No, it's total load on my Orro
So you're short and you want to go bikepacking....
- Thread starter rivers
- Start date
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No, it's total load on my Orro
- Location
- Northern Germany
For me personally, the choice of using soft bags and in particular a saddlebag comes down to several reasons, which may or may not be flawed.
Firstly, most of my trips are off-road on predominantly rough terrain, sometimes requiring sections of hualing the bike over obstacles or up steep unrideable inclines. For this I am often grateful for not having panniers catching or snaring on obstacles or getting in the way of me whilst I'm pushing.
Weight distribution, with a seat pack the weight is much higher and in line with the bike frame making for a much more stable load and this makes the bikes handling much more predictable and neutral, important especially on big descents or technical terrain. This obviously does mean you need to pay careful attention to how you pack the seat pack, pack it wrong with to much heavy weight and the end and you negate this benefit, something that is a bit of an art form.
Durability, I'm again aware of the fact that a lot of my riding is on rough terrain where the bike is getting jostled and vibrating and knocked around, with a seat pack you only have two straps holding it to the bike which proves simple and durable. With panniers and racks there are multiple failure points, screws to loosen etc. I would just much rather have the more simple and robust mounting systems of soft bags.
Lastly, as has been mentioned above, cost. The total cost of my seat pack is much lower than a combined rack pannier system, especially these lightweight options being mentioned here.
The idea of me using soft bags to tour with in order to look cool is pretty laughable, I really am the opposite of cool! I just find it a practical solution for the types of trip I enjoy undertaking and after thousands of kilometers of touring this way, I'm more than happy with my choice. Overall as well, I do like the Tailfin system a lot as well as the innovative systems they have, they have also been proven to be very strong and durable on some very tough ultra distance races. For me though the price will always be a barrier.
Firstly, most of my trips are off-road on predominantly rough terrain, sometimes requiring sections of hualing the bike over obstacles or up steep unrideable inclines. For this I am often grateful for not having panniers catching or snaring on obstacles or getting in the way of me whilst I'm pushing.
Weight distribution, with a seat pack the weight is much higher and in line with the bike frame making for a much more stable load and this makes the bikes handling much more predictable and neutral, important especially on big descents or technical terrain. This obviously does mean you need to pay careful attention to how you pack the seat pack, pack it wrong with to much heavy weight and the end and you negate this benefit, something that is a bit of an art form.
Durability, I'm again aware of the fact that a lot of my riding is on rough terrain where the bike is getting jostled and vibrating and knocked around, with a seat pack you only have two straps holding it to the bike which proves simple and durable. With panniers and racks there are multiple failure points, screws to loosen etc. I would just much rather have the more simple and robust mounting systems of soft bags.
Lastly, as has been mentioned above, cost. The total cost of my seat pack is much lower than a combined rack pannier system, especially these lightweight options being mentioned here.
The idea of me using soft bags to tour with in order to look cool is pretty laughable, I really am the opposite of cool! I just find it a practical solution for the types of trip I enjoy undertaking and after thousands of kilometers of touring this way, I'm more than happy with my choice. Overall as well, I do like the Tailfin system a lot as well as the innovative systems they have, they have also been proven to be very strong and durable on some very tough ultra distance races. For me though the price will always be a barrier.
T4tomo
Legendary Member
You can knock the Tailfin on price, as it is expensive, but its a bloody clever bit of kit, is compatible with panniers for purists like @matticus and as it attaches via the axle gets over the issues of heavy racks mounted to flimsy M5 bolt fixings without having to limit yourself to a steel frame.
I don't see a great deal of difference between "touring" and "bike packing" different words for the same thing, unless you have your fingers in your ears yelling "I'm in camp A and never will I enter camp B"
Full disclosure, I have a selection of "frame bags", a "gravel bike" and a 531 steel tourer with pannier rack, but I always sleep in a proper bed and get my food from a pub. Not a trangia and tent person.
I don't see a great deal of difference between "touring" and "bike packing" different words for the same thing, unless you have your fingers in your ears yelling "I'm in camp A and never will I enter camp B"
Full disclosure, I have a selection of "frame bags", a "gravel bike" and a 531 steel tourer with pannier rack, but I always sleep in a proper bed and get my food from a pub. Not a trangia and tent person.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
I've been on a tarmac tour where one of the group had a hook ripped out of her pannier by catching it on an obstacle narrowing the cycleway, and that in a country much more cycle-friendly than England. I've seen too many riders brought to abrupt unplanned dismounts by panniers catching on anti-cycling barriers on Sustrans routes, but those have been less damaging because we almost expect it and tend to slow and coast through the obstacles, bracing ourselves for the crunch ☹️The only practical issue ever quoted is claims to catch your panniers on the sides of the gnarly single-track one is riding ... well fine, but that doesn't really ring true for people touring on tarmac:P
I've ridden tarmac tours with bar bag, saddlebag and tail roll. I can certainly understand shorter riders wanting the same options.
matticus
Guru
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
A four year old video but might be of interest
View: https://youtu.be/Y4f5LtA7bWU?si=22ygV13RqcsExjjR
View: https://youtu.be/Y4f5LtA7bWU?si=22ygV13RqcsExjjR
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
You may jest, but unnecessary crashes are a serious threat to cycling levels. If a rider is injured badly enough that they have to stop riding for a while, about a quarter never start again (IIRC) which is slightly more as a proportion than those whose cycles are stolen. Not all pannier clonks result in injury, of course, and I suspect tourers are keener to resume than most, but complaints about poor cycling conditions are often met with advice to use the right kit for the ride, so I don't understand the fuming and sarcasm about people trying to find kit suitable for their bikes and our width-restricted routes. 🤷It's an epidemic!Will cycle-tourists ever escape this menace? Its an existential crisis, no-one is safe!!!
matticus
Guru
Good reference 👍 (and on-topic!) I can't help noting that TripsterATR frame has evident rear rack mounts ;-)
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
You’re aware the Tailfin is just a rack?
- Location
- Northern Germany
As the Screenshot below shows, Tailfin is a company that produces racks and bags all designed as an integrated system:
https://www.tailfin.cc/shop/?v=5f02f0889301
matticus
Guru
Bit like "Hoovers"; when people lazily say "I went for a T**lfin", we can be pretty sure what they mean.
(and it's not a Top Tube bag).
(and it's not a Top Tube bag).
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Here's an old thread which may have some useful info.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/saddle-pack-bikepacking-style-advice-for-small-frame.273638/
It's very like this one in that it features me posting Kajsa's video and @matticus complaining that bikepacking is wrong
Plus ça change and all that
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/saddle-pack-bikepacking-style-advice-for-small-frame.273638/
It's very like this one in that it features me posting Kajsa's video and @matticus complaining that bikepacking is wrong
Plus ça change and all that
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