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.

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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!

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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.

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I had to abandon a long tour that I had been planning for years halfway through it, and I’m still devastated. How do I get over it?

Dear Devastated,

I’m so sorry. It’s understandable that you’re feeling a great sense of loss, given how invested you were in this trip. It is totally okay to take some time to grieve the fact that it didn’t turn out as initially planned. You had intended to make this dream a reality, and circumstances got in the way of that happening. Something like this, that has been in your mind and heart for so long, isn’t something you can get over just like that.

Last year I co-led two cross-country trips, and at each of the orientation meetings, our participants shared why they picked this particular trip. It was truly inspiring to hear so many of them describe the years, and even decades, that they had been thinking and dreaming of riding their bicycle across the country. Many had to wait for the right time, whether it was retirement or kids leaving the house. They had to get the support of their loved ones, since nine to eleven weeks is a really long time to be away from home and household responsibilities. Many had to save up money because even though bicycle travel is pretty darn cost-effective compared to other types of travel, it still costs a chunk of change to go on a multi-week tour. Everyone did so much preparation just to get to the start of the tour — even that was a feat to be celebrated.

Then the actual riding started, and “it got real,” as they say. Both tours dealt up challenging weather, traffic, and road conditions. Even under the best of circumstances, 60-75 days is a long time to ride your bicycle. And honestly, there were times when some riders didn’t think they’d finish. I don’t know your unique circumstances, but a whole list of reasons for ending your tour come to mind: injury, weather, mechanical issues, family emergency, group dynamics. Any of which can lead to fatigue, loneliness, frustration, homesickness, and finally just feeling the need to tap out. You are human.

The need to abandon your tour before it was complete does not diminish what you accomplished. If your initial tour was 3,000 miles and you made it halfway, that means you rode your bicycle 1,500 miles! That is something that 99.9% of people haven’t done and won’t ever do. If you planned to ride for a month and only made it two weeks, you still planned and completed a two-week bicycle tour, which is long, even for the most committed recreational cyclists. I would bet money that if you described your tour to nearly anyone — where it started and where you finished — they would be impressed beyond belief. Please don’t sell yourself short on what you did.

While it’s possible that you’ll always have some regrets about what happened, sometimes as time passes, we’re able to make peace with an unfortunate outcome. Let me share a personal experience.

When I was in my early 20s, there was nothing I wanted more than to join the Peace Corps. After making it through many stages of the process, they ultimately declined my application due to a past medical concern. I also was devastated. I felt really lost, trying to reconcile my reality with what I had been envisioning for many months. Eventually other opportunities and possibilities came, and I took another path in helping others and in satiating my appetite for adventure. I still think about the Peace Corps but no longer feel the deep disappointment from that rejection. Ultimately, I’m glad that life worked out the way it did. I wonder if your future adventures might also someday ease what currently feels so heartbreaking?

In addition to recognizing the validity of your feelings and trusting that time might cast a different light on your trip, I’m wondering what the possibilities are for resuming your tour where you left off? Many, many people tackle epic journeys in smaller pieces for time and logistical reasons. Section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or section biking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route are much more common than tackling the whole thing in one go. It doesn’t even have to be right away. When the COVID pandemic started, many epic trips had to stop mid-way through. Even though it took two or three years, some of these groups were so committed to finishing with the same people that they went to great lengths to make that happen.

If this is a possibility, you’d hardly be starting from scratch. It sounds like you’ve done much of the planning, and from the amount of the tour you’ve already completed, you probably have some wisdom that you didn’t have the first time around. If it wasn’t a particular event that caused you to abandon your tour, but rather some more generalized conditions, are there ways to mitigate circumstances that were challenging? If you were previously solo, can you bring a riding buddy? Is this a route that would benefit from some vehicle support? Would it be helpful to break the days into shorter distances or factor in more rest days? It’s okay to adjust expectations for what your dream long tour should look like.

If you decide to start planning a new dream tour, there’s never been a better time for bike touring! The options for off road adventures utilizing bike paths and gravel roads keep expanding. Many small towns welcome bicycle tourism. Digital routes are easily searchable and accessible via RidewithGPS. And if the planning seems like a lot, Adventure Cycling offers several epic guided tours each year. Not only are the logistics taken care of, but as tour leaders we are there to support and empower you on your journey.

Your feelings about your discontinued tour are totally valid, and I feel for you. No one wants to keep mulling the “what ifs” of plans that didn’t go how we were expecting. Ultimately though, you had an adventure. If there were things you could have done differently, I’m guessing you learned from them. If you ended your tour due to circumstances beyond your control, even the best laid plans go awry. My wish for you is that you are able to both find pride in what you accomplished and start dreaming about your next big adventure. Happy pedaling!

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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.

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