How Do You Get Your Bike Box to the End of a Point-to-Point Trip? Especially when you don’t live near either terminus of the route? Is shipping the only option?

Dear Boxed-in Biker,

Ah, bike-touring logistics, another of my favorite topics! I’m not a puzzle person (like the actual put-the-physical-pieces-together pastime), but I imagine the satisfaction I get from successfully getting myself, my companions, and our bikes where we need to be, when we need to be there, is a bit like putting the final piece in a 1,000-piece jigsaw.

My very first tour was in Utah. It was a fully supported Adventure Cycling trip that looped through Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and Cedar Breaks National Monument that started and ended in St. George. I popped my Bianchi into the back of my Prius and made the relatively easy day trip to the meetup point, a KOA campground that let us stash our vehicles for the six nights we were away. Then I drove home. It was all very easy. Fast forward several years to last spring’s TransAm Express tour, which started in Washington, D.C., and ended in Eugene, Oregon. My bike and I reside in San Diego. Even if you’re not crossing the country, this is the type of logistical conundrum that can leave your head spinning.

You have a few options for getting your bike to your starting location. If you’re flying, you could bring your bike as checked luggage in either a dedicated bike case or in a cardboard bike box snagged from your local bike shop. On a tour where I’m starting and ending in the same location but still need to fly there, I prefer to use a dedicated case because its wheels make it easier to maneuver through the airport and get to and from my accommodation. If you are spending your first night and last night at the same hotel or hostel, it’s likely that the staff will be willing to stow the box while you’re away. A bike case can be an investment, though, so consider borrowing one if you won’t use it very often.

But back to the point-to-point tour. Yes, you can actually ship your bike case to your end point. Bike shops are a good option for this, as is the hotel where you plan to stay before your flight out. There are a few reasons this may make the most sense. Maybe you feel strongly that your case offers the best protection for your bike or that that aforementioned maneuverability is of utmost importance.

I’ve found, however, that a cardboard box is usually easier. Bike shops often have plenty of them left over from the bikes they sell, so if you contact a shop ahead of time, it can typically set one aside for you. Some shops will charge a small fee (maybe $10), but I’ve found they’re just as likely to give it to you for free. And if it’s intimidating to assemble or disassemble and box up your bike, the shop can do that for you for a fee. Just make sure to let the shop know in advance and allow enough time ahead of your tour or your flight home for them to take care of it.

If you’re crunched for time, another option is to ship your boxed bike (either through the shop’s preferred shipping manner or through Bikeflights) to a shop at your start point and from a shop at your end point. This will give the mechanics extra time to assemble and break down your rig. It helps if you don’t need your bike for a few days on either end of your ride.

It’s also wise to research whether shipping or flying with your bike is cheaper. At one time, shipping was considered more cost-effective because airlines considered bicycles to be oversized luggage and would charge exorbitant rates. Today, however, many airlines consider a bike in a case or box to be a normal piece of checked luggage, as long as it doesn’t exceed their weight limit (often 50 pounds). I had quite the lesson on this during a trip to Hawaii where it would have run $700 to ship my bike but only cost $30 each way to bring it on the plane.

You said that you don’t live near the start or end of your route, but that doesn’t mean you have to fly. If you’re beginning or ending your trip 8 to 12 hours from where you live, one-way car rentals are something to keep in mind. Not only will this make your schedule more flexible, it also avoids all the disassembling/boxing/checking rigamarole that goes along with flying or shipping your rig. You can also utilize a rental to shuttle your bikes if your point-to-point tour isn’t exceptionally long. For example, to avoid flying in and out of different airports, some friends and I flew to Nashville and drove a rented truck to Natchez, Mississippi. We then biked the 444 miles back to Music City on the Natchez Trace.

There are also some great public transportation options, depending on where you’re travelling. I know several folks who have taken trains to the start of a tour, and Adventure Cycling recently published a guide to five tours you can take via Amtrak. Some communities also have super helpful bus systems, like the POINT up in Northwest Oregon or the YARTS in the Yosemite Valley area. It’s usually worth a quick internet search of “bus to…” when you’re starting to dream up your next tour.

Sometimes the logistics involved with a bike tour will be easy. But when things get complicated, try to channel that spirit of flexibility and adventure that you’re already bringing to your bike travels. At the end of the day, it’s all part of the journey.

The post Ask a Tour Leader: How Do You Get Your Bike Box to the End of a Point-to-Point Trip? appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

What Gear Do I Need for a Week-long Tour as a Newbie?

Dear Newbie,

I have good news and bad news. The equipment you need for a week-long tour is pretty much the same as what you need for a month-long or even cross-country tour. I say it’s good news because once you’ve dialed in your kit, you’ll be ready for all sorts of bike travel adventures. Woohoo! On the other hand, sourcing that much gear may be daunting, but I know you are up to the challenge.

So where do you start? If you’ve camped, you probably already have a lot of the gear you need. Before I discovered my passion for cycling and bike travel, I was already a lover of the outdoors. I really enjoyed weekends driving to a nice spot, pitching a tent, cooking, and relaxing in nature. I had the basics, although not in any kind of lightweight form. When I started cycling, however, I didn’t personally know anyone who did self-supported bike touring. So, I decided to use the resources that I had and signed up for an eight-week backpacking class through my local Sierra Club chapter. While I enjoyed the weekend outings immensely, I always had in mind how I might apply the knowledge and skills I was learning to bike touring. Then, I slowly purchased lighter camping gear that was appropriate for both backpacking and bike touring.

Which brings me back to your question: What do you need? Unless you’re trying to go ultralight, your “sleeping system,” meaning your tent, sleeping bag, and air mattress — will be the bulk of — and your bulkiest — gear. But while size and weight matter, so does comfort.

Tent

If you already have a one- or two-person tent, and it’s in decent condition, great! Don’t worry about having a specific bikepacking tent, especially not right away.

Sleeping Bag

Every quality sleeping bag has minimum temperature ratings for both comfort and safety, so if the nighttime temps where you plan to camp are above those numbers, you should be fine. But if it’s summer and you won’t be staying in a high-elevation area, you’ll likely have some flexibility with what bag you bring. And if all you have is a super bulky, heavy bag, you might even be okay pairing a light-weight blanket with a sleeping bag liner instead to save weight and space.

Sleeping Pad

Sleeping directly on the ground can be a deal-breaker not only because it’s uncomfortable, but also because it pulls warmth from your body. Enter the air mattress. I maintain that I can sleep perfectly well on mine for weeks at a time. While you can easily spend over $200 on a packable camping air mattress (think around the size of a 1-liter Nalgene bottle), you can also get a decent one that’s slightly bigger for around $60.

