My Long Distance Bikepacking Setup After 140,000 Kilometers
After years of long-distance bicycle travel across multiple continents, my setup gradually evolved toward one core idea:
The longer you travel, the more important simple, repairable and efficient systems become. Many of the components I use today were not chosen because they are the lightest or newest available, but because they continued to work reliably over thousands of kilometers in very different conditions.
Reliability matters more than chasing perfect specifications.
The current frame alone has already covered more than 140,000 kilometers.
Over time, the setup became increasingly minimal while still remaining capable of long-term autonomous travel, including independent power generation through a dynamo system.
Today, the complete system stays around 15 kg of luggage excluding food and water, while the bike itself weighs around 12 kg.
The following setup is the result of riding across roughly 75 countries on almost every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
The Bike
Frame
- Bombtrack Audax 2018
- Steel frame
I still strongly prefer steel for long-distance travel. Not because of romantic ideas about frame materials, but because it offers a very balanced combination of durability, comfort and long-term reliability.
The geometry of the Audax works extremely well for long days on mixed surfaces while still feeling efficient on paved roads.
Wheels & Tires
Rims
- DT Swiss RR481
- 32 spokes front and rear
Hubs
- DT Swiss 350 rear
- SON Delux front dynamo hub
Spokes
- Sapim D-Light front
- Sapim Race rear
Nipples
- Brass
After many years of riding, I strongly prefer conventional and serviceable wheel systems over lightweight or exotic setups.
32 spokes, brass nipples and standard components are still hard to beat for long-term travel reliability.
The SON Delux hub has been one of the best long-term components on the bike. Reliable power generation becomes increasingly valuable the longer you travel independently.
Tires
- Panaracer GravelKing SS 700×40
I usually run tubeless for as long as possible.
In my opinion, tubeless systems are one of the best bicycle innovations of the last 20 years. The reduction in punctures alone makes a huge difference during long-distance travel.
At the same time, truly long-term travel often means eventually switching back to tubes temporarily somewhere on the road. The important part is understanding and being able to work with both systems.
Drivetrain & Brakes
Drivetrain
- SRAM X01 Eagle rear derailleur
- SRAM XG1295 cassette (10–52)
- SRAM Rival 170 mm crankset
- 46T chainring
Shifting
- SRAM Apex shifter
- currently using NX trigger shifter after a mechanical issue with the integrated road shifter
Long-term travel eventually exposes weaknesses in almost every component category.
One of the biggest lessons over time is that field repairability and compatibility often become more important than perfectly clean setups.
Brakes
- SRAM Apex full hydraulic brakes
Even after extensive travel, I still prefer hydraulic braking performance overall, especially in difficult weather and mountain conditions.
Cockpit & Pedals
Handlebar
- Ritchey gravel handlebar
Pedals
- Shimano PD-M520 SPD pedals
The PD-M520 remains one of the best examples of simple and reliable bicycle equipment ever made.
Power & Electronics
Power System
- Forumslader dynamo charging system
- SON Delux dynamo hub
- serial 3×18650 battery setup
Lighting
- Lupine SL AF e-bike light
Power autonomy became increasingly important during longer trips.
Being able to generate reliable electricity independently changes the way long-distance travel works, especially when spending extended periods camping or riding through remote areas.
Over time, the entire charging system evolved toward efficiency, simplicity and low energy loss rather than maximum gadget complexity.
Bags & Packing System
Front
- Small Ortlieb front roller
Frame
- Ortlieb frame bag with rubber closure
- Apidura top tube bag with magnetic closure
Rear
- Tailfin system
- four Tailfin cargo cages mounted to fork and rack
One thing I learned over time is that closure systems matter more than many people think.
I increasingly moved away from zippers whenever possible. Roll-top systems and simple closures tend to survive long-term travel much better.
The Tailfin system has worked extremely well for combining stability, modularity and relatively low weight.
Shelter & Sleeping Setup
Tent
- Hilleberg Enan with footprint
Sleeping Pad
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
- additional shortened foam pad
The NeoAir offers excellent comfort-to-weight performance, although long-term durability eventually becomes an issue.
After enough time on the road, redundancy often matters more than theoretical optimization. The additional foam mat adds reliability and flexibility while still keeping the system lightweight overall.
Cooking Setup
Stove
- Homemade alcohol stove
Simple systems often work best over long periods of time.
Alcohol stoves are lightweight, quiet, mechanically simple and easy to maintain almost anywhere in the world.
Final Thoughts
Over time, long-distance bicycle travel became less about chasing ideal gear and more about refining systems that continue to work reliably month after month.
Most of the setup described here evolved gradually through real-world use across different climates, road conditions and continents rather than through short-term testing.
The goal was never building the lightest possible setup, but creating a system that remains efficient, repairable and autonomous during extended travel over many years.