Why This Full Suspension Bike Is The ULTIMATE Bikepacking Bike (For Me)

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📸 Photo by Cass Gilbert at 11:14

0:00 - Intro
0:45 - A Bike For A Very Specific Purpose
1:23 - My Bike Criteria
2:10 - Frame Geometry of the Nukeproof Mega
4:12 - Rear Shock Setup
5:48 - Suspension Fork Setup
6:44 - Choosing Tyres
9:37 - Tyre Inserts
11:06 - My Bikepacking Bags
12:59 - Drivetrain
14:05 - Brakes
14:38 - Dropper Post & Saddle
15:11 - Summary

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[Cyclingabout]

It's been so much fun riding mountain bikes again! Bikes have gotten a heck of a lot better in the last few years - what a time to be alive! 🎉

[hahamasala]

As a former engineer, I appreciate your real world technical analysis of bicycle geometry. So much enduro buzz and nobody else talks about the floppy steering due to slack geometry. Great solution for no lock out rear suspension too!

[RandomeHandle]

Since I've rediscovered my passion for cycling I haven't seen or heard a more detailed and well planned guide/video series/YouTube channel as your/your's. You on your own ar a gift to cycling and cyclist alike.

[szwagijer]

Man, you are living bicycle Encyclopedia!

[alexhofvander]

Man! Your content is next level detailed. Thank you. I thought I was thorough but no. Learning so much from you.

[tibbar]

You do a wonderful job of explaining the features and benefits of the equipment. Your videos are very clear to me despite my ignorance of many common terms thrown about. Your diagrams help a lot too. Thank you.

[scoops]

I was oogling that bike in the last vid. Love the bag set up, love the content. Great video as usual.

[rff]

Hi Alee, another great video... Thank you. I came to a similar conclusion on what bike I wanted - a full suspension Enduro/Trail bike with similar travel (except it cost more than yours!) but has a Rohloff/Gates drivetrain. I also found the same issue with the tires, so I run 2.35 width tires on 25mm rims. I have been debating inserts but run higher pressures so no problems so far... My brakes are Hope... just seems like such an appropriate name for brakes when I am on those very steep and technical downhills!

[omaralmeraya]

I agree with the fact that Oaxaca has the Best mountains the city Is surrounded by beautiful mountains, the bike scene Is getting better ando better every year. Greetings from Oaxaca.

[cjohnson]

I'll be interested in your future review of that IGH, particularly in how well it engages, which is imo the biggest obstacle to these types of tech on mountain bikes

[rohansully]

I was surprised to see you riding sprockets and chain! But of course, you mentioned that, and your plan to try a gear hub. ❤️

[Vanadium]

Before you upgrade the brakes consider upgrading pads and rotors. You can run 220 for the front and 203 on the back. Enduro Mag wrote a piece about why we all should run bigger back rotors. Just because when we do big descends we constantly reduce our speed with back most of the time and brake with both. So the back brake actually gets more beating. Different pads are also really can make a difference. If you want the ultimate brake for a small budged you need to buy Magura mt5 calipers and pair them with your Shimano levers. Bleed them with Shimano or Magura mineral oil and be amazed how crazy good those work. I have owned several pairs of them and I also have the Dirittissima from Trickstuff. This brake is a the ultimate brake to day and the Shimano/Magura(Shigura) franken brake is almost good as the Dirittissima. OFC the Direttissima will have other benefits like never get destroyed and unreal build quality

[outbackwack]

Thanks! I've decided that I really enjoy riding my full suspension mountain bike (29er 130F/130-115R) much more than my gravel bike. So I've been configuring the MTB for bikepacking and will be selling my gravel bike. I even bought another set of carbon wheels with fast tires for riding road and gravel and use a 30/32 Absolute Black Oval chainring with an Eagle X01 10-50 cassette. Plus, I have 3 modes: open, trail and full lockout front and rear and have a rear flip-chip to change between 130 or 115mm. The bonus is that the bike with flat pedals weighs under 28 pounds, which is very light for a full suspension.

[paulbusby]

I've just retired so have more time for recreational cycling. Was out on my Defy with its slick 25c tyres on a road that soon turned to gravel. Rather than turning back, I skated through it. This rekindled my interest in off-road. Instead of making room for a 3rd bike, I ordered some Hunt carbon gravel wheels for my Ridgeback hybrid with some XTR 160mm rotors & Schwalbe 35c knobblies (all my tyres run tubeless).
I've been revisiting trails I haven't been down for 25yrs & having a real blast! The Ridgeback ain't no MTB but it does light off-road perhaps better than many drop-bar bikes do.
This has had me really familiarising me with current MTB tech such as gearbox drives & dropper posts. Great video, if a little terrifying to watch at times!

[bytesandbikes]

Always enjoy the depth and clarity of explainations

[edmondwong]

Great video! Can you go through a bit of what you brought in your luggage for this journey?

[sifi]

Loving this Alee; massive kudos to you for being able to make such great content in such challenging circumstances! If you get the chance, can you please answer one question? Are you able to explain how your current derailleur clutch dampens your rear suspension?

[simone.]

I remember you saying in your video about bicycle gearboxes that a Pinion has the advantage when it comes to mountainbikes. So: why no Pinion?
Keep up the great work, really enjoying the quality content.

[PeterPeadar]

Did I miss the saddle model that you returned to using? Super content! Thanks for your good work.

[mitchwarren]

Absolutely epic information as always! I’d like to nominate my Deviate Guide Pinion as a strong contender for this purpose.