Bikepacking-Centric Bike Shops and Gear Libraries Around the World

It wasn’t long ago that spotting a top tube bag or frame bag in a bike shop was a rare occurrence. These days, it’s almost impossible not to find traces of “bikepacking” in bike shops, whether just a few bags hidden in a corner or a full-fledged display of racks, bags, and camping gear. Some bike shops position themselves as bikepacking experts, offering gear rentals and trip planning services, and they usually have a massive map posted on a wall somewhere to help customers dream up a weekend escape. Others strategically pick a few bikepacking bag brands to keep stocked or will order in gear for customers as needed.

What really sets a bikepacking shop apart from your average bike shop is its product breadth and commitment to the broader bikepacking community. That commitment can be as simple as being welcoming to all types of riders, sharing knowledge, hosting workshops, and putting on group rides and campouts. The gear they stock is important, but it goes further than that.

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What Makes a Shop Special?

What makes a bike shop a “bikepacking shop” is open to discussion, but in our experience, a few things set these establishments apart from traditional shops. That’s not to say your local bike shop or community non-profit shouldn’t be your first stop when searching for gear. It’s always worth checking in to see what they might be able to get their hands in. It’s common for smaller shops to have to order in gear for you instead of stocking it on the shelves. In you’re ever unsure what they can get for you, just ask.

We decided to focus on shops that are actively selling independent bikepacking bag brands (think small makers, not big brands pulled from a catalog) and those that provide additional services such as bike rentals, bikepacking bag rentals, trip planning knowledge, and workshops. During our search, we started coming across shops and groups that offer bikepacking gear libraries for folks who don’t have their own stuff. We’ve added as many as we could find onto the map, including several groups who offer free gear rentals and some businesses who rent everything you need to give bikepacking a go, including bikes, bags, and camping gear.

Bikepacking Shops Worth Visiting

Last week, we published a survey asking our readers for their favorite “bikepacking-centric” bike shops, and hundreds of responses came in. These responses uncovered some shops we weren’t familiar with, including many outside of North America, and a handful of shops were recommended considerably more than the others. We’re working with Ride with GPS on additional functionality to highlight shops that have positioned themselves as dedicated bikepacking shops, as well as those that offer gear rentals/gear libraries. For now, all are identified by the standard “bike shop” pin. We’re sure we’ve missed some, so let us know who should be added in the discussion below, and we’ll continue to update this resource regularly to keep it accurate.

Our Favorite Shops

Miles: Picking a few standout shops is surprisingly easy because, most of the time, they easily stand out against more traditional bike shops. I have to give a shoutout to Omafiets in Sydney, Australia for being incredibly helpful and accommodating when I was prepping for a multi-week bikepacking trip. I also have a soft spot for the crew at Dismount Bike Shop in Ontario, Canada, who are among the nicest bike industry folks I’ve met, and I can’t wait to get back to say hello in person.

Logan: My home shop, The Hub, lives and breathes bikepacking. What began as a small corner LBS in the late aughts has since grown into a massive standalone building right at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest in the town of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. We’ve included it in at least a half dozen routes, including the Segment 6 of the Eastern Divide Trail and the popular Appalachian Gravel Growler (because it also has a great taproom). Some routes (and plenty of riders) even start and finish there. On any given Saturday, chances are you’ll see a couple of bikepackers rolling in or out from the outdoor patio. More than just a full-service bike shop, The Hub also carries a well-stocked selection of outdoor gear and provisions, bikepacking equipment, and even offers a rental fleet of steel Esker Haydukes and Loraxes with the option to rent bags from Rockgeist as well.

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Lucas: My favorite shops are Off Course (formerly Commuter Cycles) in Melbourne, Australia, which is almost certainly the friendliest and most impressively well-stocked shop I’ve ever visited; Totem Cyclery in Denver, Colorado, where owner Ryan Santoski is incredibly knowledgeable and a master wheel builder; and The Gentle Jaunt in Berlin, Germany, which was an early adopter of bikepacking bikes and gear in Europe.

Nic: Having a bit of a tenuous relationship with bike shops, picking a few out for this list is actually quite easy. Generally speaking, I find the contrast between a good and bad shop to be stark. The good ones are beacons of community that care and seemingly look at the business element as a secondary element. My picks for shops that stand out as great for bikepackers are Treehouse Cyclery in Denver, Colorado, and The Hub in Brevard, North Carolina. Both operate with community at the fore, and a big part of that ensures there is a large focus on bikepacking.

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Neil: I don’t really have a favorite bikepacking shop per se, but two stand out. I’ve set off on bikepacking trips from Spokengear in Two Harbors, Minnesota, which is also home to Cedaero, a bikepacking gear maker that many readers have likely heard of. It’s a great little spot with everything you need, plus coffee and food at the adjacent Cedar Coffee Company. The other shop that left an impression just by visiting was Campfire Cycling in Tucson, Arizona. Josh and the crew there have everything under the sun for a trip, plus solid advice and repair services. It’s a huge shop with lots of eye candy and plenty of practical gear.

Cass: When I’m in the UK, I always head to The Woods Cyclery in the New Forest, just a day ride away from where my folks live. It has all my favourite things: beautiful bikes to admire, excellent coffee and pastries, and the Sunday rides are a great way to connect with old friends and meet new ones. When I’m in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I have two shops I like to visit. There’s the Broken Spoke, where several good friends work. I’ve always found it a very friendly and accessible bike shop, and I like their broad range, which includes Oveja Negra bags, Surly bikes, and affordable commuting gear. I’ll always try and pop into Sincere Cycles, too. Not only is owner Bailey a fantastic mechanic, he’s invariably a thoughtful person to chat to and has great taste. The shop is lovely to look at, there’s a chill zone to read a magazine (including The Bikepacking Journal!), and the space is dotted with all kinds of New Mexican delights, such as Mone bikes and locally made bags.

Criteria for Submitting Your Favorite Shop

We know there are bike shops we missed that should be included on this map, but to help focus on shops that prioritize bikepacking gear and the greater community, we’re asking for submissions to meet at least four of the following criteria:

1. Has a bikepacking/touring area in the shop and stocks bags from small makers
2. Sells camping equipment including sleeping pads, meals, stoves, and fuel
3. Holds bikepacking-specific events, such as group rides, clinics, or presentations
4. Rents bikepacking-friendly bikes
5. Rents gear, such as bikepacking bags and/or camping gear
6. Has associated bikepacking routes that start/end or pass through location; bonus if shops advocate and promote these routes
7. Facilitates route access by allowing parking and other resources for multi-day riders

If the shop meets at least four of these requirements, let us know in the conversation below!

Further Reading

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