Ian wrote:

godivatrailrider wrote:My bikes:- favorite bike Jones Spaceframe/truss fork 29er, Jones loop bars, can be fat front, singlespeed (don't want to fit gears to the Jones ) .... this is the single most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. I LOVE this bike. This is the bike I'd prefer to bikepack on. But it's SS

Nowt wrong with SS

If thats the bike you find most comfortable, it should be the best candidate for taking bikepacking.

For the cost of a new bike, you could kit yourself out very nicely with some lightweight kit and some Wildcat luggage* and not feel any great disadvantage over a geared bike. Step up a couple of teeth at the back to, say, 20t and away you go


*other bikepacking gear companies are available

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If we all went SS on 32:20 it wouldn't be a problem, but if everyone else is geared, I'd be holding people up on the flat bits.....
The next route we have planned is Radnorshire , so Hergest Ridge etc. I've done a few Rough Rides over Hergest I couldn't ride it on a geared bike so maybe SS isn't any worse

I watched one of your vidoes of a trip that looks like Elan Valley or some such.. then posted it to the clubs forum saying "if this doesn't make you want to bikepack, nothing will!" Was a very wet looking trip but still looked vaguely exciting. It was what swelled the numbers for our first tame trip.

I really like your kit ..... will be in the market for a seatpack in the near future.

Ian wrote: I remember Steve Day from Trans Scotland a good number of years ago (possibly 10 in fact). He placed a couple ahead of me, but I was amazed how quick he was but mostly for the fact that he seemed to do it in the most casual style imaginable.

He does have a very relaxed riding style... and will encourage you when he's done 8x as many laps as you and still looks fresher and fitter than you