This week’s Reader’s Rig comes from artist and retired architect Henk Woltjer in Amsterdam, who shares the 1997 Giant Terrago he found in nearly new condition and reimagined with some fresh parts, a front rack, and a couple of homemade bags. Get to know Henk and his practical and affordable tourer here…

Words and photos by Henk Woltjer

Hello, I’m Henk Woltjer from Amsterdam. I’m a retired architect, and like so many other people in the Netherlands, I grew up with the idea that a bicycle is the most natural way of moving around apart from walking.

  • 1997 Giant Terrago
  • 1997 Giant Terrago

As a child, I also used the bicycle to go camping with my parents, and I think we were one of the first “bike campers” in our country on burly steel bikes with heavy luggage in our panniers. I never lost the fun of bike touring and always liked camping when I grew up. My cycling season started every year with a trip to France. Together with a good friend, I have travelled many miles in this ideally suited cycling country. Bike touring trips through Belgium, England, Portugal, Italy, and New Zealand followed. Of course, I have spent my holidays in lots of other ways when I was older, but since my retirement, I rediscovered the fun of bikepacking.

  • 1997 Giant Terrago
  • 1997 Giant Terrago

Slowly, I followed the development from heavy bike touring to bikepacking light. I bought a wonderful gravel bike, but when I ran into this old mountain bike on Marktplaats (The Dutch eBay) I could not let the opportunity pass. For 100 euros, I bought it from a man who assured me that this bike had never seen any mud or mountains. I could believe that because the bike was in perfect condition.

1997 Giant Terrago
  • 1997 Giant Terrago
  • 1997 Giant Terrago
  • 1997 Giant Terrago

During Covid times, I could take my time to consider how to rebuild this 1997 Giant Terrago. At first, I intended to change it to a commuter bike with a 1×8 drivetrain, but after riding it a few times, I discovered how smooth it shifted, and I kept the derailleurs and cassette as they were. To make it my bike, I did, however, change a few things. I gave the fork another colour with spray paint, changed the handlebar (with more backsweep), and put on a different saddle and leather grips. To make the bike more suitable for tarmac roads, I also changed the tires. The Billy Bonkers tires from Schwalbe look awesome, I think. The Covid period was also the time to do some work on the sewing machine. I made my own drybags. I can use one big bag as a saddlebag. The directions here on BIKEPACKING.com were very helpful in this case.

  • Frame/Fork 1997 Giant Terrago, steel
  • Rims Rigida 26 inch
  • Hubs Shimano
  • Tires Schwalbe Billy Bonkers 26 x 2.1
  • Handlebars Ergotec City Cruiser 635mm
  • Crankset 22/32/42
  • Pedals XLC
  • Cassette Shimano 7-speed 11/28
  • Derailleur Shimano Deore LX
  • Brakes Shimano Altus cantis
  • Shifter(s) Shimano
  • Saddle Lepper (Dutch brand)
  • Stem XLC 100mm
  • Front bags Alpkit De Luge 20L
  • Frame bags AGU Venture
  • Rear bags DIY (at least 20L)
  • Accessory bags AGU fork bags, Topeak snack bags
  • Other accessories DIY rear harness

I like cooking on my trips, so I carry (too much) cooking stuff with me. So, I applied a simple but sturdy pizza rack in front (Decathlon Velo 500). I found a big handlebar bag (Alpkit Deluge 20L), and I made a harness for the DIY saddlebag (it’s 20L+). I found the necessary materials in my shed and on extremtextil.de. The harness stays firmly in place with a Topeak Cage Mount. It works!

  • 1997 Giant Terrago
  • 1997 Giant Terrago

On the forks, I applied Topeak Versa Cages for the drybags. In the pictures, you can see the bike in the first warm days this spring. I made a tour through the east of Holland (‘Twente’ and ‘de Achterhoek’). No tent this time around. I stayed in a trekkers’ hut. The decoration of the huts is simple but comfortable. You can call it “bikepacking deluxe.” I hope there will be more days like these!

1997 Giant Terrago

You can learn more about Henk and see some of his paintings at HenkWoltjer.nl.

Send Us Your Bikepacking Rig

Use the form below to submit your bikepacking rig. We’ll choose one per week to feature in a Reader’s Rig Dispatch and on Instagram. To enter, email us your best photo of the bike (preferably at a 90° angle), your Instagram username (optional), and a short description of you and your rig. If your bike is selected, we’ll need a total of five photos and a little bit more info.

Readers Rig

  • Make sure to set your shared image folder to public!

  • *By clicking submit, you're also subscribing to our email list. You'll receive an opt-in email before being added.

Related Content

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)

Dispatch

Reader's Rig

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.