Mike from Iowa

My 86 year old mother-in-law never knows what to make of me anyway... She was surprised i didn't seem tired.

I totally encourage everyone to try something like this. It is great fun.

nlerner

Here was one essential I made sure to pack on my recent overnighter:

Mike from Iowa

It's a Terra Nova Starlite 2 which I bought a couple years ago here on Bike Forums in the Touring forum. It's lighter, and much smaller than the sleeping bag I brought. Most of my overnights are in the summer so I don't usually take a bag. I take a bag liner and a light blanket. Temps were down to 48 on overnight. If I were to camp a lot in the fall, I'd look at a lighter, small packing bag.

Mike from Iowa

Yep, and when I got to my campground I discovered I left mine on the kitchen table! In spite of that I still had a great time.

nlerner

Here’s a nice resource for planning overnight adventures: https://bikepacking.com/overnighters/

bnewberry

A practical solution to a common problem. Is it a little tough to drink out of while moving and did you make the cage yourself?

And of course, you are prepared should a nice microbrewery be near your camp!

ryansu

That longflap is sweet and cavernous OP, I have the smaller barley bag on my Nishiki,

polymorphself

Howd you get a black one with brown straps? I’ve got the large acorn saddlebag on my Voyageur which is basically the Barley. I never liked the white straps Carradice puts on their black bags. I prefer the easier access to side pockets on the acorn but will be hunting for a long flap soon and it’d be nice to have a black/brown option...

Mike from Iowa

The Growler Cage seems to be the only part on the bike that I've linked to that isn't British! I got a metal growler from my kids six or seven years ago, and then looked and found a cage. The problem with the metal growler, besides it's weight, is that there is about the thickness of a piece of paper between it and the pedals, making for lots of adjusting while riding. The plastic growler is thinner, but needs small bungees to hold it in place. My solution on the two day ride was to buy a cheap bottle of water with a squeeze top, which I slid under the flap of the Carradice bag, and could remove without unloading. I did not do this while riding! But since there were plenty of interesting stops, (rural cemeteries, railroad junctions, bridges with nice views, etc) this was not an issue. I did refill the squeeze bottle from the growler.

Mike from Iowa

"Cavernous" is a great description of the Longflap! That's why it eventually went over to the Aleyska. If I could find a Barley at a good price, I'd certainly have one for commuting. When I mentioned carrying a grill, if I don't have the panniers on the back rack, I keep the grill turned wide at the front of the rack to act as a support to hold up the bag, otherwise it droops.

ryansu

Its Olive green with brown straps and IIRC I ordered it directly from Carridice. see link here I think there is even one in burgundy with black straps but I liked the green brown combo best.

polymorphself

Ah! Looks black on my screen! I considered the olive but idk how green bag on green bike sits with me.

thorstein

I like the green with my green Voyageur. I've got the Low Saddle long flap.

polymorphself

That looks great. The green of the 1988 is pretty different from my 86 though.

3speedslow

I think my next Carradice will be the Barley. I go back and forth between the Cadet and the long flap on my bikes but want something smaller for long day rides. Looking for a deal too. Want one of the burgundy coloured but black straps just don’t cut it with me on a BRG RRA. Will probably wind up with a green brown one like the OP.

polymorphself

I find the barley on sale at various websites around the web allll the time.

thorstein is your voyageur the 23" or 25"? I'm guessing 23" but it looks slightly bigger than mine.

aland2

Great planning and loading and well done, you are showing us the way

beicster 

I have two Camper Long Flaps. One is much older and definitely looks green. The new one currently looks black. It has a slick feel which makes me think it just has a lot of sealer on it and it will fade eventually. That is just a guess though.

SuperLJ

Thanks for the great post and photos, Mike!

I grew up and the western (rural) part of Rock Island County, and I dated a girl that went to University of Iowa, so your whole post made me homesick. Strange for me to see a photo on BF, and to know exactly where it was taken!

I have a great loaded touring bike, but I haven’t used it for that in years. You inspire me to think of some short trip I could do. Thanks!

Rooney 

The owner’s answer will be more definitive, but that doesn’t look like a 25” frame to me.

polymorphself

Yeah you’re right, pumps always throw me off though.

polymorphself

I think you’re right. The Carradice website has a note that they treat them differently now and that they start very dark and fade to the expected color over time.

badger_biker

Haha same here. I did an overnighter two weekends ago with a brewery stop on day one. Since the only carry out they have is growlers we packed an empty and another half growler glass so we’d have beer at the campground😊

Salamandrine 

Cool. I hadn't heard of Terra Nova. I'll have to take a closer look at their tents.

A good fall bag that packs down to almost nothing is the Western Mountaineering Caribou. I have one. Love it. Good to 35, and i've pushed it farther. It's relatively cheap for a Western Mountaineering. Made in USA.

thorstein

It's 23"; I can see how the pump would make it harder to tell.
Re: Carridice green, I just bought a green/brown tool roll to match my Low Saddle & it is definitely darker with an oily feel to it.