One way to avoid overextending yourself is to follow all or part of an established route and see how others have tackled it. King Alfred’s Way, which follows a 350km loop around Wessex, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Alfred the Great, is a popular bikepacking route in the UK. This will help keep your kit clean – important for personal hygiene – and also reduce the amount you need to take with you. If you’re on a multi-day ride, consider where you’ll be able to wash your kit. No matter what the weather forecast says, take one with you, just in case. Make sure you change out of any sweaty or damp kit as soon as you get to your overnight spot to avoid getting cold, and layer up with warm, dry kit to stay warm as you prepare your sleeping setup and dinner.įinally, only a fool would go bikepacking without a waterproof cycling jacket. A down or insulated jacket is a really good idea – it’s a lightweight option that offers plenty of warmth, and you can also sleep in it if it’s really chilly. In many parts of the world, temperatures tend to head south as the night falls, so taking some extra, warm layers is always a good idea. While bikepacking is typically focused on travelling light, making sure you have the right cycling kit for the conditions you’re likely to encounter is vital.īeyond your basic cycling kit and casual clothing for off the bike, warm layers and waterproofs are important considerations for most bikepacking trips. Warm layers and waterproofsĪn insulated jacket – down or synthetic – is a real must for many bikepacking trips, no matter what the season. Some of the best cycling apps offer tracking functionality so your loved ones can make sure you’re safe. It’s always a good idea to let someone know where you’re heading and when you anticipate being back, especially if you’re riding solo. Without access to electricity overnight, it’s a good idea to take a fully charged battery pack with you, so you can recharge items such as your phone, GPS device, lights and camera. Take off your shorts as soon as you finish riding and switch into clean, casual clothing, then use a clean pair of shorts the next day or clean and dry the original pair if you can. It’s also really important to try to keep yourself clean and dry ‘down there’ to avoid any skin irritation or saddle sores. Sunscreen and insect repellent are both small but very important additions to your kit list that you shouldn’t overlook, as well as lip balm (SPF options come in handy) for sunnier, windier conditions. A travel-size tube of toothpaste and small toothbrush will help to keep your teeth happy after the inevitable sugary energy snacks. Never underestimate the importance of basic hygiene – even on a bikepacking trip. Sun cream, dental care, bug repellent, contact lenses and feminine hygiene products are all things you may consider taking on your trip. While compiling the ultimate bikepacking kit list often comes with experience, if you’re preparing for an overnighter – perhaps your first introduction to bikepacking – here are the essentials. What to take on a bikepacking trip depends on where you’re riding (how far you’ll be from civilisation), for how long (an overnighter or round-the-world trip?) and your personal inclination to rough it (can you take the bare minimum or do you need a few luxuries?). Often, bikepackers will be aiming to travel as light as possible: think bivvy bag and wild camping in place of the tourer’s tent on a campsite or ‘credit card touring’ between B&Bs (although there’s nothing to stop you from carrying a tent and using a campsite, or staying in B&Bs, while bikepacking). In contrast, bikepacking uses bags designed to lash to your bike, which might be a mountain bike or a gravel bike, opening up off-road adventures rather than having to stick to tarmac, although you can also bikepack on a standard road bike. Cycle touring traditionally involves packing your belongings into pannier bags mounted to a rack.
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