Newby here saying hello and hoping to get a few ideas from you seasoned pro's

So how about a show me your kit, IE: Bikes,Racks etc

Not a very good picture but a reminder that spring's coming

Here's a few pics of some of my trips last year:

Set up for the trip by ianbarrington, on Flickr


mKettle fettle by ianbarrington, on Flickr


Siltarp set up by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Ian, i'm a newb to bikepacking too. Done lots of off road touring but when I came across bikepacking I couldn't believe how little kit you can get away with. Can you tell me what bars you are using in the pictures and how do you find them in use? I am putting together a rigid 69er and am thinking of using an on one mary or fleegle bar (both £12.99 at the moment). I am tending more towards the mary.

Hi Ray, the bars are Ragley Carnegies flipped upside down. I've used Mary's in the past, again run with a drop as opposed to a rise. This is coupled with a 10 degree rise stem, which is what I had at the time. The drop does compensate for the higher front end on 29er's (or 69er's), but you could achieve the same effect with flat stem and a fleegle bar (my brother runs this combo on his 29er). I tried a fleegle myself, but preferred the greater backsweep on the Mary/ Carnegie. Its a very comfy riding position.

As for too little kit. I've spent far too long thinking/ researching the smallest kit I can find. I do also select for small bulk rather than just light weight, and things are always well packed to keep it all compact. I'm also prepared to accept a small degree of discomfort (or reduced comfort) in keeping weight down, but not the extent that I'll lie awake at night freezing or soaking wet.

Don't laugh, taken Oct 2011 on Windy Gyle in the Cheviots, one pannier was completly taken up with a sleeping bag for which I had no stufsac. Bar bag has camera only in it. Blue roll is sleep mat. Other pannier has Gelert solo tent, change of clothes and cooking gear. If you think that's bad 18 years ago I did 300 miles up the Pennines, 75% off road and I had front panniers too! Will post new version of the bike with gear when it's ready.

Oops, no picture!

A rather misty mountain bivvy ... how do the slugs get up there?


Second night, after 16 hours riding it was just a matter of sleeping where I fell ... it happened to be here.


Different trip but same mountain ... hair models own.

[img][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6821 ... 69cfe9.jpg[/img]
2011_1005KielderCheviots0033 by youngray50, on Flickr[/img]
The missing picture, well I hope it is anyway.

There you go Ray

so my material arrived and here the kit I've made.




can't wait to get out now and break my bivi bike packing cherry.

oops. sorry about the size of them pictures, i can't resize now.

Did you make the luggage yourself Good work it looks great, I bet your excited to give it try! I keep thinking about making another seat-pack but I don't seem to need the extra storage and my first version was terrible.

Is that a Lynskey frame? The dropouts, top-tube and geometry look familiar.

Anthony wrote: Is that a Lynskey frame? The dropouts, top-tube and geometry look familiar.

Any news on yours?

Yes made the gear myself. prob took a whole weekend to make the bar roll,frame bag and the seat bag, also made a nice tank bag and battery holder. was on a roll!! lol

yeah the frame is Ragley TD-1 made by lynsky

Any news on yours?

It has been about 6 weeks and I have just had an email from CRC to let me know it is now with Lynskey and they will assess it in the next 2-3 weeks :evil:

What is crazy is that a riding pal has the same frameset and his has just split in exactly the same place!! Kind of indicates a faulty design which helps this cause I guess :?

more bits i made should anyone be interested

Battery holder


Bar roll


Tank bag

Looks great. Wildcat inspired bar harness

Here yo go, flickr page has the notes


WRT Gear Laid Out by fantasticmrmatt, on Flickr

I always like that picture Matt :D