Adventure cycling for me was life-changing, and when I went on my first bikepacking trip, it blew my mind because it was so different from what I expected it to be. What I thought was just going to be hard work was the complete opposite. 

My first bikepacking trip was over a decade ago and since then I have been adventuring multiple times each year. On top of that, I have also been in many ultra cycling races, even beaten some world record breaking rides!

In this article, I will tell you what to expect from your first bikepacking trip! The good, the bad, and the ugly! Let’s go!

It’s Going To Be Tough!

The first thing to mention is it’s going to be tough. Cycling for hours on hours each day is hard work, and that’s not factoring in all the extra weight you are carrying in luggage and the cumulative fatigue that will build up in your legs. 

It’s important not to let this put you off because the hardship of all the cycling comes with many benefits and traveling by pedal power I find offers something nothing else can. For me, days two and three feel hard, but after that, it’s routine. 

You Will Feel Out Of Your Depth!

When I first went bikepacking, I was so scared and worried about everything. Would I find a place to sleep? What if my bike broke? Did I have enough money to fly or train home, and even what if I had to ride at night?

There’s no avoiding that feeling when you first get on the road or trails for the first time, and all that built-up energy and all those nerves start to come out. This goes with experience, and you will find that, in time, you will feel more confident, and you will worry so much less.

You Will Eat So Much Food And Probably Lose Weight!

When bikepacking, you are going to burn a lot of calories. These need replenishing, and to do that, you are going to need to eat a lot of food. Eating lots of carbohydrates and ensuring you get some protein and fat in two goes a long way.

I often find that when I go bikepacking, I not only eat a huge amount of food but also come back lighter than I was when I left. Sometimes, I lose two to three kilograms a week, and I eat so much junk food.

It Will Free You From Day To Day Life

My favorite thing about bikepacking is that it completely frees you from daily life. There’s no work to worry about, time is irrelevant, and if you have a camping kit, you don’t need to worry too much about where you will sleep.

All you need to think about is pedaling forward, navigating, and ensuring you eat and drink enough. It’s such a simple process where you can really just switch off from the world and enjoy riding your bike.

 You Are Going To Have A Huge Amount Of Fun!

Bikepacking isn’t just riding a bike. It’s more than that. It’s exploration, it’s adventure, and it’s a challenge. Although the work is hard, you will have a huge amount of fun. It’s such an exciting experience, and you can look back on each day with a smile. 

I can honestly say some of the best experiences of my life have been out on the roads, just enjoying going from town to town on my bike. Even when racing, it’s hard to take the smile off my face.

Fail To Prepare, Prepare To Fail!

One of the biggest lessons I found on my first bikepacking trip was that if you don’t prepare well, you will have to pay the price. You can’t forget essential items such as tools and spares, and you must prepare for every eventuality. 

I once entered the Race Around The Netherlands without a cold or wet weather kit because the weather looked great before the race. I soon regretted that. It went to 0 degrees, and it was ice-cold rain when I only had my summer kit on. It was terrible!

You Will Learn To Enjoy Your Own Company

One thing I found about bikepacking, and what a lot of other bikepackers find, is that they start to really enjoy their own company. When you get used to being in your own mind, you start to enjoy it.

Bikepacking with others is great, but there’s something special about being on your own adventures. There’s nothing like bikepacking time to think, and I always return with such a clear mind and very relaxed. 

You Will Be Gutted When Your First Bikepacking Trip Is Over

Bikepacking, for many, isn’t just a holiday. It’s often a challenge as well. You can fight and fight until the end, wishing it over, but when you finish, there’s a strong chance that you are going to be gutted when the journey is over. The first bikepacking trip won’t be forgotten easily.

I have found the same with all my bikepacking trips. I get to the end, and the thought of going back to reality just sucks. I am always looking for the next adventure right after I finish a trip, as it is a good way to stay motivated and not get the after-trip blues.

You Will Learn To Appreciate People And Cultures On Your First Bikepacking Trip

Before I went on my first bikepacking trip, I thought I had been to a few places and understood the ability to appreciate other cultures. Then I went bikepacking and realized that I had so much more to learn and hadn’t even scratched the surface of other countries.

Bikepacking takes you deep into a country where very few tourists go. This really helps you embrace the people and the culture. I have had 1 a.m. BBQs in Bulgaria with locals fixed my bike in local car shops, drank coffee roadside, and had many more crazy times. 

You Will Be Unable To Forget Some Of The Views

I have been lucky enough to go to some amazing places, and the views just stay with you forever. The Splugen Pass, Italy, Punta Olimpica, Peru, and the deserts of Oman are places I will never forget.

There’s something special, not just about seeing the views while on a bike but having to earn them. The climbs on a bike don’t come easy, and the views are like the rewards at the top. I don’t feel like I would have remembered them so well if I had gone in a car. 

A Final Note: First Bikepacking Trip!

Bikepacking is incredible, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get into adventure cycling. It’s so tough to explain how much of an amazing time you will have. It’s an unforgettable experience.

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