [if you have a cage there] to strap the poles against. I find a velcro length that is 1-1.5cm wide, wide enough to get a good clamp-down tightness against the frame tube. Easier to remove and re-wrap than cable ties.
If you have a close to full size framebag, where there's straps wrapping around the downtube, you can use those strap points as anchoring spots from where to wrap around velco straps holding tightly the poles.
i.e. the poles end up being strapped somewhere along the downtube side e.g. non drive-side. You'll only need two velco lengths at opposing pole ends.
Even if you have a smaller framebag that has only one downtube strapping point for example, you can use that point and a second position against your downtube bottle cage [if you have a cage there] to strap the poles against. I find a velcro length that is 1-1.5cm wide, wide enough to get a good clamp-down tightness against the frame tube. Easier to remove and re-wrap than cable ties.
#3
Firm but gentle
I have a 56 cm steel bike with a Relevate full frame bag. My tent poles must go in first, right on top of the downtube. There is a divider that is secured with velcro that can be pulled out of the way.
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I was having the same issue that the OP has. I ended up ordering a set of replacement tent poles and
extra connectors. Then I removed the shock cord and cut the poles in half. Glued the connectors onto the ends of the pieces without a connector (except the ends) and re strung the shock cord. Now my poles are just under 10” long and can be strapped to the handlebars, top tube, or down tube… they will even fit into my tail pack if I so choose.
extra connectors. Then I removed the shock cord and cut the poles in half. Glued the connectors onto the ends of the pieces without a connector (except the ends) and re strung the shock cord. Now my poles are just under 10” long and can be strapped to the handlebars, top tube, or down tube… they will even fit into my tail pack if I so choose.
#5
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This is a general enough issue that there are now tents designed with poles that have shorter segments (or that offer such poles as options), specificaly for bikepacking. (Mine is from 6 Moon Designs.) Some tents should be straightforward to Retrofit, others not so much...
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Strap to the rear under seat bag ?, strap alongside the frame bag on the top tube ?
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Big Agnes (who makes pretty good tents generally) has a series of bikepacking-specific tents, and the main feature is the shorter poles, as well as a compression sack that is purpose-made to mount directly to a bike frame/bars.
https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/bikepacking-tents
https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/bikepacking-tents
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#8
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The first tent I used for bikepacking had long pokes and my bike was 47cm. I strapped it to the underneath of the downtube. I now either use and alpkit elan hooped bivvy or an alpkit soloist tent. Both of those can fit the poles either in between my brifters (tent) or in my saddlebag (bivvy). I could probably also fit the tent poles in my saddlebag as well to be honest
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My First Camping Trip.
600 Miles with a Loaner Tent and Panniers
600 Miles with a Loaner Tent and Panniers
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I struggled with that too. Tried using a bivvy bag and didn't love it. +1 on the bike packing specific tent.... I ended up with the Nemo Dragonfly bike-packing tent. Nice short poles. The bag and poles fit between the handlebars.
#11
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I also had that issue but purchased a Big Agnes tent with shorter poles and compression. Mine has found a spot on one side of my fork. Worth the investment.
Last edited by MattyWillPDX; 12-01-22 at 11:14 PM.
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You can get custom poles made too.
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I used Tent Pole Technologies in Vancouver, WA just outside of Portland. They do warranty work for several brands including REI. They made a four-segment carbon pole for my Six Moon tent that replaced the three segment aluminum pole that came with the tent. It easily fits in a frame bag and gives me more packing options for the tent itself.
https://tentpoletechnologies.com
it didn’t hurt that Six Moon Designs and Tent Pole Technologies are both local to me.
https://tentpoletechnologies.com
it didn’t hurt that Six Moon Designs and Tent Pole Technologies are both local to me.
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