Inquiry #2 – What is Bike Packing?

The Beginning

I have always been drawn to bike packing, specifically in my adult years when I started watching YouTube videos about the adventures that people could go on. I have always been an avid hiker/camper, so bike packing seemed like the next natural step. I rode my bike growing up, around the city, with friends, etc. but never for extremely long distances, and always on relatively flat ground. As time went on, friends started getting more into mountain biking and cross country biking. I tried to mountain bike a few times on borrowed bikes, and really enjoyed it. But ultimately, the financial barrier of buying a mountain bike really got in my way to continue on. I remember the first day I ever went mountain biking was a beautiful, cold, late fall day in Canmore, Alberta. We rented fat-tire bikes because there was some snow around still, and went off into the woods. My two friends and I didn’t know anything about biking, but went for it anyways. I am trying to repeat this bit of spontaneity and unrefined excitement for something through bike packing. Instead of being nervous and uncertain about all the things that could be hard or go wrong, why not focus on the positive possibilities? I think this is a great mindset to adopt in life in general, and one I have absolutely had to take on through the teacher education program. I can get overwhelmed and sad when things aren’t going exactly as I had planned, or can make up worst-case scenarios before something even begins. As I move through my life, I realize more and more that this isn’t always serving a useful purpose, and that focusing on the positive outcomes is way more beneficial. I will take this lesson through life, and definitely into the classroom.

What is Bike Packing?

It’s kind of like backpacking… but on a bike. Instead of carrying everything on your back, you attach bags called panniers on the racks or directly to your bike frame. And then you ride to wherever you’re going to camp! Forest service roads, lakes, gavel trails, beaches, forests, etc. You bring everything you would for an overnight excursion or multi-night adventure. One of the best resources for figuring out bike packing is Bikepacking.com. Their beginner guides made it feel less intimidating and more like something attainable. I like that they have trip options and gear recommendations. I will definitely not be using the best gear, but its kind of fun to embark on something with what you already have. Of course I bought the bike, but everything else I already have.

To me, it seems like there is two main pathways. Bike packing, with ultra-light gear and fancy equipment. Characterized by frame bags, hammock sleeping set ups, and minimal things. And then touring, with big panniers and lots of gear. This is likely do to the distance differences. I think I’ll fall in between: touring gear and bike packing distances.

Great breakdown from this website

It feels like the perfect Vancouver Island activity. We have endless logging roads, coastal routes, mossy forests, and ferry-accessible Gulf Islands to be explored. I’ve been browsing route ideas on Ride with GPS just to see what routes exist around me. I think I prefer bikepacking.com, because of the user interface and how it breaks down each route with the tricky parts, extra info, and any photos or tips from previous riders.

I am excited to find some friends to go out with. I’m still very much in the “figuring it out” stage, but learning about it has been exciting and inspiring.