gauvins

[sorry. couldn't resist]

My 2023 resolution is to revise my packing system. A couple of times I regretted not having a backpack to hike side trips. Santa was kind enough to find that I am a deserving kid and I got an MLD Core 25L during the holidays. (small, narrow, frameless, waterproof backpack, easy to tie down to a rear rack.). The plan is to ditch the front rack, store "heavy" items in 4 x 5L fork packs (2 front + 2 rear) and the remainder in the backpack. Or something like that.

Have a good one.

Pratt

Good idea.
When I did the GAP/C&O I shipped the bike back from DC and took the train to NYC. I took toiletries, rain jacket, etc. in a little Sea to Summit pack the stuffs into its own stuff sack about 3" long and 11/2" in diameter.

Tourist in MSN

I will be very impressed if you can do a trip with four fork packs of 5 liters each, plus one 25 liter pack on a rear rack. That sums to 45 liters.

Or, am I missing something here, were you planning to also use frame pack and/or handlebar harness, maybe small top tube bag, maybe a large volume saddle bag?

Decades ago when I did a lot of backpacking in the Rockies, a friend of mine used a very small lightweight backpack as his sleeping bag stuff sack when he packed up his larger backpack. Thus, if we stayed in one spot for two nights he had a small daypack that he could use for short hikes on a zero day.

andrewclaus

That looks like a nice pack. I've heard of the company but haven't bought from them.

Are you planning on day trips or overnighters? For day trips, I use a little 20L pack from REI. For overnighters, I use my old Gossamer Gear G4. Neither has padding or hip belt, both pack easily into my Arkel Drylites. I tried using the G4 as a rack-top bag once but it was too unwieldy and finicky to pack. I think it would work with a learning curve.

I seldom go anywhere (other than errands) without hiking gear. My hiking shirt, trousers, and shoes work well as cycling clothes too. I volunteer on several trail crews and can usually cycle to the trailheads.

staehpj1 

Sounds like a nice setup. 45 liter total sounds okay to me. I backpack with that and that is when carrying 4+ days of food in a bear canister (BV450). Touring you can get by carrying very little food and restocking frequently. I'd suggest that if you do need overflow capability for short periods of the tour a bar roll is a way to add capacity. It could even be improvised with a stuffsack and cord. A couple short pieces of pvc pipe or other rigid tubing space it from the bar and might be worth taking if you know you will need to add a roll.

gauvins

Well... I've toured the previous 2 summers (self supported including food for up to a week) with 2 front rollers + tent & food tied to the rear rack. Nominally 2 x 12.5L + 15L max on the rack + a camp chair and a 3L dry bag partially filled with rain gear tied on top of the front rollers (total 45L at the most) . So 4x5L + a max 25L on the rack is probably more than I'll ever need. The question will be how to pack and whether 4 x 5L has benefits over 2 X 12.5L.

I see two advantages with my tentative new setup: (1) I'll have a decent backpack for side trips on foot; (2) I can ditch the front rack, making is easier to fly. I am waiting for 2 dry bags, in the mail, and will try to figure this out.

Tourist in MSN

I suspect that I am so used to trips where I carry over a week of food that my volume estimate was somewhat off. And I was assuming this was for your round the world tour that you have been planning. If I was planning a big tour like that, my volume needs would exceed 45 liters by a lot.

gauvins

Well, I've never actively planned for a RTW (work + family) and given the current political situation it is becoming less and less of a possibility. I'd say that there's a 50/50 chance that I'll bike tour (with wife and pre-teen) next summer. And a slim possibility that I'll attempt a solo/duo short tour. (life is definitely too short

Tourist in MSN

You are fortunate that you have been able to take some good vacations. Before I retired, my longest vacation was a week long. Work always got in they way.

Exception, I often took two weeks over Christmas and New Years, but that was for family, not a trip.

But now that I am retired, have been able to take multi-week trips. I find that I like five to six week long bike tours the best.