Clothes

This category is where I find most folks overestimate what they need, myself included. The more that you can stick to the necessities, the easier it is to stay organized and save weight.

Two or three sets of biking clothes should be sufficient to get you through your trip. If laundry isn’t available, you can hand wash the essential items like bike shorts. While you may eventually find that you like different bike clothes for touring versus day rides, you can absolutely use your everyday kit for your first tour. Then you can layer things like arm warmers, leg warmers, a windbreaker, etc.

You’ll want some off-bike clothes, but keep in mind that you may only wear them for the short time between arriving at camp and getting in your sleeping bag. One pair of pants and two shirts should easily get you through a week-long trip. Lastly, you’ll need something to sleep in. Everyone’s different, but I’ve found that a lightweight pair of stretchy pants and a short or long-sleeve t-shirt are perfect. If it’s chilly, these can even be layered underneath your off-bike clothes for extra warmth. A fleece or puffy jacket can be an additional layer for biking, camping, and even sleeping.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention rain gear. This can be as simple as the same technical rain jacket that you already own, or you can invest in bike-specific jackets, pants, gloves, socks, and shoe covers. While it’s not absolutely essential to stay dry, being dry and cold can become a safety issue. The nice thing is that your on-bike rain gear can be your off-bike rain gear, too.

Food

Now for a popular topic. While it’s possible to feed yourself without heating anything up, most folks like a hot meal at the end of the day and/or coffee in the morning. There are tons of options for camp stoves and cooking gear, but this is an area where you can start with something basic and upgrade later. Or never. For $20 to $30, you can get a small stove that attaches to a pre-filled gas canister. Add a small aluminum pot for boiling water for coffee and freeze-dried meals, and you’re good to go.

I recommend not getting caught up in your cooking gear’s weight right away. Your bowl can even be as simple as a Tupperware container. Just make sure you have a way to keep your food separate from the rest of your kit, such as a waterproof stuff sack. And if you are in bear country, you will absolutely need a bear canister or a hang sack to keep your food safely away from camp. Heck, in most camping spots you’ll want one anyway to keep your nosh safe from other, less scary critters.

Other Stuff

In addition to your sleep system, clothing, and food, you’ll want some tools for common bike repairs, a basic first aid kit, and a headlamp. Other items to consider are a power bank and perhaps a very portable camp chair. Whatever you bring, ideally you will want it to be either multiple-purpose or used frequently. So, try to limit those luxury items that you may like to have but don’t need to have.

Carrying It All

This is where you are likely to make a specific bikepacking or bike touring investment. There are lots of options, but a traditional touring set-up of front and rear panniers is a good bet for road tours. The other main option is using a frame pack, seat bag, handlebar bag, and even some fork bag. The latter system is preferred by bikepackers because it is more secure and rattles less off-road. Bike shops that carry bike touring equipment aren’t always easy to find, but the increasing popularity of bike travel has helped. Shops near popular routes like the C&O, GAP, Katy Trail, GDMBR, and others are more likely to have options for outfitting your bike if you prefer to shop in person.

Final Advice

Don’t wait for your bike touring kit to be perfect before you embark on your adventure. You can make a lot of non-bike touring gear work, and learning what you don’t like before you buy can save time and money. One of the many reasons I love Adventure Cycling is that in addition to its self-contained tours, both the van supported and fully supported tours are camping-based. You can pack with less efficiency and have one of our vehicles transport your gear instead. This gives you more practice and flexibility to figure out and fine-tune your self-supported setup. The options abound, and I see some excellent camping nights in your future. Happy pedaling!

The post Ask an Adventure Cycling Tour Leader: What Gear Do I Need for a Week-long Tour as a Newbie? appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

“Biking has been my main mode of transportation my whole life. I don’t own a car, so getting around by bikes and buses and trains is kind of just what I do,” says Emily Loberg, an Adventure Cycling tour leader who relies almost exclusively on rail transportation to reach the trips she guides. (“Alaska and Hawaii were not so easy,” she says with a laugh).

Although there is certainly no small number of train-travel-specific logistics to take into account when planning a rails-to-wheels trip (we’d highly recommend starting your planning with this blog post and Amtrak’s guide to traveling with a bike), one of the biggest hurdles is simply knowing where to go. So consider this roundup of five country-spanning train trips and cycling routes your unofficial ticket to ride.

1) NORTH

Amtrak: Empire Builder
Cycling routes: Great Parks North or Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
Type of bike service: Trainside Checked Bicycle Service (reservation required. Take note: Passengers are required to box their bike between Portland and Spokane. If you’re picking up the train between those stops, you’ll need to make extra accommodations.)

In the grand scheme of North American scenery, there aren’t many sights that can match Glacier National Park. During the summer, catch the Empire Builder from one of its cross-country terminuses, and ride the rails to West Glacier, the park’s most popular gateway town. Or, better yet, take advantage of shoulder season between May and mid-June, and you can tackle the iconic Going to the Sun Road before it opens to vehicle traffic. Once you de-train, you’ll want to link up with the Great Parks North route. Or, if you’re feeling more ambitious, link into the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

2) WEST

Amtrak: Coast Starlight
Cycling routes: Several Adventure Cycling rides twine around the Starlight’s west coast line, but definitely take a wine country detour.
Type of bike service: Trainside Checked Bicycle Service (reservation required)

Could you ride the Coast Starlight up to Kelso, Washington, and pedal Adventure Cycling’s Pacific Coast route back to San Francisco? Yes, you absolutely could. But as bike advocate (and former Adventure Cycling ambassador) Jenna Phillips says, there’s no reason you couldn’t tack on a little wine tasting. Simply ride through the city’s Golden Gate Park then take a ferry across the bay to Vallejo. From there, it’s a relatively easy ride up to Napa for a day of wine tasting along the 47-mile Napa Valley Vine Trail. “I really love taking the train with my personal bike to a city and exploring it by bike,” she says. “I think it’s the best way to explore a city. Nothing, nothing beats that.”

3) EAST

Amtrak: Downeaster
Route: East Coast Greenway
Type of bike service: Carry-on Bicycle Service (Reservation Required)

Although it might lack the soaring vistas of our western routes, the East Coast Greenway makes up for it with plenty of amenities along its nearly 3,000-miles. Plus, its sustainability cred — which was highlighted in the Spring 2025 issue of Adventure Cyclist (“Pedal Power: 10 Sustainable Bike Adventures”) — doesn’t hurt either. For a short sampler, take Amtrak’s Downeaster line to either Boston or Brunswick, Maine, and follow the greenway back to the opposite terminus. Or ride one of Adventure Cycling’s many New England Short Routes, including the Boston to Cape Cod Loop or this jaunt from Portland, Maine, to Newburyport, Massachusetts. (Take note: Adventure Cycling is currently running five-week guided tours along the Greenway from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Washington, D.C. Keep an eye on our Guided Tours page for details about future tours.)

