The packhorse

What constitutes the perfect bikepacking machine is always going to depend on the terrain. Diehard adventure riders might swear by a rigid fatbike or plus-tyred hardtail, with plenty of space for frame bags and a funky-shaped bar to give a choice of hand positions. But there’s inevitably a trade-off between long-distance comfort and rough-terrain speed. Plus, a dedicated bike is a big expense, especially for shorter trips. Because the Trans-Cambrian is largely off-road and we wanted to eke out the maximum amount of enjoyment from the descents, I opted to ride a regular trail bike – Scott’s Genius 910. With 150mm of travel, the Genius could gallop down the rocky bridleways with ease, but its 29in wheels, lightweight carbon frame and bar-mounted TwinLoc pedalplatform lever meant it could also cover a lot of ground quickly. The large-volume Maxxis Rekon 2.6in tyres gave a welcome amount of cushioning too. I tried to pack as light as possible, keeping most of the weight off my back and on the bike, using 13l bar and saddle bags from Alpkit. Into these I stuffed my waterproof bivvy bag, sleeping bag and roll mat, along with a merino top and insulated jacket. On my back I took a lightweight hydration pack with 2.5l of water plus food, tools and pump. Ben carried a compact stove for cooking up our morning porridge and coffee, and we packed a Sawyer water filter in case we needed to fill up from streams. Check out this month’s Want That! (p24) for a kitlist to help you get started on your own outdoor adventure.