I used to sail... An old trick on a sailboat is to put a piece of tape on everything. Once you use it, take the tape off. Then after six,nine months or a year of "use" or "needing" it, if the tape wasn't removed you got rid of it. Food, water, medical supplies and a couple of other things were exempt.
The "don't chase mileage" point is a great one. Have definitely made that mistake before, and when crunched for time, a flexible approach is so much more enjoyable. You can still challenge yourself as much as you want!
Great advice, thank you. May I add to the bit about the bike? If you're starting out, the best bike to use is the one you already have. If you get bitten by the bug and want to expand on your travels, then look at a bike for purpose. Stay safe everyone.
Thanks for the video. About sticking to your distance-time objective as a piece of advice, it is super important. I was an amateur and actually met my 60 day itinerary across Canada. I had a 100 mile average goal per day and was .4 miles off at the end. My goal was to ''cross Canada'' until I met a guy who got me to change my ''life goal''. Unless you are there for the physical and distance records, personal or world, biking is about connecting with nature, the surroundings and the people we meet. # 3 is great advice.
The living off of your bike for a week at home is the BEST advice / tip anyone could hear and learn from; I've been doing this for 27 years or so and can't tell you how many times I wished I'd had "this"...or regretted bringing "that". Things you wouldn't even think of naturally seem obvious after a multi-day ride.
Great advice. My favourite is number four. Planning can only go so far.We’re on a two months tour in Colombia. You can’t plan stuff you’ve never even seen before. Just have faith that everything you need can be found. The locals need it too.
Good Solid advice. And worth watching. Still, whoever you are, you’re gonna make mistakes no matter how many youtube videos you watch. Thats how you learn. It’s inevitable. It doesn’t matter how much we prepare. Mistakes will be made, cause everyone is different. Every tour is different. And things will happen. Thats part of the fun. Hope for the best. Expect the worst. The rest is out of our control.
my worst mistake early on in my life of bicycle travel was that i was just not fit enough. i have a mate who i often go on trips with, and i would always hit the wall long before he was ready to finish riding. this led me to join a cycling club to get fitter. and it was actually one of the best things i have done in years.
Great advice! Always pack light, right bike for right terrain! Balance your bike by spreading the load! The test ride/test living on your gear advice is genius and I’ll follow in the future.
I wholeheartedly agree with all your points. Another lesson I have learned travelling for overseas tours through Europe and Asia from Australia over the past 3 years, is that if you're moving from place to place and there is a ferry line route, do that! Don't fly, don't try a longer road route - what a joy it is to cycle on and off a ferry with your bike. And the ride itself generally gives you a reasonable rest time - sometimes 1 hour, sometimes overnight. It is good training as well to learn how bikes are stored in the vehicle hold.
Another thing which I have been thinking about on recent tours is the importance of oral hygiene whilst touring... The reason for this is that often you might be touring in conditions where temperatures change hot/cold rapidly, there's often winds/pollens/particulates to contend with cycling along the road/trails, you'll be eating and drinking regularly in the open, and you may be working against your own fatigue and weakened immune system. I've found that I end up with an upper respiratory tract infection for a couple of days which is a bit of setback... Solutions: 1) carry a small bottle of mouthwash in your frame bag - a quick swish after a meal/sugary drink keeps things fresh 2) a neoprene face mask with filters which is tolerable to wear whilst cycling is a good idea. A good idea as well as you stop through shops and towns and interact with other people.
I still subscribe to & promote the idea that "the best bike you have is the one you have in the garage/shed already". It is a terrible shame to NOT start an adventure due to lack of the "right" equipment. My advice to someone starting out would be, to design your trip around the bike & the camping gear you have available. Your advice about daily mileage is spot on. I rode for nine days an average of almost 80km with only one rest day & learned the hard way. I was bound by the need to make a ferry crossing at the end of day two, & a pre-booked accomodation at the end of day 5. The next trip I do I will not book anything. Freedom/adaptability is the #1 payoff of bicycle touring, especially when you incorporate wild camping into the mix. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am already thinking about my next big trip now....
Overpacking for sure. We met up with a guy at camp who was 250 miles into a 1000 mile trip and was already days behind his plans. Then he pulled out a full size kitchen skillet and spatula to cook his meal and covered the picnic table with stuff to fix his meal. That explained alot. At least he was being flexible on his plan.
I've had unicycling bike-packing kids in my shop. I've had uni students cycle 80km from my shop down to the south coast on 35yo 3 speed Raleighs with a cane basket. Don't be limited by your bike. My and I biked around the world in '97/'98 on 26" mtbs.
Thank you for this info. About to leave on my first solo cross country trip myself. Your video was definitely one of the more useful ones out. Very much appreciated.
@@moeswrench I have never gone on a bike packing trip. In my mind I have a plan that I’d ride to a friend’s house and make memorable stops a long the way, at least in the US. I do have plans to cycle into Mexico next year, though.
Like the idea of living off your bike-setup at home for a week. I will tell that to friends of mine that carrying too much. I'm use to go light. I love to plan my trip in detail..but never stay in plan! I stop every 40 kms to do a good stretching and really drink water, on the ride is just like sips of water.Thanks for this video Phil.
I have been bike touring for going on 38 years, In #1 you state that a mountain bike is not good for touring, I disagree. I did my first two tours in 1982 and 83 on a road bike. After that I started riding a mountain bike, I can go more places a road bike cannot,. I use street tires with knobbys on the rounded edges of the tire to go on dirt roads and trails as I can. The rest of your advice is sound, I too see so many people touring with so much gear, I carry no more than 12 lbs of actual gear. And getting in shape for a tour is best. I tour 8-9 months a year and the 3-4 months I am not touring I live in Tucson AZ in the winter months . I ride everyday unloaded for the first 3/4s then about a week before I leave again I load my bike with what I plan to take and ride loaded so when my leave date comes I am back in shape for the tour. I ride different distances each day, usually just mornings when its the coolest out then stop midday and camp then do day hikes to explore the countryside. Personally the last two years I have been riding a Fat bike with 27 gears. It can go anywhere I choose. It too though has street treads with knobby side walls so when I hit dirt, snow in the mountains in the spring, sandy areas, etc I can ride. I ride long tours being I ride 240 to 300 days a year. I used to work summers and that was my off tour times. Now at 64 I am retired so I ride February to November and hang out here in Tucson Dec and January. Happy trail and may the wind always be at your back!
I have also cycle toured world wide for about 4 decades. I would never recommend just a "road bike", I would however recommend a proper touring bike. They are not the same animal. A touring bike is specifically designed for long-distance cycle touring. My latest touring bike is a steel 1993 Miyata 1000. It travels beautifully on paved, gravel, and loose terrain. Besides, you can make much better distance on the road than you can on a mountain bike. A mountain bike is best for mountain biking, not best for the long-distance run. Surly, Salsa, Cannondale, Bombtrack have great touring bike in the stable. Also, bike packing requires a much different animal, not a touring bike. Although, a touring bike can take you into some awesome gravel roads in the backcountry. Thanks Phil. Boneshaker Pannier Company, Canada
Good tips! Especially the stuff about making it into a "casual" trip instead of making it into an endurance race. Im so happy i live in Norway, where i can camp almost anywhere that is not someones backyard. Many people think Norway is too expensive to go for a vacation, but the nature here is probably the only thing worth coming here for (IMO), and as you can wildcamp instead of paying for camp-sites, Norway can be a relatively cheap bikepacking vacation compared to many other places in Europe where wildcamping is not allowed.