4) CENTRAL

Amtrak: Southwest Chief
Route: Bicycle Route 66
Type of bike service: Trainside Checked Bicycle Service (reservation required)

Just a year shy of a century ago, Route 66 — AKA The Mother Road — was officially born with the creation of the federal highway system. Nowadays, it’s largely fallen out of favor as an efficient, cross-country route, but it’s still loved by sightseers. Luckily for them, there are two car-free modes of transportation that closely follow the original route: Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and Adventure Cycling’s Bicycle Route 66. That happy not-quite-a-coincidence means that cyclists can pedal as much — or as little — of the Mother Road as they choose then simply hop on the train at the next station and head home.

5) PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Amtrak: Amtrak Cascades
Routes: Multiple
Type of bike service: Trainside Checked Bicycle Service (reservation required)

Some trains will give you an eyeful of North American (looking at you, California Zephyr, with your 51-plus-hour trek from Chicago to San Francisco). But when it comes to sheer volume of bicycle routes — at least, as far as the Adventure Cycling cartography department is concerned — the Amtrak Cascades is unbeaten. The 10-hour train ride intersects all of the following rides: Lewis and Clark Trail; Pacific Coast route; Washington Parks route; Northern Tier route; and the TransAmerica Trail. (Oh and it’s also not too far from the Sierra Cascades route — a 60-mile trip from Portland, Oregon, to Carson, Washington.)

The post 5 Amazing Bike Tours You Can Reach By Amtrak appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

After that, we met most weeks for bike excursions or dinners. Nick rides an old Surly Straggler which is probably a size too small for him. But he pushes it to its full capacity, logging thousands of hard, fast miles each year in Colorado’s thin mountain air. I’m a more whimsical rider, plodding along however the spirit takes me — slow but happy in any kind of weather. Somehow we found a rhythm that worked for us both.

There was only one problem: Nick didn’t camp. I found out a couple weeks after we met. “Oh, I’ve been camping,” he said. “Maybe a few years ago?”

Something about me: I basically live outside. I’ve built my life around long journeys, and I often work from a portable keyboard in my tent. I knew that if we wanted to continue the relationship, we’d have to enjoy camping together. So a few days later, I floated the idea of a bikepacking trip. Nick said it was something he’d always wanted to try. We pulled up our calendars and found a few days in March when we could both get away. I was delighted — we were going on an adventure.

As I learned while planning, outfitting, and embarking on a trip with a new partner, there’s a right way and a wrong way to take someone on their first bikepacking excursion. And while what follows is mostly the wrong way, no one died and we had a great time. Here’s how I did it so you can learn from my successes and my failures.

Route Planning

I poked around the usual route-planning websites: Adventure Cycling, Bikepacking.com, and Bikepacking Roots. I’d recently done a fun overnight on Adventure Cycling’s Great Parks South route, a paved ride that starts just a few miles from where I lived in Durango, Colorado. This time, however, I thought a gravel route at a lower, warmer elevation would be a better fit for us and our bikes.

I found a few different options and whittled them down to a favorite: Utah’s Grand Staircase Loop. It looked beautiful, the seasonal riding window aligned with our schedule, it was relatively close, and we could do it with the bikes we already had. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a beginner route, and there was only one water source for 160 miles.

I hemmed and hawed. I read and re-read the route commentary, searching for clues about other water sources and the terrain’s true difficulty. Everything I read made it seem dry, remote, and logistically tricky — not at all what I’d choose for someone who’d never been bikepacking before. Especially if I wanted them to like me afterwards.

But I’d seen Nick stride up slopes in freezing weather, bomb down gnarly hills, and meticulously plan his layers and snacks. He was strong, knew his bike inside and out, and never complained. I had a feeling he’d be up for a real adventure, so for better or worse, we set our sights on Utah.

Everything I read made the route seem dry, remote, and logistically tricky — not at all what I’d choose for someone who’d never been bikepacking before. Especially if I wanted them to like me afterwards.

Bikes

I’d bring my Kona Sutra ULTD and Nick would take his Straggler. His bike was sturdy enough for the ride, but I asked if he’d be willing to change his tires to tubeless. We’d be in a remote desert with a lot of logistical unknowns, so I wanted to mitigate the risk of mechanical issues.

The Straggler’s tubeless tires were still slightly narrower than ideal, but Nick and I talked about it and agreed that they’d work for our goals. I knew Nick was good at handling his bike in a variety of conditions, and if the terrain was really bad we could always hike-a-bike.

We’d be in a remote desert with a lot of logistical unknowns, so I wanted to mitigate the risk of mechanical issues.

Gear and Packing

Nick didn’t have any bikepacking gear, but that didn’t strike me as a problem. I have a long history of splicing random things into “oddly functional” gear. (See A Coworkers Campout or Packing Hacks for an Inexpensive Tour for an eclectic array of DIY options.)

In recent years, I’ve also had the great fortune to test new gear from awesome brands like Revelate Designs, Old Man Mountain, Big Agnes, and Showers Pass. This meant that I had a whole box of extra cycling and camping gear.

The week before our trip, I dumped the box out on the floor and sorted through my options. I’d given Nick a list of clothing to bring from home, so I needed to piece together everything else: camping gear, cooking necessities, food, and bags. It was a bit of a puzzle, but eventually I formed a large pile of everything we needed. The gear didn’t have to be perfect — it just had to keep us safe enough to survive the elements and comfortable enough to have a good time doing it.

The gear didn’t have to be perfect — it just had to keep us safe.

Safety First

A few days before we left, I still couldn’t confirm any additional water sources, and we were on a tight schedule with no margin for delays. So we decided to tweak our plans and spend the first couple nights car camping in the desert outside Durango. Then, we’d drive to Utah and bikepack a section of the Grand Staircase route instead of the whole thing.

The last-minute change was a little disappointing, but from a safety perspective, I’m very glad we made it. Sometimes people think that adventure means taking a lot of risks. I think the best adventures happen when you manage risk in safe ways and really enjoy the experience.

The best adventures happen when you manage risk in safe ways and really enjoy the experience.

The Real vs the Ideal

One thing I often remind myself is: There are ideal situations, and then there are real situations. In an ideal situation, I’d plan the perfect route, bikes, and gear to match. I’d print out a gear list with little checkboxes and check them off well in advance. And I’d take any beginning bikepacker on an easy trip before trying something harder.

