Road/CX lightweight bikepackers - let's see 'em

[jameso]

Influence and ideas please!

I'm building up a CX-ish packer-tourer for the rest of the summer. Leisurely trails, towpaths and lanes kind of stuff. Bit of roughstuff attitude riding, that kind of thing, with some sleeping in hedges along the way. May make it to France or Germany/Austria area on it in Sept with some luck.

I've had a Day One SS CX hanging up unused for a couple of yrs now, got a Jones and hadn't ridden it since. SS on a CX bike always seemed compromised between road/off-road tyres and gearing, particularly in winter when I wanted to use it most, but I always loved that bike. Always wrong, but always fun. Added some H-bars with cross-top mini levers, some 37c Conti Contacts and a layback ti post yesterday and it feels a bit like the lighter, roadie-er Jones that I always wished Jeff would make. 39-18 gearing seems to work well. Just need a frame luggage solution and I'll be off to renew my CTC membership..

Anyone got a similar kind of lightweight easy-rider 'packer bike?

[jameso]

The tracker-packer project so far.

[Gari]

First and foremost, congrats on the divide race James, amazing effort.

I just got hold of a Cotic Roadrat frame for much the same thing, not built it up yet as I am hoping to be going to Morroco for 5-6 weeks in Nov or Dec and don't want to waste cash at the moment. I have a pair of H bars awaiting something to be bolted to, and a spare Middleburn 160 RS7. I only really need a rear wheel and I would be pretty much good to go but am resisting the distraction so far.
That DayOne looks lovely, what seatpost is that?
Gari

[FLV]

Hmm, I keep looking at the same sort of thing. I work in the flatlands but the road bike bores me. I can't decide whether to swap my rohloff hub to one or just swap my roadie kit to one.

Can't really offer much in the way of advice though...!

[FLV]

I keep getting drawn to staring at co motions website

and shand since stu posted one up earlier

[jameso]

Thanks Gari.. it was all tailwinds ) Seatpost is an old Airborne job, slips in a lot of frames but works fine in this one.
Co Motion Divide, FLV? Looks nice. Shand stoater+ would get my £ tho, saw the workshop recently, really well-made bikes.

[FLV]

Both beautiful bikes. But hellishly expensive...

[Ben98]

My CX bikepacker has been shown here enough, but one thing to remember is quite how much a good cx is capable of, I run kenda kross supreme tires on mine for off road and there VERY grippy for a 35c tyre
The day one looks a lovely bike, but why no drops?
ATB
Ben

[jameso]

Ben, I didn't really get enough speed on a SS to need the drops position and it was too low when braking hard downhill, but that's just part of the 'wrongness appeal' of a CX bike ) I'm quite happy on drops. Just prefer the fore/aft range of the H's these days, if it's not an all-out road bike.

My CX bikepacker has been shown here enough

I've not seen it? Post it up!

[JohnClimber]

Planet X - XLS - CX bike



Still to be used in earnest as a bivi bike, but maybe in a couple of weeks

[Ben98]

http://m1313.photobucket.com/albumview/ ... 0&newest=1
That pic was a few months ago, its currently running orange kenda slick tyres for road riding, And the saddle bag has been replaced with a monki wedge I won at the WRT :-D

[ScotRoutes]

I'm just back after a wee trip (400km in 26hrs) on my VN Amazon.


Untitled by ScotRoutes, on Flickr

Fitted with 28mm Schwalbe Marathons on this occasion as it was mostly road but I occasionally go for CX tyres up to 35mm if conditions warrant it.

[Ian]

Collar's and Cuffs by ianbarrington, on Flickr

Takes all the usual Wildcat bags too

I find it quite hard work on some types of terrain, where a mountain bike would be more naturally suited, but I'm probably just having trouble adjusting to skinny tyres :?

[ScotRoutes]

I found the Woodchipper bars made a huge difference to off-road handling

[chris n]

Large short Roadrat with 33/46 double, 9 speed 11-34 cassette, bar end shifters, Cowbell 3 bars, BB7 discs and 35mm Small Block Eights:


or with 36x 17/19 fixed, Midges and just a front brake:

[Ian]

I found the Woodchipper bars made a huge difference to off-road handling

I deliberated for a good while before I bought the Bell Laps over the Woodchippers. Might have made the wrong choice. I'll probably also go up a tyre size too - currently on a 35c, but they seem a very skinny 35 - barely wider than the 32c they replaced, but then 3mm isn't all that much anyway.

Any suggestions for 38/40c CX tyres?

[jameso]

Some nice cx bikes.. love the singular.
Ian, Panaracer Cinder-X are worth a look, good volume 35s with an all-round tread that lasts on tarmac too.

[Ian]

Thanks James, I'll give those a try

[FLV]

Whilst we're here... What's sizing like for cross bikes, I'm always in between so would you go up or down on size?
In 5'11 just, so am between 54 / 56
Ta

[ScotRoutes]

The other thing on tyres is that rim size makes a big difference. 35mm Maxxis Raze on Open Pros look skinny, on Arch Ex they look huge (and are more comfy for it)

[Ian]

FLV - I'm 5'9 and fit a medium Kite, which come out at about 56. I'd say go up a size, as small frames can have toe overlap issues, ime.

ScotRoutes - Unfortunately, choice of light wide tubeless rims with a braking surface are few and far between (or don't even exist). I opted for Stan's Alpha 340 which ticks three of those four, at the expense of width. If I had discs (another dilemma I had before buying the Kite), I'd have gone for Crest's or something for the reasons you've stated.

[FLV]

Cheers Ian. As you also say. Discs are another dilemma. Heavier and more costly but I do like the idea of discs

[jameso]

Got a few miles on this now and it's growing on me. Average speed over a reasonable length road ride is a bit slower than my Jones with big apples on, but not much - good for a SS I think. I just like SS trips and road SS seems a bit more manageable than off-road.

[YetiTony]

Enjoying my Gryphon with a small seatpost pack for day long rides.


Gryphon - Day out mode. by Yeti Tony, on Flickr


Gryphon - Lost in the country lanes! by Yeti Tony, on Flickr

[jameso]

The Gryphon looks ideal. It's been top of my 'if I buy another bike it'll be..' list for a long time. I'm wondering how a custom f+f with some Gryphon/Jones/CX ideas could turn out.
What bars are they Tony?