A bicycle, a sleeping bag and a world of possibilities to explore. Bikepackers love the minimal equipment, maximum excitement ratio of this form of travel. Plus, it doesn’t require a lot of time or money to enjoy.
The first night went completely wrong, as rain fell continuously in the mountains of Bavaria in southern Germany. “We had to take shelter,” says André Joffroy.
He had set off on his bike to get away from it all. “This was at a time when everything was stressing me out,” he says.
With only a sleeping bag, a tent, and a few changes of clothes, the passionate cyclist had climbed on his bike to ride part of the Transost, a mountainous route that runs from Bavaria to the Black Sea.
Yet after the rainy start, everything turned out fine. Four nights in a tent, completely switching off, and with an “absolute feeling of independence”, as Joffroy tells it. “It was fantastic.”
This is bikepacking – adventure cycling with minimal luggage and overnight stays outdoors, where the journey is more important than the destination.
Start simple
Bikepacking differs from classic bike touring primarily in terms of the routes. In addition to roads and developed bike paths, gravel roads as well as forest and mountain bike trails can also make up part of the trip.
The luggage is also different. Instead of fully-packed saddlebags, the essentials are stowed on the frame and handlebars in such a way that the bike remains stable and easy to handle even on difficult terrain.
“One hurdle is thinking, I don’t have the right stuff for this,” according to Joffroy.
He says you can start with what you already have: the old tent and sleeping pad from your festival days, camping gear and a flashlight.
“Tie all that to the bike with two or three straps and head out into the woods.”
The best way to start out bikepacking is to do a simple overnighter: start in the evening after dinner, cycle somewhere, stay overnight outdoors, and return home in the morning.
“For me, it’s a cross between scouting and cycling,” Gunnar Fehlau says. He’s the chairman of the German bikepacking association.
Where to camp
One challenge is planning where to stay overnight. Depending on the country you are passing through, camping may or may not be allowed by whoever owns the forest. Your impact on nature should be minimal in any case: merely roll out a sleeping bag and don’t light any fires.
If you’re not allowed to camp in a forest, alternatives include nature campsites, hostels, farms, and sports fields. Asking a local will often reveal overnight accommodation possibilities.
Practical tips
Bike packers should plan their tours along supply routes, namely places that offer restaurants, supermarkets and so on.
They should always have a few snacks and drinks with them too, but on multi-day tours in particular it’s better to buy on the road than to lug food with you.
Your luggage and how you stow it is crucial. Joffroy estimates that a bike can carry 5kg to 12kg. The centre of gravity should be as low as possible.
Bike packers use various bags for this purpose, from frame bags, which are attached under the top tube, to handlebar and fork bags, to saddle bags that stick out backwards under the saddle.
The good news: “Luggage tends to make the bike more stable,” Joffroy says. There’s a big price range when it comes to bags.
Also worth investing in is a hub dynamo that can charge a phone or a satellite navigation device.
Bike type
The bike itself should suit your individual preferences.
“At some point, a road bike no longer works off-road, mountain bikes are bad on the road,” Fehlau says.
For that reason, gravel bikes with their wide tyres suitable for off-road and on-road use are on the rise – these are bikes that “can do a bit of everything.”
But you can also set off on normal trekking bikes, depending on where and for how long you want to ride.
According to Fehlau, the ultimate focus should be on the experience.
“The efficiency with which I leave everyday life behind, even on an overnighter, still captivates me,” he says. – dpa
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