Bikes, backpacks, and bears?! (Oh my…)

"The pursuit of adventure can take on many forms. However, few adventures combine the beauty and solace of nature and wildlife with the thrill of biking and the self-reliance of backpacking."

Meet the sport of bikepacking

Are you a backpacker looking to add more miles to your adventures? Maybe you’re a mountain biker seeking more time out in nature. Or perhaps you are a novice explorer, looking for the outdoor sport that has it all. No matter which category best describes you, we have a sneaking feeling that bikepacking will check off more than one person’s boxes of adventure-seeking.

Combining the sports of biking and backpacking, bikepacking is a fresh take on outdoor adventuring that allows you to go further, see more, and recharge your soul in nature. Bikepacking can be a single overnight adventure close to home or a cross-country excursion that gives you the gift of seeing the backcountry in a whole new light. Paved, gravel, dirt, or singletrack trails are all fair game when it comes to this human-powered sport.

The best bikes for bikepacking

The best bike for starting out in this combo-adventure-pack sport is the one you already own. If you own multiple bikes or are in the market for a new one, it’s best to consider comfort and how you feel while riding that matters most. After all, if you’ll be climbing up stoic hills and digging deep across miles and miles of terrain, you’re going to want to put your comfort above all else.

While many choose an all-terrain bike, like a mountain bike or gravel bike, some bikepackers also choose to use a road bike. It all comes down to what terrain you plan on pedaling over, and which bike can take you the furthest comfortably.

An easy way to upgrade your bike without breaking the bank is to invest in a new saddle that offers additional padding and shock protection for your body type.

How & What to pack

Balance. Bikepacking is all about balancing your gear and packing as light as possible—not only to save your body from pedaling extra weight but also to help your bike perform as best as it can. You may need to experiment with different packs and even different camping gear to find the right combination (and balance) that fits your trip, your bike, and your own personal abilities.

Why not just wear a backpack? Why invest in special bikepacking accessories and packs? Again, the answer is because it can impact your overall balance on your bike. Your center of gravity and your bike’s center of gravity is extremely important to maximize your experience.

So how do you pack your bike properly? We’re glad you asked! Follow this simple guide below for a quick and easy way to get packing for your bikepacking adventure:

Panniers

Great for carrying heavy items
Tents, cooking equipment, food, and water fit great in a pannier pack
Clothes, sleeping bags, and pads also fit nicely in a pannier pack
Just remember to distribute the weight evenly on both sides of the panniers
Check out our Hwy 61 Bike Panniers with an expandable roll-top to fit just about anything

Handlebar Bags

Keep anything light and that you need while riding in here
Keys, wallet, phone, snacks, maps, and other objects you want readily available
Try our Sawbill Trail Handlebar Bag that doubles as a small shoulder bag

Tube Bags

Good for other travel necessities you may need on the trail
Bike repair tools, spare tires, bike pump, leatherman, flint/steel, fire starters, and a tire patch or five
Our Trezona Tube Bag is a tried and true favorite here at Frost River

Trail Trivia

Did you know that you have a higher chance of being hit by a car than being attacked by a bear? That being said, biking in nature means coming across wildlife—and sometimes that can mean surprising a bear, especially when coming around a bend or bush. Make sure if you’re in bear country, especially during their more active times before hibernation, to carry bear spray on your person at all times. After all, while you might be a fast biker, there’s no out biking a bear who tops out at 30 MPH.

When & Where to go

This may very well be the hardest choice you have to make when planning your bikepacking adventure. While a trip on a paved local path may be easier to start on, more epic long weekend or backcountry biking opportunities are limitless. We recommend a loop trip—it allows you to park one car in one place, giving you a full outdoor experience with the convenience of pedaling back to your car at the end of a grueling bikepacking trip and saving you time having to backtrack to your vehicle.

Wherever you choose to go, make sure you’re either on a well-marked path with signs, bring a compass and a map, or a GPS device of sorts for a stress-free trek into the wild on your bike.

Season and time of year will also affect your bikepacking trip. Depending on where you live and what season it is, your hours of daylight for biking and setting up camp will vary. Make sure you plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time to arrive at designated campsites ahead of sunset to set up and cook yourself a well-earned meal.

Mileage also matters when planning your trip. Depending on your skill level, you’ll want to find a route that accommodates your physical abilities to bike a certain amount of miles in one day—while allotting for all the scenic views you’ll stop to take in, meals, breaks, and camp chores before sunset.

Wherever you choose to venture out on your trusty metal steed, you’re sure to have an epic time that you’ll not soon forget!