Norway is most definitely on my bucket list of places I'd like to ride. I was supposed to spend 3 months in Europe this summer but those plans were quickly canceled unfortunately. Maybe next year. The availability of the wild camping is one of the big reasons as to why I'd like to go. Cheers and thanks for watching!
@@PhilSnider scotland is wild camp friendly . England and wales its illegal except for certain places like dartmoor , but on the whole if you are respectful, thanks to the law inversely you can camp anywhere within reason and commonsense and a bit of stealth :)
@@Foxtrottangoabc One reason why the NC500 was planned for this year until the pandemic :( With, ofc, many side trips especially to Jura and Islay for the distilleries, and possibly another side trip to the Orkneys to visit Skara Brae and the Ness of Brodgar. Phil: My thoughts, coming from backpacking/hitch-hiking, are "Travel light, travel fast, travel far" (being the idle bugger that I am); and also, tying in with my above comment, that "we may never pass this way again." So TAKE the time to admire the scenery, smell the flowers, talk to the locals and dangle your hot, sweaty feet in a stream while you have the opportunity. After all - we may never pass this way again.
Thanks for the advice! I'm happy you called out that any bike is the best bike. It's amazing how often I see that. I live along the Great Divide route and my dream is to do the entire thing. I'm starting small with my mountain bike with short weekend trips. This is a case of practicing with what I have so I know what to upgrade to for when I'm ready for longer trips.
Excellent advice, especially that of not being conditioned too much by the daily mileage goal. On the other hand, regarding nutrition I believe that it is necessary to eat and drink regularly even if the body does not require it
This is probably relevant for people who can afford having the kind of bikes and gear they want. In some places, you can't even by stuff online. As a bike traveler, I travelled with the wrong kind of bike, with too much weight, with bad gear, no waterproof tent, etc. But the outcome of those experiences was always fantastic. You spend the night shivering in your tent in some snowy pass (yes this is extreme), next day, you pack up your stuff and hit the road. I have a friend who has been on the road for more than four years now, with no money, a broken bike but a solid determination.
Totally agreed for all especially No. 3. I made the same mistake for my trip 2 years back from the first few days (Lucky) and realized this point. Have to enjoy the trip for the rest of the days from there on, rather than just rush for the distance and missed what or person have passed by without noticing it !
For a decade? Was that continuous or did you have to stop for a few weeks or months to pay for the trip? I'm very curious as to how you did this as far as the money goes. Right now I'm exploring options that will allow me to work while traveling. Thanks for watching!
@@PhilSnider I worked seasonally in NY and Florida and would travel seasonally with the weather. When possible I would camp and commute to work, sometimes even camping at the airports that I worked at..... it's a very long decade to cover. Lol But it ends well! I FELL IN LOVE AND AM LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER!👍😊
@@tomporter7185 Thats amazing! Right now I work the winters in Colorado and take the summers off to ride the bike. Instead of snowboarding in my off time I'm focusing on growing the channel and working on other online income streams to work remotely while traveling on the bike. Glad to hear it ended well with love and life. Cheers!!
Going to do the ViaRhôna in France this summer. The advice of the kilometer is great. We only have 10 days to do it but if we can't cover each day 100km but enjoy some trails or a great view, it will be as rewarding if not even more than just pedaling down to the Mediterranean.
Good advice but I will say that for a weekend trip, the bike you have will have to do. I also like the idea of living out of your bike for a week at home. That’s a good one that I never thought about.
Yeah for a quick, short mileage, weekend trip virtually any bike will do. The live off your bike for a week at home is probably my favorite tip to give those that are new. Thanks for watching and the feedback
It gets really expensive if you want a good bike and good gear, and so i think "the bike you currently own" is usually good enough for "casual" bikepackers who just want to try it out. People probably have some idea about what their bike is good for, and as long as the trip is planned accordingly, even riding a bike with 20-25kg extra weight is "doable". But when i tried this, my planned week long adventure turned into an overnighter, and gave me a very convincing lesson in the awesomeness of ultralight gear, lol..! It is "ok" for flat grounds, but you gotta *really* want to go bikepacking if you take such loads on a road that have a lot of short but tiresome "ups", and "downs" that only lets you rest for 2 seconds before you have to pedal like a madman to get up the next tiny "hill", over and over and over and over! "Yes", that is from my one and only experience with such weight on a bike. Now i got a Duplex tent and some other ultralight gear, but still plan to pack around 11kg + food and water for a bikepacking trip this summer. This includes over 4kg of "unnecessary items", but i think i would appreciate some extra "versatility" to see how long i can enjoy my trip... I believe this weight will be within acceptable limits for my capability and needs, but will try it out for an overnighter first, as soon as the snow goes away.
At last an honest vid about bikepacking, I've watched a fair amount of videos on YT and a lot of them are too optimistic: "just take your bike and go out there" and stuff like that... You have to be prepared, no 1 is already a solid piece of advice. Learn to work on your bike! Thanks for the interesting video
The stopping to enjoy is most important. That is why I would go by myself or with someone who travels the same. Many times on leisure rides with friends they are out there churning miles and I get sucked into that.
tip always buy waterproof bags tip 2 after everything on the bike food wateretc make sure you still have a few liters of space. tip 3 dont carry backpack tip 4 pack bike by section every bag has one subject ie if you crab rAIN GEAR OR TOOLS YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS EASY TO FIND 5 LESS IS MORE
@@Bikepacking Oh wow! I thought it would be a lot heavier than that! I was carrying an extra prosthetic leg with me on my trips that weighs about the same but I wasn't using it as often as I thought I would so I sent it home. It was 6lbs, or 2.7kg, I was happy to loose that extra weight
Mistake #2... the beauty of touring on an electric bike is that you can throw #2 out the window. Carrying a wide variety of gear allows me to go longer, in a wider variety of terrains and climates without stopping. Just because it's July or August doesn't mean that you won't find yourself in 30 and 40 degree temps wearing everything you carry. I have a wool long-john base layer with me year-round and have worn them in the most unusual places and times of the year. Go lite... if you have to. I carry silicone martini glasses at all times. I have used then a few times, here-n-there and one very memorable time when a new friend walked up on my campsite one hot day on Mt. Rainier as I splashed an olive. "Hi there, I'm Brian.... like a martini?" She did. You brushed over knowing the bike with a full load. I think that is the best advice you can give anyone. It's a whole new set of physics carrying more mass, and the more you load the more you need to practice carrying it. The only time I ride my bike stripped down now is day rides out of base camps and always marvel at how lite she seems. Rule #3. I agree, but for different reasons. Sometimes people start to think more about the milage they have racked up rather than the country they are riding through, bragging rights. That also goes for the speed that you move while riding. The faster you go the less you actually see. Apples-n-oranges but I can cover 100 miles (on my ebike) in 10 hours usually with a full load (approx 200 lbs.) and not feel depleted at the end. But think of everything you have missed in that distance. This is my favorite kind of riding. - ruclips.net/video/3ZQUfrqsicY/видео.html I prefer to ride from base-camp to base-camp and do day rides until it's time to move on. Rule #5 - One time I hit the ground while on a short day ride out of base-camp, single track, it wasn't bad but I knew I was going to feel it the next day. Rather than break camp and move on I stayed... after 5 days, and 1/2 my Demon Strength Battle Balm, I was ready to start riding with a full load again. It was a little worse than I had 1st though. Having all the time you want is the best luxury to have while bike touring. Ride for yourself, not for others. This is my primary gear: Kitchen - photos.app.goo.gl/WnqJj7b6UxGNSvjg8 Bedroom/Bathroom - photos.app.goo.gl/Psj6sHpoiy7jq3JY7 Primary Sleep System - photos.app.goo.gl/s4ZwacKEVL7obUGv6 Garage - photos.app.goo.gl/wtBkagW4fbfQxnJn7
Yes all good points and I’ve did many of those early mistakes you mentioned. Lately I am trying to reduce my pack load in 4 panniers and rear top rack to a more easily managed load on a gravel bike with seat bag, frame bag, handle bar bag, front fork stuff sacks and 2 rear panniers. I always did use everything I bought along on the heavy load over a 5-6 week tour but now to make do with probably 20-25 litres less gear is hard.
