IMG_0937..jpgIMG_0894..jpgIMG_0476..jpg

The dry bags are attached with two regular webbing straps each wrapped round and through the rack. I now have a Tubus Logo rack, but have had cheaper generic racks with the same set up.

Originally I took my hitchhiking gear and just tied it to my bike; small rucksack on the top of the rack, sleeping bag on the left and guitar on the right. The great thing was I could take everything off and carry it as usual. This winter in California I replaced the rucksack with a dry bag as I was expecting more rainy days.

As to stability it's fine... My max speed has been 43 mph coasting downhill, but flying down a hill into Santa Barbara I got hit by a crosswind, started to wobble and was very very (way too) close to a crash landing... Hard to resist, but I keep telling myself not to just let fly! hihi...

It's a standard nylon string classical guitar (Raimundo Model 104, from Valencia, Spain)... plus hard case (total weight about 11 lbs)... worth about $200.

The guitar is attached to the rack with a webbing strap round the case's waist and through the rack, and a bungee cord from the rack under the case. The towel protects the neck from the sun, as well as being a great place to dry it...

guitar_hammock..jpg

(Travelling guitar laying in a hammock on a beautiful hot summer day... probably waiting for a cold beer...)

some more of my opinions:

-My old Ortlieb roller Plus (lighter ones) hold 40 litres per pair, weigh a bit over 3 lbs per pair (just checked on my scale) the new rollers weigh a bit more- 1680 g/59oz/3.7 lbs as they now have an inner pocket divider thingee+they are including the shoulder straps (that I have never used). The lighter "PLUS" model is a bit more costly, I recall at the time being so concerned about weight that I said "what the heck, over time it wont be much money" and I am still glad I got the lighter ones.

-If I go out with not much stuff, I just put less stuff in, but they are there for when I do need max, capacity. In other words, I dont see the prob with having larger bags and not filling them if one wants to go lightweight, if you want to fill them to the gills, fill em.

-I prefer the roll ups as one can stuff odd shaped stuff in them, and when touring, I would buy supper/bkfast stuff at end the day usually and could ride with the tops unrolled but clipped at the top pointing upwards and have a bunch more stuff inthem than when rolled (if not raining). This is also handy for day to day life with an oddly shaped purchase fitting in.

-Also, I never use the "strap" like in the photos of these bags to "compress" them, I just clip the two ends of the roll up ends together up top. I never liked the idea of carrying my full bags by the supplied "shoulder" straps anyway, as it seemed to put a lot of stress on the bag, so I always carry them by the handle.

-all this talk of water and food, you can relate this to backpacking IF you are biking in areas where you are never in contact with towns, villages etc. I personally have always toured in areas where one does pass houses, villages whatever, so I never had to carry more than my three bikemounted bike bottles. My travelling in Europe and in NA may be very diff than what Depleted wants to do.

-another preference of mine for waterproof type bags is not having a cordura type bag that after riding in rain stays wet in your tent with you and takes forever to dry out.
-I have found I also prefer zipperless bags now, less "forcing" issues and possible failures. I realize its all down to preference, but a "one-body" style vs multiple pockets is ok with me, I acknowledge the handiness of some outside pockets (had them for years) but can live with it for the waterproof advantage.

-my small, front rack, non-waterproof bags would have my raingear and cooking stuff (less important for if a bit wet even with plastic bags inside.) and for rain gear, easy access as not under or hidden under other stuff in a larger bag.

-growing up, I did a lot of canoe camping, with required plastic bagging of all clothes, sleeping bag etc, so I am very happy NOT to mess around with plastic bags inside cordura bike bags--but this is a pref, and non waterproof bags with good sturdy plastic bags inside works fine too.

-I too used a 7lb tent, its pretty heavy and there are tons (sic) of lighter 2 person tents out there now that dont cost an arm and a leg but are still good designs for wind and rain that are probably 3 lbs less right off.

+2 on Carbonfibreboys tip for the ribbed rubber stuff on the rack, great idea (my tent used to meander sometimes)

+2 on SBR commenting on how 5 lbs does make a diff. on hills. If you are climbing, you really want to pay attention to keeping weight down---this touches on touring in general, even if you are not taking any camping stuff, one still needs certain clothes, rain gear, repair/spare tubes, camera etc etc, so for me, a couple of rear panniers and a handlebar bag is the simplest, most secure way to travel by bike.
Its easier for me to mix and match as my wife and I have a couple of sets of bike bags, but I find I still always use my Ortlieb Back Roller Plus ones.

-as for your question on weight up front, this is going to be your personal choice, I personally like keeping a lighter front end so my steering stays as light as it can be (within reason of carry all the stuff for a long trip) Part of the enjoyment of riding a bike for me is going down a hill and around corners, so I always prefer the feeling of more weight at the back, a handlebar bag for camera, valuables, map, quick snack; and then perhaps smallish front bags with light stuff.
Why even consider putting all your stuff up front and deadening the ride of your bike when a rear rack can take most?

