Lightweight touring - How much can you pack in the bags?

[Farawayvisions]

Lightweight touring / bikepacking is great for short tours and when you want to go off road along narrow lanes and across fields and rivers. But how much can you pack into those soft bags without the need for panniers.

http://www.farawayvisions.com/whats-inside-bikepacking-bags/

[andymiller]

A onesie and a cuddly toy? Or is that just me?

[mercalia]

just as well u dont use panniers as they would have picked up so much mud you would wonder where the extra weight has come from

[Vantage]

Probly ran out of Mr Sheen.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Some one needs to lose weight or limit the stunts.........................saddle stem / other is bent

[Farawayvisions]

Hi,
Some one needs to lose weight or limit the stunts.........................saddle stem / other is bent

Really? Which bike?

[Vantage]

Hi,
Some one needs to lose weight or limit the stunts.........................saddle stem / other is bent

The bar is just really curved. It's shown properly on the story page of her link.

[Farawayvisions]

Hi,
Some one needs to lose weight or limit the stunts.........................saddle stem / other is bent

The bar is just really curved. It's shown properly on the story page of her link.

I thought saddle stem was another word for seat post. Looking at both bikes right now and I see no bend. Maybe I need Mr Sheen, Vantage?

[Vantage]

Hmm.......I read it as two separate words, as in saddle is saggy and stem is twisted around. Brookes saddles tend to do that regardless of the riders weight and the bar is actually very curvy which if I hadn't read the story and saw the front facing photo I'd have thought the same.
Some febreeze would make it smell nice too

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Hah, its an optical illusion

[Farawayvisions]

You are right on two counts, Natural Ankling; someone needs to lose weight (thanks for the reminder) and yes, on closer inspection, it is an optical illusion.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Well......I was joking about the rider
Not my eyes so explain that with digital? camera

[Farawayvisions]

Hi Natural Ankling,
this is the design of the frame - there is a bend in the seat tube. Have a look at a bike belonging to someone else.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Oh well you live and learn.
Someone with technical acumen will explain that.
Probably just fashion.
How do you drop the saddle
My newest bike is a 2001 skip trainer built up with used parts, so what do I know..............

[Farawayvisions]

Apparently, the bend is to help put the rider's weight a bit farther back because of the big wheels and long wheel base and possibly to allow clearance when using fat tyres, though these are the fattest he's got at the moment.
The saddle drops as much as it need to ( not all the way) by opening the quick release seat post clamp.
Me, I take the pictures, write the stories and ride. I know little about such things. Too busy worrying about my weight.