Phil, I'm so glad that I found your channel. You really lay it out for us. I'm excited about trying bikepacking. It seems like a perfect mix of two things that I really enjoy. And I appreciate all the good sound advice. Thanks, Trakker
Both times I've gone touring I've broken my back wheel. On my first tour down the coast of Queensland it was because the chain got stuck between the cassette and spokes and three days later the spokes snapped(last day of the tour as well, not the worst possible time, took a good half hour to walk it to a bike shop and then another half to get on my way) the other was on my second tour in Taiwan when I'd managed to actually crack the wheel from riding it too hard and heavy(I'm not a skinny or short guy). My eventual solution was to order a wheel from a tandem bike and use it. Heavier by a long margin but absolutely solid for what abuse I put it through. Good list overall, stay safe out there on the roads.
@@PhilSnider Its okay, it doesn't fit easily on the bike so it has to be really tight or it slips and bit and starts rubbing on the frame. Otherwise it's pretty good, I use it on my touring bike when I commute to work. Next time I do a tour(probably next year, maybe 2021) I'll see how it goes in the wild.
Hi, I am a relative newcomer to (only shorter trip) Bikepacking, I will be uploading a video about what I take soon, but I do genuinely like the idea of 'Living off the bike' for a few days prior to any trip, just to see how I get along with my supplies. I will definitely give that a go! I concede I am no minimalist when packing, but love to film & photograph too, so tripods spare batteries & cameras are another bag in themselves! Enjoyed the tips, have just subscribed, regards Adam 😀
as a poor adventure from 2000 until now, i use 26" mtb with hiten steel rigid frame with rigid fork and straight bar, its no problem until now, my ride and my bike is my adventure
@@PhilSnider No problem matey. Just touring wisdom of the ages, but I realise it's no longer fashionable. I do agree with you about loading too much stuff and focussing on miles though but.
I've been wanting to do a real long tour, and have been researching it a bit. I found your video and tips very helpful! I especially like the idea of trying to live off the gear at home.
That has always "amazed" me about some people on vacation... most have a bigger agenda than a work schedule. The heck with relaxation. And I wasn't thinking heck.
Decent advice. I take a USB rechargeable coffee grinder, along with a battery powered milk frother should I have milk...... This along with a Wacaco Nanopresso 😂 and a trangia 25-5 cook set. Just certain things I refuse to go without. My bike ? A Thorn Nomad MKII Rohloff is not light, as neither am ( 240lbs ) I so again, good advice. Some crazy steeds I have seen doing mixed surface tours ill suited for the job at hand. With some good and bad advice around bikes and sadly, most bike shops do not hold a massive stock of Touring Bikes. I use a BoB iBex trailer. Kitchen at the front on panniers Agree. Don’t rush. Enjoy the ride.
A USB rechargeable coffee grinder?! Now I've heard it all lol... we all have a few things that we won't go without, I think mine might be the lightweight camping chair that I have now added to my gear. Cheers and happy pedaling!
Thanks for the great video. The right bike is of great importance but I think you missed the point of "the bike you already own". The advice is to just get out and learn what you need. Also you don't need to buy a new bike so it is more likely that you will ride at all...
im a hiker from philippines,. also own a mountain bike for more than 10 years and now i'm interested about bikepacking, since i have the hiking gears i oredered a sunpeed kepler bike,. i hope that bike is good.
Getting into bikepacking this year & these are super helpful! Someone else may have asked this & I missed it but...With regards to food storage while camping, you obviously aren't using a bear canister so, are you hanging a food bag or some other method?
I've been watching Iohan bikepack to South America, and am inspired by his adventures, and now want to do it, but I guess my 6" travel full suspension rig isn't going to cut it. I don't think my low back can tolerate a hardtail, is a light full suspension doable?
I've never ridden a full sus bike but I have come across people on the trail riding them so yeah, Its doable. I think you just have to be a bit more creative on how you pack the bike. Also Iohan makes some amazing videos! I'm definitely jealous of all the adventures he does.
like your tips. will be doing tour probably this coming spring last one was 47yrs ago. Lots have changed since riding my schwin sports tour across US Looking at buying gravel bike,cannot believe how much they go for. any suggestions?
Yeah the technology has changed quite a bit in the last few years. I cant really make any recommendations without knowing thing like, where you plan to ride, terrain, your abilities, how much gear do you want to carry, ect.
Currently in China,, but am planning to do at least a 1500k across japan in about a year from now. Will be traveling on roads but also gravel and mountain passes. Would you recommend a touring bike ovsr a MTB or viceversa?
That really depends on your personal preferences. What I did when I was looking for a bike like the one I have was I made a list of all the features I wanted the bike to have, and the Kona Sutra LTD fit the bill.
Thanks Phil! Would an endurance road bike w/wider tyre like the Canyon Endurace AL Disc 7.0 28mm tyre be a good choice for the Transcontinental? Thanks for the feedback
I have a 32lb chro-mo schwinn traveler on its original 27x1 1/4 tires. I would appreciate someones honest advice on wether i should use it for bike-packing or not?
Number 6: ask to a bikeshop to learn you some tips and tricks, if something goes wrong with your bike (change wheels, adjust/change your brake system... ) sometimes it happens when your are alone, far from all.. :)
OR get stuff that needs NO adjusting. Like a disc Rohloff14 and on the front a SA XL-FDD dyno drum brake. They have 17,000 and 26,000 miles with zero problems. Neither will break in an airport or crash. My disc brake is a cable TRP Spyre. Stops on a dime.
