Living By Bike

Car Free | Bicycle Tourist | Solo Traveler

Bikepacking/Touring Workshop 

Written by

Claire

in

,

WHO AM I? WHAT CREDENTIALS DO I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS? 

  • I’ve lived 1.5 non-consecutive years of my life on my bike.
    • ATL -> BAL in 2021 for 1.5 months
    • 10 countries in Western  EU + UK in 2021 for 4.5 months
    • Across the US from BAL -> SF in 2023 for 3 months
    • And New Zealand/part of Australia last winter (aka their summer)in 2023-2024 for 3 months
    • Many bikepacking trips in between all of this
  • I had biked for less than a full year before going on my first tour. I was as untrained as any  beginner can be, but had a delusional sense of adventure and ambition. If I could do it, you  can do it too 
  • I currently lead bikepacking trips out of the DMV and more, educating and leading  individuals into the sport and adventure of bikepacking. This is my career, my passion! • You can find me on Instagram, YouTube, BlueSky, and Substack @livingbybike. My website  is livingbybike.org 

WHAT IS BIKEPACKING? WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT FROM BICYCLE TOURING? 

  • Bikepacking is usually shorter in duration, more off the grid, and with a much lighter setup/rig. Often times bikepacking may be associated with a race.
  • Bike touring is usually more road-y and longer in duration. OFC these are not strict definitions, and you can mix the two/do as you like.  
  • Ex. Biking across Europe, is mostly likely a “bike tour” since there are plenty of  roads and paths to take. 
  • Ex. Biking the Road to Freedom in Greenland is “bikepacking” since you’ll need a  very tough bike as you are off-grid in the tundra for about a week.  
  • Ex. Biking the Peruvian Great Divide is “bikepacking” since you’ll be off-grid and in  the mountains for about a month. 
  • Ex. Biking across the US is most likely a “bike tour” since you’ll mostly be on roads, albeit some rail trails such as the C&O Canal. 
  • Please take this with a grain of salt. I only offer my personal definitions of these two words to help you understand the different mindsets you can have while on a trip and how that impacts how and what you pack.

BIKE PARTS/BIKE MODEL. 

  • Checkpoint featured: 
    • Gravel Endurance geometry puts you in a more relaxed upright riding position o IsoSpeed comfort tech in the seat post smooths out fatiguing bumps and potholes  so you can ride stronger longer. 
    • Beefy tire clearance 
    • Internal storage to carry your stash 
    • Mounts on the frame and fork to carry top tube, frame, and triangle bags
  • Or you can use your current bike depending on how many additions/changes you can make to it/if that is realistic for you 
  • Easily customized aspects include handlebars, pedals, seat post/seat, tires, wheels,  tube/tubeless setup, front/rear racks. You could replace your entire drivetrain if you need to, but at that point you might want to get a new bike (depending on costs, of course).

BAGS. 

  • Trek bags are compatible with most frames. Can be bolted on to avoid dealing with straps.
  • You’ll need a balance of weight in the front and the back (you don’t want to tip back on a steep climb or not have control of steering up front) 
  • You don’t want just two huge rear panniers because it will be hard to organize/find what you need. IMO more medium/smaller bags are better 
  • Racks do add weight but that’s not inherently a bad thing 
  • Waterproof/water resistant is a must.  
  • You need an accessible snack bag to stay properly fueled IMO. Or just use your jersey  pockets.  

TOOLS/ACCESSORIES. 

  • Crank Brothers (or any other kind of ultimate) multi tool is a must. 
  • GPS is way better than a phone mount since they are much more resilient and reliable to all weather/use conditions
  • Flat repair kit for tubed/tubeless setup 
  • Bike lock, lights, kickstand? Your choice. 
  • Camping supplies (not specified on this document since this workshop is about the bike  aspect of touring, less so about the camping materials) 
  • We can co-shop next time you are in store! 

SHOES/PEDALS 

  • Everything is to your personal preference. You have three options (SPD, hybrid, flat) (do  NOT get SPD-SL!).  
  • Clipping in has huge benefits for anatomical protection (aka, your knees!), security (no  worrying about feet slipping off the pedal in the rain) and efficiency (you’ll get more power  per pedal stroke).  
    • I much prefer clipless since it keeps my knees healthy (after I got a professional bike  fitting), makes me faster, and more secure while I’m biking. 
  • MTB/gravel SPD shoes are ideal. They are better for walking. Pick whichever style suits you  best. If you go this route, pick a second pair of shoes to wear off the bike. These could be  Tevas, Crocs, Converse, whatever you like.  
  • If you don’t plan to use clipless shoes/pedals, pick a pair of study shoes for cycling &  pedals which have grips/teeth

CLOTHING. 

