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June 30, 2023
Whether you're planning your first overnight mission or an epic mutli-country adventure, getting some pointers and tips from someone like Martin and Chrystal Freyer is never a bad idea. This power-couple is currently exploring Europe and all it has to offer, finding new places, meeting new people and allowing the road to take them on new adventures.
One can easily grab at excuses of not having enough time or the right equipment. Here is our advice on planning a bike-packing trip: Take some, leave some, and remember that this is just what we know. In our opinion, there is no right or wrong way to bikepack. Everyone must find what works for them.
It all starts with a plan. In our case, the plan was to have no plan (in terms of the route), although two things are essential before you can start your planning, your timeline and your budget.
Timeline
Timeline differs per person and trip. Sometimes, all you have is a week or a weekend. Other times you are more fortunate to take a sabbatical or a few months off. We have been fortunate enough to take an entire year off, but you don’t need a year to experience a bikepacking trip. We would define bikepacking as a trip lasting more than one day of riding, where you carry your things. So, even if you only have a long weekend, go for it.
Your timeline is important, as your route will likely spring from how much time you have – whether you stick locally or have enough time to travel through a country, a few countries, and possibly a continent or two.
Budget – firstly, do you have savings available or have time to save up/put some money aside before the trip? Budget is dependent on:
We started by reading blogs of other bike packers touring through the areas we had in mind (Italy, Greece, Norway, Spain, Portugal, etc.) and got a general idea of how much they spent on food and daily accommodation – we then settled on a budget of 40 Euro/day for two people, 10 euro for accommodation (considering our desire to wild camp) / 30 euro for food. Before you set up your budget, look at what you already have or what you can potentially borrow. If you already have camping equipment you can make use of some or most of it, notably if you can fit it on your bike. We did a lot of research on products and found there seems to be a triangle of aspects that one needs to weigh up; price, weight, and size, between these three it’s about finding the right balance that works for you.
Other things to consider when setting up your budget:
*Try to over budget, and underspend. Budget for unexpected expenses.
Once you have set up your budget, you will have a much better idea of what your trip might look like and how much you will need to save. Once the budget and timeline are set, it’s time to dive into the exciting adventure of planning!
Location
Travelling by bike allows you to explore an area to new depths. As a bikepacker, you are seen as travelling “vulnerably”, and so people are extremely inviting and friendly. You also travel much slower and thus take in more of your surroundings.
We chose Europe primarily because we thought it would be an easy way to start our bikepacking adventure, there are always towns close-by, water readily available, phone signal and WIFI practically everywhere, so we didn't require intense planning.
Things to consider when choosing a location:
The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to travel to another continent to experience bikepacking. There may be mountain ranges a few kilometers from your hometown that you’ve never explored before, making them perfect for a bikepacking trip. Even that region of your own country, with a name you can’t pronounce, is worth checking out over a week-long tour.
Gear/ Equipment
Gear and equipment vary based on budget and preference, so below is only what we have and what we would recommend. We have been very fortunate to have amazing brands supporting us, as well as a longer pre-trip saving period which allowed us to afford some great products. However, for most things, you can get by with the basics or opt for DIY. For instance, Chrystal’s sister’s parents-in-law experienced their first bikepacking trip in Malawi back in 1983. They strapped woven baskets to their bikes and set off on a month-long adventure.
But, if you have the option and preference for amazing products, then here is our list:
Clothing
There are three key factors to consider - space, durability, and convenience. When bikepacking over longer periods we recommend choosing items of clothing that can be worn ‘on’ as well as ‘off’ the bike (casually). This can be tricky because you probably spend the majority of time on the bike, but occasionally need something acceptable for a restaurant.
We are grateful to have had access to CIOVITA’s range which is just amazing, so we’ve managed to find everything we need.
On the Bike
Bibs: Apex and Supremo bibs, both cargo and normal (we love CIOVITA’s cargo bibs, there seems to be an infinite storage place ideal for long days on the bike. Some bikepackers do ride without padded pants, but we have found it very comfortable to be living in cycling gear, so if you have the option of sitting more comfortably then why not?
Trail baggies with trail liner shorts. Great for exploring a city where you want to fit into normally clothed crowds a bit more. The trail liner shorts pack super small and are a great option as an extra chamois.
Adventure shirts: the material is comfortable and breathable and pretty enough to wear to a restaurant with a sneaky pocket on the side for your wallet and phone.
Cold weather: Even though unusual for the start of the European summer season we have experienced some very wet and cold days. The key to that is layering up. CIOVITA’s range gives you the option for this. With the options of a Gilet, windbreaker, Contego Insulated jacket, and Pachetto waterproof jacket, we have had no problem staying both dry and warm. We love the hood on the Pachetto jacket, as it fits over your helmet. All this with a Merino undervest, and I believe we should be ready for winter.
Off the Bike
We rarely get out of our cycling clothing because it really is so comfortable and looks great too. However, when we do, these have been our choices, they are also great on the bike for more casual days around the city.
Merino socks: they dry quickly, are super comfortable, and are not too hot, but keep you warm and they don't become too smelly over time. Merino shirts: same as the socks, and great to ride in as well.
Puffy jacket: I haven’t ridden in this quite yet, but my go-to when I get off the bike and in the evenings.
Merino beanie that is also thin enough to fit underneath your helmet, and then a Cadence knitted one for off the bike.
Casual shirts, short and long sleeves as well as a jacket.
Shoes: This was a long debate for us about going with or without cleats. Most bikepackers leave the cleats at home, mainly for comfort but also for injury prevention. We were leaning that way but then decided at the last minute to take them along. The shoe collection consists of our cleats, then I couldn’t leave my Vellies behind, and a pair of sandals, Birkenstocks for Chrystal.
Gadgets
Bikepackers love their gadgets, and they love even more to compare gadgets and apps when you cross paths on the road.
Navigation
We’ve used the Komoot app to plan our routes. This is very handy and easy to upload to your device. A quick tip: if you are touring with 20kg+ make sure to check where the route is taking you. The gravel option takes you on beautiful routes, but these routes are sometimes unrideable with that amount of weight, whereas the touring option is easy riding but often on more mundane roads or close to a highway. Both our head units have built-in maps which are very handy to navigate while riding.
Camera and filming
The best camera to use is the one that is the quickest accessible. We have a GoPro, a Sony a6400, and a drone, but in the end, the most convenient is to use your phone and to be honest you save a lot of space without a full filming setup. If you do take a camera, I would recommend getting a proper cycling strap for it ( we were gifted one by a friend, and it has been perfect for what we need, it’s a “NODO Packs” strap with an extra chest strap. This strap allows you to cycle (or even trail run) with the camera strapped to your back without it swaying around and thus is also quickly accessible for a shot.
Random useful things
For sleeping, an eye mask and earbuds. We have camped in a few places where sound and light have been a major problem, so these two will come in handy (trust us, rather have them and not need them).
So now, you have a budget for your trip, you know how long you are going and where you are going, and you have the right equipment. Sometimes looking at a list like this is slightly overwhelming, but one should not overcomplicate things. In the end, it’s all about taking your bike out to explore, and somehow making it work.
Planning is important, but the beauty of bikepacking and meeting other bikepackers on the way is that everyone does it differently, and there is no one way to do it. Just start.
Another thing to remember while bikepacking is to take it slow, stop for that coffee, take your time talking to the farmer next to the road, and don’t be afraid to have a shorter day on the bike to camp in a beautiful spot. We are still learning day by day to slow down and not focus on the distance covered.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please send us an email or message, we always love answering questions.
Instagram: @followingthefreyers
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Take it easy and enjoy the trip.