I managed to convince my parents to let me bike pack across my home state of Georgia. I am having trouble finding a good route. I have a route of google maps but it’s doesn’t look to good (13th street, Columbus to Fort Screven, tybee island
Riding across Georgia would be awesome, I hear there are some great trails out there. I'm pretty sure there is a trans Georgia route that is mostly gravel/dirt roads, you might want to take a look at that
@@PhilSnider I haven't seen anything about a trans Georgia route but im using kumoot to pick my route from 13th street Columbus GA to Fort Screven, Tybee island GA
Maybe don't make a bikepacking race you first trip like I did, but if racing is your thing, bring a way more relaxed attitude to the competition. Finishing legally & healthy should be the main goal.
Cool video I wanna cycle across australia I really like the idea of living off the bike at home to see what you really need the only concern I have is not having anuff water in that middle of know where in the out back australia I have know Idea how much to carry I'm thinking of getting to panniers on the back and Putting to 6 liter water bags each side to balance the bike and a few bottles on the bike so around 12 to 15 liters but I have no idea and it's pretty scary but I think I just need to get started all it will never happen
Yeah that would be a little sketchy out there in the outback. I nearly ran out of water once while I was on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route this summer. When do you plan on doing the outback? That is definitely on my list of places to ride
Lots of good advice online about water. I am also planning a ride across Oz, there are roadhouses every 100km or so. Google maps is great as is wikicamps.au tohelp plan.
A mountain bike is a good all around ride. I've used a $350. Motobecane from bikesdirect.con with front and rear Ortlieb panniers for over 21,000 miles both on road and off road including thru rides on the Continental Divide and Baja Divide routes. All those high priced bikes are just for status seeking.
Sorry mate, but I'm going to have to agree with the OP here. The bike you have, especially if MTB rather than road, *WILL* do the job - but a bike that is specifically designed and built for a purpose *WILL* do that job better. It's up to you whether the extra 'performance' is worth the price or not.
be sure to checkout bikepacking.com there are tons of good trails listed there. My personal favorites are the Seattle to Portland bike route, Tucson, AZ has lots of great bike paths, and my personal favorite trail is the New Mexico section of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
I've read about 50 comments, but no one talked about Food! We eat certain types of foods when at home. But then turn into Birds, when on a tour. Nuts, fruit, or junk food. It seems to me that while riding your bicycle for 4-6+ hours per day. You NEED to eat high protein and high carbs; and Gatorade to keep your body full of electrolytes. Just water will flush out all your electrolytes, not good. All the calories that are being burned all day every day. Eating like a bird isn't going to cut it. You will Bonk. Bonking is the worst! Cooking takes up too much space, time, clean up and weight. However...just eating snack type food isn't good either. I've watched TONS of bicycle touring videos. And food isn't really talked about in depth. And if it is, its tortillas, peanut butter, nuts/trail mix, fruit, etc. I don't eat like that at home, why would I deprive myself eating like this while burning up major calories? Out of all the videos that I watched, nothing has been given in advice that is efficient, healthy, easy to prepare and clean up, and fulfilling...Taste great.
The bike you have IS the best one, you don't need all the best gear. I first went out, just me my bike, a backpack with a repair kit, a hammock, food, and about two liters of water. Went out, short ride. Sleep outside, and chilled in the morning. Most importantly, it was mostly uphill one day one so on day two I could have turned back even if i was exhausted. Kept going a little more and headed back the same day, got home after nightfall. Thrilling first experience, and i was hooked. After that, yeah i started getting more gear but only AS the need for it emerged. Didn't even need any of that as long as I was sure i had snacks for the first day and that I could make it to a hotel or sth like that. Spend the night, eat up, go a little touristy and head back.
what if the only bike you have is an old BMX bike from when you were 13 and 4 feet tall? Taking that bikepacking is going to be miserable and most likely loose interest.
Pretty sound advice. However, I'd like to differ on the opinion of a-specific-bike-for-a-particular-trip part. Cannot happen at all times. Agreed every trip is different and not one bike can fit all those, but when you're starting out, or are low on budget but high on adventure, you gotta stick onto what you got! Most important part that I liked (the mistake I also did) was to keep aside how much ground to cover in a day and focus on enjoying the scenery. And of course, the "burn out" part. More often than not, I end up with that🥴😄
I used to sail... An old trick on a sailboat is to put a piece of tape on everything. Once you use it, take the tape off. Then after six,nine months or a year of "use" or "needing" it, if the tape wasn't removed you got rid of it.
Food, water, medical supplies and a couple of other things were exempt.
That's an excellent idea! I'm definitely going to do that for a few items
The "don't chase mileage" point is a great one. Have definitely made that mistake before, and when crunched for time, a flexible approach is so much more enjoyable. You can still challenge yourself as much as you want!
Great advice, thank you. May I add to the bit about the bike? If you're starting out, the best bike to use is the one you already have. If you get bitten by the bug and want to expand on your travels, then look at a bike for purpose. Stay safe everyone.
Thanks for the video. About sticking to your distance-time objective as a piece of advice, it is super important. I was an amateur and actually met my 60 day itinerary across Canada. I had a 100 mile average goal per day and was .4 miles off at the end. My goal was to ''cross Canada'' until I met a guy who got me to change my ''life goal''. Unless you are there for the physical and distance records, personal or world, biking is about connecting with nature, the surroundings and the people we meet. # 3 is great advice.
The living off of your bike for a week at home is the BEST advice / tip anyone could hear and learn from; I've been doing this for 27 years or so and can't tell you how many times I wished I'd had "this"...or regretted bringing "that". Things you wouldn't even think of naturally seem obvious after a multi-day ride.
Great advice. My favourite is number four. Planning can only go so far.We’re on a two months tour in Colombia. You can’t plan stuff you’ve never even seen before. Just have faith that everything you need can be found. The locals need it too.
You've given the best advice I've ever heard. Thoughtful, comprehensive and prescient.
Good Solid advice. And worth watching. Still, whoever you are, you’re gonna make mistakes no matter how many youtube videos you watch. Thats how you learn. It’s inevitable. It doesn’t matter how much we prepare. Mistakes will be made, cause everyone is different. Every tour is different. And things will happen. Thats part of the fun. Hope for the best. Expect the worst. The rest is out of our control.
I agree 100%
my worst mistake early on in my life of bicycle travel was that i was just not fit enough. i have a mate who i often go on trips with, and i would always hit the wall long before he was ready to finish riding. this led me to join a cycling club to get fitter. and it was actually one of the best things i have done in years.
That's one way to realize how out of shape you are lol. How long was it before you could keep up with your friend after joining the cycling club?
Great advice! Always pack light, right bike for right terrain! Balance your bike by spreading the load! The test ride/test living on your gear advice is genius and I’ll follow in the future.
I wholeheartedly agree with all your points.
Another lesson I have learned travelling for overseas tours through Europe and Asia from Australia over the past 3 years, is that if you're moving from place to place and there is a ferry line route, do that! Don't fly, don't try a longer road route - what a joy it is to cycle on and off a ferry with your bike. And the ride itself generally gives you a reasonable rest time - sometimes 1 hour, sometimes overnight. It is good training as well to learn how bikes are stored in the vehicle hold.
