Picking A Frame

So many options and not enough patience before you get out there, right? The most important thing to remember is that in bikepacking, you want to go far and if possible not so slowly.

It’s all about balance and compromise. First, you have to choose a comfortable bike, i.e. an endurance or gravel bike, not a Tour de France racing machine. For the long hours that await you on the saddle, you will need a much less aggressive geometry.
Your frame must be able to support all the saddlebags that you will attach to it. The more you can attach to the frame and the fork, the more chances you have of being able to mount a extra bottle cage or small bags.

Finally, comfort also means wide tyres. Favour a frame with a lot of clearance so that you can fit the tyre size of your choice. Some also think about clearance and mounts for mudguards for when the weather turns bad.

Wheels & Tyres

As with the frame, it's about finding the right balance between performance, comfort and reliability. Forget high-profile aero wheels - those bikepacking bags will cancel any theoretical advantages they offer. Given the variety of terrain you'll be facing, you might as well count on the versatility of a well-built set of wheels that may also include a dynamo hub to power your lights.

For a few years now, we have seen a return of the 650b, formerly reserved for the brevet or randonneur bikes. Smaller wheels mean you can fit larger tires to provide more comfort, especially if you intend to venture off the beaten path.

Speaking of which, tyres are no minor matter. Again, wider and more durable are the recommended options for peace of mind against punctures. A tubeless setup (without inner tube) will offer you much better protection and you will also gain comfort and rolling resistance.

Gearing

It's faster to be slow!

A loaded bike is a heavier bike. So you'll need a bigger ratio to make the climbs go smoothly. It's not a surprise that we find more and more mountain bike cassettes on bikepacking bikes.

Whether you're on a single or double chainring, it's very important not to underestimate the terrain but above all the extra weight you're going to have to carry. In short, as the saying goes: "he who wants to go far, spares his mount and his knees".

Saddle

It is a world-renowned fact in cycling that there is only one saddle for each butt. With this in mind, the primary advice is to choose a saddle that you feel comfortable with.

After that most important tip, the top of the range saddles tends to remove a lot of padding to save a few grams. So don't hesitate to go back down a little in the range to benefit from more comfortable padding. Also strongly consider "open" or “cut-out” saddles for as much pressure relief as possible.

Lighting

Today, there are two main types of illumination.

The first solution is a dynamo hub. This is the best solution for riding through the night or on short winter days. Some lights even give you the possibility to charge your phone or GPS while riding. The weight penalty of a dynamo hub will be won back in peace of mind, knowing that you are recharging your batteries with the strength of your legs. Autonomy at its peak.

The second solution is to use lamps that you will recharge via an external battery. This is less expensive than a wheel with a dynamo hub, but as payoff, you will have to be more disciplined in keeping them charged. A good solution is to have two sets of lights. Firstly as a backup in case one breaks, but also to alternate the use and loading times. While one light is charging, the other is lighting the road. Easy.

Bikepacking Bags

The major innovation of the last few years is undoubtedly the arrival of specific bikepacking bags. Waterproof or not, made to measure or not, reflective or in all colours, with or without racks, etc..

A seatpack, frame bag and handlebar bag are the three essentials that should be in your collection, ready for action whether it be a micro-adventure or full on transcontinental. All come in various shapes and sizes, but most important is to make sure they fit your frame and handlebars well. A badly fitted seatpack will wag like a dog’s tail and a handlebar bag too wide will be impossible to access quickly and may interfere with gear shifting.

You should consider also how easy your bags allow access to their contents. It’s also a matter of packing but, for example, handlebar packs that have top opening access can be very useful on longer trips.
Once you’ve got your three essential bags, many manufacturers offer smaller add-ons to increase capacity and flexibility throughout a big adventure and are also useful on your routine week rides.
Brands we have used and recommend are Helmut Equipement, Cordel, Apidura, Restrap and Ortlieb.

MORE FROM THE BIKEPACKING GUIDE