Camping trips for 2 people on a bike - how do you lot get all the kit for the both of you on it?

[Paul the 6th]

My packing skills are pretty slick if it's just me on the bike, for a weekend trip I can easily carry:

On the rentec:
5 man tent (see teepee in pic at the bottom)
roll matt

In soft panniers:
Clothes for however many days
Ablutions
Camera
sleeping bag
Little camping pillow

Now that dani is gonna be coming along, I'm gonna have to reconsider the oxford sports panniers as they cover up the pillion footpegs. Not only that, there's another sleeping bag and roll matt to bring along as well as her own clothing..

I've got a tank bag but it's about half the capacity of the 2 panniers put together... so, less luggage space but more stuff to bring? How do you lot do it?

p.s. the 5 man green and red teepee on the right in the background and before anyone says "get a tent which packs down smaller", this one packs down to the same size as the rubbish little 3 man tent which I brought for the AR last year, only this one has room for all your gear and space to stand up once you're set up for the weekend.

[dyzio]

I'm doing a 2up run soon, but it's only 1 night and nearby so we're packing light. Tent goes on the rack along with the sleeping bags in a HG roll bag. Halfords sells inflatable sleeping mats which take very little room.

Can you ask someone who's riding solo to carry the extra sleeping bag/mat for you?

Pass......!

[yorkie_chris]

Move panniers back so they do not interfere with pillion pegs. Make sure she can get her feet back far enough that you can still get toes on pegs.

Fit a rack. Ratchet strap the tent and roll mats to that. You might be able to use grabrail same but it is a bit harder.

Sleeping bags and spare pair of jeans or something each go in the panniers plus food, cooking kit if you're taking it.


Tankbag for the important kit, snacks, spare visor, spare gloves if you bother, waterproofs, camera.

[gruntygiggles]

Dani can take most of her stuff in a rucksack on her back. It won't be massively comfortable, but I was on the back of the old Blade with Stretchie once with a BIG bag on my back, stuffed full. Went from Bristol, through Wales as we stopped at Aberystwyth for lunch, then up to Welshpool and next day from there up to the Lakes. I lived

[Paul the 6th]

Cheers YC & Cheryl ... I should really get on my way into work but I'll just have a quick fon-doodle with the panniers to see if they can be moved back. Pics to follow prolly

Already got a rentec rack from ebay for £20 and full on o.t.t. ratchet straps which would prolly be more suited to tieing a bike down in the back of a van but it means our camping gear definitely isn't going anywhere

[yorkie_chris]

I would not have MYC wearing a backpack, I don't want things on my mind when I'm trying to ride.

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I would not have MYC wearing a backpack, I don't want things on my mind when I'm trying to ride.

We both thought the same, so it was a very slow and steady ride....added to by the fact that it rained all the way. It did hurt my shoulders by the time we stopped both days, but didn't affect my balance at all.

[Paul the 6th]

Just tried the sports panniers on the bike - with a bit of shuffling about I managed to sit on the pillion seat and get my feet on the footpegs. If I pack the tent & roll matts right then they could ever so slightly act as a bit of a backrest for her maybe?



If she ever wore a backpack it'd have to be a proper biking type like kriega etc. with built in back protector & ergonomically designed to distribute the weight and all that jazz.

God I'm frippin excited now just need some dry days off for the both of us..

[gruntygiggles]

Looks good

I wouldn't even let my back do more than just be in contact with what's on the rentec though...prefer to always be over the centre of gravity so I don't get left behind......lol