I discovered bikepacking because I had a distaste for hiking (sorry, Pop). I liked being outside, exploring trails, and camping, but the hiking part was slow, tedious, and barely felt like you got anywhere.
Then I learned you can strap camping gear to a mountain bike and ride off into the sunset like a hipster millennial cowboy. Instead of traveling a few miles a day, you can bike over 100 miles if the weather and the trails are right.
If you’ve followed my blog, you probably already have this bikepacking thing down. This post is for the newbies. I’ll explain what bikepacking is and how you can plan a trip for yourself.
Bikepacking is a combination of biking and backpacking. It’s like going for a hike, except you take your bike and attach all your supplies to it. Then, you map a route, pick a few interesting places to stop, and try to stick to roads that are dirt, gravel, or single-track trails.
A bikepacking trip doesn’t have to be a three-month excursion. In fact, most “experts” would not recommend a trail like the Great Divide to novices. Going on an adventure like that with *literally* no experience is irresponsible, rash, and imprudent to your safety. Thankfully, I don't know anyone who would do that.
But seriously, bikepacking doesn’t have to be a huge trip. It could be a weekend adventure, a short camping vacation, or a day out in the woods with friends and family. You just need to bring the right gear and do a little research before you go. The good news is I can help with both.
Let’s do a quick “why bikepacking is awesome” section before we dive into how to start doing it and where to find bikepacking routes.
Here are three reasons why you should go bikepacking:
Shocker, I know, right? You can cover more ground on a bike than you can on foot. You can go even further in a car, but let’s focus on the bikes for now.
Riding a bike weighing nearly 100 lbs, I traveled almost 100 miles in one day. I averaged about 50 miles over 6-8 hours of riding, which varied based on the terrain and elevation covered. And that’s the beauty of bikepacking. You can climb the mountain and come back before lunch. Or you can camp along the trail and spend an afternoon in the woods. Going down a mountain takes no time at all. So, you can cover more ground in much less time regardless if you pick a 5K foot mountain or a flat bike path in your local town park.
The other huge advantage over hiking is your gear capacity. You can carry so much more on your bike if you’re smart about it. I mean, look at me; I strapped nearly every piece of camping gear I could find to my bike:
The downside is that the more gear you carry, the less stable your bike is. It’s a lot harder to balance when you have 6 liters of water weighing down your front wheel. The good news is that camping is much more comfortable. You can bring things to do, pack more luxury items, and cook a heck of a lot more food than you can when hiking.=
So we got faster travel and more stuff. What else?
Here’s my favorite part about bikepacking that I’ve never actually done. You can start (and finish) at your house. You don’t have to drive hours to a trail or check your bike on a plane – although I can teach you how if you’re interested.
Okay, so we’ve explained the what. Now, let’s tackle the how.
Here’s how to plan your first bikepacking trip.
So, kinda hard to do the bikepacking thing if you don’t have a bike. Mountain bikes come in all shapes and sizes, and there are literally hundreds of styles and setups you can choose from.
So, which one do you pick?
Short answer: Find a sturdy bike that can withstand some damage. You’ll be packing a lot of gear and going over rough terrain – pick something that can get you from point A to point B without falling apart.
Long answer: You’re going to have to do some research. If you want the perfect bike for your trip, find out what the terrain is like, how long you’re going, and how far apart your rest stops are. Some bikes hold more gear than others. Some are better suited for different types of terrain. You have to figure out what your trip entails and pick one that will check off all the boxes.
Now, if budget is no issue, go big or go home. Salsa bikes are my preference. They make an excellent line of gravel bikes for all sorts of riding. If you’re on a budget, I would go with a used bike. Call your local bike store and see if anyone is selling at a discount. That’s how I found my bike and got a great deal on it. You’d be surprised how many people have really nice bikes just waiting to be used.
Ok, so steps 1 and 2 kinda happen at the same time. But, assuming you already have your bike, now you can plan your route.
There are several websites that can help you plan your trip. Bikepacking.com is one of them. Adventure Cycling is another. You can also use apps like AllTrails to find day trips and learn more about trails in your area.
When you’re picking a route, here are some things to consider:
Once you have your trip mapped out, now it’s time to pack. Here’s a not-so-subtle plug – I created a comprehensive bikepacking gear checklist. It’s packed with gear recommendations, reasons why you need each item, and a link to an online store to buy it. You may not need everything on this list, but it should give you an idea of what to bring and how much everything costs.