But in this real situation involving two people scrambling to plan a ride in the midst of a thousand other life circumstances, I narrowed things down to the most basic levels of functionality, motivation, and safety. We used the bikes and gear we had. We chose a route that was easy to access and beautiful enough to motivate the journey. And we switched up our plans last minute to account for unknown variables. It wasn’t ideal, but it still worked in reality.

I narrowed things down to the most basic levels of functionality, motivation, and safety. It wasn’t ideal, but it still worked.

The Actual Trip

On an afternoon in late March, we drove to a backcountry campsite and pitched our tent. Soon the wind picked up, whipping streams of sand against our faces. We ate dinner crouched behind the car, and then crammed ourselves into my tiny, one-person tent.

Throughout the night, the wind bashed our shelter in all directions, forcing sand and dust under the fly. At dawn I woke up and turned to Nick. His face and sleeping bag were covered in a thick film of grit. I felt oddly gleeful. Usually, I make bad decisions all by myself, but now I had Nick to make bad decisions with me! Things were already going well.

We spent another day at the campsite, and then drove to Utah and got a motel room. The next morning, we rolled our loaded bikes out the door, high fived in the parking lot, and pedaled out of town on a dirt road that headed straight into the desert. Our plan was to bike about 40 miles and camp by a lake, which was our only water source. This route would include a 1,500-foot climb and possibly rocky terrain.

I hadn’t meant for this to be a test, but he was passing.

Soon, the desert morphed into masses of boulders and cliffs. Nick powered up the hills and seemed elated as the route steepened. Finally, we zigzagged up a long ridge and looked out over a swathe of epic red canyons. It was one of the most beautiful rides I’d ever done.

After a lunch break, we headed down to the lake, but when we got there, all we found was dried mud. We hopped off the bikes and pushed them across the dried lakebed. I began to feel guilty about everything I’d put Nick through. He, however, was remarkably resilient. I hadn’t meant for this to be a test, but he was passing.

About half an hour later, we spotted a shimmer of wet mud, then a trickle of water, and eventually, a clear pool. Birds flew overhead and a fish jumped. We were saved. We pitched the tent on a crusty patch of mud. I filtered water and Nick gathered wood. As the sun set, we lit a fire and watched the sky deepen into starlight. We were dirty and tired. Nothing had gone perfectly, but still, it was a perfect evening.

The post How to Take Your Date on Their First Bikepacking Trip appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

“It brought back the joy of riding for me again — it really did,” Teri said. “Having worked at Adventure Cycling for all those years, I’ve ridden a lot of miles, but it was getting so that it wasn’t fun, and it certainly wasn’t fun to commute. And then all of a sudden it was like, ‘Oh, this is fun again.'”

So, what’s the secret to unlocking fun on an e-bike? We turned to Teri, along with industry experts Jill Nazeer, Salsa’s Brand Marketing Manager, and Noel Kegel, Adventure Cycling board member and president of Wheel & Sprocket, for their share of tips.

Tip 1: Invest in Quality, Especially If You’re Planning for Distance

As of this writing, e-bikes are more affordable than they’ve ever been. And while that’s great in some respects — because access matters, and anything that gets more riders on bikes can’t be all bad — there are some caveats.

As Noel says, a less expensive e-bike might get you moving. How long it’ll last — and how long it’ll take to get fixed should things go south — however, is another matter.

“I own a bike shop, and we see lots and lots of e-bikes that are pure garbage that we literally can’t fix,” he says. “There’s no 1-800 number to call, there’s no way to get parts. Sometimes we try to diagnose the problem, but from a product-quality perspective, they’re impossible to work on, you know? And so people buy, like, disposable e-bikes, essentially.”

In that respect, it’s not so different from any bike. Because, Noel says, you could very well ride a Walmart bike clear across the country. But the last thing you want to do is spend all your time fretting over if, when, and how long you’ll need to pull off for a fix.

“You want gear that supports your trip,” he says, “not gear that becomes the trip.”

Your best approach for avoiding headaches? Consider going with an e-bike from an established brand that makes e-bike components, because those are the parts most neighborhood bike shops with a knack for e-bikes are going to stock.

Tip 2: Know Where You’re Riding

When you first start shopping for an e-bike, you’ll have questions. Among the first that you’ll want to consider, however, is where you’re riding. In part because the answer will help inform what style of bike you opt for — gravel? mountain? road? — but also what your local roads, rail trails, and bike paths will allow.

Jill suggests every rider should learn their e-bike’s classification. (Note: More than three-quarters of U.S. states now recognize the three-class e-bike system, but you’ll want to familiarize yourself with your own state’s laws and the laws of any states you’ll be riding through. People For Bikes offers one-page PDF summaries for each state here.)

Class 1: Pedal assist only. Maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. Legal on most roads, trails, and paths but not in all states.

Class 2: Throttle-assisted, which means that the motor can assist if you’re not pedaling. Maximum speed of 20 mph. Legal on most roads, trails, and paths but not in all states.

Class 3: Pedal assist up to 28 mph. Legal on roads and bike-only lanes, but not allowed on most bike paths (including MTB trails) or multi-use paths.

“Beyond that,” Jill says, “it’s the exact same conversation as any bike: How big of a tire do you need? Do you need suspension? Flat bar? Drop bar? All that kind of stuff.”

To be sure, there are still some other aspects to consider as a consumer. Knowing that you’ll likely need e-bike-specific panniers, for example, or a heavier-duty car rack to accommodate the e-bike’s heftier weight is certainly important. Noel says you’ll also want to consider how certain brands have different placement of the motor. (He prefers mid-drive motors, which are located in the bottom bracket, rather than hub motors, which are located in the rear hub, because they allow the bike to ride “very naturally.”)

Above all, Jill says, the most important thing is that you’re doing your research ahead of time: Because the technology is advancing at such a brisk clip, there are regular updates to what’s on the market, ranging from more efficient batteries, “walk” modes and brief boosts of turbo, software updates that increase a battery’s watt hours, to say nothing of the now sleekly designed bikes themselves.

Tip 3: Know Your Bike, Know Yourself

When it comes to planning, the differences between e-bike and non-e-bike touring are minor (though changing a tire on an e-bike presents a much heftier obstacle). Still, much in the same way that you need to know your body’s limitations — how far you can go in one stretch, how much weight you’re able to manage, etc. — you also need to be aware of your e-bike’s limitations.

