Let's Go Bike Packing

Starting Something New at 45 – My First Steps into Bikepacking

I’ve spent a lot of time in the saddle over the years. Long rides, steep climbs, muddy trails and commuting, cycling has always been an escape and often a challenge. But lately, when out on a family cycle, I found myself craving something else. Not more speed, although that would be nice as I seem to be stuck in one gear or more miles—but maybe something with no fixed agenda. A different kind of cycle.

This is where bikepacking comes in.

Bikepacking involves packing your essentials onto a bike (typically a gravel or mountain-style bike, but it could also be a fat bike), keeping things as light as possible while ensuring you can be self-sustained for a significant period. It differs from Bike Touring, where the tyres are slick, the panniers are bigger, and the space is a bit more plentiful.

I didn’t know it was a thing, but since ingesting a million YouTube videos on the subject, I would say I’m now perfectly qualified to go and fail miserably. But when have I ever let that put me off?

I’ve never done it. Never slept under a tarp in the countryside, having got there under my own steam. Never had to carry all my kit for days on end. But the idea of it, rolling out with everything I need, or a version of that, unplugged from the world, with no agenda except to ride, rest, and repeat, feels like the kind of thing that most of us could use nowadays.

Maybe it’s turning 45. Maybe it’s the urge to prove that adventure doesn’t have an expiry date. Maybe it’s just about making space to be outside, properly outside, for more than a few hours at a time.

Whatever the reason, I’m about to try my first bike-packing trip.

And this is the start of that journey. I’ll share what I learn as I go, from choosing the right gear and figuring out what actually fits on a bike to the lessons I’ll almost definitely learn the hard way. It won’t be perfect. But it’ll be honest!

If you’re a cyclist who’s thought about going further beyond the usual loops and Strava segments, or you’re simply looking for a new kind of escape, maybe this series will help spark something. Or perhaps it just shows that you’re never too late to start something new.

Next up: planning the route, testing my gear, and deciding what I really need to bring.

Let’s see where we end up.