It's been a while since I have seen a thread of this nature.
I have a hankering for a new bike for bikepacking duties, but I'm not sure what. Maybe a Fargo or a Singular Gryphon or a Surly Krampus.

Gone are the days of me keeping a large collection of bikes, right now I have just my Karate monkey.
Inspire me with a pick of yours and why it is a great bikepacking bike.

here is mine from there and back.

My bike 'Sally' on her ride in Morocco.

Bike in catalogue pose:


Why it's great: it's lightweight, compliant, corrosion resistant, fast, fun, and fits me perfectly. The first three are a function of frame material, the next two owe a great deal to the Singular geometry and general set up. The last one has been a process of evolution, and has taken a bit of time to get just how I want it, with subtle changes over a long period. Apart from a full carbon fork (and I'm being picky, really), I can't think if anything else on it I'd change just at the moment - even the bags on it are totally dialled to the gear I take bikepacking and the way I utilise the kit in them.

SS Inbred


Buzzard


The Buzzard's built up a bit heavy for bikepacking, so I'm thinking of either getting an Alfine for the Inbred for when gears are essential or maybe building up a geared bike that's more suitable. The Pinnacle Ramin looks like a bargain.

They do have front wheels. Honest.

Kona Raijin



Its comfy, fast, a lot of fun.
Shown here with a Rohloff, also gets used Singlespeed, and standard geared.
I've raced it (badly), toured it, generally ridden it. Its my favourite bike I've had. So far....

29" Inbred. I put it together as a specific bikepacking bike ... it works well.



Singlespeed Monster X Haro ... took me over some very high mountain passes in France but I might take gears next time



I'm saying nowt.

Nothing special, On One 456:-



Has never let me down the times I have taken it bike packing! Soon to be equipped with an Ocelot frame bag too!

Usually has steel truss fork but for once I was weighing stuff that wasn't luggage.
A bike for life. No matter what I do or where I ride, it feels great (huge fan, can you tell?!).

This was it's first 'proper' trip set up.

Inbred 29er here too. Super bike even if its on the heavy side. First time I rode it it felt perfect for me. Handles nicely loaded up. Fork is now a Reba which is a lot lighter than this one, but Im hunting for a cheapo On One carbon/steel rigid.

Bar and seat harnesses are by Wildcat and get my vote as you can pull the dry bag out without having to remove the harnesses. Ive altered the seat harness to do away with the spidery webbing straps at the back by simply fitting the clips onto an Alpkit dry bag which now attach directly the matching clips on the harness. It means I can only use that bag, but I think its now easier to use.

The framebag is by BuggyBags but it was made for another bike so I "resized" it - pulled it apart, cut bits off it and sewed it back together. Been waiting for it to fall to pieces so I have an excuse to get a Wildcat one, but it just keeps going.

Stu wrote
I'm saying nowt.

Stu, you got plans for a frame bag for that front triangle ^^^?

For bikepacking - a Voodoo Ti 29er - fits, is comfy and for me is reasonably quick

June_TCW_Bivi-60 by 99percentchimp, on Flickr

And a Singular Swift for bikepacking and trailer towing when with the kids (they are no longer in the trailer but a very large picnic seems to be required these days - so a BOB now and then) - comfy workhorse and the rigid fork makes a nice change

Aug_Rhinogau_Bivi-68 by 99percentchimp, on Flickr

Stu, you got plans for a frame bag for that front triangle ^^^?

... great minds an' all that.

Fargo here. This bike opened my eyes to riding rigid again and made me think may be you can have one bike to do it all.

Then I thought "nar" and bought a Krampus for playing in the woods :D

Ian wrote: - even the bags on it are totally dialled to the gear I take bikepacking and the way I utilise the kit in them.

Ian any plans for you and Beth to produce those Jones bar bags?

Brothersmith how is your bottle mounted? I have an obsession with water (born out of inexperience) and its holding me back getting a framebag as i like having a bottle (with high 5) in additino to water bladder. Your possitioning looks neat.

Brothersmith wrote:Ian any plans for you and Beth to produce those Jones bar bags?

'waves a credit card'

Great kit there Ian. I like the frame bag fitting around the bottles, loads of cunning packing-organising possibility in that stepped shape.

Ian and Beth, another expression of interest in the Jones bar bag...

Malc/ James/ Mark

Yes, we can make some up :) (got your message James, just got distracted this evening sorting through footage from last weekends trip).

I'll speak to Beth about getting a small batch made, work out a price and get them on the website. We're putting together some gear for Aidan's Iditabike trip next month, so should have some slack just after that...

Great stuff, no rush. Any room on the top for an A5-A6 cue notes holder, velcro-on fitting? (maybe one for a seperate topic another time though)

I'd be interested in the Jones bag too.

Any further pics?

Shalarim wrote:Brothersmith how is your bottle mounted? I have an obsession with water (born out of inexperience) and its holding me back getting a framebag as i like having a bottle (with high 5) in additino to water bladder. Your possitioning looks neat.

I used to have that obsession too until I realised how much water weighs! Bottle is an Aquatap and I just fill up from streams now when I run low.

Its mounted to top tube using a monkii clip and cage. Works well, don't notice any leg rub and it clears my croth even with my short-legs. Only downside is its difficult to get if your stopped with both feet on the ground (straddling the bike so to speak).

http://www.freeparable.com/monkiiclip
http://www.freeparable.com/monkiicage

jameso wrote:Great stuff, no rush. Any room on the top for an A5-A6 cue notes holder, velcro-on fitting? (maybe one for a seperate topic another time though)

Like that idea Jamso

Nice one, cheers Ian.

Ian wrote:Malc/ James/ Mark

Yes, we can make some up :) (got your message James, just got distracted this evening sorting through footage from last weekends trip).

I'll speak to Beth about getting a small batch made, work out a price and get them on the website. We're putting together some gear for Aidan's Iditabike trip next month, so should have some slack just after that...

I'd be interested in a Jones loop bag too.
Can I see some pics of it from all angles? I've always thought someone is missing a trick there, not making a specific Jones bag.

Pic of mine post BB200, where it performed flawlessly



http://www.flickr.com/photos/113760004@N02/11979694056/

After later night chats with myself (the benefit of a rubbish sleeping pattern) I have decided to use this for the Two Tonnes and NOT the Chinese Dirty Disco. However, there will be a few key amends:

Stem: to grow from 80mm to 110mm and post to straighten to in-line to put more riding position more forward

Gearing: 22T/32T to change to 26T/38T with an 11-36T on the back.

Tyres: WTB Vulpines 2.1 (although at higher pressure which I'll be running its more like 1.9")

Gear: nothing apart from what I can fit in the frame bag thingy and a revelate gas tank and jerry can (unless Ian / Beth come up with a Jones bar specific bag)

Lighting / GPS: No change. Everything powered by the SP hub via a Kemo 172.