I Almost Forgot This is Supposed to be Fun

There are countless resources online pushing the narrative that bikepacking always has to be the hardest thing you can do with your spare time. If it’s not pouring rain, the mountains aren’t covered in snow, or the route isn’t 110% singletrack, then the route isn’t hard enough. Depending on who you ask, bikepacking can be a lot of things, and everyone’s definition of fun can vary, but I think we can all agree that bikepacking should be about enjoyment. I’m guilty of making things harder just because, but I’ve found there’s so much joy to be had when I go out of my way to inject more fun into my bikepacking trips.

Emily and I have gotten into the habit of finding easy ways to make our bikepacking trips more enjoyable. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that the smallest things can make a huge difference in your attitude at the end of the day. Take desert bikepacking destinations, like Southern Arizona or Mexico, for example. At home, we’re used to having an endless supply of fresh water sources to filter from and rarely camp away from a river or lake. Down south, we find ourselves dreaming of swim spots, exhausted by the heat, and generally moving slower. On our recent Cape Loop ride in Baja, Mexico, we found fun by working in multiple rest days, dining out, playing with our kite, and taking time to chat with the locals.

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Whether we’re traveling further afield or camping close to home, we’ve found that including little indulgences softens some of the inherent rawness of riding your bike and camping in the woods. After all, we all deserve a little treat every now and again. Below, you’ll find 14 strategies Emily and I have used to make bikepacking more fun.

Dining Out

No doubt, dining out is one of the quickest ways to turn a cheap bikepacking trip into an expensive one, and everyone’s budgets will look a little different, but savoring good food is one of the main reasons Emily and I ride bikes. Having some sit-down or takeout meals is not only a great way to get some easy calories, but it’s also a nice way to treat yourself after a long day on the bike. Depending on where you’re riding, finding a local food spot to splurge on can also be a fantastic way to connect with the locals, get route beta, or just take a break from camp stove meals.

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During our Cape Loop ride, we knew we wanted to experience as much Mexican food as possible, as it was our first time traveling in the country. Stopping at roadside taco spots and anywhere that served pitaya shaved ice became part of our routine and made for some of our most memorable moments. In one town, a local man named David sparked up a conversation, and we ended up sharing a meal and a slightly disjointed conversation, a blend of our subpar Spanish and a bit of English. Those were some camarón tacos I won’t soon forget.

Take a Rest Day (or Two)

We knew going into the Cape Loop that the sand and heat would be hard on us. Emily and I don’t cope well with back-to-back days of sun, so we planned for several shorter riding days, a full rest day, and some wiggle-room at the end of our trip to ensure we didn’t have to rush. This won’t be possible for everyone, with tight deadlines and schedules that aren’t always fluid, but even working in some shorter days can help reduce the rush that sometimes characterizes bikepacking.

I’ve had my fair share of sunrise-to-sunset bikepacking trips where it feels like I’m constantly wringing out every last bit of daylight to make it to camp, but my most enjoyable trips are the ones where I’m not rushing, and I feel like there’s time to stop, take photos, and linger. One day while scouting the Alberni Bam Bam route on Vancouver Island last summer, our group decided to push further to guarantee an easy day in Bamfield, giving us time to swim, enjoy a sit-down lunch, and explore the small coastal community. That decision made for a short ride into Bamfield, one of the best meals of the week, and we had time to meet our new friend Adam. Sometimes hurrying up to slow down is a great way to relax when it feels right.

Tent Lights

Everyone loves twinkly lights! Add some lights to an outdoor bar or patio, and boom, it’s super cute. It turns out the same thing applies to camping in a tent, and there are a few brands making packable strings of light designed to turn your boring tent into an ultra-cute one in seconds, and for cheap!

We’ve been using the Big Agnes mtnGLO tent lights for a few years now, and if we ever forget them, it’s always a sad moment. It’s amazing what a few LEDs can do for your mood at camp: not only creating a picture-perfect scene but also providing usable light around your tent, reducing the need for headlamps. We don’t tend to use the flashing mode unless we’re trying to start a party in the woods, but it’s good to know we have the option.

