Gravel bikes are hugely popular for encouraging a sense of adventure
and exploration, and nowhere is this spirit better encapsulated than bikepacking.
In this video we’re going to show you how to prepare for your first bike packing adventure!
Bikepacking is the idea of packing everything you need for one or more overnight stays into
bags strapped to the bike, and then armed with a route, supplies, friends (if you’re allowed)
and a willingness and freedom to explore, going where no other mode of transport can take you.
What you need depends on the adventure you’re planning - what you carry for one
overnight stop is very different to a three week trip around Europe.
So you need to first decide what sort of riding and adventure you want to embark on
and then choose the kit and equipment to match.
It can be easy to think you need to spend a small fortune
on all the equipment you need to get started with bikepacking, but that’s not really the case.
You can easily homebrew a lot of luggage solutions and there’s now an abundance of companies
making dedicated luggage solutions at a wide range of prices to suit all budgets.
Bikepacking can be done on the cheap.
Dry bags can be bought from an outdoor store and attached to your bike and
handlebars using simple straps. You can also use a backpack which you might already own,
but it’s often preferable to try and avoid riding with a pack
as all that weight on your shoulders can be uncomfortable on longer rides.
If you want to invest in purpose-built bags, there are many to choose from.
The three most common types are the seat pack,
frame pack and handlebar bag, with smaller top tube packs and fork-mounted accessory bags.
The three main bags will provide the backbone for your bikepacking setup
and give you all the space you need to carry all the essentials needed for an overnight stop.
Bags come in a vast range of sizes and to suit different bike designs and frame sizes.
It’s easy to be tempted by the biggest bag size but the bigger the bag, the easier
it is to carry a lot of stuff and a classic beginners mistake is to take way too much kit.
It’s a fine balancing act and experience alone is the best way to get your setup right for you.
The size and number of bags you choose depend on the kit you carry. For an overnight stop,
the essential kit includes at the very minimum sleeping gear, cooking equipment, spare clothing
and food and water. What you carry depends on your overnight arrangements, whether you want
to wild camp, bivvy or use a tent, head to a campsite or stay inside a hostel or bunkhouse.
For sleeping you’ll need a sleeping bag and the more you spend, the lighter and smaller
it’ll pack down. Sleeping mats are optional and it depends on the ground you expect to sleep on.
You’re going to want to cook some food and heat water for drinks and coffee, so here you want
a compact stove. There are many available to choose from so we won’t go into detail here but
choose based on your budget. A small aluminium pot for cooking food and heating water, a spork,
and if you’re really into your coffee before a ride, then the appropriate coffee-making kit.
Don’t forget to carry plenty of water. How much depends if you expect to be passing water sources
but when you’re in the middle of the countryside it can be difficult to easily source water.
The beauty of bikepacking is you can sleep anywhere. Almost.
The rules about wild camping vary all around the world so it’s worth checking with the spot you
intend to camp on before pitching up. Always get permission from the landowner before pitching up,
and it goes without saying that you should leave no evidence of your stay,
so clean up all your rubbish afterwards.
One of the biggest mistakes is either being over or underprepared.
It’s always better to be over-prepared but equally the additional weight of all that
unused gear can make it slow going and ruin your enjoyment of riding a bike.
Being under-prepared can be downright dangerous though, so it is a tricky balance. Experience is
the best solution here so be conservative when you first start out and tailor your equipment
as you gain experience with each successive bikepacking adventure.
There’s safety in numbers so it’s smart to ensure you tag along with a few friends if possible on
your first bikepacking adventure. Not only is it safer but it can also be more fun as well,
though there’s sometimes a tranquility to riding solo.
If you are going to ride solo then make sure someone at home
knows the intentions of your route just in case the worst happens.
We’d always recommend carrying a first aid kit, survival blanket and safety whistle
just in case the worst happens. It might sound overkill but it’s better to plan
for the worst and not need to use it. It’s also worth carrying a fully charged phone
and ensuring you have the number of the local emergency services.
Follow this advice and you should be well on your way to having the first of many fun
bikepacking adventures!
What have we missed? Let us know below.