Not so much bikepacking, more using my bike to get to and from hostels, inns & hotels that I’ll be staying in, what are my options for carrying stuff on the back of the bike with a dropper post?
For an added bonus, something that I could also fit to my carbon framed full sus as well.
I’ve already got a bar bag, and I don’t like cycling more than short distances with a heavy rucksack.
Is tailfin my only option?
Anyone use them? Would you recommend the Aeropack or the rack with separate rack bag?
Aeroe Spider
If you don't have rack eyelets.........
Tailfin is a lovely elegant solution but it's expensive. Has some great bags that work well off road but again, very expensive.
I'm using a Robert axle project skewer and an old man mountain rack.
Its heavier, bulkier and doesn't have the same range of bags that fit but it can carry a lot of weight. Normal panniers fit fine but a bit more limited if you want to strap a bag to it for off road use.
There's also the ortlieb quick rack that will fit with bits you attach to your stays. Not quite as good in my opinion but cheaper.
Frame bag, bum bag/rucksack, bar bag?
Frame bag, bum bag/rucksack, bar bag?
That’s what I have been doing, it’s ok for relatively short rides and short stays, but not so good when it’s either a longer ride or a longer stay with more to carry.
Aeroe Spider
🤔
I did think of one, but I’m not sure about something that attaches to carbon seat stays on my full sus, and I think it would interfere with the mudguard on my hardtail?
I have one fitted to my Fatbike and it easily clears a Mudhugger.
When we did the Polaris Challenge and things like the Wainwright coast to coast we used any old rack on the bike with some stuff in a dry bag straped to the rack. To bottles on the frame mounts the rest in the lightest comfortable ruck sack.
We used to carry the minimum. We thought we could get away with.
For staying in accomodation that meant not much. I reckon the temptation now is to carry too much tech. We navigated by maps and if we had a phone it just made phone calls .
I have one fitted to my Fatbike and it easily clears a Mudhugger.
Ok, that’s useful to know.
Not so much bikepacking
Would you recommend the Aeropack
For road riding I'd always recommend ortlieb panniers. The aero pack isn't that big, is very expensive but does sit out of the wind. I guess it depends on what your priorities are for touring.
I came to say Aeroe but scotroutes beat me to it.
I run a standard seatpack with a Wolftooth Valais on the dropper
Just set the Valais to a height that means your seatpack doesn't hit the tyre with the dropper depressed - works well for me, but I do run a 200mm dropper (and long legs).
The Valais looks expensive for a bit of plastic, but it really works and is pliable enough to remove/install as & when needed.
Don’t seatpacks tend to waggle a bit when they’re filled with heavier stuff?
Not good ones well packed.
topeak do that do-hicky thing that fits to the top of the post to hold your seatpack off the dropper shaft
https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1139-DP-MOUNT
ortlieb pack works with a dropper too
https://ukgravelco.com/2022/11/09/ortlieb-waterproof-frame-and-seat-pack-review/
Went with this on a tour of the hebrides back in May, on a bike with no rack mounts.
Chose that over the aeroe due to the ability to use proper panniers & top bag which IMO are overall more convenient and capacious for touring on the road.
Wouldn't be great for bikepacking on rough terrain though, as paniers are less stable / flap about more than the aeroe looks like it will (though I have no direct experience of the aeroe).
Don’t seatpacks tend to waggle a bit when they’re filled with heavier stuff?
I use a pretty chunky one and it doesn't wobble, for the huge ones you can get metal supports.
https://alpkit.com/products/exo-rail-seat-pack-mounting-system?variant=31072155664489
Dropper post compatible. I have no personal experience of them though.
I use a Topeak DP mount with a dropper and a seat pack. Works just fine
I've got a Tailfin.
Love it, customer service is great/fast/simple.
Universal axle fits just about every bike. Recently got a bike with a universal hanger and surprise surprise, they do a UDH adaptor designed to work with the their axle (and presumably any other axle mounted trailer/rack).
I got the Aeropack as most of my riding is off-road, it takes seconds to remove the whole thing to take into your accommodation.
I can't see myself ever selling it, (unless I can ever justify upgrading you the carbon version) hopefully it will still be going strong for years, or at least whilst Tailfin still stock all the spare parts
Topeak do the Tetra-rack which may be worth a look.
I’ve got a Tailfin and an Ortlieb Quickrack because I couldn’t bring myself to pay for the replacement arch and pannier adaptors for the Tailfin so I could use my existing panniers on it. Tailfin is good but stupidly expensive, Quickrack is good and more flexible because you can strap anything to the top easily. Both work well with suspension and droppers.
Aeroe do a pannier rack too now
https://www.freewheel.co.uk/aeroe-spider-rear-pannier-rack-aerrackrpr
Or you can convert an existing Aeroe spider to accept panniers
https://www.freewheel.co.uk/aeroe-spider-pannier-reciever-aerasspr
I've got the Wolftooth Valais, my mate has the Topeak DP, the DP appears to give more drop for your dropper. Used with a Topeak seatpack they both work well.
I've no doubt that the Tailfin is a better solution if you bikepack regularly enough to justify the cost.
I can't remember how much drop I have with the Wolftooth but its enough to enjoy the descents at the kind of speeds that a fully loaded fatbike moves at, which is suprisingly fast and plenty fun 🙂