Bright Colored Gear

Emily finds most bikepacking gear and cycling apparel downright ugly. Even when shopping for a bike, she’s far more interested in the paint job and what the brand stands for than the components or specs. I’ve always said “look good, feel good,” and we’ve both been leaning into fun colors recently. Mixing some wild-colored gear into your kit is an easy way to say, “This really isn’t that serious.”

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A few bright bags we’ve been loving are the Mountain Laurel Designs Poco Pannier I reviewed, the Outershell Mega Bar Bag in Marigold X-Pac, Emily’s hot pink Rogue Panda Ripsey dry bag, and Emily’s yellow Curious Creatures pants. Of course, I can’t leave out my tri-fade Hudski Dualist, which is not only one of my all-time favorite bikes but also has a paint job that makes me happy every time I see it. I was cruising around town on it a few months back, and a child turned to their mother, looking at the bike, and said, “Mom, that bike is so cool.” He wasn’t wrong!

Camp Toys

I’m not normally one to pack a deck of cards and rally friends for a round of Euchre at camp. In fact, I tend to leave all the extras at home. Last summer, however, my friend Sam introduced me to the Prism Pocket Flyer kite at a local coffee outside meetup, and I knew I had to have one. It’s a great example of how much fun you can squeeze out of a tiny toy, making it the perfect bikepacking accessory.

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If ferries are involved, you can count on Emily to have her Nocs binoculars to scope out aquatic wildlife. I’ve also enjoyed carrying my Camp Snap screen-free digital camera on day rides as a refreshing alternative to my usual camera setup. Although there seem to be some mixed feelings about slingshots, depending on where you live in the world, the Klunk ‘n’ Float team and I have had loads of fun shooting targets during breaks and lunch stops.

Short Days and Short Trips

It’s easy to get obsessed with planning massive, life-changing bikepacking trips in far-flung places, but the shorter trips often bring me more joy. With the complexities of air travel, car rides, and other logistics removed, bikepacking from your front door can be one of the most enjoyable experiences.

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These trips are similar to the concept of “doorbell friends,” who pop over for quick visits, making them less stressful and easier to work into busy schedules. Long trips in different parts of the world are fun, but I’ve been loving finding new ways to make the most of local rides—taking off on a Friday afternoon and getting back for dinner on Saturday. Recently, my friend Tanner and I rode the Texada Ridge Runner route in reverse, and it felt like an entirely new way to see the island. I think I’ll do the same for the 10 Lakes Overnighter soon.

Ask More Questions and Say Hello

I’ve always preferred to ask questions rather than talk about myself. In most cases, it’s easier and more interesting to hear from someone else. Plus, the benefit of giving people space to talk is that you’ll likely find a connection or a helpful tidbit for your trip. Nearly all of our food and camping recommendations come from random interactions with strangers, and some of our best stories started with a simple but strategic “hello!”

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This concept can also be used the other way, when you’re not on the bike. I’m always blown away at how antisocial people seem to be at trailheads, especially given that we’re all there with a shared passion. Taking the time to say hello, check in on other trail users, or spark up a conversation could be far more important than you might think. You never know what someone might be going through, and a friendly face and a listening ear could change the direction of their day.

Don’t Get Obsessed with “The Line”

Similar to how readers of this site follow our route guides, I can get obsessed with following the invisible line that makes up a GPX file. Although I spend more time scouting new routes, I have to remind myself that it’s okay to stray from the planned route every now and then.

On the Cape Loop, we had a few options as we left the small mountain town of El Triunfo. After our rest day, we could either backtrack and follow the “prescribed” route, deviate from it and scout an adventurous new route, or pop onto a long, paved descent for an easier day. From a route development standpoint, I really wanted to scout the new option, but Emily and I agreed we didn’t want a hard day, so the paved descent was the obvious choice, and it turned out to be a good one. Sometimes, it pays to listen to your gut. I don’t think our experience would have improved if we had taken an alternate route; it just would have been different. In the end, the route doesn’t determine your experience. You do.

