tarwheel 

OK, so I'm leaving on my first loaded tour tomorrow. Got my Bob Jackson World Tour back from the shop yesterday and added a Tubus Cargo rear rack as well as Nitto M12 rack on the front. I'll be using Ortlieb Classic Rollers to carry most of my gear, but I'm wondering what is the best way to secure my tent, ground pad and sleeping bag to the rack? I've got some bungee cords as well as an elastic bike rack cord that I picked up at Performance. The tent and ground pad are both long, so I'm assuming that they'll fit best lengthwise along the rack, secured by bungees. But what about the sleeping bag? I've seen a lot of photos of touring bikes with sleeping bags wedged behind the seatpost, but I'm not sure how to secure it like that. Another option would be to lash it to the front rack with the elastic rack cord, but I would rather use the front rack for bag to carry tools, wallet, food, etc., and it may not be large enough to hold a sleeping bag. So really, my main issue is how to secure the sleeping bag to the rear rack or behind the seatpost.

Cyclebum

Big cargo net fan myself. Come in different sizes.

My sleeping bag and clothes go in a rack pack. Secured with the net. Tent in pannier.



Some run with two or three rack packs attached across the rack with bungies.

staehpj1

Regarding the sleeping bag, mine always went in the pannier when I used panniers. It goes in the same place these days except dry bags have replaced panniers.

For stuff on top of the rack I have always preferred lightweight straps.

Tent gets rolled with the bottom on the outside. No need for any further water protection. Ground sheet, I don't use one. Sleeping pad goes in pannier, but when I used one that didn't pack small it went on top of the rear rack.

Various folks that I have traveled with carried the pad in a stuff sack big enough to stuff the sleeping bag inside with the pad around it. Seemed to work well enough.

lucille

Sleeping bag and pad go into the front Ortlieb pannier. Tent and ground sheet go in the waterproof stuff sack at the back secured by bungees.
I put the tent in a smaller waterproof stuff sack which goes into the bigger waterproof stuff sack with the fly and groundsheet. That way it the fly is wet when I'm packing, I can still keep my tent dry.

tarwheel 

My sleeping bag is not very compact, so I doubt if it would fit in my panniers. I picked up a compression stuff sack for the bag, but it is still probably too large to fit in the panniers. They have cargo nets at REI, so I'll pick up one of those as well. I saw them at the store yesterday, but the photos on box seemed to suggest they were designed for covering baskets and crates.

cbike

Put it inside garbage bags and strap it with the bungees on your rack. No reason to make it complicated especially since you'll leave tomorrow. Double bag the sleeping bag if the compression bag is not water proofed. Take an extra bag in case one rips.

Have fun on your tour.

BTW, in this picture I have a 20 degree sleeping bag in the front bag (packed in a compression bag) and the tent and sleeping bag in the garbage back on the rear rack. This was for a weekend trip.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k7hkr23ynl...-35-45_144.jpg

With a bigger bike and more bags I put everything into panniers.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eJrHDMPMpy...rward+east.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJrHDMPMpy...ical+site2.jpg

fietsbob

Ortlieb offers an integration using their Rack Pack Crossways they snap together.

I like straps and buckles for securing loads..
Fastex makes a double pull buckle which needs no sewing of webbing onto it.

Carbonfiberboy 

Yes, straps and buckles. Never bungee cords, although I do have a bungee net that works for securing light items to the outside of a load. Compression sacks are normally very waterproof.

tarwheel 

I don't know why I didn't think of cinch straps. I'll pick some up.

antokelly

why never bubgee chords just curious

MMACH 5

+1

Rich B.

Straps and plastic snap buckles secure the load much better and won't take your eye out when they decide to break!

Carbonfiberboy 

I've never used bungees since I lost a pack off a rack in Belgium. It had ID in it and the police eventually got it back to me. Bungees can allow things to bounce and move a bit. A good tight strap with one of those roller buckles is the thing. If you're strapping the compression sack right on the rack, it's best to put something between it and the rack. I use rubber stair tread material zip-tied to the rack, but foam, a pad, anything like that will work. You don't want to rub the paint off the rack or wear through the coating on the compression sack.

antokelly

i use bungees all the time never have any problems,
but i dont use the hooks i just tie it down secure enough that nothing moves.
but yeah might see if i can pick up some straps see how i fair with them.
thanks.

MichaelW

Road style inner tubes work well as lashing material.
I put a small sleeping mat lengthways but everything else crossways.
The sleeping bag goes inside a nylon drybag.

Jamoni

I use compression straps or 550 cord (paracord). You can get stuff super tight, and if you need it, you have extra cord.
I'm also a fan of the garbage bag waterproofing of sleeping bags. I stuff it in the garbage bag, then the stuff sack.

Tent and sleeping pad are in front waterproof panniers with food and clothing. If it rains, I take the tarp under the sleeping bag and use it as shelter or a rain cover for rear rack.
EDIT: HA! just noticed that I'm using bungees in this pic! But I don't anymore.
Seriously.

strangebrou

I'm a newbie, planning my first short tour next week, but I did a shakedown ride today with my gear. Sleeping bag and pad were in rear pannier and my tent was on top of the rack secured with the same cargo net cyclebum recommended. It may not be as secure as cinched down straps, but my tent did not move and it felt quite secure during the ride. I am quite pleased with it.

bktourer1

+1 for cargo nets

tarwheel 

Well I picked up some buckle straps as well as a cargo net, so I should have all the bases covered. I am traveling light but my sleeping bag is bulky and tent is heavy. Got a compression dry sack for the sleeping bag, and that helps reduce volume some but still too large to fit in panniers.

antokelly

i have a cargo net but its just to heavy find it useless to be honest, mind you it's really hard to beat old inner tubes for secureing things.

Clarabelle

We've always used bungees and haven't had any troubles.

fietsbob

They can come loose then the hooks tangle in your spokes and mess things up.

clarabelle has been lucky , thats the only difference..
I see bungees that have come loose from car /trailer loads all the time, on the road,
they don't have spoked wheels..

antokelly

ok can be dodgy i agree but look everything can break, so my advice is not to use the hooks on the bungee just tie a knot in it as good as anything

seeker333

+1 Plain ole string or nylon cord is better, and it can also be used for other purposes too, like clothesline, shelter support, parking brake, etc.

MassiveD

https://www.strapworks.com/category_s/691.htm