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Bikepacking has taken the world by storm, and the Southeast region is no exception. With an incredible array of forest roads and single-track trails to explore, creating a bike that can handle any terrain is an art form. From conquering challenging gravel climbs to leisurely cruising along the serene Outerbanks, bikepacking offers a unique way to experience the beauty of nature.
Here at the Hub, we're fortunate to have a team of dedicated bicycle commuters and bikepacking enthusiasts. They're always ready for an adventure, with gear packed and bikes tuned up for any terrain. Whether it's a solo overnight trip or a group excursion, you'll find them hitting the trails any day of the week.
Rusti's Surly Karate Monkey:
First, let’s talk about Rusti’s single-speed rig. Rusti rides a custom-painted Surly Karate Monkey with a 130mm Fox 34 fork and a custom rear rack designed to be lightweight and low profile for maximum carrying capacity. Rusti's bike is complete with a Revelate Designs frame bag, Rockgeist Microwave Panniers, Rockgeist Honeypot feedbags, Rockgeist BarJam, and Horton Front Pouch. Ample rack mounts and horizontal dropouts make this bike capable of changing shape and becoming anything you want.
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Rusti's Surly / Revelate Designs frame bag has withstood the test of time and earned a few badges along the way.
Custom rear rack sporting a unique asymmetric design with some pristine welds. Where did he even get that?
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A custom splatter paint job on some surreal steel.
Nick's Kona Unit:
Nick is a passionate commuter who prefers taking the scenic route home, and with the Kona Unit, he can take on any terrain with ease. This bike is a true all-in-one, perfect for both trail riding and bikepacking. With the Salsa Wanderlust Rack, Rockgeist Microwave Panniers, and Aeroe front harness, he has everything he needs to embark on his next adventure. The Fox Stepcast 34 adds 120mm of travel, while the SRAM 12-speed drivetrain ensures maximum pedaling versatility.
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Nick's Unit loaded down. Those Rockgeist Microwave Panniers offer plenty of space for some frosty cold snacks to enjoy around the fire.
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The tried and true Hope hubs keep everything rolling smooth.
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A SRAM X0 Derailleur shifting on the workhorse of cassettes, the SRAM GX. Consistent shifting and affordable replacement.
Josiah's Kona Unit:
We have another Kona Unit, and this time it's Josiah's ride. You can usually find Josiah wrenching on bikes but in his free time he runs the underground custom bag company called Garbage Bagz. He created a roll-top custom frame bag for his bike for maximum carrying capacity. He's also equipped his rack with Rockgeist Microwave Panniers. He carries the Outbound Lighting Trail EVO light, perfect for those after-work trips. Josiah's Kona Unit is built out with the Whisky No.9 carbon fork, Whisky Milhouse Carbon bars, and Santa Cruz Reserve 30 carbon rims making it a super plush rigid rig.
Another Unit, a different beast. Rocking the Whiskey No.9 MTN Boost LT fork allows Josiah to go rigid while maintaining the geometry the Unit was built for. It doesn't hurt having the added mounts to carry even more gear for bigger trips.
The gear that will take you from dawn until dusk and beyond. With the Outbound Trail Evo lighting the way, the durability of the Rockgeist panniers and the wide-range dependability of SRAM GX drivetrain that will be there for you day after day.
Garbage Bagz? Josiah's Kona Unit features a full custom home brewed roll-top frame bag. Next time you're in the shop ask Josiah about his custom frame bags.
Jeff's Why Cycles El Jefe:
Jeff’s El Jefe is a magically compliant bike, even when tackling the rough Pisgah backcountry loaded with an extra 30 lbs. Jeff's rig is primarily made up of Rockgeist gear, such as the Bar Jam front harness, Horton pouch, feedbags, Cache top tube bag, and Gondola seat bag, designed for use with a dropper post. He also has a Spindle custom frame bag and Velo Orange oversize bottle cage located at the bottom of the downtube, which allows for quick refill access to an extra big bottle. The Rockgeist Spacelink is one of those quirky components that makes all the difference by allowing you to attach all the bags and equipment to any stem while maintaining the maneuverability of your handlebars!
The tidiness of Rockgeist on the clean lines of the Why Cycles.
Atlanta based Spindle tying it all together with one of their custom frame bags.
The Rockgeist Spacelink in action. Rockgeist has upped the bar with creative solutions for attaching all the necessary gear to your bike, not to mention they're local and make bombproof bags.
Lynnsey's Santa Cruz Chameleon:
Lynnsey is a proud owner of a new Santa Cruz Chameleon 29 that's been customized with a Garbage Bagz frame bag, Salsa Anything Cradle, Rockgeist Microwave Panniers, and a Velo Orange oversize bottle cage. The chameleon is made rack capable with a Salsa Post-Lock Rack Mount seat collar and a Robert Axle Project rear axle. Lynnsey’s gear is rounded out with the Big Agnes Copper Spur ultralight bikepacking tent which comes in 1 to 3-person options and is just one of those pieces of gear that is hard to live without. Recently, Lynnsey put her bike to the test by embarking on a 4-day trip to Linville Gorge, her favorite backcountry destination.
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Loaded down and ready to party in the woods.
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Lynnsey hand picked her custom Garbage Bagz frame bag colors. The 90's splatter paint is just as at home deep in the woods as it is going to meet your friends at the roller rink.
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If its not a hammock it's Big Agnes. Big Agnes is the choice for all of the sleeping arrangements.
Lucas's Lynskey Ti Livewire 29:
Lucas is ready to tackle any terrain on his Lynskey Titanium Live Wire 29, equipped with i9 305s and a 32x20 gearing system made possible with an Endless Bike Co cog and oval chainring. The Rockshox Lyric 140mm fork ensures that the bike stays capable, while Lucas makes up for the weight with his ultralight packing setup. He's rocking the Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rear rack, a custom roll-top Garbage Bagz frame bag, and the Rockgeist Nigel Handlebar bag. With a total weight of 42.0 pounds, this bike is ready to rip through any technical terrain and is easy on those hike-a-bike sections.
Another Ti beauty rolling on rainbows. Industry Nine wheels are the go to for top-notch performance and personalization.
Starting to see a theme in frame bag choice. Custom fit Garbage Bagz roll-top bag to keep your gear easily accessible and protected from the elements.
Our Rental Salsa
Interested in Bikepacking but don't know where to start? We have Gravel Bikes and Bikepacking Bags in our rental fleet. Our Salsa Cutthroat is the perfect choice for tackling both the rough backroads and smooth singletrack. We also offer a range of Salsa and Revelate Designs bags and harnesses for all your equipment needs. Whether you're planning a quick overnight trip or a multi-day adventure, our team is happy to help you choose the right setup. Browse our rental bikes and book your adventure today!
Ample storage room for several days in the woods. Get the full bag set-up $40/day.
Keep all your snacks easily accessible as you pedal into the horizon.
The Revelate saddle bag is easy to set up and load while keeping all of your things safely attached and dry.
Looking to get into bikepacking or want to upgrade your set-up? Come by and check out our selection of camping and bikepacking gear and look for more articles like this to get you dialed in for your next adventure!
---- The Hub Team
