An introduction to bikepacking – three ways to try it and what to pack Will this be the summer you go for a lightweight bike adventure? cycling
There are three types of bikepackers: those who go light and fast, those who go fully loaded and those who fill the mid space in between the two ends of the spectrum. With help from our friends at Decathlon we aim to help you find out exactly what kind of bikepacker you are and give you some hints and tips on packing for the journey.In its simplest terms it is going on a ride carrying everything you need to survive overnight and be totally self-sufficient.
Elsewhere on the Riverside is a wide flared bar which is size specific, and a Shimano Deore XT dynamo hub with a USB charging port built into the stem to charge lights, GPS devices or phones as you ride, perfect for overnighters. Light and fast sleeping options are usually a really lightweight sleeping bag and a bivvy. Some riders will carry a thin inflatable mattress too for comfort and some might forgo the bivvy and opt for a minimalist tent or tarp rigged up with a pole or your bike wheels.If light and fast doesn’t sound like a whole bundle of laughs to you, you’ll probably find you fall into the middle ground of bikepackers who are happy to carry a little more and make life on the road more comfortable.
It's tough to get into a bar bag when you are on the move so don’t be tempted to stuff extra layers in there too unless you can be sure you don’t want them in a hurry. In fairly good weather, spare clothes could consist of: an extra pair of Lycra shorts, a fresh pair of socks, a waterproof, a down jacket and a pair of thermal leggings to sleep in at night – it’ll be worth it to get out of that Lycra!Moving on from here, depending on the length of your trip, the weight of your tent and the amount of extra gear you want or need to take, you could fall into the category of heavyweight bikepacker.
You’ll need the right pedals and shoes too. Use shoes that you know you are comfy in and pedals that you are used to. If you have room you might want to pack a small pair of lightweight shoes or flip flops; you could easily strap flip flops to the outside of your bag so you can get out of your riding shoes at night when you are at camp.
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