Recently I went on a weekend bikepacking trip with New York Cycle Club which I am a member of. During my trip, I had quite a lot of questions about my set up, gear, and packing when it came to preparing for the journey and wanted to share a bit about my preparations to answer a few of those questions.
First, bikepacking is essentially an off road version of bike touring where you ride and carry all you gear for eating and camping. It is a fun way to experiences our national and state parks and camping with cycling buddies, partners, or our families. The best part of bikepacking is that it allows you to cover more miles than hiking, plus you can access dirt roads or trails that are usually inaccessible otherwise. Bikepacking rides can range from local overnighters all the way up to gorgeous cross-country trail rides.
In the past I have done some bike packing trips in California and Vermont. It’s been a few years since my last one so when I was invited to do a local bikepacking trip, I couldn’t resist knowing that I would be with a great group of people who love camping and cycling just as much as I do.
If you’re interested in getting started bikepacking, here are a few things to know when getting prepared for your trip.
What Bike To Take
When it comes to the type of bike to take, many bikepacking destinations are reached via forest-service roads or singletrack trails, so a mountain bike usually makes an ideal choice but really any bike that can carry weight well with mount racks and/or bikepacking bags can be used.
Bikepacking enthusiasts tend to tailor their bike for the riding style or terrain so they upgrade them to minimize maintenance or maximize comfort. The ideal for many may be a gravel bike, touring bike, all road bike, fat bike or a full suspension bike. However, for this post and my gear setup, I use a Trek 7.2 FX hybrid, which is essentially a hybrid of a road and mountain bike. I’ve taken this bike through Vermont bikepacking trails twice already and have had a great experience on it through the trails. If I was to do gnarly rocky terrain I would probably use a mountain bike but for most of my bikepacking trips in the Northeast, my hybrid has served me well.
Bikepacking Gear Set Up
When it comes to what I carry, I generally try to carry the same gear as backpackers plus the extra bike tools and tubes. Luckily with the bike, you have more places to carry things rather than your back. When it comes to packing camp essentials, it can get a bit tricky as most of the weight will need to be distributed on the bike that should be manageable for your riding comfort.
My gear setup :
Most of my gear listed below is from Revelate Designs. They are well known and make excellent bikepacking bags.
- Seat bag: Good for light, bulky items. Mostly packed clothing, kit, toiletries, shoes.
- Handlebar bag: For light to moderate items, tent, pad, sleeping bag and eating tools/mug.
- Water bottle cages: Two bottles were plenty as we stopped to refill.
- Frame bag: tubes, bike pump, repair kit, multitool, lights, flashlight, bike lock, extra bike accessories
- Top-tube handlebar bag: For snacks, wallet, rag, phone or camera.
After a few times of packing, you’ll learn how to load the bike with enough tie-down straps or repurposing items to meet your needs. A tent, for instance, can be attached to many handlebars bags. A bento or smaller handlebar bag can be placed backwards at the rear of the top-tube. Nearly everyone experiments to some degree to see what gear setup works best.
Camp Essentials to Pack
Your bikepacking gear should include the usual backpacking items, such as a sleeping bag, tent, stove and these other backpacking essential you’d bring on any such trip:
- Navigation: map, compass, altimeter, GPS device, personal locator beacon.
- Headlamp and flashlight: bike lights can help with night vision too.
- Sun protection: sunglasses, sun-protective clothes and sunscreen
- First aid: first aid kit, including insect repellent and bug bite cream
- Knife: plus a gear repair kit
- Fire: matches, lighter, tinder and/or stove
- Shelter: single person tent, emergency bivvy, small tarp to protect bike in rain, sleeping bag, sleeping pad
- Food: energy bars, nuts, tea, coffee, dried fruits or jerky. Dehydrated foods are easier to manage.
- Water: Carry a bit more than the minimum expectation
- Clothes: camp clothes, kit, rain jacket, gloves, warm socks, casual camp shoes/sandals.
- Toiletries: toothbrush, moisturizer, wetwipes, deordorant, microfiber towel
- Foodware: fork, spoon, knife, bowl, mug
- Cooking system: cooking system, matches
Additional gear and bike items: helmet, tube/tire-repair kit, bike lights, portable phone charger, two spare tubes and a multi-tool that includes a chain tool. A light bike lock for in town supply stops. For extended trips, add chain lube, chain pins/power links, and spare cables. For kit, a single pair of cycling shorts that can wash and dry quick overnight. Jersey’s, socks, and gloves make any ride more comfortable, and SPD-compatible mountain bike shoes (if using clipless pedals) to maximize pedaling efficiency and allow normal walking. Keep in mind the added weight may have you walking more than usual, so avoid road-bike shoes with very stiff soles or limited traction.
Tip: Aim to save weight when possible but without compromising safety or comfort. Lightweight and compact gear can make riding easier and more fun. When searching for a tent, you can either share one with another bikepacker or use a single person tent which makes the load a bit easier to carry.
Meals and Water
It’s a good idea to pack items that don’t require cooking and that have a long shelf life. Things like energy bars, nuts, dried fruits or jerky are good. If you’re going on a long multiday trek, consider bringing along more than a one-day supply.
On this trip I packed snacks such as 2 apples (sliced), 2 peanut butter Justin packs, chocolate, and jerky. For breakfast I packed black tea, mixed quick oats/almonds/dry cranberries. I tend to go for dry and fast cooking foods that don’t require too much prep. Keep in mind that you can stop by restaurants or the grocery store to grab water and a meal along the way plus any other essentials you’ll need for camp and eating.
Remember to stop and refill your bottles with clean water. Your campsite will most likely have water too.
Bikepacking Planning Tips
On a bikepacking trip you can cover more distance so your journey may vary depending on your goal and route. Don’t feel like you have to overdo it. Take your time and enjoy the scenery. Here is where you are able to bikepack:
- Nearby state park or regional park: keep in mind park fee’s and tent spot availability.
- Forest-service roads
- Rails-to-trails corridors
For this particular trip I participated in a “S24O” (Sub-24-Hour Overnight) bikepacking trip which is quite popular with NYCC. This typically means rolling out on a Friday after work or midday on a Saturday, taking back roads or trails to a secluded camping spot anywhere from 40- 60 miles, then heading back the next morning. It’s nothing fancy or complicated; just a simple getaway from daily life.
In my Vermont bikepacking trips, it was a 3 day affair of cycling a total of 40-60 miles a day to the next state park with stops for warm meals, bathroom breaks, and supplies. When it comes to campsite set up, I always chose places I know there will be firewood to purchase, clean water, toilets, showers and ranger surveillance for safety.
When planning for your trip, always consider the weather and plan for it. This past weekend was dry, hot and sunny so that influenced a lot of my packing.
Bikepacking Riding Tips
When it comes to managing bikepacking and riding, you’ll be carrying your own weight and the weight of your gear. This requires these additional riding skill and caution:
- Limit speed, especially downhills.
- Ride in a easier gear to reduce potential fatigue and over exhaustion.
- Allow longer stopping distances.
- Allow more room for cornering.
When on long rides, your hands can get tired so having multiple grip positions may help by adding drop bars or bar ends with comfortable grips. One of the things that I have experienced is my wrist aching after absorbing shock for so many miles, having that extra bar helps a lot.
So there you have it in a nutshell. The video above explains a bit more about the gear and set up. Hope this answers most the questions and if I miss one be sure to message or comment.
Additional Bikepacking Resources
For more information and resources, these links offer bikepacking tips and inspiring rider stories: