NOBODY tells you THIS about bikepacking...

Comments · 105

• CY

  @Cycling366 · 1 year ago · pinned

  Am I wrong about these? Let us know what you wish you’d known about bikepacking before you started below 👇 👇

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• JP

  @jpoverhill · 1 year ago (edited)

  As a reply to your question, I learned that:<br><br><br>1: You don&apos;t need a perfect setup or bike<br>2: You don&apos;t need to go for 6 months trips through remote Africa (not that I&apos;ve done that) to have an adventure. You can do a 3 days locally and have a great time.<br>3: I appreciate having a home more.<br>4: Much of the time you spend meeting new people and chatting(depending on how remote you are).<br>5: There are many, many, many good people out there. Many more than bad.<br><br><br>I have a crappy bike and setup, often experience four seasons in one day, and make all sorts of stupid decisions. My bike trips are far from perfect. I love every minute of the struggle locally and abroad. like you say, I like to push through. It exercises my mental fortitude and makes me appreciate home all that much more. I do push too hard sometimes (my family asks me why I even bother doing it lol). I&apos;ve ended up with heat stroke and gone on dangerous roads when I shouldn&apos;t have, for example. But I&apos;ve always had wonderful strangers to fall back on when I&apos;ve needed it. I&apos;ve learned a lot from it all!

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• CO

  @CoilingSliver · 1 year ago

  Being able to change the route/trip in case of really bad weather, a too difficult route, equipment failure etc. is imo the most useful skill. Especially on longer trips things might not work out as expected, so planning for an alternative route or an option to shorten the entire trip is something to consider.<br><br>Sometimes these kinds of trips don&apos;t pan out as planned.

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• ST

  @stevensad38 · 1 year ago

  The other thing about bike packing is that it is very doable right up into old age. Going light to enjoy what is on offer in your own locality, especially wild camps, are so rewarding Here speaks an 87-year-old!

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• CH

  @chrisbee7596 · 1 year ago

  I’ve learned you can spend a LOT of money on things you don’t need! Any bike will do, strap your kit to it and off you go. &nbsp;It’s the adventure that counts, not the brand of bike or kit.

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• I_

  @I_wish_I_had_known_that_sooner · 1 year ago

  Whenever I feel like I can&apos;t ride any further, usually when it&apos;s caused by bad weather or exhaustion, I sing quietly to myself:<br>Why worry<br><br>There should be laughter after pain<br>There should be sunshine after rain<br>These things have always been the same<br>So why worry now (Dire Straits)<br>And to this day, I can say that Mark Knopfler is right.

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• AN

  @AndrePhone-v3n · 6 months ago

  Getting off the bike often and chilling is my joy.

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• DS

  @dsa5394 · 1 year ago

  Some of our best memories are about people, like talking for an hour outside a grocery store to a WW II paratrooper. Also you remember the hardships you pushed through and made it to the other side. You are more likely to push yourself as sometimes there is no other option. Of course there are also the beautiful things you see too.

  5

• GA

  @GadZooks65 · 2 weeks ago

  Good advice. I think it’s very important to stay hydrated for clarity of mind and decision making. Hikers and bikepackers shouldn’t underestimate the importance of this. Don’t keep pushing until frustration or confusion kick in, stop, drink water, settle the mind. Happy exploring 💪.

• SI

  @simonblackers · 1 year ago

  The trick is to start small. A single nighter. Even B&amp;B&apos;s. Enjoy the experience without the big challenge when starting out.

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• JU

  @just_alex3375 · 1 year ago

  I fully agree, that people are amazing in majority of times and it brings a good memories about your trip

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• WA

  @waatzin · 1 year ago

  I completely agree. Before a bike trip, I&apos;m always full of excitement, but facing bad weather or other uncomfortable situations brings about difficulties I don&apos;t usually experience in daily life.<br><br>I think it&apos;s important to try things that suit my circumstances. It doesn&apos;t have to be expensive gear or a long journey. As you said, I like that it can have a positive effect on my life.

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