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Comfortable Camp Gear

I think nine out of ten doctors recommend a good night’s sleep for a proper recovery, and that doesn’t change while bikepacking. Benjamin Franklin once said that “fatigue is the best pillow,” which is all too true while bikepacking, but I’d argue that a good pillow is an even better pillow.

Plush, oversized camp pillows came first, then we tested a collection of double-wide sleeping pads, and now Emily and I are obsessed with finding lightweight yet comfortable additions to our camping setups. Most recently, we’ve been trying out various stoves that allow for more complex meals at camp and experimenting with new recipes. On the gear side, we’ve learned to appreciate tents with multiple internal pockets and a clothesline (or ability to add one) to dry gear out at night. There are even comfy camp chairs light enough to bring bikepacking.

Cold Drinks at Camp

If I pass by a resupply point in the afternoon, I’m always purchasing a drink to bring to camp. I don’t know what it is about drinking a Coke at camp that makes everything feel right again, but there’s something rewarding about stashing a special drink somewhere and saving it for the end of the day. I’ll never pass up the opportunity. Bonus points if there’s a stream or creek to leave it in for an hour or two to cool it off first!

Camp Traditions

Emily and I have a few traditions that help us feel comfortable and at ease while bikepacking. Aside from always having chocolate on hand, we don’t go anywhere without our morning and evening tea. It’s usually an Earl Grey vanilla in the morning, and some sort of chamomile blend before bedtime. We recently started bringing powdered milk for our morning teas, and that has really amped things up.

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We follow a similar pattern at home, and integrating your habits into your bikepacking routine helps calm you down at camp and get you ready to ride in the mornings. This also relates to my article on post-trip blues and the strategies you can use to limit the blah feeling that often comes after a fun disruption to your normal routine.

More Friends on Bikes

It’s easy to get hyper-focused on big, adventurous trips and rides. I’m guilty of this, and for years, I’d satisfy these cravings by riding solo or with other experienced riders. While I’ll always leave time for these types of rides, I’ve appreciated slowing down and riding with people I don’t normally ride with.

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The one benefit of having a basement packed with bikes, bags, and camping gear is that I can lend it to friends. I genuinely get so much enjoyment out of kitting out friends’ bikes and letting them try new and exciting components and gear. Last month, I lent bags to three friends touring in Europe, a friend hiking locally, and several participants at Emily’s first-ever women-only Slow Coast event on the Lower Sunshine Coast route. In another life, or maybe a future one, I would love to plan bikepacking trips and bike setups for people.

Fun Bike Accessories

Two years ago, we shared details about the Japanese brand Ghooost and its now widely popular Flower Twists (available in the US from SimWorks). Emily and I jumped on them early on, sparking a new era of outfitting our bikes with fun, colorful accessories. Emily has Flower Twists on a few bikes and bags, our Safety Donuts keep us visible and our eyes on the prize, and we were recently gifted some cute little beaded saddle dongles made by a friend here in Powell River.

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In preparation for the main Slow Coast event later this summer, Emily commissioned a local 3D printing shop to make some awesome ice cream valve caps, inspired by Mugshot NYC. I’m curious what other accessories people are using to personalize their bikes, and if you’ve got anything niche, weird, or made by a small brand, let me know below.

Traveling By Bike

Emily and I have spent, on average, three months every year for the past decade living, sleeping, and working out of our van. We avoid large cities like the plague, but we’ve learned that places that can feel overwhelming in a vehicle are often lovely when experienced on two wheels.

Traveling by bike doesn’t have to mean flying across the world or driving across the country. It can be as simple as adjusting your expectations and visiting a nearby town or new area close to home. Maybe there’s a new restaurant or trail on a route you already know, or in the case of British Columbia’s west coast, an island you’ve never visited before. Focusing less on the riding, and more on everything else, can be a real treat if you’re looking for a way to see the familiar with fresh eyes.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...