Bike packing - Revised!
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:21 pm
A while back, I started a thread on packing the bike that allowed some of us to share information on techniques for packing the bike for trips. It can be found here, to refresh your memories:
http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t ... em&start=0
But, as someone said, packing systems evolve and mine has done just that, so I thought I would start another one. If nothing else, it will allow us Northern Hemisphere folks to plan for spring!
My goal was to get everything in a Large Ortlieb dry bag that measured 14"x 24" in length.
My original thread mentioned the addition of a chair to my camping gear. In my never-ending quest for a smaller package, I ended up with this for Christmas:
And don't call me BMW yuppie scum because I got a Kermit chair. It was purchased for one reason - it folds to 22"! Well that, and it is very well made and very comfortable.
I changed sleeping pads also, from the Thermarest which made such a nice perimeter in my old end-closing dry bags to the Exped down pad, for more thickness and less bulk. But the change also required a re-thinking of the system.
I experimented a lot with dry, compression sacks and settled on one model which suits my purpose. The Sea-to-Summit line of E-vent dry, compression bags.
Here is the whole thing, about to be packed:
Ortlieb bag (also brought by Santa!), 2-man tent and 0-degree bag in stuff sacks, Exped pad, The Chair and a bag with tent stakes and poles.
And here it is packed on the bike, with the new Rok Straps (Santa really knew what I wanted this year!)
From the rear, notice the width does not exceed the opening of the saddle bags.
And with the soft stuff toward the rider, it even can serve as a backrest of sorts.
It accomplishes what I wanted, a compact package not to exceed the 24" width. Longer chairs, etc, would make getting on and off the bike difficult. On a similar thread on Advrider, I saw bikes loaded up that would best be described as the Beverly Hillbillies go bike camping!:lol:
Even without the back rack on the bike, the tent and/or chair could be attached outside without too much trouble for more room if needed. I even threw in a bag to take up the space for the tarp I intend to add by spring to the bag for shade and weather protection!
I am happy with the result. Only problem is waiting till spring to use it!
http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t ... em&start=0
But, as someone said, packing systems evolve and mine has done just that, so I thought I would start another one. If nothing else, it will allow us Northern Hemisphere folks to plan for spring!
My goal was to get everything in a Large Ortlieb dry bag that measured 14"x 24" in length.
My original thread mentioned the addition of a chair to my camping gear. In my never-ending quest for a smaller package, I ended up with this for Christmas:
And don't call me BMW yuppie scum because I got a Kermit chair. It was purchased for one reason - it folds to 22"! Well that, and it is very well made and very comfortable.
I changed sleeping pads also, from the Thermarest which made such a nice perimeter in my old end-closing dry bags to the Exped down pad, for more thickness and less bulk. But the change also required a re-thinking of the system.
I experimented a lot with dry, compression sacks and settled on one model which suits my purpose. The Sea-to-Summit line of E-vent dry, compression bags.
Here is the whole thing, about to be packed:
Ortlieb bag (also brought by Santa!), 2-man tent and 0-degree bag in stuff sacks, Exped pad, The Chair and a bag with tent stakes and poles.
And here it is packed on the bike, with the new Rok Straps (Santa really knew what I wanted this year!)
From the rear, notice the width does not exceed the opening of the saddle bags.
And with the soft stuff toward the rider, it even can serve as a backrest of sorts.
It accomplishes what I wanted, a compact package not to exceed the 24" width. Longer chairs, etc, would make getting on and off the bike difficult. On a similar thread on Advrider, I saw bikes loaded up that would best be described as the Beverly Hillbillies go bike camping!:lol:
Even without the back rack on the bike, the tent and/or chair could be attached outside without too much trouble for more room if needed. I even threw in a bag to take up the space for the tarp I intend to add by spring to the bag for shade and weather protection!
I am happy with the result. Only problem is waiting till spring to use it!
Yeah, you know who you are!! 
Great info. Thanks.