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Tim,
Wanted to add that the generally shared values of helpfulness and exploring and discussing of all things bike on this forum is the reason I like coming here, not to mention the silly banter that goes on between the regulars. I have learned so much here, and would like to think that I have helped others--helping and sharing has always been a priority for me, and I would hope that that comes across to others from my interactions with folks here. I forget sometimes that some people don't come on here regularly and are not familiar with me or my often bad sense of humour, and I clearly didnt express myself properly. on topic, like Lee, I finally figured out that putting my gloves, bandana, sunglasses and bike computer carefully in my helmet ALWAYS was the best way to avoid the wasted time of "where is this, where is that" in the morning.... not to mention always putting the same pannier in the same spot on my tent floor, helps with a sleepy morning head for not trying to find something I would add again, all common sense stuff. |
Originally Posted by TimothyH
(Post 20871135)
I'm interested in hearing about technique in general from experienced bikepackers.
My specific interest is efficient setup in the evening and teardown in the morning. One challenge has been too much time spent packing up in the morning with a myriad of stuff sacks, dirty tent stakes, filtering water for the day and where did that darn bag with toothbrush go? Obvious things like not putting items needed first all the way at the bottom of a saddle bag are learned early. I've also learned to pack the tent, rain fly and footprint into the stuff sack oriented so that the end to be staked out first is deployed first. What else? Cooking efficiently? Filtration - as soon as you arrive or later? Drying out clothes? Packing saddle and bar bags when there is no place to lean the bike - remove the bags from the bike? Anything at all to make things more time efficient would be helpful and I'd be open to suggestions about technique in general from experienced bikepackers. -Tim- From scores of canoe trips, packing in waterproof stuff bags has become my habit, and that has carried over to cycle touring (and it's why I'm fine with panniers that are not waterproof). I have specific bags for specific things. What I keep together makes sense, and I discovered that over time by paying attention to what wanted to be in the same bags (I know, seems like an odd way of putting it, but "figuring it out" in advance didn't seem to work). I also keep specific things out of bags and handy. So, there's a process for how I do everything and there's a place for where everything goes, and the latter of those two really created its own kind of sense over time. If I consistently couldn't get something "right," or if I kept leaving something out or putting it in the wrong place, it meant I hadn't listened closely enough to where it needed to be put or how it fit into the process. Once process and place were established, I continued to follow it, and that's been very helpful. Short story, figure out through trial and error what works for you and then STICK WITH IT. The key, to me, is not what "makes sense," but "what works." |
Originally Posted by TimothyH
(Post 20871135)
I'm interested in hearing about technique in general from experienced bikepackers.
My specific interest is efficient setup in the evening and teardown in the morning. One challenge has been too much time spent packing up in the morning with a myriad of stuff sacks, dirty tent stakes, filtering water for the day and where did that darn bag with toothbrush go? Obvious things like not putting items needed first all the way at the bottom of a saddle bag are learned early. I've also learned to pack the tent, rain fly and footprint into the stuff sack oriented so that the end to be staked out first is deployed first. The order I use with the tent is to roll the foot print, tent, fly and then the poles from the end away from the door. I don’t worry about staking it done immediately as the tent is freestanding and I may want to move it before deciding the final location. I generally set up the tent and my sleeping arrangements before anything else. What else? Cooking efficiently? Filtration - as soon as you arrive or later? Drying out clothes? Packing saddle and bar bags when there is no place to lean the bike - remove the bags from the bike? In the mornings, I eat cold so that I don’t have to wash dishes before packing up. I have a cup of coffee with a couple of breakfast bars. I use a Revelate Design harness for the front so the tent and sleeping bag stuffed in their own bags and then strapped on to the harness. If I don’t have anything to lean the bike against, I just hold the bike up as best I can. Taking the bags off, stuffing them, and then trying to put them on the bike is more awkward than stuffing equipment into the bags. Good luck. You’ll work it out eventually. |
Today's tip:
Don't leave your tent drying for several days in your black widow-infested garage. (I suppose it could also have come back with us from Utah.) |
I also learned something else the hard way: Panniers on a fat rack are problematic on narrow single-track.
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My tip of the day, assume that the local raccoons have mastered how to open an Ortlieb bag without needing to unclip the straps. Last week the damn things were able to unroll my pannier and get into my freeze dried spaghetti meal, made a mess of everything.
Oh, and always try to camp near a picnic table so you can lay out and organize all your stuff that's coated with freeze dried marinara powder going back into your panniers in the morning. |
Originally Posted by robow
(Post 20879027)
My tip of the day, assume that the local raccoons have mastered how to open an Ortlieb bag without needing to unclip the straps. Last week the damn things were able to unroll my pannier and get into my freeze dried spaghetti meal, made a mess of everything.
