How To Set Up Your Bike For Bikepacking & Gravel Adventures

Alex explains the ways to set up your bike when going bikepacking or on a gravel adventure. From protecting your frame, to fitting frame bags and what tools to take, he’s got you covered, so you’re ready for anything on your next (or first) bikepacking adventure!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:29 Protect your frame
1:23 Mounting points
2:47 Tools
3:36 Bike bags & pannier racks
4:00 Tyre pressure
4:52 Waterproofing
5:10 Take extra lube
5:39 Test everything first

Useful Links:

Have you ever been on a bikepacking adventure? Let us know in the comments below! 💬

If you liked this video, be sure to give it a thumbs up 👍 and share it with your friends!

Watch more on GCN Tech...

🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵

#gcntech #gcn #cycling #roadbike #roadcycling #bike #bikes #bikepacking #adventure #bikelife

Brought to you by the world’s biggest cycling channel, the Global Cycling Network (GCN), GCN Tech is the only channel you need for all things bike tech – past, present and future.

Simply put, we’re obsessed with tech: we seek out and showcase the best in bikes, components, tech, accessories, upgrades and more from races and events, tech shows and product launches across the globe to bring you the best in road bike technology.

We’ve also got great maintenance videos to help you get the most from your bike; pro-bike tours from all the biggest races; special features and the weekly GCN Tech Show. We also take a deeper look into the future of cycling, apps, smart tech and virtual riding.

Join us on the channel and the GCN App to submit your content, vote on the latest tech and keep abreast of exciting new trends.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Watch our sister channels:

[gcntech]

Have you ever been on a bikepacking adventure?

[mrhankbotful]

Yup, it was awesome and I am building an adventure cargo fatbike and going on more.

Don't forget that bigger tires are basically always better up to a point. Over-tire to prevent walking your bike on softer surfaces.

Keep your high priority gear in the bags that make it easiest to access. Make sure water, snacks, and maybe a light jacket (if appropriate for the climate) are accessible while riding without having to stop the bike.

Take plenty of cash. Not all hole in the wall places take cards and it can mean a full belly instead of a grumbling empty one.

Build in a time buffer so you aren't as stressed about it if something happens like a mechanical problem that needs fixing or a headwind that kills your average speed.

Take a friend if you can. It reduces many of the risks of being in remote places if you have a second person there. Plus you can load share and pick each other's spirits up if you're having a bad day.

[frazergoodwin]

Good little list (could've done with the "system max weight" tip for wheels before bikepacking last year and collapsing my front wheel bearings - but hey ho, I've learnt THAT lesson the hard way). What I'd add for longer multi-day bikepacking trips would be a small bottle of de-greaser, a small brush, and a microfibre rag to be able to clean the drive train a bit each day before relubing it. My trip this year featured a lot of gravel (in 2850Km from Brussels to Sweden and back) and keeping the drive train working as smooth as possible made the ride that bit easier.

[joeuser]

Thanks, Alex. For starting off warning us about using tape to protect that nice shiny paint. Because we all know how important preserving a beautiful paint job is to you. 😀
Signed,
President of the Discovery Channel Madone Owner's Association

[josvangastel]

Regarding the protective tape, please do not use any old tape because it can damage your paint as well. The adhesive can chemically react with the paint and when removing it you pull parts. of the paintwork off.

[drews]

Might be a good idea to run schraeders as well, depending on where you're riding. If you run out of tubes, they're going to be the one that's more available in most countries and in big box stores. and if your pump breaks or you need to borrow one, you're also going to have an easier time finding one that fits schraeders.

Obviously a presta to schraeder adapter can help with the pump issue, but not if you run out of spares.

[bengt_axle]

If you've got many threaded holes to block on the forks, dropouts, cable openings, etc. but don't have the right screws, you can just use a dab of silicone sealant (bathtub caulk). It provides a watertight seal, yet is easy to remove with a pick. It's also possible to buy nylon screws which do not corrode, are lighter and come in black or white, which might look better.

[orlyg]

Just a warning: a bottle of Red Locktite was shown. It requires heat/torch to remove. Overkill for biking. Use the Blue Locktite. Good hold but easy to remove.

[gloryhound]

You can use backpacking resources like LighterPack to figure out how/where to cut weight from your supplies

[jameslee-pevenhull]

The rubber bumper on the downtube is for getting over fallen trees.
Correct tyre pressure by 'Rim drop' test. 20% for roughstuff.

[scottyetman]

What make tool roll was that with the torque wrench included.

[VictorElGreco]

Perhaps awfully unsophisticated but I apply common car wax quite liberally on my (alloy) frame. That way, much of the dirt and grime that sits on the bike over time comes off quite easily.

[lezc]

I need one of those torque wrenches Alex, what brand is it please ?

[LeoInterHyenaem]

The current-generation Orbea Terra is a beauty! Just a tiny smidgen below the Salsa WarBird.

[nicolasmeier]

Hi,
could you share the link to one or more of those guides on tire pressure, particularly for gravel?

[brentonedwards]

I have used a spray on vinyl protection that I just peeled of after my trip

[mikes]

You've changed something recently in your music tracks - bass and percussion are now overloading my sound system and hurting my ears. Can you dial it back, please??

[oaristides]

Interested to get a wrench similar to the one presented here, so any one knows the make and model? Or something similar?

[riggseroni]

I almost didn't watch this video, because I'm still mad at Alex for stripping the paint off of that Trek Madone Discovery Channel Edition bike. Here's to hoping time will heal that wound, and that one day I'll find it within myself to forgive you, Mr. Paton. One day...😋. Keep up the good work, you paint stripping monster.

[tn]

is it safe to mount frame bag that only dangling on thin top tube (alloy, emonda ALR)? i just bought the bag that has 2 strapping points.