With the Trans Am Bike Race underway and summer around the corner, the northern hemisphere is entering its favourite season for bikepacking, touring and ultra-endurance cycling. Bikepacking is a craze which is sweeping the cycling world with bikes designed especially for a particular type of adventure, bags and equipment developed for ultra-lightweight and efficient storage, and events like the Transcontinental Race being talked about almost as much as the Tour de France.
It is easier than ever to get set up for your first bike tour or bikepacking adventure and we’ve got a handy checklist to get you started.
The bike
Like a snail with his shell, your bike will be your only constant companion on your bikepacking trip, so it couldn’t be more important to get the right one for you.
Diverge Comp
If distance, pace and efficiency are your goals, then you can’t go far wrong with the Specialized Diverge Comp. Designed around a FACT 10r carbon fibre frame, the Diverge Comp brings together lightweight performance and responsiveness with a unique geometric design for optimum comfort for even the longest days in the saddle. Crisp Shimano 105 11-speed shifting and dependable hydraulic disc brakes inspire confidence in the low-maintenance machine, and the DT R460 wheelset wrapped in Roubaix Pro BlackBelt protected tyres will cope with almost anything adventure might put in your way.
Sequoia Expert
For the adventures that are less predictable in nature, the Sequoia will be your friend through thick and thin. Optimised for off-road riding as well as on, the brand new Sequoia range is designed with the globetrotting explorer in mind. The frame is of Premium Cr-Mo tubing designed with dedicated Adventure Geometry, blurring the line between the traditional road bike shape and a dedicated touring rig. Bottle cage and baggage mounts are in plentiful supply with options on the front fork as well as the more traditional sites on the down and seat tube. SRAM groupset and hydraulic discs complement the adventure-optimised Sawtooth tyres.
Baggage
Burra Burra Stabilizer Seatpack 20
This is the largest seat bag in our Burra Burra range and does away with the cumbersome weight and handling of integrated rear racks. It affixes to the seatpost via an aluminium stabilizing arm that promises to minimise bounce or side-to-side sway. Waterproof, lightweight and with a surprising capacity, this bag answers all the most important questions for the enthusiastic bikepacker.
Burra Burra Framepack 5
A middle-weight and capacity bag, the Framepack is constructed from coated nylon and features a strong, reliable and sturdy six-point attachment system, flush with coated webbing and camlocks.
Burra Burra Drypack 13
Mounted to either flat or drop handlebars via our Harness, the Drypack is designed to provide weatherproof protection for your smallest gear thanks to its 100D Cordura ripstop construction.
Tools of the trade
Air Tool Shock Frame Pump
For the longer journeys spanning days, weeks and even months, you want more than a small hand pump. A reliable precision shock pump is constructed with a durable aluminium barrel, handle and shaft and comes with a frame mount for easy storage and accessibility.
EMT Cage Mount Road Tool
A decent multi-tool can get you out of many a roadside jam, and this particular item mounts neatly to any SWAT-compatible bottle cage for easy, no-hassle transport and storage.
With bike and equipment sorted, all that remains for you to do is to plan your route, gather together your kit and sort out a date. Happy travelling!
(Pic: @Panniercc)
