Plan & Prepare

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…

What does the future hold for the creation, publication, and ownership of bikepacking routes? Plus a hint at a few of our upcoming projects… and Scouts Wanted! — a call to action to the bikepacking community.

Daniel Wilhelm rode a large portion of our Altravesur route through southern Spain back in October. With great weather and tapas fueling the way, he went from Malaga to Valencia in 12 days. Here is his ride gallery from the trip…

Do you follow a paleo diet, or aspire to keep predominantly to its principles of eating more naturally and cutting out processed food? But let me guess… you still want to pack light when you bikepack? Paleo Meals to Go are crammed with simple caveman goodness… Here’s our thoughts on what’s in them, and how they taste.

Interested in mingling pedaling and paddling? Perhaps you’re captivated by the idea of linking up a bikepacking route via river and packraft. Or maybe you’ve dreamt up a coastal fatbike exploration. In our latest guide, Huw Oliver defines what makes bikerafting special and answers all the necessary questions to get your bikepacking rig one step closer to water…