Plan & Prepare

Here at bikepacking.com, we like to feel we’re an open-minded collective of riders and explorers. Ever fascinated by different modes of carrying cargo on his bike – depending on the length and style of the trip – Cass reports back on his experiences ‘basketpacking’ in Southern California, along with a full a breakdown of his gear list.

It doesn’t take long for one’s bikepacking addiction to start pushing you out the door further into the shoulder seasons. But when the dead of winter comes into play, this is a next-level habit. Winter bikepacking offers a whole new set of challenges. Miles shares how he tackled these demands through carefully planning the right gear.

While planning for the upcoming Baja Divide, Brendan Collier, creator of the Stagecoach 400, started documenting his preparations. This video series has some great tidbits, whether you’re riding the Baja Divide or planning a trip closer to home.

“Which bags should I start with? Are there any specific bags you’d recommend? What do you pack where?” These are probably the most common questions we’re asked. In an effort to answer them, we proudly present our Complete Guide to Bikepacking Bags, along with six starter setups — from our barebones Hack Kit to our money-no-object Dream Bag Kit. For ideas on how it’s all put into practice, we’ve also included packing techniques from several bikepacking veterans, along with a list of bag makers the world over.

Miles tried a lot of gear during his first year bikepacking. He also explored a new route in Ontario, learned to sew, and found a new addiction. Read his year [of gear] in review…

Shoulder season weather in higher elevations can be dicey, and even dangerous. When bikepacking in these environs, the balance between going light and going too light is a delicate one. Here is our guide, tips, and tricks for planning a bikepacking trip — without tipping the scales — for the variety of conditions that mountains can dish out.

Fancy finishing a day of bikepacking with a freshly caught trout, grilled on the embers of your camp fire? An outdoorsman to the fingertips, Hansi Johnson shares his insights into the world of Bikefishing.

Carrying good food on a bikepacking trip can both nourish the belly and soothe the soul. These two new savory meals from Maine’s Good To-Go — Pad Thai and Indian Vegetable Korma — offer flavors of southeast Asia in a hearty package…

Ok, so Nancy is 5’5”. So not so little. But the bike, shod as it is with 29+ tires, is certainly big. So how did the two get on? Read on to find out… and glean a few tips for bikepacking with a similar setup.

After some awe inspiring twists and turns in the final days leading up to the end, Lael Wilcox finished the Trans Am Race in 18 days and 10 minutes becoming the first American to win the race. We talked with Lael about her gear list, health, and the route itself. Here’s what she had to say…

It’s not uncommon to hear about a cyclist being sidelined by a knee injury. A crash is often the benefactor of such turmoil. However, riding long hours with a heavy load can also wear on your knees — if not immediately, over time.

Thanks to the wealth of online information, applications and digital maps that are now at our disposal, we’ve entered a golden age of backcountry bike route inception. Here’s our methodology, recommended tools, and a guide to resources…