Guide To Bikepacking
Bikepacking is a new genre of bicycle travel that is rapidly growing in popularity. It combines mountain biking with basic camping and has captured the imagination of people who want to explore the great outdoors, reconnect with nature and camp out with their bikes.
Many bikepackers are already cyclists who are looking for a more challenging adventure. The routes used are predominantly off-road dirt tracks with technical trail features designed to make them fun and adventurous to ride. Lightweight equipment is needed to enjoy these trails to their fullest. One of the greatest things about this form of travel is the distances that can be covered on a bike, ranging from 20 to 200 kilometres in a day, with the only constraints being daylight and fatigue.
Racing
Racing in traditional endurance events is expensive due to entry fees and the costs of running a support team and vehicle. As a result these races are more elitist and less inclusive. In bikepacking racing riders are self-supported with all forms of organised support prohibited. Races can be competed very competitively on an extremely limited budget making the events more accessible and affordable to all. The simplicity of riding alone, self-supported, on challenging trails imitates the early era of professional bike racing and holds a deep attraction for many cyclists.
Riders use comparable equipment. Any standard commercially available upright bike is permitted with reasonable personal modifications. Race routes are typically over 300 kilometres covering a mixture of terrain. The races have a mass start and the clock runs from the start of the race until the finish line is reached. Drafting is not permitted. All equipment must be carried by the rider and no support vehicles are allowed. Riders must obtain all supplies and accommodation from commercial sources that are equally available to all participants along the route. Hiding supplies, pre-booking accommodation or receiving any form of support from other racers, family or friends is not permitted. The riders themselves must strategically choose how much time to devote to riding, resting and refuelling each day.
Being alone and self-reliant is part of the test and part of the adventure. Some events worth packing your framebag for are:
Event	Region	KM	Time Limit	Notes	
Inca Divide	Peru	1800	12 days	High altitude cycling in Andes mountains, challenging weather conditions	
Indian Pacific Wheel Race	Australia	5500	30 days	Fixed route - shore of Indian Ocean, Perth to Pacific Ocean, Sydney	
Freedom Challenge	Africa	2300	26 days	Race Across South Africa, east to west. Must be navigated by map and compass, GPS devices not allowed	
Tour Divide	Canada-USA	4400	40 days	Fixed route - Canada to Mexican border, traversing length of Rocky Mountains	
Trans Am Bike Race	USA	6900	No limit	Fixed route - Pacific coast, Oregon to Atlantic Coast, Virginia	
Racer positions are monitored using GPS satellite-based tracker devices which are fixed to the bikes and upload the position to a website for racers and followers to view. Official reports and videos are posted online and some competitors post updates on social media. Many participants do not enter a bikepacking race to win, but merely to challenge themselves and to take bike touring to a more intense level.
Race Rules
All races follow a general set of guidelines that are designed to make the racing fair for all participants. Events may have their own specific rules but the standard guidelines that apply to all races are:
full course must be completed from start to finish
no outside support permitted
all forward travel over land must be human powered
pre-booking accommodation or food/supply caching on the trail is not allowed
drafting is prohibited
riders must carry a GPS tracker
riders must have insurance and wear a helmet
front and rear lights are mandatory
riders must wear high visibility clothing and reflective gear at night
riders must know, respect and observe local laws.
Bikepacking should have minimal impact on the landscape and people living in it. The ‘Leave No Trace’ ethics offer a sound common sense approach to preserving the natural beauty of the land which should look untouched and be left as it was found.

Equipment
Almost every mainstream bike manufacturer now produces at least one ‘adventure bike’ or ‘bikepacking rig’. A typical equipment setup consists of a lightweight mountain bike with an efficient, ultralight gear kit for carrying minimal supplies. Advances in technology have made ultra-light camping equipment such as titanium stoves more affordable. The kit is packed or strapped onto the bike so it is balanced and secure.
Conventional cycle touring uses racks and panniers to carry equipment. This adds considerable weight to the bike, making it difficult to push and an uncomfortable ride on off-road terrain. Bikepacking uses a new type of lightweight bags that fit directly to the frame of the bike. The main load carriers usually consist of a handlebar roll, a seat pack and frame pack. Distributing the load so lighter weight items are at the front of the bike prevents the steering from feeling too heavy. The seatpack usually contains clothes and food with heavier items in the framepack as this has a lower centre of gravity. Typically, a full set of bikepacking bags weighs around a kilo, with a capacity of around 32 litres.
Limited space encourages a lightweight approach which makes a noticeable difference to the handling of a bike. A lighter bike makes the steering more nimble, the climbs less of a chore and the descents safer. There is considerably less wear and tear on components and both the rider and bike will be less fatigued. In turn this makes the bike faster and more enjoyable to ride, whatever the surface.
Navigation
Bikepacking lends itself particularly well to touring with a handlebar-mounted GPS device loaded with pre-planned routes. Singletrack trails are often unmarked or easily missed and a GPS mapping device will provide directional guidance negating the need to stop and consult a map at every junction. Alternatively, a smartphone is a very useful device if you have the means to keep it charged. GPX files are the most popular way of saving and exchanging routes electronically. These files contain all the route information needed to stay on track and enable riders to plan a route, navigate whilst riding and review how well a trip went. They can be found online, swapped on forums, or created and shared. A back-up compass and map are always recommended in case the electronics fail. Preparation is key. As you become more adventurous you will be exploring further away from support and help.
Camping
It is often illegal to camp in the wild without the landowner’s permission. Many landowners and farmers will be happy to allow camping if they are asked, but access laws must always be respected.