Oh, and always try to camp near a picnic table so you can lay out and organize all your stuff that's coated with freeze dried marinara powder going back into your panniers in the morning. little buggers (well, not so little) |
and Tim, hope you are still reading.
for a bunch of years now, I use a couple of colour coded net bags that are very light, to keep smaller clothing items in and to stop the migration and being hard to find, socks or whatever. Keep socks, underwear in a yellow bag warm stuff, neckup, gloves, whatever in a blue one. my civvie clothes are usually at the bottom of my clothes pannier, my extra riding kit , shorts, jersey, on top of civvies, small dark stuff has a bad habit of getting lost in or under other stuff, so these separate bags really helped keeping track of stuff, and in the case of my "keep warm" stuff, its nice to just be able to reach in, grab the "blue" bag and get whatever if needed. I even use these bags for my commuting, especially handy for the warm stuff as I ride in all kinds of temps, down to -10c or more, so not wasting time is nice if I need some overmitts or different mitt liners or whatever. Handy too for keeping my wallet, cell phone, seat rain cover, glasses case etc in a yellow bag, again for saving time and not rooting around searching. |
Originally Posted by robow
(Post 20879027)
My tip of the day, assume that the local raccoons have mastered how to open an Ortlieb bag without needing to unclip the straps. Last week the damn things were able to unroll my pannier and get into my freeze dried spaghetti meal, made a mess of everything.
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Originally Posted by robow
(Post 20879027)
My tip of the day, assume that the local raccoons have mastered how to open an Ortlieb bag without needing to unclip the straps. Last week the damn things were able to unroll my pannier and get into my freeze dried spaghetti meal, made a mess of everything.
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Normally I always bring all food into my tent vestibule but had overlooked that one meal. I can't imagine how I could have forgotten about such a delicacy as freeze dried spaghetti awaiting me the next evening.
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Originally Posted by robow
(Post 20880154)
Normally I always bring all food into my tent vestibule but had overlooked that one meal. I can't imagine how I could have forgotten about such a delicacy as freeze dried spaghetti awaiting me the next evening.
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I'm more than willing to confront those sneaky little bastards face to face but I hate it when they're up to their Harry Houdini tricks while I sleep.
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I can really enjoy packing slowly in the morning, especially if the sun is beginning to warm me. It's the opposite of my work as a live-sound engineer where fast, effective, setting up and tearing down of gear is what we do.
If it's cold or raining, I get into "work-mode". Guess that puts me in the "compulsive perfectionist" and "slob" camps! ;) |
Originally Posted by imi
(Post 20882713)
I can really enjoy packing slowly in the morning, especially if the sun is beginning to warm me. It's the opposite of my work as a live-sound engineer where fast, effective, setting up and tearing down of gear is what we do.
If it's cold or raining, I get into "work-mode". Guess that puts me in the "compulsive perfectionist" and "slob" camps! ;) |
Originally Posted by revcp
(Post 20882762)
This is a great post. If we're on tour trying to set land speed records, on the road or in camp, we might be out there doing the wrong things for the wrong reasons.
I'm more laid back, and generally slow in the morning, so developing a better system to get my stuff organized helps, but I still prefer a relaxed pace of waking, eating, hitting the can, packing up--but within reason of course time wise. Other people wake up, chew on some dry food and are out and ready to go in 30 mins, and maybe even ride all day until dark---but thats fine, to me the most important thing is to find a rhythm that works for you, as you say rev, in camp or on the road. |
Originally Posted by revcp
(Post 20882762)
This is a great post. If we're on tour trying to set land speed records, on the road or in camp, we might be out there doing the wrong things for the wrong reasons.
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Originally Posted by Happy Feet
(Post 20883409)
How can there be wrong reasons for a personal vacation?
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I've always looked at bike camping the same as backpacking camping; consider it an 'extended rest stop', and only bring out what you need for that extended overnight stop.
I also like to minimize cooking - a cold meal with a hot drink is all I need in the evening. Cold meals can be cheese and crackers with fruit, salami slices, small cans of fruit, hard vegetables (carrots, onions, bell peppers) . . . the list is endless. I do stay away from those cook-in-the-bag freeze-dried meals - too spicy and loaded with about a month's worth of salt. If I'm on the road I usually stop at a restaurant and get a good hot meal at lunchtime. Sometimes its also nice to just start riding in the morning and have a hot meal at a restaurant after 10-20 miles. FWIW: I'm pretty much a dedicated credit card tourist these days. |
Did my years in the boy scouts in the 50's with Korean war surplus camping gear ,
backpacking in the California Sierras .. so when I finished my 4 years in the Navy and GI bill college by the late 80s the camping gear tech was so much lighter.. combining that with my map reading skills And bike mechanics, I just had to go see other countries .. ..... |
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