“If you’re actually going to do long-distance touring, you know, be sure that you’ve done the weekend shakedown,” Teri says. Make sure that you know how much battery you go through in a range of settings — whether that’s uphills or gusty headwinds — particularly if you’re tapping into the bike’s boost function. And if you’re planning to load the bike down with camping gear, a cookstove, and all the rest, make sure you know what it feels like to have that weight on your bike and how it affects your battery usage.

“As with any kind of riding, the most important thing to me is that you are prepared for what you’re going to encounter,” Teri says. “But with an e-bike, you want to know how much charge you have because that is going to determine the length of your day.”

Which, in turn, gets at one of the biggest differences between touring and e-touring.

Tip 4: Think About Where You’ll Charge — And Don’t Forget to Do So

Make charging part of your route planning. “Look for lunch or second breakfast stops with outdoor plugs,” Teri says. Bike shops, cafés, or even campgrounds with electric hookups can be good bets. And at night, bring your battery inside your tent if it’s cold. Lithium batteries don’t love freezing temps.

“The most important thing that you have to remember is, did you charge it?” Teri says.

This might seem obvious, but in some respects it’s a paradigm shift, especially for those riders who’ve honed habits and routines over the course of decades.

“A lot of times, you finish for the day, and you’re like, I am done. I want to go take a shower, I want a snack or whatever,” Teri says, noting that if you neglect to charge your battery, you’ll be paying for it the next day. “It’s a mindset. You really have to be aware that if you’ve used it for a period of time, you charge it.”

Tip 5: Have a Plan B

Here, “B” stands for “Backup” and “Battery.”

A few years back, Teri and her sister joined an Adventure Cycling tour that passed through South Dakota’s hill country. As the name suggests, it was hilly. “Like, super hilly,” Teri says. However, despite riding the same route, Teri says that she and her sister had very different experiences.

“I did not have a backup battery, and my sister did,” she says. “Having that backup battery meant that she didn’t pay attention like I did. I had to be doing calculus, and I had to be paying attention, and she didn’t, because she had a backup.”

In fact, on their longest day — a 54-mile ride with lots of hills — Teri says that she was at 1 percent when she finally made it back to camp that night, despite charging during lunch. Her sister, on the other hand, had tapped into her backup battery but hadn’t had to fret over her charge. Adventure Cycling Guided Tours staff recommend bringing two batteries on any ebike-friendly tour.

Certainly, there’s no harm in toting along an extra battery; though depending on the size, it might add between 10 and 20 pounds. Jill says that, in recent years, several of the major manufacturers, like Bosch, have been addressing “range anxiety” with range extenders.

“It’s basically like the size of a water bottle, so it’s super easy to incorporate that into the storage on your bike,” Jill says. “It’s not going to fully charge it, but it’s like an extra little bit to get you going a little longer.”

Summing It Up

Whether you’re touring or bikepacking overnight or dreaming of a coast-to-coast adventure, an e-bike can make the journey more accessible and enjoyable. But as with all great rides, preparation matters. Learn your bike. Know your range. Know your terrain. Ride in “Eco” mode whenever possible. And always — always — charge your battery.

The post E-Bike Touring and Bikepacking Tips appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

My riding partner always shirks camp duties. How can I get them to contribute their fair share?

Dear Overworked,

Bummer! I feel for you on this one. Going out on a limb here, I assume that this is someone you enjoy riding with enough that you’ve put up with shouldering more than your fair share until now. If so, I say “hurray!” for having someone you like to ride with. Even if you’ve been riding and traveling with someone for a while, it doesn’t mean it will always be smooth sailing (or rolling!). And sometimes when we let things go, the other person just assumes that we’re fine with the status quo and nothing needs to change.

Just because bike travel is overall a ton of fun doesn’t mean that every single aspect is enjoyable. There is definitely work involved, and I don’t mean just while pedaling. I can think of plenty of people who love biking but when I start talking about camping, they say, “no, thank you.” With camping, there are more logistics and tasks: you need to pack all your gear, then set up your tent and other camp spaces, and the next morning pack it all up again (even less fun if you have a wet tent!). Then, of course, we need to feed ourselves, because food is fuel, and biking is definitely not fun if you’re hangry. If you are sharing a tent with your riding partner, maybe some of the camp duties causing strife include set-up/tear down, but if you’re not, then I’m guessing most of your friction is related to food duties.

To start, I’m wondering if you and your riding partner potentially have different expectations for your travels. Sometimes we have a vision in our minds as the way to tour, when really there are lots of ways to approach your adventure. For instance, maybe your friend is totally fine with carrying their gear, and maybe even camping, but was envisioning that you’d eat your meals out and not have to deal with meal planning, shopping, cooking and clean-up? If so, how would you feel about adapting to this style of bike travel? Do you cook because it’s easier on the budget or because the camp meals are a valued part of the experience for you? Or maybe both?

Another possibility is that your travel style (camping and cooking) is in line with your riding partner’s, but since you’ve taken the lead on these responsibilities, they assume you really like doing it. In this case, additional communication might be in order. Even if you like doing the meal planning and cooking, it sounds like you feel you are being taken advantage of and want things to change. If you’re already out on the road and experiencing this, the best thing to do is to speak up before these feelings grow into resentment (if they haven’t already). If you’re not currently on a trip with your riding partner but are starting to plan, this is the perfect time to tell them that you are looking for a more equitable partnership this time.

There could be several ways to accomplish this. On Adventure Cycling tours, we use a cooking rotation to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to shop for and cook a meal that they really like. You can set up your own mini cooking rotation, assigning each day’s meals ahead of time. Or you could agree to share the responsibilities each day, taking turns either doing the cooking or the clean-up (and decide how shopping fits in!). Maybe you can adopt a hybrid model for your meals, with you shopping and cooking on your night and your partner taking the “credit card” route and footing the restaurant bill when it’s their night?

There’s also the possibility that your riding partner is intimidated by the idea of cooking. It’s worth checking in with them to see if some of the avoidance stems from the concern that they won’t do a good job. You could have a couple of really easy recipes ready to go and reassure them that practically anything tastes great after a long day on the bike.

One fallback possibility, especially if you’re really fed up but want to keep riding with this person, would be to do your shopping, cooking and clean-up individually. Many bicycle tourists really enjoy the communal aspect of the experience, so it’s understandable if this isn’t your first choice. Perceptions of incompatibility with dietary restrictions or preferences may be another reason to go your separate ways with meals. If solo meal prep saves the touring partner relationship, it’s worth considering.

