As a part of my three half sequence on how one can pack your bicycle for a protracted distance touring journey, at this time I’m going to be discussing how one can really pack your bike along with your panniers and different belongings.
Partly 1 we mentioned how one can pack your handlebar bag. Partly 2 I gave you some tips about how one can pack your panniers. At the moment we might be discussing how one can really go about packing your bike with its panniers and all the opposite gear wanted for all times on the highway.
To get began, watch the video under:
Within the video above you’ll be aware that I used to be utilizing Lone Peak P-500 and P-100 panniers on my bicycle. I’ve been utilizing these baggage for greater than 5 years now and so they nonetheless look as if they had been virtually model new. I’m additionally utilizing a Lone Peak H-100 handlebar bag.
When packing my bicycle on a protracted distance tour I’m sometimes tenting, so I’m carrying a tent, sleeping bag, range, and all the opposite instruments and belongings I’d have to survive alone out on the highway.
Within the video above I revealed the truth that I sometimes pack my panniers earlier than placing them on the bike. Others received’t agree with this, however I discover it to be the simplest approach of packing my bicycle. If you’ll find a picnic desk or different close by object on which you’ll lay out your panniers when packing your bike, it is best to use stated object to your benefit. Having a pleasant clear floor on which to pack your issues is significantly better than packing your issues down on the bottom and within the grime.
Within the video above I discussed how I have a tendency to hold my sleeping bag and tent inside my rear panniers. I do that as a result of I discover it simpler to maintain monitor of all my belongings this fashion… and since packing on this method offers further rain safety for my tent and sleeping bag.
The opposite benefit to holding your tent and sleeping bag inside your panniers is that packing this fashion prevents you from taking an excessive amount of stuff with you on tour. It’s straightforward to get carried away and convey a load of issues with you that you just don’t want, so packing your tent and sleeping bag inside your panniers will forestall you from bringing unneeded supplies with you in your bicycle tour.
If, nonetheless, you resolve that there’s something it’s essential to convey with you and also you want that house inside your panniers to hold these a lot wanted objects, you may at all times take your tent or sleeping bag out of your packs and bungee wire them onto the again of your bike. Once you pack this fashion, making such a transfer is at all times an choice!
One of many issues I didn’t point out within the video above is that once I do get off my bike at night time, I lock my bicycle to a close-by tree, pole, picnic desk or different such object after which take away all water bottles, lights, and pumps from my bike. The explanation I take away this stuff is as a result of I don’t wish to get them stolen from me in the midst of the night time. Should you go away your mild or pump in your bicycle, you might be inviting thieves to rob you. Once you go to mattress every night time, guarantee that your camp appears to be like impenetrable. The very last thing you need on a bicycle tour is to get up and discover that your lights, pump, and water bottles have been stolen. Not a good way to start out the day!
One other vital merchandise you’re going to wish to pack in your bicycle is your sleeping mat. I’ve a Therm-a-Relaxation Prolite Sleeping Mat
Should you place your sleeping mat on the again of your bicycle like I do, chances are you’ll wish to contemplate carrying it inside a water-resistant or waterproof sack
When you’ve obtained all of your belongings packed inside your panniers and/or waterproof sacks, it’s merely a matter of attaching your issues to your bike and heading down the highway.
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