Has bikepacking changed the way you ride?

[HaYWiRe]

This may be odd to ask, as the point in bikepacking over traditional touring is the ability to ride trails, go further and generally have fun riding

But does being "loaded" change the way you ride at all?

I bikepack, commute and generally ride with luggage and have gotten to the stage where a loaded, even lightly, feels nicer to ride. Is that odd?

Also do you guys tour with the intention of hitting singletrack? Or just enjoy long days on forrest/fire/ dirt roads?

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've reached the point where 'day rides' seem odd

I don't think about the fact I'm loaded, so it doesn't effect where I'm going to ride ... I usually work a route out because I want to go somewhere / see something specific / get lost and whatever's on the ground is on the ground. That'll usually include a little of everything from tarmac to singletrack.

If your luggage is causing issues on technical stuff, then it's time for a re-think and maybe a re-pack.

[jameso]

But does being "loaded" change the way you ride at all?

Yes. I do pack light and (I think) pack well but I can't ride a loaded bike the way I do unloaded. Getting wheels off the ground in a big way isn't my style but it's harder to hop and jump the bike with bags on and clanking a rim have greater consequences. So I ride a bit more cautiously.. mostly. We've ridden some pretty technical stuff in the Alps and overseas loaded up but with experience of both sides of it I'll admit to preferring less technical rides for loaded touring / bikepacking trips, it's simply more in keeping with the whole experience to me. Flowy singletrack counts the most, long distances on easy dirt roads are great and a bit of 50/50 kind of tech is great but repeated days with a lot of it when you're tired can be wearing.

I don't think a loaded bike feels nicer to ride but 12-15lbs is not enough to make it a chore and the way a loaded bike carries momentum is great once you get used to and take advantage of it. I've never liked really light bikes anyway.

[HaYWiRe]

I'll be honest, there's alot I cant ride unloaded, let alone with gear, so I make some compromise towards comfort on roads rather than race-weight,

But if I cant shoulder my bike and run up trails like a CX racer on crack, I'm carrying too much

But my girlfriend is a typical mountain biker and drags me down every trail she can find, so I've adapted. Me? I just enjoy pub meals and nice views, and being self sufficient is liberating

I'm still trying to go rackless though, I've got my camping gear weight down to 4kg including necessary medical supplies, kit and first aid, but far too much bulk to fit a seatpack...

[Charliecres]

On unloaded day rides I tend to seek out techy riding. If I'm on a journey then I'm more focused on the journey and the place. A bit of singletrack or something challenging along the way is nice but as said above, it can become wearing when you're tired or have a long way to go. I've definitely found myself breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of some nice easy fire road.

[fatbikephil]

Doing a day ride now seems like an easy luxury but all the better for it. I'll tackle pretty much anything with bags that I would tackle without, just a bit slower.

[FLV]

I think it's added a dimension.

Unloaded I generally go place to ride certain trails. Whether new or known to me.

Loaded I tend to ride to go to certain places or points regardless of the riding needed to get there.

I like both.

[slarge]

I don't think bike packing has changed the way I ride, just added another dimension to it. I like fast 1 hour road rides, XC races, 5 hour rides, all day and multi day rides. Basically, I just like riding my bike and being outside. And being quietly competitive I like to push myself by going further or faster than last time. It's all good.

[psling]

For me, riding "loaded" just means I'm going to be out overnight somewhere during the ride; not necessarily a longer ride, just an overnighter. The trails and terrain are much the same (but my riding pleasures don't involve rad tech sh1t, budd)

[voodoo_simon]

Yes, or at least this forum has. Changed my bike (any excuse ) and now try to ride without a bag on as it's much more comfortable .

I take a map with me more and more to explore new places and I try to ride from my doorstep. An hour less in the car means more riding. I may only go on overnighters twice or so a year but my day to day riding had certainly changed

[HaYWiRe]

I find I rarely ride unloaded these days, all my trips are either long days where I need more medicals on me, overnights, camping or otherwise, or commuting with a "boot" full of stuff (as I dont drive)

How different is riding 'Traditionally' and 'rackless' ?

I dont bikepack with panniers, and like to consider myself pretty lightweight, but have yet to cross the boundary into rackless bikepacking setups, and feel my rack could break from riding trails...