My thoughts - Ridget, Hard Tails, Soft Tails, Full Suspension or Fat Bike?! What is right and what do you buy. Each of us will make a decision based on current trends, looks, budget and sometimes for terain focused riders what they buy need to cope with their chosen type of riding disapline such as Cross Country, Enduro or Downhill Racing.
For most it is a combination of what is in stock, current trends and budget?
For me the above is the perfect bike. Something that can be ridden everywhere, did not require a second bond on your house and that you do not mind adding the ocasional scratch or ding.
This is a Bikepacking Bike in my opinion. Simple, low maintenance..
This is my bikepacking bike,
I don't mind scuff marks from bags and do not stress about maintenance cost or parts failure. What bike do you have? Share your thoughts on if you would go bikepacking with your bike...
My bikepacking rig is a Trek Farley 7, with various bags, frame bag, handel bar roll and saddle pack. I also sometimes pull a Toute Terrain Mule trailer, which is an awesome little thing that goes anywhere and everywhere I go, including signle track.
I have attached two Salsa Anything HD cages onto my fork using jublie clips and cable ties, which hold them quite securley. They are great for added storage. When I'm not using a frame bag I have another anything cage on my down tube, which can comfortably hold a 2L coke bottle.
I find it is a very versitile setup which I can configure in many different ways depensing on how many days im away for and how much stuff I need to carry.
Great rig Pete, I had a chat this week with a fellow bikepacker building his own trailer. Can one get a hold of them here in SA or are they an import item?
I have seen some great designs for trailers and will have to save up for one as they are costly but I think a worthy addition to any bikepackers wish list.
I'm sure we can replace 4x4s with fat bike-trailers and save the world (lol).
I imported mine, but I saw a different type of trailer advertised on an online bike shop in capetown. If I can remember correctly they were selling the "bob" and the price was not too bad.
Thanks Pete, can you recall the site address/name?
Great price for what should be a good trailer. Topeak make good stuff.
Dry bag included, very good price.
When compairing this to my Tout Terrain Mule trailer there were a few reasons why I went for the Mule.
The mule attaches to the seat post, the Journey attaches to the rear axle, only compatible with 130 or 135mm rear axle. That would not work on my 197mm fattie rear axle.
The Journey has a 16" wheel, perfect and light for road touring with minimal rolling resistance, and could still go off road. The mule comes with a 20" wheel, much better for off roading. It came with a 20x1.75 almost slick touring tire, I changed mine to a 20x2.8 mini fattie knobblie (I tried a 20x4.0 but it wouldnt clear the arm :-( ). The journey can take 32kgs, the mule can take 45kgs.
Mule has a shock on the back wheel, allowing it to handel off-roading a lot better. It also has two hight settings, a "lower" profile setting for on road towing, and a "raised up" setting giving higher ground clearance for off-roading.
Must say, I love my mule! It cost a lot more then what this Journey is selling for, but for what I use it for, it is perfect!
The Journey shold be a great trailer if it fits your bike and the kind of riding you enjoy.
Thanks Pete, will not work on my fatty :(, but still a great offering!!