Note: This post is nearly 5 years old – A LOT has changed in the world of bikepacking/gravel bikes etc so read it with a pinch of salt.
Lockdown has made me realise that there is an enormous amount on stuff on my doorstep. I have spent the past few weeks making my Whyte 901 suitable for bikepacking and adventure riding. This means I my photography adventures will be pedal powered for the foreseeable future which means less driving, less fuel and more exploring..
This is a 2015 spec bike that was starting to show its age, this meant I had a bit of work to do. I live in an amazing corner of the country with a wealth of ancient roman roads and brilliant long distance cycle paths. These are like off-road highways out in to the areas that I would normally drive to. By using Komoot to plan my routes, I am able to discover SO MUCH more that I would miss if I was driving.
Obviously cycling 100+ kms at a time requires some preparation. The first thing I addressed was the old and slightly worn out, freehub and wheels. I whacked some Hope Pro4 Fortus 35 goodness on there for their supreme reliability. The Vittoria tyres I had been using were great but I wanted something to roll a bit better on the long gravel/road sections so I put some Onza Svelt tubeless tyres on also.
I have been a fan of SDG saddles for years so I spent some time getting the fit and position just right, this is now the most comfortable saddle I’ve tried (although it’s not perfect.. maybe I should try a Brooks?). I have this mounted on a Brand X dropper, which is apparently one of the more reliable dropper seat posts on the market.
The biggest part of bikepacking is knowing how to pack kit on your bike. I’ve used some Alpkit bags and a Dakine Hot Laps wrap along with some Voile straps to get as much off my back and strapped to the bike as possible. This keeps the weight lower which keeps everything feeling stable and comfortable. Have a think about this bit. No two bikes are the same, for example I have chosen not to use a saddle bag because I don’t want the extra weight to interfere with the dropper seat post.
The Whyte 901 is a well suited to a frame bag but my current configuration does slightly restrict the use of one. As I will be carrying my camera, I am still using a Camelbak Octane with spare clothing and food in.
Loaded up, the bike is amazingly planted. Keeping the weight low keeps it stable enough to attack single track just the same as normal. I tested the set up (without the bar bag) on a 140km ride out to Bradford upon Avon and back over the Mendips.
I was amazed that at 100km in I had a rough and fast descent back in to Cheddar. Dropping the seatpost out of the way, the bike just lapped it up without missing a beat – even though my legs where knackered!