Sorry to be the safety police, but tell someone where you’re going. You don’t have to create a whole website like someone I know (looking at your Not Quite LC), but you should tell a friend, significant other, frenemy, or whoever might bail you out if you get caught in a sticky situation.
Cell phones are a go-to for communication, but you should also bring a satellite communicator if you’re going to areas with no cell service. These things aren’t cheap, but they will let you ping people back home to let them know you’re safe. And you can see all the places you checked in – a nice little keepsake commemorating your trip.
At this point, you’re ready to hit the trail. If you have to travel, there are plenty of bike mounts you can attach to your car. They’re relatively affordable, and most can attach to sedans, SUVs, and hatchbacks. If you’re flying, check out this guide that explains how to bring a bike on a plane. It’s easier (and cheaper) than you think!
Alright, eager mcbeaver – I know you’re itching to get out there. So, here are a few last-minute tips before you go.
Everyone has their own take on bikepacking. Some people are minimalists who only bring the basics. Others (like myself) bring everything they can carry. It’s a game to see how much stuff (or how little) you can strap to your bike and keep it upright.
The point is – don’t worry what other people are doing. If your setup works for you, who cares? If you’re comfortable, that’s all that matters.
Here’s a great example from my trip. On day one, I ran into a guy with nothing on his bike. He told me he was a Tour Divide expert and had meticulously planned his stops so he could carry as little as possible. I looked at my oversized bags, stuffed to the gills with gear, and felt embarrassed. It definitely took some wind out of my sails.
Ten days in, I’m camping at Whitefish in a downpour. I make friends with people at camp and find out that this same dude didn’t bring a tent and was sleeping under a picnic table, trying to stay dry. At that moment, I didn’t feel so dumb about my setup. To each his own.
Weather plays a huge factor in bikepacking. Don’t forget to check the weather regularly, especially if you’re traveling through the mountains. Conditions can change suddenly, so it’s good to have an eye on the radar so you know what to expect.
It’s also good to look into common natural disasters that might occur in areas where you’re going. For example, being from the Northeast, I had never experienced wildfires. I didn’t realize some services told you which roads were closed and which directions you should head. It was good that I checked in Montana because I almost went headfirst into an active forest fire. Talk to the locals if you’re unsure what you might encounter. They’ll know the area best and can tell you what to expect.
The same goes for trail conditions. Try to research your route as much as you can. For example, if you’re taking paved roads, you will cover much more ground than dirt or gravel. That will influence your route, camping sites, and how far you might travel.
You should also look at elevation. It goes without saying, but the higher you go, the more difficult the climb is. Bike routing apps and computers can show you an elevation chart that maps out the ascents and descents of your trip. That way, you can get a feel for when the big climbs will be so you can plan breaks around them.
Don’t go alone. Bring a friend. If you don’t have friends, go bikepacking. Chances are you’ll run into some like-minded people. If that doesn’t work, get a dog. It has to be your friend. It doesn’t know any better.
You won’t make many friends if you don’t take breaks. Trust me; no one wants to ride with the hardo who thinks they’re an olympian.
Take breaks. Walk up the hill when you get tired. Take your shoes off and dip them in a cold stream when you stop for lunch. You’ll remember these little moments – not the huff-and-puff of climbing up the hill, but the break you get at the top of the mountain, looking out at an amazing view. Slow down and enjoy the journey. You might only get to take it once.
The most important tip I can give is to drink a lot (of water) and eat as much food as you can. If you’re already hungry, it’s too late. And, trust me, you’re going to be hungry constantly.
Depending on the elevation, I went through about 2L of water every 2-3 hours. I also stopped for a snack break every 90 minutes. I would get tired much faster when I didn’t eat. I recommend bringing 2-4L of water and plenty of snacks and meals. Get food that doesn’t crumble or expire easily, like power bars, dried fruit, or peanut butter. Bring a water filter to collect water from sources that you find along the trail. That way, you don’t have to carry as much, which means less weight on your bike.
And that my Internet friends are the basics of bikepacking. It’s basically hiking and camping combined, while on a bike. It’s faster than walking through the woods and more rugged than staying in hotels along a busy road. Give it a try if you’re looking for a new summer hobby, and send me a few photos if you go somewhere cool. Dogs are always welcome.