Plan & Prepare

Over the course of a 2700-mile bike race, things are bound to happen—like a nagging injury, running into a rainstorm, and yes, mechanical issues. While some of these things can be controlled, others sometimes happen by the luck of the draw. In this piece, Neil asks a few folks who participated in the 2023 Tour Divide to share their experiences with mechanical issues and how they handled them.

In preparation for the 2024 Tour Divide, mountain endurance athlete Jackson Long just released an in-depth video look at the bike and gear he’s bringing along for the ride. Watch the video, dig into his complete gear list, and learn more about his 2024 Tour Divide film project here…

Following a first-place finish at last year’s Tour Divide, Ulrich Bartholmoes is lining up at the 2024 edition and also has his sights set on the Triple Crown Challenge record. Find his complete gear list and details on the bike he’ll be riding here…

The Swift Campout is a global call to celebrate the northern summer solstice by spending a night outside with your bike, and the 2024 edition is just one month away! Find details on the Campout Video Challenge, sign up to participate, and explore our roundup of trip-planning resources here…

Next week, Indiana Schulz is starting an ambitious seven-year bikepacking trip around the world. Learn more about his Cycling Kindness project, find details on the route he’ll be following, and take a deep dive into his Pinion-equipped Solace Cycles OM-2P Ti build and complete gear list here…

After retiring his longtime handlebar-mounted compact camera bag, the Porcelain Rocket Mini Slinger, Lucas is on the hunt for a new solution for hauling his Fuji X-T3 on the bike. He’s seeking input on your favorite camera-carrying bags on today’s market. Find a few suggestions and add your recommendations here…

The recent cancelation of The Traka Adventure gravel race in Spain due to heavy rainfall in the forecast has us wondering when and why it makes sense to cancel bikepacking events. Learn more and weigh in with your thoughts here…

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…

As we’ve seen over the last five or so years, e-bikes have gained a solid footing in the bike marketplace and attracted many new riders, but can they become a mode of transport for bikepacking trips? In our latest video, Neil delves into several details in hopes of finding an answer to that question…

GPS device or phone for cycling? One of the most frequent comments we get when publishing a GPS unit review is, “Why not just use your phone?” In our latest video, Neil answers this by sharing some of the reasons he prefers a GPS head unit for all his bikepacking endeavors, and he also presents a few favorite options we use here at BIKEPACKING.com…

Almost 12 years ago, Neil went on his first bikepacking trip, an ambitious 10-day journey along the Colorado Trail. The trip was a success, but it wasn’t without many learning experiences. In his latest piece, Neil unpacks what he learned from the trip and discusses how he’d do it differently today…

Freshly returned from a successful bikepacking trip in Southern Arizona, Joe, Miles, and Neil share a look at their repair kits. Learn what they all found essential, who hauled the kitchen sink, and who had the most minimalist kit in our latest video. Watch it and find their complete repair kits here…