If you have this conversation with your riding partner and it still seems like you’re going to end up with more of the camp duties, are there other responsibilities that your riding partner can take on to potentially balance out some of this lopsidedness? Are they good at route planning or finding fun points of interest along the way? If so, they could organize your maps or create all the Ride with GPS routes beforehand. Are they good in stressful situations and do you appreciate their level-headedness? That’s really valuable. Are they a good storyteller and conversationalist and help make the miles fly by? Do they excel at finding a good playlist to jazz you up on the road? Can they set up your tent while you get dinner ready?

Ideally your riding partner will step up once you’ve been clear about your feelings and brainstormed some possible solutions with them. Or, if they contribute to making your tour fun and successful in other ways, it may be worth accepting that camp duties won’t be split 50/50. Ultimately though, it will be up to you to decide if their other efforts or qualities are enough to keep moving down the road with them on future trips.

The post Ask An Adventure Cycling Tour Leader: When Your Cycling Buddy Avoids Camp Duties appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Eventually though, especially if you want to ride solo, you’ll need to learn the basics. Plus, it’s kind of fun! You’ll find many excellent how-to videos online — the ones by Park Tool are especially good — and some bike shops and outdoor retailers like REI offer in-person classes. You can learn the most important basics with a spare afternoon and a few tools.

It’s important to get your hands dirty and practice with your own bike. Just watching videos and reading articles won’t cut it when you’re attempting a repair beside the trail in the pouring rain as the sun is setting. So don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and spend some quality time with your bike!

In rough order of priority (start at the top and work down), here are the skills to focus on:

• Adjust seat post height, saddle tilt, and saddle forward/back position so that you’re the most comfortable on your bike and know how to tweak the saddle position when you’re on the road
• Clean and lube the chain to keep it rust-free and running smoothly
• Fix a dropped chain (one that has slipped off the chainrings or cogs)
• Remove and reinstall both wheels, which might be different with different types of bikes
• Patch and replace a punctured tube
• Set up, seal, and repair tubeless tires, if applicable
• Adjust derailleurs, both front and back
• Adjust and align brake pads, and eventually replace them
• Repair a broken or damaged chain

For basic maintenance, you’ll need a basic set of tools.

• Metric hex wrenches, particularly sizes 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm
• Masterlink tool and chain breaker for repairing a broken or damaged chain
• A floor pump
• Tube patches and an extra tube
• Tubeless puncture repair kit
• Chain tube and rags
• Tire levers

Ten Must-Have Bike Tools for the Home Mechanic

Once you’ve mastered those, move on to replacing brake and gear cables, repairing or replacing a broken spoke, and doing an emergency single-speed conversion in case of a damaged rear derailleur. You’ll be prepared for nearly anything!

For tools you might need on the road, check out our post on Bikepacking Gear: What to Take & How to Pack It.

The post Bike Repair Skills to Know Before Bikepacking appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Choosing a Campsite

A good campsite is key to enjoying your evening, getting a good night’s sleep, and waking up feeling rested and recovered the next morning. Here’s what to look for.

Developed Campgrounds: Look for tent sites that won’t be surrounded by RVs, and avoid the sites next to and downwind of the restrooms.

Primitive Campgrounds: You’ll find primitive campgrounds throughout public land like US National Forests. They may be free or cheap (bring cash in small denominations) and may lack amenities like water or bathrooms. On busy weekends you’ll find them mostly populated with RVs.

Wild Camping: In areas like National Forests where dispersed camping is legal, you’re free to camp almost anywhere as long as you follow Leave No Trace principles. This type of camping is ideal for getting away from vehicles and enjoying solitude.

• If you’d like to avoid being seen from the road, look for sites hidden behind a rise, uphill from the road, or on the insides of curves where headlights won’t reach you.
• Avoid camping on private land, or if you must, ask for permission first.
• If you find yourself needing to “stealth camp” somewhere you’d rather not be noticed, make camp just before dark, leave around sunrise, and minimize light usage at night.

Whatever type of camping you’re doing, a great site is one that is:

• Flat and not likely to turn into a puddle if rain is expected
• Near a water source, though ideally not within 100 feet (camping too close to water pollutes the source and disturbs animals who come to drink).
• Previously used, or at least on a durable surface like dirt instead of delicate foliage
• Sheltered from wind
• Not in the bottom of a ravine or canyon in cold weather, as cold air tends to sink into these places overnight
• Not underneath dead branches or trees that could fall on your campsite

Camp Hygiene

It’s totally normal for hygiene standards to slip a bit while bikepacking. However, it’s important to keep certain personal areas clean to avoid saddle sores, urinary tract infections, and other unpleasant problems.

Change Clothes

As soon as you get to camp, change out of your cycling shorts and into something dry and breathable.

Wash Yourself

As you’re changing, give yourself a backcountry shower. Splash off your face, underarms, and especially your crotch and saddle areas; a squirt water bottle works well for this. Some people bring a little bottle of biodegradable soap or carry hygiene wipes. Wash at least 100 feet from natural water sources to avoid polluting them.

Wash Your Shorts

When you change out of your cycling shorts at camp, clean them so they’re ready for the next day. If you don’t have enough water for a full wash, at least rinse out the chamois and leave it to dry overnight. Many cyclists bring two pairs so they can let one dry the next day while wearing the other. Let your chamois dry thoroughly, ideally in sunlight, as often as possible to prevent bacteria growth.

UTI Prevention and Treatment

Going to the Bathroom

If camping is new for you and there’s no restroom at your site, you might be wondering how this bathroom thing is supposed to work. Let’s dispel the mystery.

To urinate, simply walk away from your campsite and any water sources and find a private place to go. Women will probably want to squat down. A squirt from a water bottle works well to clean yourself or you can bring toilet paper.

For solid waste, walk at least 200 feet from any water sources and dig a “cat hole” at least 8 inches deep using a rock, stick, or camping trowel. Squat down, do your business, then fill in the hole. The goal is to make it difficult for an animal to dig up or an unsuspecting camp mate to step in. Don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water or sanitize with hand sanitizer.

Whatever you do, pack out all used toilet paper in a ziplock bag. Yes, really! Even if buried, it has a tendency to become unburied as animals dig it up or rain washes soil away, and nothing spoils a pristine place faster than used TP.

Washing Dishes

First, clean dishes by eating as much of the food scraps as you can. You carried all your food there, after all, so make the most of it! Then walk at least 200 feet away from your campsite and from water sources to rinse your dishes. You can even drink the rinse water if it’s palatable — it’s extra calories and very Leave No Trace friendly. Otherwise, disperse the rinse water over a wide area or dig a hole and bury it. Some people use a small amount of biodegradable soap for dishes, but it’s not strictly necessary.

