Bikepacking is a gearhead’s heaven. Inbetween the views and the toil, there’s plenty of time to ponder your preparation and kit. For the engineering mind of Rob English, his first expedition was fertile soil, and this long-distance off-roader was the resulting fruit.
Every bikepacking trip is a learning experience and Rob’s first foray, three years ago, brought home plenty of learned lessons — and formed the blueprint of the impressive rig you see today.
On that trip from Sedona to Phoenix, which included 67 miles of arduous Black Canyon singletrack, Rob resolved to create a bike that could be packed for air travel, had an integrated luggage system, and bigger tires than the folding 29er he brought with him.
3-inch 650b tires enabled both the bar height to be kept low and for them to be deflated and packed into a travel case. Naturally, he designed an amazing stem and truss fork to carry a bag in the negative space without strapping it to the bars.
An elevated chainstay and a curved seat tube allow more tire and chainring clearance. Look closely and you’ll notice the rear triangle can be completely detached from the front and separated, meaning the whole rig can be packed into a standard suitcase.
Rob worked with Brian at Kaibab Customs on the bags: one full-size frame bag that incorporates cable guides, the top tube lunch boxes, the front roll bag, and saddle bag — for which Rob made a lightweight anti-sway bar.
If you’re heading to the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Sacramento this weekend, you’ll be able to examine all of these details and admire it in its entirety — and perhaps convince Rob to build you a dream bikepacking rig of your own.
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