Prepare for your first bikepacking trip with these tips on the basics of off-road touring.
January 26, 2015
Prepare for your first bikepacking trip with these tips on the basics of off-road touring.
A marriage of mountain biking and backpacking, bikepacking allows you to travel under your own power while exploring off-road places and wild terrain.
Use any bike on which you can mount racks or bags, but ideally, you want a rigid 29er mountain bike.
Your bikepacking gear setup might include a handlebar bag or front stuff sack strapped to the handlebars with compression straps, which can be packed with light items such as your full sleep system.
Besides backpacking essentials, you should carry:
Train for your multi-day bikepacking trips, upping your mileage each week then tapering before the trip so your muscles are recharged.
For your first bikepacking trips, consider a regional park or nearby national forest.
Wherever bikepacking takes you, aim to be as self-sufficient as possible, travelling as lightly as possible while still staying safe. Know your plan and your equipment well before venturing out.
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