The Pedalshift Project 231: Exploring Bikepacking in 2021

I’ll admit, I’ve been bikepacking curious for awhile. As my touring continues to expand and evolve I’m thinking more about bikepacking options for 2021 and I thought I’d share the process on the pod. Join me, won’t you?


The Pedalshift Project 231: Exploring Bikepacking in 2021

Hey it’s the direct download link for  The Pedalshift Project 230: (mp3).

Subscribe/Follow The Pedalshift Project:
RSS – iTunes – Overcast – Android – Google Podcasts – Stitcher – TuneIn – IHeartRadio – Spotify

Reach out to the show via email, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to join the newsletter too.

Have some bike touring or overnight stories to share? Send your pics, audio or a quick tweet – all welcome. Email the show at pedalshift@pedalshift.net or call the lightly-used Pedalshift voicemail line at (202) 930-1109.

Photo: ECR by Surly.

Exploring bikepacking options

  • Evolving gear – what is touring and what is bikepacking? Does it matter?
  • Expanding gear to suit tours best
  • Slimmer profile
  • Less gear for low or no camping touring
  • More trails and gravel (hi WV!)
Option 1 – modify what I have
  • fork cages + dry bags (10L x2) = 1 ortlieb
    • EXCEPT… new fork doesn’t have brazons
  • handlebar roll
    • EXCEPT current brake cables block ability to tighten
  • dry bag on rear rack or saddle bag
    • This is currently doable
  • Saddle bag?
    • With a rear rack this doesn’t do much.
 
Option 2 – Reduce gear in and get into 2-3 dry bags?
  • Ding ding. An option I’ve done before.
  • Particularly easy for no-camping trips.
  • For camping: Hammock? Bivvy or smaller tent?
Option 3 – New bike?
  • Probably where I’m heading. Surly ECR looks amazing.
  • COVID continues to limit availability, and also Surly has slimmed down its bikepacking line (pour one out for the Ogre, not to mention the non-disc LHT!)
  • Then add bikepacking bags.
  • Build: go all out or frugally? I think my next bike might be more the former, but it really depends. This option gets very expensive, very quickly.
 
Where do I land?
  • I’ve been threatening a new bike for a while, but it’s a big outlay.
  • I would need to justify its purchase by actually using it, or I’ll feel dumb/wasteful.
  • Biggest thing working against this is the substantial overlap between my Safari and the ECR. When I ride one and could use the other, I’ll be thinking of waste.
  • My spring tour is almost certainly on the Safari, it’s just a question of where…  probably close to home again because it seems prudent to wait on the vaccination and summer for a longer ride
  • Much more to think about!

As always we like to close out the show with a special shoutout to the Pedalshift Society! Because of support from listeners like you, Pedalshift is a weekly bicycle touring podcast with a global community, expanding into live shows and covering new tours like this spring’s DC to Cincinnatti bike tour! If you like what you hear, you can support the show for 5 bucks, 2 bucks or even a buck a month. And there’s one-shot and annual options if you’re not into the small monthly thing. Check it all out at pedalshift.net/society.

Kimberly Wilson
Caleb Jenkinson
Cameron Lien
Andrew MacGregor
Michael Hart
Keith Nagel
Brock Dittus
Thomas Skadow
Marco Lo
Terrance Manson
Harry Telgadas
Chris Barron
Mark Van Raam
Brad Hipwell
Mr. T
Nathan Poulton
Stephen Dickerson
Vince LoGreco
Cody Floerchinger
Tom Benenati
Greg Braithwaite
Sandy Pizzio
Jeff Muster
Seth Pollack
Joseph Quinn
Drue Porter
Byron Paterson
Joachim Raber
Ray Jackson
Jeff Frey
Kenny Mikey
Lisa Hart
John Denkler
Steve Hankel
Miguel Quinones
Alejandro Avilés-Reyes
Keith Spangler
Greg Towner
Dan Gebhart, RIP
Jody Dzuranin
Lucas Barwick
Michael Baker
Brian Bechtol
Reinhart Bigl
Greg Middlemis
Connie Moore
William Gothmann
Brian Benton
Joan Churchill
Mike Bender
Rick Weinberg
Billy Crafton
Gary Matushak
Greg L’Etoile-Lopes
James Sloan
Jonathan Dillard
John Funk
Tom Bilcze
Ronald Piroli
Dave Roll
Brian Hafner
Misha LeBlanc
Ari Messinger
David Gratke
Todd Groesbeck
Wally Estrella
Sue Reinert
John Leko
Stephen Granata
Phillip Mueller
Robert Lackey
Dominic Carol
Jacqi McCulloch
John Hickman
Carl Presseault
David Neves
Patty Louise
Terry Fitzgerald
Peter Steinmetz
Timothy Fitzpatrick
Michael Liszewski
Hank O’Donnell
David Zanoni
David Weil
Matthew Sponseller
Scott Angelo
Chad Reno

Music

You’ve been hearing about Jason Kent and his music for many fine episodes. Sunfields has a new album in 2021, AND Jason has a new solo album in 2021, AND his first solo album is now streaming on Spotify, including America, the Pedalshift theme. Go listen!

The post The Pedalshift Project 231: Exploring Bikepacking in 2021 appeared first on Pedalshift.