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Bikepacking Guides & Tips
A compilation of bikepacking guides, tips, and insights for newbie bikepackers and hardened veterans alike. Sort through articles by category, or find the latest below.
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A compilation of bikepacking guides, tips, and insights for newbie bikepackers and hardened veterans alike. Sort through articles by category, or find the latest below.
In our third installment of One Question, Five Voices, we ask a group of Tour Divide finishers to share their secrets for mentally preparing to race from Banff to Mexico along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Read on to glean some insights for getting into the Tour Divide mindset, whether you’re hoping to set a new record or just want to make it to the finish…
We’re always striving to improve the routes we publish on the site. As such, Cass Gilbert headed out to re-ride a section of the Trans Ecuador Mountain Bike Route (TEMBR) at the end of last season to work on some improvements. In preparation for this year’s season, here’s a collection of images from the journey and thoughts on what bike suits it best…
To wrap up the Baja Divide season, Cass Gilbert heads off to tackle the 555-mile Missions section of the route, considered to be its highlight. He returns with a tan, a ride gallery, and advice on the ride itself, including some logistical details for zoning in on this glorious, easily accessed part of the 1,700 mile route. If you’ve two weeks to spare next winter, start dreaming now…
The 2018 Solstice Campout (aka Swift Campout) is right around the corner – time to get planning! In this guide you’ll find our suggestions and tips for making the most out of the biggest group bikepacking event in the world…
In this installment of One Question, Five Voices, we get a group of intrepid bikepackers to unroll their tool kits and show us what’s inside. Find out what tools and accessories they’ve deemed essential for everything from daily commuting to multi-country adventures…
Interested in converting a 700C cyclocross or touring bike into a 650B gravel bikepacking rig? Or maybe you’re just intrigued by 650B / road plus? With the promise of dirt-friendly tires and a more supple ride, there’s plenty to like. We took an Advocate Lorax and made the switch. Find out what we learned about 650B, everything you need to know about such a conversion, and details about the specific components we selected.
In the first installment of One Question, Five Voices – our new Q&A series – we ask a group of five experienced riders to offer their best piece of advice for new bikepackers. Find out what our panel thinks you should know before setting off on your first trip…
Ryan Sigsbey first took on the Monumental Loop in 2017 and returned a year later to finish it. Find his account alongside an excellent gallery of photos in our latest Ride Gallery. Plus, notes on tire selection and the route’s difficulty…
It’s fairly uncomplicated to gather some provisions, lash some dry bags to a bike, and disappear into the woods for a couple of days. Read Logan’s account of a last-minute decision to go bikepacking back in 2013. Plus, a how-to starter kit for an easy overnighter.
Have you bikepacked as a posse? The experience is very distinct from both meditative solo rides and the close camaraderie of a shared experience with a single friend. Factor in half a dozen riders and the dynamic completely transforms, with the journey taking on a different life. Cass heads out for a few days in the sun patinaed New Mexican desert… and returns with the feel good vibes from the very best of group rides.
Matthew Kadey, author of “Rocket Fuel – Power Packed Food for Sports + Adventure,” is an adventure cyclist and dietitian. Matthew’s two-wheeled travels have taken him to numerous countries including Ethiopia, Syria, and Thailand, just to name a few. We asked Matthew for some bikepacking-friendly recipes from his cookbook, and as an added bonus he whipped us up our own special energy ball recipe.
Thinking of converting from a traditional bike touring setup to bikepacking bags? Here’s how it went for Franzi and Jona mid-trip during their around-the-world journey. Plus, weight and volume analysis for ‘panniers vs bikepacking bags’, as well as a detailed insight into transforming your overweight bike touring kit to a slimline bikepacking rig and why you might consider such a metamorphosis…