Another thing which I have been thinking about on recent tours is the importance of oral hygiene whilst touring...
The reason for this is that often you might be touring in conditions where temperatures change hot/cold rapidly, there's often winds/pollens/particulates to contend with cycling along the road/trails, you'll be eating and drinking regularly in the open, and you may be working against your own fatigue and weakened immune system. I've found that I end up with an upper respiratory tract infection for a couple of days which is a bit of setback...
Solutions:
1) carry a small bottle of mouthwash in your frame bag - a quick swish after a meal/sugary drink keeps things fresh
2) a neoprene face mask with filters which is tolerable to wear whilst cycling is a good idea. A good idea as well as you stop through shops and towns and interact with other people.
I still subscribe to & promote the idea that "the best bike you have is the one you have in the garage/shed already". It is a terrible shame to NOT start an adventure due to lack of the "right" equipment. My advice to someone starting out would be, to design your trip around the bike & the camping gear you have available.
Your advice about daily mileage is spot on. I rode for nine days an average of almost 80km with only one rest day & learned the hard way. I was bound by the need to make a ferry crossing at the end of day two, & a pre-booked accomodation at the end of day 5. The next trip I do I will not book anything.
Freedom/adaptability is the #1 payoff of bicycle touring, especially when you incorporate wild camping into the mix.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am already thinking about my next big trip now....
Overpacking for sure. We met up with a guy at camp who was 250 miles into a 1000 mile trip and was already days behind his plans. Then he pulled out a full size kitchen skillet and spatula to cook his meal and covered the picnic table with stuff to fix his meal. That explained alot. At least he was being flexible on his plan.
I've had unicycling bike-packing kids in my shop. I've had uni students cycle 80km from my shop down to the south coast on 35yo 3 speed Raleighs with a cane basket. Don't be limited by your bike. My and I biked around the world in '97/'98 on 26" mtbs.
Thank you for this info. About to leave on my first solo cross country trip myself. Your video was definitely one of the more useful ones out. Very much appreciated.
How did it go man?
@@doyourawesome4116 went fantastic. Best decision I've made.
@@moeswrench Sweet! Planning on going again, if so where?
@@doyourawesome4116 definitely again, sooner the better. Not sure to where this time.. Suggestions?
@@moeswrench I have never gone on a bike packing trip. In my mind I have a plan that I’d ride to a friend’s house and make memorable stops a long the way, at least in the US. I do have plans to cycle into Mexico next year, though.
As I’m a real novice and now 54 and going on my first weekend tour and camping I needed this advice, thank you
Glad I could help!
Like the idea of living off your bike-setup at home for a week. I will tell that to friends of mine that carrying too much. I'm use to go light. I love to plan my trip in detail..but never stay in plan! I stop every 40 kms to do a good stretching and really drink water, on the ride is just like sips of water.Thanks for this video Phil.
I have been bike touring for going on 38 years, In #1 you state that a mountain bike is not good for touring, I disagree. I did my first two tours in 1982 and 83 on a road bike. After that I started riding a mountain bike, I can go more places a road bike cannot,. I use street tires with knobbys on the rounded edges of the tire to go on dirt roads and trails as I can. The rest of your advice is sound, I too see so many people touring with so much gear, I carry no more than 12 lbs of actual gear. And getting in shape for a tour is best. I tour 8-9 months a year and the 3-4 months I am not touring I live in Tucson AZ in the winter months . I ride everyday unloaded for the first 3/4s then about a week before I leave again I load my bike with what I plan to take and ride loaded so when my leave date comes I am back in shape for the tour. I ride different distances each day, usually just mornings when its the coolest out then stop midday and camp then do day hikes to explore the countryside. Personally the last two years I have been riding a Fat bike with 27 gears. It can go anywhere I choose. It too though has street treads with knobby side walls so when I hit dirt, snow in the mountains in the spring, sandy areas, etc I can ride. I ride long tours being I ride 240 to 300 days a year. I used to work summers and that was my off tour times. Now at 64 I am retired so I ride February to November and hang out here in Tucson Dec and January. Happy trail and may the wind always be at your back!
Thank you for your input Gary!
I have also cycle toured world wide for about 4 decades. I would never recommend just a "road bike", I would however recommend a proper touring bike. They are not the same animal. A touring bike is specifically designed for long-distance cycle touring. My latest touring bike is a steel 1993 Miyata 1000. It travels beautifully on paved, gravel, and loose terrain. Besides, you can make much better distance on the road than you can on a mountain bike. A mountain bike is best for mountain biking, not best for the long-distance run. Surly, Salsa, Cannondale, Bombtrack have great touring bike in the stable. Also, bike packing requires a much different animal, not a touring bike. Although, a touring bike can take you into some awesome gravel roads in the backcountry. Thanks Phil. Boneshaker Pannier Company, Canada
Good tips! Especially the stuff about making it into a "casual" trip instead of making it into an endurance race. Im so happy i live in Norway, where i can camp almost anywhere that is not someones backyard. Many people think Norway is too expensive to go for a vacation, but the nature here is probably the only thing worth coming here for (IMO), and as you can wildcamp instead of paying for camp-sites, Norway can be a relatively cheap bikepacking vacation compared to many other places in Europe where wildcamping is not allowed.
Norway is most definitely on my bucket list of places I'd like to ride. I was supposed to spend 3 months in Europe this summer but those plans were quickly canceled unfortunately. Maybe next year. The availability of the wild camping is one of the big reasons as to why I'd like to go. Cheers and thanks for watching!
@@PhilSnider scotland is wild camp friendly . England and wales its illegal except for certain places like dartmoor , but on the whole if you are respectful, thanks to the law inversely you can camp anywhere within reason and commonsense and a bit of stealth :)
@@Foxtrottangoabc One reason why the NC500 was planned for this year until the pandemic :(
With, ofc, many side trips especially to Jura and Islay for the distilleries, and possibly another side trip to the Orkneys to visit Skara Brae and the Ness of Brodgar.
Phil: My thoughts, coming from backpacking/hitch-hiking, are "Travel light, travel fast, travel far" (being the idle bugger that I am); and also, tying in with my above comment, that "we may never pass this way again."
So TAKE the time to admire the scenery, smell the flowers, talk to the locals and dangle your hot, sweaty feet in a stream while you have the opportunity.
After all - we may never pass this way again.
this advice is so underrated! I agree with every single point.
Thanks for the advice! I'm happy you called out that any bike is the best bike. It's amazing how often I see that. I live along the Great Divide route and my dream is to do the entire thing. I'm starting small with my mountain bike with short weekend trips. This is a case of practicing with what I have so I know what to upgrade to for when I'm ready for longer trips.
Excellent advice, especially that of not being conditioned too much by the daily mileage goal. On the other hand, regarding nutrition I believe that it is necessary to eat and drink regularly even if the body does not require it
Agreed, especially regarding thirst. By the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated.
Great advice! Got my first bikepacking trip across Missouri on the Katy trail this coming spring. Thanks for the video.
