Carry What You Need
Escape the crowds with a Winter Bikepacking trip
More so now than ever people are looking for ways to free themselves from the buzz and constant grind of COVID-era life. Working from home has you plugged in 24/7, most interactions that used to be in person are online, and your world just feels generally small. But there’s an escape route—and it’s best travelled with two wheels and minimal supplies.
Bikepacking provides a quiet, self-propelled adventure to set your mind at ease. Find a trailhead, gear up the bike, and start pedaling. Let the rhythmic spinning of the cranks melt away your workweek stress. Soak in the trees, hills, and trails. Go at your own pace. See a view you want to take in? Stop for some refueling. Pull that energy bar and your phone out of your fuel pouch or handlebar bag and capture the moment.
When you’re ready to call it a day a few essentials will make the night oh-so-much more comfortable. These include: more food and water, a shelter, and some extra layers. But you’re on a bike, so where do you keep these luxuries? In your bags. Small waterproof panniers are ideal for storing the shelter and layers, and the food can either be stored here, too, or stashed away in a handlebar bag.
At North St. Bags we make handmade, lifetime guaranteed bags for occasions just like this. We want to help you relax and enjoy nature. Linked here are some of our suggestions for a minimalist bikepacking setup. If you have any questions, or would like some more information, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line!
When you order your new bike pannier or convertible backpack pannier you’ll need to select the hook size that best fits your bike’s cargo rack. These hooks—two near the top of the pannier—slot over the horizontal tube(s) of the cargo rack and then a bottom hook on a bungee holds tension for a secure fit.
While it’s a simple system, one of the most common questions we get is: what’s the right hook size for my bike? Click to read more.
