Custom Rockgeist Frame Bags for Route Creators!

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Thanks in advance for spreading the word!

We’re excited to announce that route creators who publish overnighters in our bikepacking route network this season will also receive a custom frame bag from our friends at Rockgeist! Learn more about this promotion and how you can get involved here…

compose Logan Watts
time Apr 2, 2024
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We’re stoked to announce a new partnership with Rockgeist, one of our favorite bag makers, to help support the Local Overnighter Project—a match that couldn’t be more fitting. We take pride in managing the first and most comprehensive network of bikepacking routes in the world. Six years ago, we launched the Local Overnighter Project with the aim of expanding our network and inviting more route creators with extensive knowledge of their own surroundings to join us, placing an emphasis on local knowledge and sustainable, approachable, backyard-centric adventures. Since then, we’ve published more 150 new overnighters, but our ultimate goal of providing a complete library of accessible one-night route options for folks to download and follow from nearly any relevant town or city worldwide—in regions such as the United States, UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand—remains distant. We need your input now more than ever to make this happen.

  • Rockgeist Custom Frame Bags for Route Creators
  • Rockgeist Custom Frame Bags for Route Creators

While they may be modest in length, well-crafted overnighter routes hold significant importance compared to epic cross-continent journeys. They serve as an entry point for those who are intrigued by bikepacking but not yet ready to tackle an extensive trip. By increasing the availability of short and approachable routes, we aim to make bikepacking more accessible, offering options that allow riders to embark on quick adventures without venturing far from home. Moreover, a quality overnighter route serves as an ideal “reset button” for people balancing busy schedules.

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To enrich our map and broaden riding opportunities for all, we’ve collaborated with Rockgeist this year to offer an enticing premium: a custom made frame bag for your bike! Nobody makes better frame bags that Rockgeist; we’ve used them on countless trips, and the craftsmanship and attention to detail are unparalleled. Our hope is that this bonus will inspire you to share your finest local overnighter routes and encourage others to craft captivating overnighters in areas where route options are still limited. Read on for tips and route submission information below.

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How it Works

Anyone who submits an overnighter that is vetted and accepted to be published in our network after this promo has started this year will be eligible for a custom frame bag made by Rockgeist plus $100 cash from us. There are some restrictions, however. First off, we don’t accept all route entries. You can find several guidelines and notes on what makes a good route below. Second, the custom frame bag is only available for US-based contributors; this is due to high VAT and shipping costs, which ultimately don’t make it worthwhile. However, route creators outside of the US will get $150 cash in place of the bag, for $250 total, which you can use to purchase a frame bag from a maker close to you (or anything else you might need). Also, frame bags are limited to single-zipper designs; add-ons and Fiber Flight fabrics will incur additional charges. You can find details about Rockgeist’s offerings here.

Next Steps

Ready to Submit Your Route?

(Make sure to read the tips and rules below)

Click Here

Tips & Rules (Is your route a good fit?)

There’s an art to creating the ideal overnighter route. It’s about balancing challenges and rewards and finding the perfect rest stops and campsites along the way. What makes it special? Scenic campsites, places to eat, breweries, epic trails, fun descents, and cultural/historical places of interest, to name a few. Maybe there are hot springs or swimming holes in the middle. Take into account these tips and rules:

Route Length

30-150 miles (48-240 kilometers) is a pretty good benchmark for route length for an overnighter, but the route should take two days/one night to complete. Factors that affect the distance include the technical nature of the trail/track surfaces, the total amount of climbing, and other impediments that might require added time, such as ferries, river crossings, and other such obstacles. We don’t mind hike-a-bikes when they connect places that would otherwise be impossible to reach, but you might want to keep them within reason.

Types of Routes

Different types of routes are acceptable, but they should be comprised of at least 60% unpaved surfaces, give or take. We prefer routes in which the majority of the time spent riding is off pavement. Any paved roads included on the route should be safe to ride a bike on and have adequate shoulders with little-to-moderate traffic volume.

Create a Rhythm

Starting and finishing a route with a climb isn’t always fun. Space out the suffering-to-reward ratio. Also, basing routes around particular sights or stops is a great approach. How about breweries, historical landmarks, hot springs, swimming holes, or scenic viewpoints? The final route should have a handful of useful POIs noted on the map. Having these types of milestones helps balance the route.

Use Cycling-Friendly Byways

Stay off highways and dangerous roads. Tying in greenways or cycle-specific paths can always help connect things through cities. Anything that helps avoid traffic is welcome in our book.

Find a Good Campsite

Having a secure and legal campsite or multiple camping options is a requirement for an overnighter. Make sure it’s placed in a spot where it will be natural and fitting to end a day’s ride.

Watch the Resupply Points

It’s good practice to plan where the resupply points are in relation to distance; the same goes for drinkable or filterable water sources.

Keep It Legal

It goes without saying that every route we publish must be 100% legally accessible. Each and every road and trail must allow bicycles. Keep the same in mind for campsites.

Consider Where It Starts And Ends

Making a loop from a safe starting point is always a good idea. You should also consider starting it at a landmark, bike shop, place of historical significance, and/or area with a good place to leave a vehicle. If your route is linear in nature, think about ways of making it accessible via public transportation or have good spots to park cars for a shuttle.

Public Lands and Conservation

Make a special point to highlight the places and lands on the route that are threatened, in need of protection, and should be preserved. We place special importance on using bikepacking as a vehicle for conservation projects and awareness.

Plan, Ride, Repeat

We usually don’t accept routes that were ridden once during a longer travel itinerary. Instead we’re seeking routes that have been carefully planned by folks who knows the area, and often scouted more than one time with refinements made after each ride or ridden and verified by multiple riders on multiple occasions.

Route Photography

Inspiring, high-quality photography is important to us at BIKEPACKING.com. Your route needs to include at least 20 high-quality photos. We suggest that photos should be taken on a decent camera (a step above a mobile phone). However, many of the newer phones (iPhone, Galaxy, etc) are equipped with good cameras that have the potential to take excellent photos. Taking a quality set of route photos goes beyond what’s being used to take them, so give it your best shot (no pun intended). Photos should cover several aspects of the route, including trail shots, riding shots, camping photos, landscapes, and other interesting details. Pro tips: try to get your hero shots just after dawn or before dusk in the golden hour light, try unique angles, use a “blocking” technique with foreground objects, and look into “the rule of thirds.”

Please be aware that supplies are limited for this promotion, so we reserve the right to make changes as and when needed.

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