Food and Wild Animals

Never feed wildlife. Even small, cute creatures like birds, squirrels, and mice will become aggressive towards future campers if they learn humans are a source of food. Remember that a “cute photo op” for you may lead to another camper’s nightmare or worse: every year, animals are killed by local authorities because they’ve become too aggressive towards humans. Keep animals and people safe by not feeding wildlife.

Dispose of food and packaging in proper campground receptacles or pack it out with you. Never litter or leave food bits around: it’s unsightly as well as dangerous to wildlife.

Avoid pests by keeping your campsite tidy and your food items all in one place. Most cyclists have a designated “food bag” that they keep in plain view during their evening meal and then inside their tent at night (unless you’re in bear country!). Don’t forget to check your stem bags or other snack spots for wrappers and half-eaten snacks before packing up the food at night.

Camping in Bear Country

Enjoy Campfires Responsibly

As wildfires grow increasingly common, many areas are imposing fire restrictions to make sure unsuspecting campers don’t accidentally set fire to the forest. Usually canister stoves are allowed for cooking, but alcohol or solid fuel stoves without shutoff valves may be off-limits if strict fire rules are in effect.

If you do make a legal campfire for cooking, warmth, or ambiance, do your best to minimize impact to the site and reduce risk of your fire growing out of control. Use an existing ring or build your fire on a durable surface like dirt or rock, and only gather wood if there is plenty to be found from fallen or dead trees. Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it’s completely, 100% extinguished before going to bed.

Cooking over a Twig Stove

The post Camping Tips for Bikepacking appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Water

You’ll want to sip water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. For many cyclists this means 2 or 3 big gulps every 20 minutes, or at least 3.5 liters of water every 5 hours. In especially hot climates you may need more, but don’t go crazy; it’s actually possible to drink too much water, especially if you don’t replenish electrolytes (more on this below). If water is limited, stretch your supply further by drinking a liter every time you fill up, camping near water whenever possible, riding at cooler times of the day, and using the bare minimum for washing and cooking.

Filtering Drinking Water

It’s easiest to fill up with potable water at restaurants, convenience stores, or campgrounds, but between these stops, bikepackers often need to drink from natural sources like streams or lakes … and sometimes less pristine sources like cattle tanks and muddy ponds.

Always filter or purify water from natural sources to avoid getting sick from waterborne pathogens like Giardia. A lightweight backpacking filter like the Sawyer Squeeze catches bacteria and parasites, which is sufficient in the US and other infrastructure-rich countries. In places where sanitation infrastructure is lacking, you’ll want a purification method — like UV radiation or chlorine dioxide drops — that deactivates viruses too.

Electrolytes

When we sweat, we lose electrolytes as well as water. These electrolytes (including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride) need to be replenished to avoid muscle cramps and keep your body healthy. Normally a balanced diet is enough, but in very hot weather you might need extra salty snacks or an electrolyte replacement drink.

Even if you’re drinking water and replenishing electrolytes, dehydration can sneak up on you in hot weather. If your urine is a dark color or if you’ve gone many hours without urinating at all, it’s time to take a break in the shade, drink water, and eat some healthy, salty snacks.

Food

Food is literally the fuel that keeps a bikepacker’s pedals spinning. But riding through remote areas with small bike bags and a big appetite presents some challenges. Some people pack all their food for the whole trip in advance, others cram their bags full of grab-and-go meals from convenience stores along the way. Choose the best strategy for your dietary needs, route location, and riding style.

Resupply Strategy

For a trip of around three days or less, it’s reasonable to carry all your food from the start. You might still research any towns along the way so you don’t miss an opportunity to stop for burgers and ice cream.

For longer trips, a common rhythm is to carry food for several days at a time, resupplying with whatever is available at towns along the way. This gives you less control over your diet, but takes pressure off the planning and packing process.

Many people mix these strategies, leaving home with a few dehydrated meals and some hard-to-find ingredients, and buying most snacks and staples along the way.

How Much Food?

Budget at least 3,000 calories per day, maybe closer to 4,000 for demanding trips, depending on your body and metabolism. Always keep a few emergency snacks tucked away, and it wouldn’t hurt to pack a full extra meal for each stretch in case of unexpectedly slow conditions.

Eating on a bikepacking trip is an all-day activity, so plan to get at least a third of your calories from snacks. Snack early and often; don’t wait until you’re feeling hungry or tired. An open bag of trail mix in a stem bag makes it easy to snack on the go.

To save weight and space, plan your menu precisely. Some people partition each meal and day of snacks into separate bags so they know exactly how much to eat and how much to save for tomorrow. Remove all unnecessary packaging, like outer boxes or wrappers, to save space and reduce the amount of trash you’ll need to pack out.

What to Eat

Nutrition

A healthy diet on a bike trip isn’t much different from a healthy diet at home; it’s just a bit harder to accomplish. You can generally “get away with” underpacking calories or overdoing junk food on a short trip, but over many days this can add up to low energy levels and negative health impacts.

It helps to think in terms of the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, fat, and protein. You may have heard that carbs or fat are “bad,” but that’s usually just a question of amount. We need them all, and especially when we’re getting lots of exercise there’s usually no reason to avoid them. Carbohydrates give us quick energy, fat gives us slower-burning fuel reserves, and protein helps our muscles grow and recover. Overdoing sugary processed food still isn’t the healthiest idea even while bikepacking, but if you do have a sweet tooth, there’s no better time to indulge a bit.

That said, nutrition science is always evolving and there are many ways to eat a healthy diet. If you know what works for your body, stick with it.

Food Availability

Your food options will depend on where you’re riding.

Small towns typically have a general store with basic snacks and grab-and-go meals, and perhaps a diner serving burgers and chicken strips. You’ll find plenty of jerky, chips, instant noodles, and microwave burritos, but don’t count on fresh veggies or your favorite brand (or any brand) of quinoa. Larger towns with grocery stores and fresh food may feel like paradise after a few days on the trail, but they also take more time and energy to navigate.

Space and Weight

Bikepackers usually try to pack the most calories into the smallest and lightest package possible. This means choosing foods that are:

• High in fat like trail mix, full-fat cheese, and nut butter
• Low in water content like couscous, instant noodles, or dehydrated backpacking meals
• Compact like trail mix and cheese rather than chips
• Durable like freeze dried versions of fruits and vegetables

To cook or not to cook?

A stove, pot, and fuel take up space and add weight, so think carefully before you decide to cook on your bikepacking trip. If you’ll be passing through towns once every couple days, it’s possible to eat a satisfying menu of no-cook snacks plus the occasional grab-and-go meal from a convenience store or restaurant.

Cooking is most appealing if you have specific dietary restrictions, your route has long distances between resupplies, or you really enjoy the process of cooking at camp. If a hot cup of coffee in the morning is all you really need, consider a lightweight solid fuel or alcohol stove.