This is probably relevant for people who can afford having the kind of bikes and gear they want. In some places, you can't even by stuff online. As a bike traveler, I travelled with the wrong kind of bike, with too much weight, with bad gear, no waterproof tent, etc. But the outcome of those experiences was always fantastic. You spend the night shivering in your tent in some snowy pass (yes this is extreme), next day, you pack up your stuff and hit the road. I have a friend who has been on the road for more than four years now, with no money, a broken bike but a solid determination.
Perfect advice as I plan my first trip.
Totally agreed for all especially No. 3. I made the same mistake for my trip 2 years back from the first few days (Lucky) and realized this point. Have to enjoy the trip for the rest of the days from there on, rather than just rush for the distance and missed what or person have passed by without noticing it !
Lots of sound advice thanks. It should be about the adventure, getting out there and enjoying yourself.
You're 100% right!
I bike toured for a decade on a mountain biked. It ROCKED!!!
For a decade? Was that continuous or did you have to stop for a few weeks or months to pay for the trip? I'm very curious as to how you did this as far as the money goes. Right now I'm exploring options that will allow me to work while traveling. Thanks for watching!
@@PhilSnider I worked seasonally in NY and Florida and would travel seasonally with the weather. When possible I would camp and commute to work, sometimes even camping at the airports that I worked at..... it's a very long decade to cover. Lol But it ends well! I FELL IN LOVE AND AM LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER!👍😊
@@tomporter7185 Thats amazing! Right now I work the winters in Colorado and take the summers off to ride the bike. Instead of snowboarding in my off time I'm focusing on growing the channel and working on other online income streams to work remotely while traveling on the bike. Glad to hear it ended well with love and life. Cheers!!
Going to do the ViaRhôna in France this summer. The advice of the kilometer is great. We only have 10 days to do it but if we can't cover each day 100km but enjoy some trails or a great view, it will be as rewarding if not even more than just pedaling down to the Mediterranean.
Good advice but I will say that for a weekend trip, the bike you have will have to do.
I also like the idea of living out of your bike for a week at home. That’s a good one that I never thought about.
Yeah for a quick, short mileage, weekend trip virtually any bike will do. The live off your bike for a week at home is probably my favorite tip to give those that are new. Thanks for watching and the feedback
Hey Phil, super insightful comments, thanks for making this.
It gets really expensive if you want a good bike and good gear, and so i think "the bike you currently own" is usually good enough for "casual" bikepackers who just want to try it out. People probably have some idea about what their bike is good for, and as long as the trip is planned accordingly, even riding a bike with 20-25kg extra weight is "doable". But when i tried this, my planned week long adventure turned into an overnighter, and gave me a very convincing lesson in the awesomeness of ultralight gear, lol..! It is "ok" for flat grounds, but you gotta *really* want to go bikepacking if you take such loads on a road that have a lot of short but tiresome "ups", and "downs" that only lets you rest for 2 seconds before you have to pedal like a madman to get up the next tiny "hill", over and over and over and over! "Yes", that is from my one and only experience with such weight on a bike. Now i got a Duplex tent and some other ultralight gear, but still plan to pack around 11kg + food and water for a bikepacking trip this summer. This includes over 4kg of "unnecessary items", but i think i would appreciate some extra "versatility" to see how long i can enjoy my trip... I believe this weight will be within acceptable limits for my capability and needs, but will try it out for an overnighter first, as soon as the snow goes away.
At last an honest vid about bikepacking, I've watched a fair amount of videos on YT and a lot of them are too optimistic: "just take your bike and go out there" and stuff like that... You have to be prepared, no 1 is already a solid piece of advice. Learn to work on your bike! Thanks for the interesting video
The stopping to enjoy is most important. That is why I would go by myself or with someone who travels the same. Many times on leisure rides with friends they are out there churning miles and I get sucked into that.
Awsome video! Have you made a video on your bike bags? You've got an awesome setup and I want details!
tip always buy waterproof bags tip 2 after everything on the bike food wateretc make sure you still have a few liters of space. tip 3 dont carry backpack tip 4 pack bike by section every bag has one subject ie if you crab rAIN GEAR OR TOOLS YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS EASY TO FIND 5 LESS IS MORE
I'm taking notes :)
@@PhilSnider yeah I decided no packraft lol
I think you'll be happier with hat decision, how much does it weigh?
@@PhilSnider it not bad like 2.4 kgs
@@Bikepacking Oh wow! I thought it would be a lot heavier than that! I was carrying an extra prosthetic leg with me on my trips that weighs about the same but I wasn't using it as often as I thought I would so I sent it home. It was 6lbs, or 2.7kg, I was happy to loose that extra weight
Mistake #2... the beauty of touring on an electric bike is that you can throw #2 out the window. Carrying a wide variety of gear allows me to go longer, in a wider variety of terrains and climates without stopping. Just because it's July or August doesn't mean that you won't find yourself in 30 and 40 degree temps wearing everything you carry. I have a wool long-john base layer with me year-round and have worn them in the most unusual places and times of the year. Go lite... if you have to. I carry silicone martini glasses at all times. I have used then a few times, here-n-there and one very memorable time when a new friend walked up on my campsite one hot day on Mt. Rainier as I splashed an olive. "Hi there, I'm Brian.... like a martini?" She did.
You brushed over knowing the bike with a full load. I think that is the best advice you can give anyone. It's a whole new set of physics carrying more mass, and the more you load the more you need to practice carrying it. The only time I ride my bike stripped down now is day rides out of base camps and always marvel at how lite she seems.
Rule #3. I agree, but for different reasons. Sometimes people start to think more about the milage they have racked up rather than the country they are riding through, bragging rights. That also goes for the speed that you move while riding. The faster you go the less you actually see. Apples-n-oranges but I can cover 100 miles (on my ebike) in 10 hours usually with a full load (approx 200 lbs.) and not feel depleted at the end. But think of everything you have missed in that distance. This is my favorite kind of riding. - ruclips.net/video/3ZQUfrqsicY/видео.html I prefer to ride from base-camp to base-camp and do day rides until it's time to move on.
Rule #5 - One time I hit the ground while on a short day ride out of base-camp, single track, it wasn't bad but I knew I was going to feel it the next day. Rather than break camp and move on I stayed... after 5 days, and 1/2 my Demon Strength Battle Balm, I was ready to start riding with a full load again. It was a little worse than I had 1st though. Having all the time you want is the best luxury to have while bike touring. Ride for yourself, not for others.
This is my primary gear:
Kitchen - photos.app.goo.gl/WnqJj7b6UxGNSvjg8
Bedroom/Bathroom - photos.app.goo.gl/Psj6sHpoiy7jq3JY7
Primary Sleep System - photos.app.goo.gl/s4ZwacKEVL7obUGv6
Garage - photos.app.goo.gl/wtBkagW4fbfQxnJn7
Yes all good points and I’ve did many of those early mistakes you mentioned. Lately I am trying to reduce my pack load in 4 panniers and rear top rack to a more easily managed load on a gravel bike with seat bag, frame bag, handle bar bag, front fork stuff sacks and 2 rear panniers. I always did use everything I bought along on the heavy load over a 5-6 week tour but now to make do with probably 20-25 litres less gear is hard.