  • Cycling/sport designed clothing is best IMO because it is designed for biking and will be  very comfortable for that reason. Some people prefer regular cargo pants and a sporty shirt.  At the end of the day, it’s whatever makes you the most comfortable on the bike for  extended periods of time.  
  • Cotton shirts are not your friend for cycling. Merino wool is supreme for versatility.  o
    • Ex. Wardrobe for a 1-month bike tour  
    • ON THE BIKE 
    • 2 cycling kits (bibs, jerseys, gloves, socks) 
    • Sunglasses 
    • Self-packing rain jacket 
    • Arm/leg warmers OR long sleeve Rapha top 
    • Self-packing warm jacket 
    • Clipless gravel shoes 
    • OFF THE BIKE 
    • 2 casual/nice shirts  
    • Convertible pants  
    • Pajamas 
    • Sandals  
    • Hat 
    • Undergarments (merino wool is best for moisture wicking properties) 
    • Something fun? Live your best life. 

NUTRITION. 

  • You need to balance things that are nutritionally good for you with things you actually enjoy.  If you don’t like what you eat, and it’s not easy to grab and go, you won’t eat enough, and  your performance will suffer.  
  • Carbs > protein > fat 
  • Your bags should only be 80% full when you finish packing all your gear. The rest of the  space is for the food you will pack, and things you pick up along the way (ex. Souvenirs)
    • Ex. Food to pack for 2-days in a trip: 
    • 5 gels/granola bars/a bag of scratch 
    • Quick cooking oatmeal 
    • Bananas  
    • Instant coffee 
    • Your favorite salty snacks 
    • Half loaf of bread, bottle of honey/raisins, plastic jar of peanut butter 
    • Quick cooking rice/bean packets, canned soup, backpackers pantry meal,  quick cook mac & cheese, whatever you like! 
    • Stop at a local cafe for a meal one day

BIKE MAINTENANCE TO KNOW: 

  • How to fix a flat (whether you have tubed or tubeless tires) 
  • Go to a fix-a-flat clinic
  • Getting ready (lube chain, tighten down bolts, check tires etc.) 
  • How to tighten/adjust your brakes 
  • How often to lube your chain (bring a spare rag if you can for wiping it down)
  • Cleaning while on the trail (using your water bottle, a toothbrush, someones hose etc.)
  • How to assemble your bike (if you are flying)  
  • Cleaning when you get home (do this immediately!) 

HOW TO PLAN FOR YOUR TRIP/SKILLS YOU NEED TO KNOW. 

  • Water- how much do you need/how do you want to carry it?  
  • Type of terrain you will be traveling on- how remote will you be? 
  • Preparing for/navigating new types of terrain and cultures- adaptability • Reviewing your route ahead of time/downloading an off maps version 
  • Where to sleep (warmshowers.org, couchsurfing, hotels, hostelworld.com, camping, wild  camping, crashing with friends, finding hosts on FB/Instagram etc.) 

GREAT INTRO ROUTES 

  • Living By Bike Group Trips! 
    • Registration link for all 2025 links can be found here
    • Photo albums from prior trips can be found here
    • Most bikepacking trips are in the DMV area, some are further away
  • Examples of trips you can do (assuming you’re based in Baltimore/the DMV area)
    • C&O Canal (take Amtrak to Cumberland or Marc to Harpers Ferry) 
      • Camping/hotels  
      • Smooth gravel trail 
    • Baltimore -> Annapolis, Annapolis -> D.C 
      • Hotels  
      • Roads/paved trails 
    • Greenridge Gravelcoaster 
      • Camping  
      • Gravel trails, county roads, singletrack 
  • Where to find more routes 
    • Bikepacking.org
    • Bikepackingroots.org 
    • Reddit/YouTube/Facebook (look up groups titles like “bikepacking Houston”)

THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO ADVENTURE, BUT THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO PREPARE & SETUP FOR SUCCESS!

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