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After reading so many of your adventures/trips on here I decided to take the plunge - an itch I've been dying to scratch. I somewhat convinced two of my mates to give it a go and try something different... remains to see if we remain friends after this trip!
We decided on the popular and looks-fairly-uncomplicated (on paper) West country Way. After much plotting, drinking, and scheming (new bike was bought & lots of new-used gear turning up in the house) I think we are excited, nervous and raring to go.
Any tips / humorous stories are welcome from you seasoned lot.
Enjoy yourselves, think of it as touring not racing. You don't need to take all the kit.
When bivvying, arrive late (after the pub 🙂 ), leave early, leave no trace so no fires. Try and find somewhere to bivy where you can't see lights from houses - if you can't see them then they can't see you - the countryside is very dark at night so even a small torch stands out.
nice one whitestone, thanks for the tip
Take your time enjoy it and remember getting misplaced is part of the fun ,I normally bed down about midnight and up and gone by 6/7 ,try and get packed up before your breakfast then if anyone does come past it's only a few minutes to finish packing and move on, and don't forget you don't need to wash your only out a few days
My tip is always to be one step ahead of your mates. Be quicker at putting your kit up, pack up your sleeping kit as soon as you wake up etc.
It'll wind up your mates that they're last and it makes life simpler and easier.
Take a (nice) surprise for the trip to have/do with your mates - whisky, chocolate, playing cards, cheese etc
Take a (nice) surprise for the trip to have/do with your mates
Sounds like a neat idea, ta
Yep, surprise is great idea. Always remember one of my mates bringing along a vacuum flask of mulled wine. Good lad he carried it all day, and was just the right temp to drink after a long day in the hills.
Silly little tips really, merino is ace, warm at night, but not to warm to ride in and a it less pongy after a few days.
Beer is great, but getting out of your bivi bag twice in the night is not... (insert hip flask contents of choice here).
Have a book and a few podcasts on phone, in case you get bivi insomnia like i do on first night for some reason (sleep like a baby for 2nd and 3rd nights)
Just because you have a full arrangement of shiny bikepacking bags does not mean you have to fill everyone, a heavy bike is still a heavy bike.
Take the puncture kit for your air mat.
Don't think you have to cover huge distances each say, stop and enjoy your surroundings.
Kenco coffee bags (favourite is Hot Lava Java) are easy for a brew.
Chorizo added to every meal is great..
Enjoy it.
Finally if i see you with Instagram "look i'm bikepacking # mugdangle" i will push you off!!
You'll only use half the stuff you take. Next time you'll take less and still not use half!
Something will fall off your bike on a bumpy descent. Hope you notice at the time not later! I once has to cycle back over Farley Mount to collect my sleeping bag at 1am because of this (pubs were involved )
Doing it in summer is ace. Bivvying in the snow is acer. Bivvying in rain really isn't.
Somewhere with a view to wake up to is great!
Ear plugs and a beanie/buff that you can pull down over your eyes, they don't weigh much but will make it much easier to sleep!
Don't overpack - a good example of a minimalist kit list here: https://joecruz.wordpress.com/2018/03/17/gravel-bikepacking-trip-packing-list/
Get a tick tweezer and check yourselves after you set up camp, some areas are really bad at the moment and Lyme disease is no joke.
Dangle your mug if you want.
Have fun!
Following on from @40mpg - if you enjoy yourself and decide to go again, when you get home put your kit into three piles:
Stuff you used
Stuff you didn't use but it's a bit silly heading out without it - spares, toolkit
Stuff you didn't use
Next time don't bother taking the stuff in the last pile. 😉
Also it's worth having a read of this http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.com/2016/08/tls-revolutionary-packing-system.html
thanks all some very useful stuff. Tic remover lives in my medikit thanks for the reminder to check oneself..
to collect my sleeping bag at 1am because of this (pubs were involved )
hahah will make a mental note of that, we already tried the pub thing post a 60km ride on Sunday and it ended up me being absolutely useless for the next hour at home.... remembered to bring bike and son back home though
Take wetwipes for a bedbath.
Take your rubbish away.
will be following the results of this thread with interest as I've agreed to cycle the length of Wales in 5 days in a couple of months time as my first go at bikepacking. Not even been camping for about 15 years I think 🙂
Surprise item on my last trip was a small radio, worked well.
There is NEVER a better pitch round the corner. If its roughly the right time and a great place appears stop there!
Staple your mouth shut. Slugs are horriblr.
Newbies planning a first time bike packing trip this event will be just up your street with demos, hire of bike packing kit, and guided rides if needed. Superb area for your first bike packing experience.
www.southlakesbikefest.com
Rich
Dont spent the entire night in the Royal Hotel in Hayfield drinking then set of up the flanks of Kinder at kicking out time in -5C temeratures. Struggle to find the bivi spot put your bike down in the long grass with lights out, finally find the bivii spot recommend by the barmaid in the pub but then realise you cant remember where the bikes are.
There is NEVER a better pitch round the corner
Must remember this I seem to be the type who always thinks the grass is greener on the other side
That looks ace Rich, but the Lakes call for a much more planned journey from here.. will keep it in mind once the bug has fully bitten
Thanks for the tips all..