Phil,
I'm so glad that I found your channel. You really lay it out for us.
I'm excited about trying bikepacking. It seems like a perfect mix of two things that I really enjoy. And I appreciate all the good sound advice.
Thanks,
Trakker
Trakker, glad I could help you! What are the two things you really enjoy?
@@PhilSnider biking and backpacking.
Both times I've gone touring I've broken my back wheel.
On my first tour down the coast of Queensland it was because the chain got stuck between the cassette and spokes and three days later the spokes snapped(last day of the tour as well, not the worst possible time, took a good half hour to walk it to a bike shop and then another half to get on my way) the other was on my second tour in Taiwan when I'd managed to actually crack the wheel from riding it too hard and heavy(I'm not a skinny or short guy).
My eventual solution was to order a wheel from a tandem bike and use it. Heavier by a long margin but absolutely solid for what abuse I put it through.
Good list overall, stay safe out there on the roads.
That would be horrible to deal with, sounds like you went the right direction to solve the issue though. How's that tandem wheel holding up now?
@@PhilSnider Its okay, it doesn't fit easily on the bike so it has to be really tight or it slips and bit and starts rubbing on the frame. Otherwise it's pretty good, I use it on my touring bike when I commute to work. Next time I do a tour(probably next year, maybe 2021) I'll see how it goes in the wild.
Hi, I am a relative newcomer to (only shorter trip) Bikepacking, I will be uploading a video about what I take soon, but I do genuinely like the idea of 'Living off the bike' for a few days prior to any trip, just to see how I get along with my supplies. I will definitely give that a go! I concede I am no minimalist when packing, but love to film & photograph too, so tripods spare batteries & cameras are another bag in themselves! Enjoyed the tips, have just subscribed, regards Adam 😀
Some real good points.
as a poor adventure from 2000 until now, i use 26" mtb with hiten steel rigid frame with rigid fork and straight bar, its no problem until now, my ride and my bike is my adventure
Theo Oktavian i have a 26 mtb too and I couldn’t see myself cycling on any other bike too!
@@Flo1ren7ce thank very much now i have 26"mtb adventure friend iam waited to hear adventure miss mora
@@bobby_8394 cool!! if you want to connect on instagram my account is @flogonewild I share my bike trips there :)
Get a bike with racks and proper panniers. Low rider front racks stabilise your steering and greatly improve handling. A front basket is great too.
Thanks for the suggestions
@@PhilSnider No problem matey. Just touring wisdom of the ages, but I realise it's no longer fashionable. I do agree with you about loading too much stuff and focussing on miles though but.
50-75 miles the most depending on the weather and terrain. I was suggested to ride 400 in three days... That’s pure torture.
I've been wanting to do a real long tour, and have been researching it a bit. I found your video and tips very helpful! I especially like the idea of trying to live off the gear at home.
Thanks for the reminder to have an adventure not a trip driven by an agenda.
That's an excellent way to put it! I like that statement, thanks
@@PhilSnider that's one of the ebike compromises. Spontaneity, adventure leaving your door. To planning, anticipation, what if's.
That has always "amazed" me about some people on vacation... most have a bigger agenda than a work schedule.
The heck with relaxation. And I wasn't thinking heck.
Thanks for a great honest video, first one I've watched which actually makes real sense.
thanks for an excellent advise, looking to do my first bike packing trip in england
Great video. Great advice
Decent advice. I take a USB rechargeable coffee grinder, along with a battery powered milk frother should I have milk...... This along with a Wacaco Nanopresso 😂 and a trangia 25-5 cook set. Just certain things I refuse to go without.
My bike ? A Thorn Nomad MKII Rohloff is not light, as neither am ( 240lbs ) I so again, good advice. Some crazy steeds I have seen doing mixed surface tours ill suited for the job at hand. With some good and bad advice around bikes and sadly, most bike shops do not hold a massive stock of Touring Bikes.
I use a BoB iBex trailer. Kitchen at the front on panniers
Agree. Don’t rush. Enjoy the ride.
A USB rechargeable coffee grinder?! Now I've heard it all lol... we all have a few things that we won't go without, I think mine might be the lightweight camping chair that I have now added to my gear. Cheers and happy pedaling!
Phil Snider my nibba. Each to their own. I love it. Not your old dear ...... the coffee grinder boiiiiiiiii ❤️
great advice,greetings from the other side of the world- belgium
Thanks Sylvain! Some day I'll make it over there to Belgium
@@PhilSnider beware of our cobbles ( (tour of flanders and paris roubaix) . Get in touch if you wanna try this nightmare……….lol
Helpful, thanks!
Thanks for the great video. The right bike is of great importance but I think you missed the point of "the bike you already own". The advice is to just get out and learn what you need. Also you don't need to buy a new bike so it is more likely that you will ride at all...
I love and live by "enjoy when things go wrong and you deal with it."
Great advice. Especially water. If you come to the Southwest lots of water. Tank up, fill up and I'll shut up. Thanks all,ride safe.
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, greetings from Buenos Aires!
Good advice.
3 changes of clothes!!?? Glamper! 😉🙂
Lmao! You know it!
I think 3 changes of clothing is about right...
Good work Phil I love the travel philosophy
im a hiker from philippines,. also own a mountain bike for more than 10 years and now i'm interested about bikepacking, since i have the hiking gears i oredered a sunpeed kepler bike,. i hope that bike is good.
Question. If your out riding is it more preferably to change the tube than patch, give that its a bit quicker not having to wait the glue to dry too?
Yeah that makes sense, depending on how pressed you are for time I guess. I run tubeless though
Thank you for very good advice...
Getting into bikepacking this year & these are super helpful! Someone else may have asked this & I missed it but...With regards to food storage while camping, you obviously aren't using a bear canister so, are you hanging a food bag or some other method?
I hang my food in areas where food storage is required, otherwise it just stays on the bike. No food in the tent and sleep with bear spray
I've been watching Iohan bikepack to South America, and am inspired by his adventures, and now want to do it, but I guess my 6" travel full suspension rig isn't going to cut it. I don't think my low back can tolerate a hardtail, is a light full suspension doable?
I've never ridden a full sus bike but I have come across people on the trail riding them so yeah, Its doable. I think you just have to be a bit more creative on how you pack the bike. Also Iohan makes some amazing videos! I'm definitely jealous of all the adventures he does.
like your tips. will be doing tour probably this coming spring last one was 47yrs ago. Lots have changed since riding my schwin sports tour across US Looking at buying gravel bike,cannot believe how much they go for. any suggestions?
Yeah the technology has changed quite a bit in the last few years. I cant really make any recommendations without knowing thing like, where you plan to ride, terrain, your abilities, how much gear do you want to carry, ect.
Currently in China,, but am planning to do at least a 1500k across japan in about a year from now. Will be traveling on roads but also gravel and mountain passes. Would you recommend a touring bike ovsr a MTB or viceversa?
That really depends on your personal preferences. What I did when I was looking for a bike like the one I have was I made a list of all the features I wanted the bike to have, and the Kona Sutra LTD fit the bill.
Great advice.