-and as for rear racks, some of them weigh a ton. Reasonably priced, three vertical "rod or support" ones work fine too and weigh half as much as the beefier ones (if you are going to Mongolia, get the beefier one)

-my old handlebar bag is non-waterproof, but I fashioned a plastic bag with duct tape etc for it to fit over it and that works too. I mention this cuz I have seen some heavy duty, waterproof ones and they weigh a lot lot more (plus I prefer keeping teh weight down in this bag anyway, so dont need a super beefy one)

-as for the milk crate comment, Ive ridden friends bikes with these, and yes, keeping the weight low makes a real difference in how it feels. Really.

thats a nice looking setup. Looks like it doesnt move around either with the velcro part and the cinching straps.

Traditional Carradice bags made of cotton duck material will always loose out when it comes to weight. My Nelson Longflap weighs 2 lbs and is 18 Litres, that's why I'm interested in compression sacks and the stuff Carousel and Relevant makes. However, part of my approach to reducing weight is to also reduce volume. I did that for a few years until I had my gear list well tuned. Then, this year, I bought an Ortlieb handlebar bag. Now I have quite a bit of unused volume in it for things I might buy on the road or to carry a six pack of something. I also like the klickfix mount as its stable and lets me take the bag off the bike quickly.

Relevate Designs!!!

Modular soft-rack systems, harness', slings, detachable pocket covers... it's like they're in my mind. I'm so freakin' impressed. And, thankfully, it looks like I can avoid my obsessive compulsive tendency toward MYOG with every idea. Especially as I'm just not comfortable sewing, and these projects take me forever.

thats what i'm running and i've been very happy.
cold weather test this weekend. adding in a jandd frame bag to carry cook kit and tools.
might carry my wingnut gear hyper if needed. we might be ferrying water to a closed forest service campground. (or i can bring the filter...)

bmike, very purdy bike too!

I have friends who live quite close to the Vermont/Quebec border (20 mins by bike) and we ride into Vermont for day rides sometimes, up in the Berkshire area. Really pretty area to ride in, I love the ups and downs and all the nice views. Vermont has always impressed me with the riding possibilities, the conditions of the roads and how generally folks in cars are courteous to bikers.
I am always glad to have a triple however!

have a good weekend, here in Montreal its going to be close to freezing at night.

Braze-ons/no braze-ons is the edge of the knife. No braze-ons, bmike's setup is pretty hard to beat. Braze-ons, rear rack and panniers pretty hard to beat. Tubus Cosmo, Pacific Outdoor Equipment LTW Rear Fender panniers, 46L, 1903g. They are plenty big - wouldn't want larger. Any kind of saddle bag with velcro on the seatpost wears holes in my legs. Most rack bags have a similar problem for me, and I don't like the steering with much of a bar bag. Like the weight low with panniers. Probably don't need that large a set of panniers, really. POE's Small Fender panniers - 36L, 1588g with the Cosmo.

Those Sea to Summit compression bags are great. Volume can be a problem. I take more and thinner and lighter clothes than some, so a couple XS bags are great - one clean, one dirty. Tent and sleeping bag in one small or medium on the rack top.

Bmike, what bike is that? Details ( frame size, Gen hub, front light, bag brand and model,etc. ). Think you already gave bag details but it looks good as a road ready unit. Thanks.

Independent Fabrications Ti Club Racer
TA Carmina Crank 94 BCD double with 30/46 or 30/44 or 32/48 (or standard 'compact) - I have a collection of rings)
Campy 10 with 13-29 rear or 13-26 rear, carbon ergo levers
Shimano 'long reach' brakes
Nitto Noodle in 46cm
No braze ons for a rack, but I've used rear racks just fine.
Low rider mounts on the steel IF fork.
Size is custom, probably comparable to a 55.
Honjo narrow fenders with Conti 4 season 28s in that pic, but I'm running PB Cascadia's now as my Challenge tires and Pasela 28s don't fit under the Honjos.
Brooks Swallow with Ti rails (or a B17 with steel rails, depending...)

Bags are Epic, now Revelate Designs.

Good as a road ready and dirt road ready rando / long distance / everything bike.
SON generator, eDeluxe light front, Superflash rear

going to be cold. we are heading up into the green mountains south of middlebury. just an overnight, but 60 miles to get there from home.
last year we went out in november, slept in a lean to with no bivy or tent and it was down to 20 or so overnight. about the coldest i was comfortable going in my current bag.
not sure what gear we are taking just yet. may split the tent with my riding partner. he has a rear rack so we can strap the poles on. i'll carry the fabric in one of my bags.

i'm an hour and a half from montreal. love the city.

yup. I came here 25 yrs ago to go to university, fell in love with the place and basically stayed.....
and yes I was pretty sure your frame was a ti, the more I notice them, the more I find their understated colour and look more and more classy. Not something in the immediate future for me but its always back there in my mind. (seeing your bike reminds me to put on my set of PB Casc, that are in the garage)

cheers

didn't make it to our camp location. riding partner was cooked from a week of work @ mile 35. we softpedaled back home instead of climbing up into the mountains.
good day out... aside from deciding to carry the 10 year old 8 pound tent.

freezing / sleeting rain this morning. almost glad we didn't make it to higher elevations on forest roads.