Beau's Great ZiZZO Forte Bikepacking Experiment

You know the saying, “You can talk the talk but can you walk the walk?” It’s one thing to tell everyone about what a ZiZZO Forte can do, but how about just getting out there and doing it! Since day 1 here at ZiZZO I have been itching to test out the 300 lb. load that the Forte boasts. Coincidentally I had been watching a lot of adventure cycling videos where mountain bikes were outfitted with camping gear, tools, food, water, cameras and even pets in baskets while travelling through the great outdoors during lockdown. 

Last year I decided to start buying what I needed for a small adventure. The original plan was to use my gravel bike. When I saw the ZiZZO Forte folding bike specs- and it was a heavy-duty bike, immediately the wheels started turning in my head... Could I even attach big bags to a ZIZZO? Could I use the rack it comes with? How would the drivetrain handle a 300 lb. load up a long climb in the mountains, not to mention the offroad trails? Well, we won’t know until we try, right? 

BUT 1ST WE TEST 

Attaching multiple bike-packing bags to the ZiZZO Forte seemed to be really easy right from the start as I practiced at a local mountain bike park. With the large “loop” of the Forte cables I easily fit the bags on to the handlebars. These bags would hold the tent and sleeping mat. In the back I used bungee cords to hold the ZiZZO trunk bags along with a few others to the rack. These bags would be for food, water and random clothes/supplies. Then the sleeping bag was cinched down on top of that. I looked at it and thought, “This may actually work.” After spinning around the park on some trails I thought how I wish it had one more gear to climb hills. All in all, a good 1st mini test. I must say the looks on some of the mountain biker's faces were priceless. “What? You act like you never have seen a so called, “commuter bike” go bikepacking!” 

LET'S DO THIS FOR REAL! 

First of all, let’s start this off by letting you know I’m NOT a camping enthusiast. I had horrible experiences as a kid but wanted to give it another try even if it meant going solo. For this trip, not only are we testing out my nerves in the wilderness, but how the bike performs under an extreme load. With this information I could suggest any modifications for future ZiZZO models.  

 
After securing a reservation for a spot at the campsite in the Santa Cruz mountains, it was time to roll! Food, water, supplies, tent, sleeping bag, camera gear were all arranged in the bags attached to the ZiZZO Forte. The bike felt fairly balanced as most of the weight was near the rack and the bulkier lighter bags up front. I was a little nervous to run out of water so I packed some extra bottles in my backpack. Before adding the backpack, myself, gear, and bike weighed around 285 lbs.: bike 29 lbs., rider 217 lbs., Bags/Food 39 lbs.). I took one last look at my camping checklist and was ready to roll.  

Immediately I felt like I had no choice but to be in a gear meant for hills, but I was still in the town of San Jose rolling through flat streets. I was only going to have 2 more gears to choose from up an 8-mile climb through the Great Basin Highway. After about 10 miles of flats, we hit the town of Saratoga for the last “real food” stop.  

After a light lunch it was time to climb. 8 miles of 4-9 % grades had me between the last 2 gears in the back. Sometimes it was perfect as I spun at 4-6 mph, and other times switching gears I was really grinding. There needed to be a gear in between for sure. I must admit, I was waiting for the derailleur to just explode under my force and the full rigs weight. Not a single issue or mishap!  

ENTERING THE CAMPSITE 
 
I worked hard for a good hour and half and reached the top. I jumped on a system of dirt trails that would lead me to my campsite. Even though the ZIZZO Forte was loaded it felt solid rolling along the woods. I even ended up on a little single track dodging branches and roots popping out of the mossy forest. The traction actually seemed solid since the weight was kind of holding the bike down. I descended a steep hill that was loose with gravel and worried about the brakes. Once again, no issues as I stayed in control with a combination of a little front and back brake as needed. I rolled right into the site in no time.  

Before you know it, I was taking my bags off and getting ready to figure out how to pitch my tent and set up camp. As I was mobbed by mosquitos, I realized I didn’t pack the repellent. Luckily, I had long sleeves and some leg warmers but I still got bit up.  

Tents up let's eat! No fires allowed so it was time to grab a tortilla, refried beans, and beef jerky to make a 3-ingredient, non-cook burrito. Add some gummy bears for dessert and I'm ready to hit the tent to escape the onslaught of flying insects.  

 
I thought about folding up my Forte but decided to put it right in front of the tent. Nobody was out there anyways, right? As I listened to the trees sway, I fell asleep. Then the noises started happening.  

11:45 pm I was awakened by some weird snorting noises right outside my tent. These mountains do not have bears but mountain lions and other critters are common. I could hear whatever it was, it was really close. I think it was sniffing near my head... and I must say I was a little freaked out! I sat there motionless for an hour or so until I fell asleep.  

Now any little noise woke me up. Pinecones falling into the leaves, creaking branches, wind rustling my tent, every sound is amplified. To be honest I couldn’t wait till 5:45am when the sky would lighten up.  

I popped out of the tent to see a deer resting in a bush 10 feet from me.  Well, I guess my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me. A horrible night of sleep behind me, I packed up and made sure I left no trace behind. Mosquitos got me a few times as I pedaled out of the steep ravine back to the road.  

I had a nice downhill back to the car and was happy to throw the ZiZZO in the trunk and go get some hot coffee. Final thoughts? The ZiZZO was the least of my worries as it passed all the tests. May I suggest a few upgrades? 

ENTER THE NEW UPGRADED ZIZZO FORTE 

After this trip and countless emails and video reviews we took all of your suggestions along with our own research to make a major upgrade to the Forte!  

Coming this Fall/Winter... the 2022/23 Forte!  

It will have the same drivetrain as the popular Urbano and Liberte with the Altus derailleur and become an 8-speed, adding that extra “hill climbing” gear. The crank now can swap chainrings out way more easily with the 5-star bolt pattern since it is industry standard. For additional racks, ZiZZO has added a “pig nose” mount on the head tube for touring bags to easily attach.  

And after all that the bike now weighs a pound less. The new Forte will come in Forest Green and Coral as of right now. We look forward to sharing with everyone when it will be available to purchase!