Thanks Phil! Would an endurance road bike w/wider tyre like the Canyon Endurace AL Disc 7.0 28mm tyre be a good choice for the Transcontinental? Thanks for the feedback
I have a 32lb chro-mo schwinn traveler on its original 27x1 1/4 tires. I would appreciate someones honest advice on wether i should use it for bike-packing or not?
After looking at a few things online about the Schwinn Traveler I personally wouldn't use one for bikepacking
Solid information
I want to bikepack the world. Cities to cities and different terrain with gear. What bikes would you recommend? Are there a list of bikes for this?
Very good advice.
Thank you ascot!
Thanks! I was worried because im hearing people plan on covering 400 miles in 4 centuries. I can’t even do 4 centuries on the road back to back.
1st time I did take the kitchen sink then if it didnt fit in a back pack its not coming along
3 changes of clothes!? A change of clothes, maximum!
thanks for the tips
You're very welcome! thanks for watching!
Number 6: ask to a bikeshop to learn you some tips and tricks, if something goes wrong with your bike (change wheels, adjust/change your brake system... ) sometimes it happens when your are alone, far from all.. :)
OR get stuff that needs NO adjusting. Like a disc Rohloff14 and on the front a SA XL-FDD dyno drum brake. They have 17,000 and 26,000 miles with zero problems. Neither will break in an airport or crash. My disc brake is a cable TRP Spyre. Stops on a dime.
Preparation and dry runs are important
Good video mate thanks for sharing 👍
Thank you piano man
Thank you Phil for the advise! 🙏🏼
You're very welcome!
I managed to convince my parents to let me bike pack across my home state of Georgia. I am having trouble finding a good route. I have a route of google maps but it’s doesn’t look to good (13th street, Columbus to Fort Screven, tybee island
Riding across Georgia would be awesome, I hear there are some great trails out there. I'm pretty sure there is a trans Georgia route that is mostly gravel/dirt roads, you might want to take a look at that
@@PhilSnider I haven't seen anything about a trans Georgia route but im using kumoot to pick my route from 13th street Columbus GA to Fort Screven, Tybee island GA
Maybe don't make a bikepacking race you first trip like I did, but if racing is your thing, bring a way more relaxed attitude to the competition. Finishing legally & healthy should be the main goal.
Great Advice
Thanks Phil!
Cool video I wanna cycle across australia I really like the idea of living off the bike at home to see what you really need the only concern I have is not having anuff water in that middle of know where in the out back australia I have know Idea how much to carry I'm thinking of getting to panniers on the back and Putting to 6 liter water bags each side to balance the bike and a few bottles on the bike so around 12 to 15 liters but I have no idea and it's pretty scary but I think I just need to get started all it will never happen
Yeah that would be a little sketchy out there in the outback. I nearly ran out of water once while I was on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route this summer. When do you plan on doing the outback? That is definitely on my list of places to ride
Lots of good advice online about water. I am also planning a ride across Oz, there are roadhouses every 100km or so. Google maps is great as is wikicamps.au tohelp plan.
My big mistake was spending money and time on clipless. It's such a hassle.
A mountain bike is a good all around ride. I've used a $350. Motobecane from bikesdirect.con with front and rear Ortlieb panniers for over 21,000 miles both on road and off road including thru rides on the Continental Divide and Baja Divide routes. All those high priced bikes are just for status seeking.
High priced bikes are just for status seeking? Lol
Sorry mate, but I'm going to have to agree with the OP here.
The bike you have, especially if MTB rather than road, *WILL* do the job - but a bike that is specifically designed and built for a purpose *WILL* do that job better.
It's up to you whether the extra 'performance' is worth the price or not.
Can you recommend some long distance bike trails?
be sure to checkout bikepacking.com there are tons of good trails listed there. My personal favorites are the Seattle to Portland bike route, Tucson, AZ has lots of great bike paths, and my personal favorite trail is the New Mexico section of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
What bike are you using?
check out my other videos
Good friend of mine told me one time bicycle touring is not a race he told me to slow down
So don't bother with bikepacking/touring unless you have the money to buy an expensive touring or gravel bike?
Doesnt have to be expensive, never said that, just needs to be the right type of bike and fit properly
@@PhilSnider I have a hybrid bike and a mountain bike that may or may not be too big for me. I do apologize. I misinterpreted what you said.
Wow! Very sound advice. You really know your sh*t!
Thank you Luc! What else would you like to see me cover in a video?
Bellissima bicicletta!! Saluti dall'Italia!!
grazie!!
I didn't hear any advice about how not to pack the snowboard...
Lmao! I put it on the bike like others put those pool noodles on their bikes :)
I've read about 50 comments, but no one talked about Food!
We eat certain types of foods when at home. But then turn into Birds, when on a tour. Nuts, fruit, or junk food.
It seems to me that while riding your bicycle for 4-6+ hours per day. You NEED to eat high protein and high carbs; and Gatorade to keep your body full of electrolytes. Just water will flush out all your electrolytes, not good.
All the calories that are being burned all day every day.
Eating like a bird isn't going to cut it. You will Bonk. Bonking is the worst!
Cooking takes up too much space, time, clean up and weight.
However...just eating snack type food isn't good either.
I've watched TONS of bicycle touring videos. And food isn't really talked about in depth. And if it is, its tortillas, peanut butter, nuts/trail mix, fruit, etc.
I don't eat like that at home, why would I deprive myself eating like this while burning up major calories?
Out of all the videos that I watched, nothing has been given in advice that is efficient, healthy, easy to prepare and clean up, and fulfilling...Taste great.
m.ruclips.net/video/dPjgwuKHC1o/видео.html
great views in a short time way cool
Yeah I had no idea how successful this video would be but it's been great! People love it so I'm happy I could help the bikepacking community
Will you share you gear list with us . . .
I sure will... here ya go ruclips.net/video/2a4Pccvb0uw/видео.html
The bike you have IS the best one, you don't need all the best gear. I first went out, just me my bike, a backpack with a repair kit, a hammock, food, and about two liters of water. Went out, short ride. Sleep outside, and chilled in the morning. Most importantly, it was mostly uphill one day one so on day two I could have turned back even if i was exhausted. Kept going a little more and headed back the same day, got home after nightfall. Thrilling first experience, and i was hooked. After that, yeah i started getting more gear but only AS the need for it emerged. Didn't even need any of that as long as I was sure i had snacks for the first day and that I could make it to a hotel or sth like that. Spend the night, eat up, go a little touristy and head back.
what if the only bike you have is an old BMX bike from when you were 13 and 4 feet tall? Taking that bikepacking is going to be miserable and most likely loose interest.
Pretty sound advice. However, I'd like to differ on the opinion of a-specific-bike-for-a-particular-trip part. Cannot happen at all times. Agreed every trip is different and not one bike can fit all those, but when you're starting out, or are low on budget but high on adventure, you gotta stick onto what you got!
Most important part that I liked (the mistake I also did) was to keep aside how much ground to cover in a day and focus on enjoying the scenery. And of course, the "burn out" part. More often than not, I end up with that🥴😄
Brilliant advice, otherwise known as common sense.