These days, the weather is perfect for the kind of fun known as camping touring and bikepacking. You could say the high season has truly arrived.
Where should I go? What kind of route should I plan? What about gear? The pleasure of the planning stage is a true highlight of any adventure. Even a day trip can turn into a big adventure depending on your planning. (I'm sure those who participated in "Bike To Mori, Michi, Ichiba" today also enjoyed the adventure of cycling from Nagoya to Gamagori for the festival!)
For those of you who have started making such plans, some exciting news has flown in from Canada and the U.S. regarding items that will make you happy!
This Basic Series, newly proposed by Porcelain Rocket, takes the experience Scott has accumulated while focusing on custom orders and turns it into production models with newly optimized specifications. By outsourcing to U.S.-based cycling bag manufacturers, the goal is to make Porcelain quality more accessible than ever, both in terms of product and price. The frame packs and seat packs in the lineup come in various sizes, so please choose the one that suits your bike and intended use.
Porcelain Rocket
Universal Partial Frame Pack
Universal Partial Frame Pack
Material : 500D CORDURA NYLON / VX21 NYLON (X-PAC)
Capacity : 3L
Size : SMALL / 12cm x 40cm x 5cm
MEDIUM / 14cm x 50cm x 5cm
LARGE / 16cm x 50cm x 5cm
Color : Black, Grey & Black Camo
Made in U.S.A
Price : ¥ 11,000 (excl. tax)
This Universal Partial Frame Pack from Porcelain Rocket will become the best companion for the light tourer. Without sacrificing precious bottle cage space during long-distance rides, you can easily store food, spare clothing, and tools by making maximum use of unused space within the frame to keep storage within arm's reach.
Porcelain Rocket
Charlene Basic Seatpack
Charlene Basic Seatpack
Material : 330&500D CORDURA NYLON
Capacity : 3~5L
Dimensions : 11 x 28 x 12.5cm
Color : Black, Grey, Black Camo & Camouflage
Made in U.S.A
Price : ¥ 13,000 (excl. tax)
☆ Approximately 15.5cm of clearance is required from the seat rails to the tire. Additionally, at least 7.6cm of seatpost extension is required.
Charlene is the smallest in the Basic Seatpack line. Nevertheless, since it can store 3 to 5 liters, it is recommended for ultra-long-distance rides that go through the night, such as brevets, as an auxiliary bag for pannier touring, or for daily commuting.
★ If you would like custom colors or materials, please select the traditional Custom Charlene.
Porcelain Rocket
Tess Basic Seatpack
Tess Basic Seatpack
Material : 330&500D CORDURA NYLON
Capacity : 5~9L
Dimensions : 12.5 x 40 x 15.5cm
Color : Black, Grey, Black Camo & Camouflage
Made in U.S.A
Price : ¥ 15,000 (excl. tax)
☆ Approximately 15.5cm of clearance is required from the seat rails to the tire. Additionally, at least 7.6cm of seatpost extension is required.
The Tess Seatpack is a medium-sized seat pack that can hold 5 to 9 liters. It is perfect for summer or weekend light touring where you can travel with minimal gear, both on and off-road. I believe this size, which is surprisingly hard to find, will be appreciated by many riders.
Porcelain Rocket
Vera Basic Seatpack
Vera Basic Seatpack
Material : 330&500D CORDURA NYLON
Capacity : 7~13L
Demention : 15 x 48 x 18cm
Color : Black, Grey, Black Camo & Camouflage
Made in U.S.A
Price : ¥ 17,000 (excl. tax)
☆ Approximately 20cm of clearance is required from the seat rails to the tire. Additionally, at least 12cm of seatpost extension is required.
The Vera Seatpack, which can hold 7 to 13 liters, is the largest in the lineup. Compared to the Charlene and Tess, it is built with a larger underlying structure, making it the most suitable size for long-term touring. It also has a semi-rigid frame structure, providing high stability even when riding off-road, as well as resistance to abrasion from rocks and tree branches.
And from Colorado in the U.S., Ron from King Cage has created a new item at the request of SimWorks.
KING CAGE
MANYTHING CAGE
Manything Cage
MATERIAL : TITANIUM
WEIGHT : ave.37g
SIZE : H210 x W63 x D80mm
MADE IN USA
PRICE : ¥ 8,000(excl. tax)
This Manything Cage was created by consulting hard-core bikepackers and repeatedly testing materials and shapes in the field. It allows you to easily strap on cylindrical items such as tightly packed medium-sized dry bags or large 40oz water bottles, and its fit and carrying capacity are truly excellent. It further expands the possibilities of bikepacking. Furthermore, the material, titanium, is attractive not only for being lightweight but also for its overwhelming durability.
KING CAGE
USB / UNIVERSAL SUPPORT BOLT
MATERIAL : Stainless steel bolt and strap
WEIGHT : ave.10g
SIZE : 27, 44.45 & 50.8mm
MADE IN USA
PRICE : ¥1,000- (1 BAND/excl. tax)
The U S B (Universal Support Bolt), an inventive part, is a masterpiece that solves a difficult problem held by many long-distance travelers for a long time with high versatility. Not all bikes owned by cyclists who want to travel are built with long-distance travel in mind, like the Surly ECR. This gadget, which appeared like a magician's wand, allows you to add extra eyelets/bosses to many bike models, achieving greater load capacity. It is made of stainless steel, has high corrosion resistance, and is a piece of ingenuity that won't easily loosen even on long journeys; each one is handmade in Durango, Colorado.
Bikepacking is gradually becoming more popular in Japan as well. Bicycles, which are transportation tools with infinite potential, always give us fresh adventures anytime and anywhere. Recently, not only are people starting bikepacking out of a love for cycling, but its appeal is also spreading to a wider world as people feel its infinite potential—as a way for fishermen to approach their spots, or for trail runners and hikers to enjoy their hobbies.