Two folding bikes and a component that are great for packrafting
Since we last wrote about bikerafting, several folks have e-mailed for an update, so here it is, from Ron, the Flatbike customer new to bikerafting who had just purchased a CHANGE folding rugged hybrid. (This model has since been replaced by the CHANGE Folding Adventure Bike with 1 x 11 gearing, making it even better for bikerafting).
But first… the basic concept about bikerafting, sometimes called bike packing or packrafting, although technically you can carry a packraft without a bike. (You just start wishing you had a bike).
The goal: Remote adventures on land and water.
Combine the freedom of a mountain bike with the freedom of an inflatable raft, and you can have all kinds of adventures.
Bikerafting the Sacred Headwaters, British Columbia.
All you need is:
- A rugged, reliable backcountry bike
- A rugged, sturdy packraft kit that (boat, paddles, bag) folds down small
- A lot of patience during the transitions to/from the water
Why patience? Well…this isn’t like an amphibious craft, where you head for the water’s edge and keep on going. Look at this idyllic scene of a guide-led bikepacking trip at the transition zone, and one thing becomes very clear. They’re taking off both wheels.
Transitioning from remote biking to remote paddling.
With today’s quick-release or thru-axle setups, removing both wheels is not inherently a complex endeavor. But it does increase the number of moving parts. Accidentally leave an axle on the beach and the fun part of your trip is automatically over.
After all, you’re already getting a watercraft inflated and flotation-ready. How much more time do you want to spend doing and redoing this?
What makes a good bikepacking bike?
“Ruggedness” is a major trade-off word. You want your bike to be sturdy enough to handle whatever terrain you throw at it, with gearing to make any climb easy. And yet, the features that help most with those challenges, such as shocks and extra gears, are also complexities and potential risks in a remote, perpetually sandy, muddy, or wet environment.
Exactly how wet are we talking about? Well… it depends on where you’re going.
This bike will need some TLC and drying out when it gets back.
Depending upon where they like to go, bikepackers sometimes choose to dial back on shocks, or gearing, or just assume that everything is going to need a thorough cleaning and drying post-trip. With that in mind, here are two options for bikepacking with two transition-area advantages over more commonly used bikepacking bikes: (1) they fold in half, and (2) with pop-off pedals, there’s no need for a pedal wrench.
Folding Mountain Bike
The CHANGE Folding Off-Road MTB features hydraulic brakes, dropper post, 2.2″ knobby tires, thru-axle front wheel, and a 1 x 11 drive train that goes down to a 0.64 gear ratio.
One minute later, the CHANGE Folding Off-Road MTB is raft-sized, with rear wheel still attached.
Bike-packing advantages of the CHANGE Off-Road Folding MTB:
- Folding frame, Flatbike Pop-Off pedals, internal cabling
- Low gearing complexity: 1 x 11 speeds, with a 52-tooth low cog
- Knobby 2.2″ tires for loose soil and mud
- Hydraulic brakes with no cables to rust
- Dropper post
- Front air shocks for rough terrain
Folding Rugged Hybrid Bike
Another approach is the CHANGE Folding Adventure Bike. It’s a rugged hybrid that’s passed the same ISO 4210 ruggedness certification as the CHANGE Folding Off-Road MTB, but features a rugged carbon monocoque solid fork instead of air shocks.
The CHANGE Folding Adventure Bike features the same gearing as the mountain bike, but on a lighter, rugged hybrid frame…
And yet, it still folds up just as small, to 30″ x 15″ x 37″ (mostly handlebar)
Bike-packing advantages of the CHANGE Folding Adventure Bike:
- Folding frame, Flatbike Pop-Off Pedals
- Light but rugged carbon fiber monocoque fork (no shocks to get wet inside)
- 700c wheels with 38mm tires for efficient road and trail riding
- Disc brakes with cables that are field-serviceable
- Choice of 1 x 11 or 2 x 11 gearing
And if you already like your bike…
Something as simple as a different set of pedals can be life-changing.
Flatbike Pop-Off Pedals are pedals designed for rugged use that install and remove without a pedal wrench.
That’s one less thing to pack and carry on your travels, and another way to shorten all prep time at the water’s edge.
How are they designed for rugged use? It starts with the latch head, which contains two independent latches, both of which have to be depressed simultaneously, or the pedal stays on.
Flatbike Pop-Off Pedals latching & unlatching—not possible with a foot, but as easy as a one-handed pinch.
How much time can these save on your next packrafting trip? They also can eliminate ride-off theft.
Ron’s bikepacking experience with a folding bike
A lot of features separate full-size CHANGE bikes from other folding bikes, including 27.5″ (or 700c) wheels and the ability to select from a whole industry of add-on components for “normal” bikes. In this case, Ron added a shorter-reach downhill stem and some add-on grips for a more relaxed back position, and a Blackburn frame bag that fits perfectly in the bike frame.
That leaves the bars free for an Alpaca packraft kit. Here it is fully loaded, and it gets to the trailhead folded in the trunk of a Toyota Prius. That’s an advantage whether or not you’re bikepacking!
CHANGE bike fully loaded and ready for packrafting
In the first fit test on the Alpaca raft, side-to-side distance is fine with the rear wheel still on, but the bars hang down. That’s an adjustment for later.
Alpaca packraft fully loaded
One nice feature is that the pedals don’t need wrench work before each raft use. They’re in the seat bag above.
pop-off pedals are a perfect combo with a packraft.
And finally, out on the water…
…social distancing in the most relaxing way possible…
Seeing the sights along the way…
And enjoying beauty form a different perspective. In Ron’s own words…
Oakwood Park Bridge over the Huron River, as seen from the river.
“Hi Bob, hope all is well with you. Sunrise found me on the Huron River near Lake Erie this morning. I paddled for 2‘ 20” going 6 river miles downstream. I pedaled for 35” on 3.7 pavement miles on a packed Flatbike back to my car. I passed under the major highway I-75, see pic. Having a blast…”
“I’ve paddled 30 river miles on the Huron River in five separate day trips and pedaled back on the Flatbike – the urban bikerafter, a legend in my own mind. I am going up north (northern Michigan) on Sunday, spending a lot of time on the raft and bike. I’ll try and get some good pictures to share. The Flatbike and Alpacka Raft are a perfect match. Also, the weight of the bike on the bow helps one to paddle straighter. The hard-core wilderness guys would prefer the mountain bike, or even if they had the frame, they could build their own.
“Besides its durability it’s the quick breakdown and reboot of the Flatbike which would be attractive to bikerafters. When you are outdoors time is very precious especially when you are on the move…”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Now that sounds like a great summer! For anyone else interested in bikerafting, Ron has shared some more guidance:
The two major manufacturers of packrafts:
Alpacka https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/#
Kokopelli https://kokopelli.com/
Articles about packrafting:
Alpacka Bikerafting https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/category/bikerafting/
Packrafting for Cyclists http://bikepacker.com/packrafting-for-cyclists/
7 Bikerafting Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PluDyl75mhg
Bikerafting – A Beginners Guide https://bikepacking.com/plan/bikerafting-guide/
And for some inspiring trip videos about packrafting and bikepacking….. PaTVenture.
Are you into bikerafting? Would you like to be?
See you on the water,
Bob Forgrave is president of Flatbike, a Pacific Northwest company
focused on portable adventure–the ability to make bikes easier to store and transport.
425-985-6219