simonhill wrote:Thanks for saying that bikepacking luggage makes bike handle better. That explains some of it.
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Handles better (especially offroad), no panniers snagging on rocks or bushes when doing single track(or bouncing off the racks). More importantly in my case, the overall weight is less (baggage plus bike is around 25kg) so its easier to lift over fences, walls, fallen tree's and other obstacles when doing mtb type routes (also easier to load onto busses, trains and trucks, because all the bags stay on the frame in my case). Its also now (after much faffing around) nicely balanced when I carry it too, very convenient when the tracks become too steep, or unrideable.
IMG_2300 by Shane Cycles, on Flickr
For me bike packing has opened up routes that would not be possible (or very difficult) with a standard set up. My taste in trips has changed, and this is a solution to that problem. I now couldn't imagine doing endless 1000's of miles on tar roads like many of my previous trips.
IMG_2316 by Shane Cycles, on Flickr
gloomyandy wrote: In the first photo of your post there seems to be a couple of bags on the floor, where do they go on the bike?
Its a lightweight backpack.
tatanab wrote:Frame bag as shown above - It looks wide enough to me that one would have to ride with knees quite far apart.
I made it myself, so its fits perfect. The knee area is about 6cm wides and expands to about 8-10 when overfilled, which is just do-able. outside the knee area its fans out to about 15-20cm.
There's a lot of marketing going into bike packing. But, for most folks a classic 2-4 panniers will work better and probably be cheaper.