The idea of bikepacking is that you reduce your worldly possessions to basic essentials, pack them into some waterproof bags and get on with the tour. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It is a minimalistic life on two wheels that allows one to cover more distance than can ever be covered hiking. But it requires some basic preparations like getting some basic essential gear to keep the ride smooth:

● A Bike: A bike is one of the essentials that you need for a bikepacking adventure. It can be any kind of bike depending on your personal preference. It may be a Brompton folding bike or a regular geared bike or an electric bike depending on what kind of vehicle and distance you wish to cover. If you are going mountain biking then you need to mount some storage bags to be fully prepared for the terrain. The forest path includes fire trails as well as forest paths, gravelly roads, as well as single tracks. So make sure you get the bike that can handle such diversity safely, reliably, and robustly.

● Gear: The list of fixtures needed for one such journey is a little longer than the rest. Therefore, you need to look for a bike that has enough fixtures for mounting bags on the bike. However, it is wise to avoid carrying loads of weight on your shoulders or back as it will be engaged in bearing the impact of country and off-beat roads. That is a load enough, so make sure you keep the load off your body and closer to the ground. It will increase the chances of a more comfortable and stable ride preventing the chances of any hunchback later.

● Tools: Make sure you have enough tools to handle rain, a flat tire, and the slight chill that is common for dawns in forests. The list of essentials includes a multi-tool, helmet, spare inner tube, cable ties, duck tape, puncture repair kit, some gloves, and a sleeping bag.

● Clothing: Keep an eye on the weather forecast to stay prepared for what may come to you in the middle of a forest. If the weather is expected to be warm, make sure you have synthetic undies and t-shirts packed. But if the weather is expected to be colder, make sure you pack a beanie, a raincoat, fleece, gloves, warm undies, and enough clothes for layering. Cycling may keep you warm on the move but as soon as you stop at the camp you will need all the layers to keep your body temperature warm.

● Camping: The list of essentials for camping should include a sleeping bag, fuel, stove, dish, utensils, a hammock or a tent, some dish soap, and matches. Also, pack up some instant coffee, noodles, and other packaged food packs as preparing food from scratch might not be a very good idea after a long and exhausting day of off-road biking. Other miscellaneous things include a camera, first aid kit, sunscreen, water filter, water, snacks, map, GPS, compass, and lots of nuts.

St Kilda Cycles
5 Vale St., St Kilda.
Vic 3182
(03) 9534 3074
[email protected]
https://stkildacycles.com.au