Food Ideas

These foods can be found in many small grocery stores throughout the United States.

• Healthy no-cook snacks
• Hard aged cheese, wax-wrapped cheese, or string cheese
• Jerky, meat sticks, or salami
• Trail mix and nuts
• Nut butter
• Protein or energy bars (look for higher fat and lower sugar)
• Dark chocolate
• Hummus with tortillas
• Grab-and-go meals from convenience stores
• Frozen burritos (let them thaw in your bag during the day)
• Sandwiches
• Canned food (heavy but convenient and can be eaten cold)
• Cheese and salami with tortillas
• Quick-cooking meals available in most convenience stores, and secret ingredients to spice them up
• Instant oatmeal (add nuts and dried fruit)
• Ramen (add peanut butter and hot sauce — really!)
• Instant mac-and-cheese (add extra cheese, bacon bits, salami, or dried veggies to this and the next two)
• Couscous
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Ingredients to buy at home and add to meals along the way
• Powdered butter, coconut oil, cream, or other high-fat powder to mix into meals
• Powdered milk to add to oatmeal or instant coffee
• Freeze dried vegetables
• Dried bean flakes
• Spices and seasoning packets

Up Next: Camping: The Joyous Backbone to Bikepacking

The post Food and Water Strategies for Bikepacking appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.

Heavy in Houston asks: I always overpack because I’m nervous I’ll need something I don’t have. How can I lighten my load both mentally and physically?

Dear Heavy in Houston,

You’re not alone. While I have been on tours with a few fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants folks, in my experience, the majority of pannier-toting bike tourists like to be prepared for anything. There’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s probably served you well in many aspects of your life. I get it; I’m a detail-loving planner, too! At the same time, one of the joys of bike touring and bikepacking is the freedom they give us from our day-to-day lives. And the last thing you want is to lose any of that joy by being weighed down both physically and metaphorically.

As cyclists, we’re fortunate that by distributing the weight on our bikes, a few extra pounds might not matter as much as it would for a backpacker. But even so, a lighter load makes it easier to get down the road and up those hills. More than that, being on the move involves a lot of packing and unpacking. The more stuff you have, the more stuff you need to keep track of and the less time you have for enjoying those quiet sunsets and hilltop vistas — or simply getting a solid night of sleep!

You’ve said that you always overpack, which makes me think that you’ve gone on bicycle tours before. That knowledge base is to your advantage. Have you considered making a personalized list of every item you brought on tour in the past? It may sound simple, but this is the time to catalog everything, down to the clothes and tools you’ve packed. In preparing for a recent cross-country trip with Adventure Cycling, several participants asked my co-leader and I what we were planning to bring. They were thrilled when we provided a very detailed list, right down to the number of charging cords and socks. (This is when I learned that my co-leader rides in sandals!)

For those who haven’t been on tour before, never fear. If you’re planning your own tour, Adventure Cycling has plenty of packing guides to get you started. And if you’re taking one of our guided tours, Adventure Cycling provides a detailed packing list when you sign up.

Once you have your list, carry it forward, modify it, and pare it down rather than starting from scratch each time you plan a new trip. To help me do this, I resist the urge to immediately get my gear and clothes clean and put away when I return from a tour. Instead, I dump everything out from my panniers (or duffles) and inventory what I packed and what I used. Do the same, and if you see something in your pile that you didn’t touch, take note. You probably won’t need to pack it next time. (The only exceptions I would make for this are rain gear and bike repair items. When I return from a tour and realize I didn’t need to use them, I count myself lucky and pack them again next time.)

As far as clothing, less is more. And honestly, there are only a few items that you really need more than one of, such as riding shorts. You can get by with two shorts and do some hand laundering each night. For these purposes, I always pack a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and a travel-sized bottle of liquid laundry detergent — instant washing machine! If you’re fortunate enough to have access to an actual laundry, those rain pants you hopefully don’t need can be worn while you’re cleaning all of your other well-used items.

The hardest part may be holding yourself to your packing list and not throwing in those “just in case” items before you head out the door. If you do discover you truly need something you didn’t pack, there will be stores along most routes. (Though it is a good idea to check your route first before you rely on this option.) If you could really use a warmer layer, buy a logoed fleece or beanie at the camp store. It will be a nice souvenir that you’ll treasure when you get home.

E-commerce is also an option. My air mattress developed a leaky valve while I was on the Southern Tier in East Texas. I was hundreds of miles from an REI or other sporting goods store, and it didn’t appear that I could fix it. After a couple of nights of suboptimal sleep, I was able to have a replacement delivered to a RV park a few days up the road. For some items, you might also rely on the kindness of others, whether it’s your riding buddy letting you use an extra light or a stranger giving you some snacks.

While most of your gear will apply to all your adventures, your packing list will vary a bit from trip to trip. Funny story: On a four-week ride through Alaska and the Yukon, I packed all of my usual camping necessities. Including a headlamp. In June. It never approached darkness on that trip and my headlamp stayed in a stuff sack the whole time. While I didn’t need the light, I was grateful that I thought to pack a headnet to fend off the blood-thirsty mosquitoes, something that I wouldn’t need on a jaunt from home in Southern California.

Here’s another tip: don’t just write down your list. Lay your gear out all together before packing it away and take a photo or two. It may be several months before your next big trip, and those quick images can ease the packing anxiety next time around. For instance, you’ll clearly see exactly which long-sleeve shirt you brought along, and then remember that you liked the sun protection it provided and that your riding partner remarked on how visible it made you on the road. That one’s a keeper.

One of the joys of bike touring is stripping life back to the basics. We need to feed ourselves, regulate temperature, and get some rest each night, and when it comes down to it, that’s really it. I’ve been amazed at how little “stuff” I need, even for an 11-week trip across the continent. It’s almost a shock getting home and seeing how many things I own and definitely didn’t miss. When I’m on a self-contained bike tour, I truly have everything I need, literally within reach. If there is something I don’t have, I’ll make it work anyway.

Remember: It’s supposed to be an adventure. Trust that you’re a resourceful person and that even if you find yourself in a bit of a pickle, you’ll figure it out and it will make for a good story later.

Wishing you a wonderful tour, as well as some newfound levity both on the bike and in spirit.

Brielle Wacker led two epic cross-country tours with Adventure Cycling last year and is eagerly looking forward to many weeks on the road again this year. When not sleeping in her tent, she resides in Solana Beach, California.

The post Ask An Adventure Cycling Tour Leader: How To Stop Overpacking appeared first on Adventure Cycling Association.