“Bikepacking was not very popular then, so bikepacking bags were expensive. A saddlepack cost S$300 to S$400,” she said. A saddlepack or saddlebag attaches directly to your bicycle without the need for a rack, saving you unnecessary weight.

Lim wanted to make her own saddlebag.

During the course, she made a very crooked cheongsam that was never worn. But it taught her the fundamentals of doing measurements and pattern drafting. And after a month of experimentation, and five to six attempts, she made her first saddlebag.

PACKING FOR A BIKE TOUR

Today, Lim offers 12 different bags that can be mounted on the frame, handlebar, saddle and other parts of the bike. Her Off-Roader Bag is the brand’s most expensive and most difficult bag to make. It takes around eight hours and is priced between S$248 and S$258. Her cycling caps cost between S$32 and S$40 each and all items are available at her Six Rolling Wheels website.

Unlike a backpacker who can survive on just one good bag, bikepackers need seven to eight bags for a long trip. These carry water, food, gadgets like laptop and cameras, bike tools to replace a punctured tyre, clothes, daily necessities, a tent and a sleeping bag on the bike itself so that the cyclist carries nothing on his body, said Lim.