Bikepacking Forum

Paul and I attempted the CityScape route the week before. The route is a 428 km bikepacking route with the starting point in Centurion Pretoria, South Africa. Unfortunately a broken rear derailleur pulley ended our journey at kilometer 145 just after we survived a thunder and hail storm. "The perfect story for around the camp fire". Fast forward to the following weekend and we attempted the CityScape route for a second time. Winter was now fast approaching as was apparent from the cold dark morning ushering us to rather "go back inside". It was 4 am Saturday morning, the adventure has begun! Talk, stop, peddle, eat, drink, silence, peddle, pictures, nature... this was the repeated activities over the course of the two days. We reached our overnight destination as darkness fell, and enjoyed a festive dinner before turning in for the night. WHAT!! it was 4 am again the following morning, time to pack bikes and gear. As if waking up at this ungodly hour was not enough it was misty with visibility limited to a few meters and it was WET. We somehow managed to get going, day 2 has begun. Unspoken words swirled in the mist "will they go the distance"!? The first five hours of riding was as if man and machine were being tested. We passed the test and were rewarded with sunshine at 9 am just as we entered a small town. We stopped and unpacked leaving gear scattered to dry, and prepared a hot coffee and breakfast. This was just what we needed to ignite the body and soul again for the remainder of the adventure. Another 155 km to go! The last 90 kilometers were littered with hills and a persistent head wind. And just then something unexpected happened at around 340 km. The more we cycled the less we became concerned with how we felt, it was as if our bodies made peace with what was happening. Helmut, who joined me on this incredible journey was in agreement and optimistically said that we could probably ride another 200 km the following day. Is ultra distance riding really this much "fun"?! 8:30 pm Sunday evening we rode into town as we completed another bikepacking adventure. Both of us concurred that our cycling abilities definitely "leveled up" during the two days of riding. My advice to you - JUST DO IT.

Creating space on your bike for bikepacking gear is easy with the multitude of bikepacking bags available. Although handlebar and saddle bags have many different fastening systems depending on brand and price they are normally quite secure in the way they mount to the bike. Saddle bags are however more susceptible to movement depending on how they are packed and tend to sway or sag if not packed properly. This phenomenon can cause distraction or even tire rub while riding. Benefits of a saddle bag : Very Versatile - Most saddle soft bags are adjustable in size and can accommodate small or larger gear items depending on the duration of your planned adventure bikepacking ride. Mounting Points - can attach items to the outside of the bag and store items on top of the bag with draw string systems as standard features to most bags. Turn Key Solution - No additional purchases are required as the bags come with all you will need to pack gear and secure the bag to your bike. To Consider : Choices - There are many bag choices with various price points to consider, this makes it challenging to easily choose the right bag. Be sure to first test the fit of as many bags as you can before making your decision. Setup - Setup might differ every time you pack the bag depending on what you take with you on tour, this makes it more challenging to get that perfect setup. That said it will take a few trips to get to grips with your bag making for easier packing for future bikepacking trips. Saddle soft bag stabilizers are available if sway is something you consider to be a deal breaker. More recently saddle mounted racks are becoming an alternative to consider before buying a soft saddle bag. I am using one myself for my bikepacking adventures. These racks are affordable and easy to mount but you will need to purchase additional items to store your gear in and straps to fasten the gear to the rack. Keep this in mind in addition to what you will pay for a saddle rack. Benefits of saddle mounted racks : Ease of use - Normally outfitted with some sort of quick release type of fastening system that lends itself towards easy fitment and removal of the rack. Sturdy - These racks are very sturdy and have no sway or movement even under rough road conditions. Max load is normally 10 kg. To Consider : Aesthetics - Seems more at home as a bike touring accessory than a bikepacking rig set up. Only important if you worry about appearances. Additional Costs - The rack does not come with bags or straps to secure your gear to the rack. Remember to include the cost of these items to that of the rack price to compare total cost versus that of a soft bag solution. Consider a dry bag, bungee cords and clips. It all boils down to personal preference and both solutions has their merits as a bikepacking saddle solution. Which one will you choose ...

The Siablo GR has been designed from the ground up as a gravel bike, utilizing a different frame to the Siablo CX, the GR exceeds the broad demands put on the gravel category. Designed with current trends and future insight the Siablo GR is an extremely versatile bike, capable of fitting up to 700x47c tyres or 650b road plus should you want the extra comfort. Rack mounts, threaded BB, and mechanical disc brakes mean that the Siablo GR is practical and easy to service with just basic tools. The Silverback Siablo GR is the only bike in the Siablo range of bikes that are outfitted with fork mounts that make the bike ideal for bikepacking adventures. Retailing for a suggested 18.999 ZAR with a good specification of components makes the Siablo GR a great value for money offering and I will go so far and say that it is at the top of the list of my choices of bikepacking bikes available in South Africa.