When it comes to bikepacking, if you want the best experience, it’s good to do some bikepacking training. If you don’t, there’s a strong possibility of injuries, and it’s going to be a fairly painful and achy trip. Many, unfortunately, learn the hard way.

We all have our own training methods. Some like to do lots of base miles to condition the body for bikepacking, and others like short and sharp turbo training sessions. No matter how you train, there are always ways you can improve. 

As a seasoned ultra cyclist and bikepacker who has trained many people, I am going to give you my top twelve tips! Let’s go!

1. Have A Plan

If you have a big trip coming up and know it will be challenging on the body, then bikepacking training is a must. Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall into the trap of just getting on the bike whenever, and this, in my opinion, isn’t a great way of doing things. 

Having a plan keeps you in check and ensures that you are pushing yourself further and getting fitter. It means you can track progression and see what’s working for you and what’s not as you get towards your event. Don’t just wing it!

If you want help making a plan check out How To Train For Bikepacking!

2. Duration Not Distance

When I first started cycling, I fell into this trap. I trained on distance, not duration, and it’s not a good way of going about things. Training on distance doesn’t count for hills, winds, and other factors. 

Training on duration does, and it is much more trackable when wearing a heart rate monitor and using a Garmin. For me, learning that distance is irrelevant and that time was the right factor to train by really helped me from over or under-training. 

3. Train Loaded

One of the biggest comments I get from bikepackers when they first get on a trip is, “I can’t believe how different it feels with all my luggage on!” I think this is unbelievable to hear because it’s wild that people go into bikepacking without being on a loaded bike. 

A loaded bike not only adds weight but also changes how the bike feels to ride. Moving it left to right is much harder, heavier over bumps, and less agile than you might think. I think it’s good to do some training loaded. It doesn’t have to be every ride, just some.

4. Nutrition Game Plan

Focusing on how hard you are working and getting the time on the bike is one thing. Eating right is another. Firstly, it is important to ensure you eat enough to fuel your training, and eating enough of the right food also helps. 

Carbohydrates provide energy, protein provides recovery, and fats provide extra stores of slow-burning fuel. Find the foods that work for you and find a way to consume them while on your adventure. If you eat poorly, you will get weak, tired, and irritable. 

5. When In Doubt, Spin It Out

Something I found really helpful in my bikepacking training was the importance of cadence and how to use it. I used to have a low cadence and loved a standing climb. However, I found it more fatiguing and, in time, made me ache more. 

I learned to train and focus on maintaining a higher cadence, which helped me so much. Not only did I have the ability to generate more power, but I also found the injuries were fewer and farther between, and my pedaling felt more efficient. 

6. Climb, Climb, And Climb More

I have always found that no matter how much I felt I had prepared for climbs, they always felt harder when bikepacking. I came to realize that climbing is much harder when bikepacking. The extra weight, less movement of the bike, and often working on tired legs.

I highly recommend working on lots of climbing in your training, loaded and unloaded. Learn how to climb with proper cadences and regulate your pace when coming to steeper sections. It really helped me to use a heart rate monitor to ensure I didn’t push too much.

7. Bikepacking Training Tough Conditions

When you are bikepacking, there will be times when the weather or conditions will not be your friend. It’s so important to train in these conditions so you are used to it when the bikepacking trips come around. 

In my training, I will ride in the rain, ride at night, go on poorly maintained roads and trails, and won’t shy from a headwind. These rides make me feel much more comfortable when the tough days come when you are on an epic trip and away from home. 

8. Cross Train

Bikepacking training isn’t just riding a bike. There’s so much more you can do to help improve your experience out on the roads or trails. Here’s what I recommend you could do alongside your cycle training.

• Strength Training
• Stretching
• Practicing Bike Repairs
• Camping Practice
• Packing And Unpacking

These are just a few things which are going to help your ability to go bikepacking. I highly recommend the camping practice near home so you can get used to sleeping rough and using your kit.

9. Practice Mental Focus When Bikepacking Training

There are many ups and downs when it comes to bikepacking. You need to be tough physically and mentally. It’s good to practice being mentally tough by problem-solving when needed, using positive thinking, and even visualizing what you want to happen.

If you are unsure how to do this, I have written an amazing article on how to become more mentally focused. It’s called Bikepacking Mental Toughness: How To Become Mentally Tough. It will give some great pointers on managing your feelings on a ride. 

10. Prioritize Rest

I have been lucky enough to train some amazing bikepackers and ultra cyclists, and one thing I have noticed in many of them is that they have previously overtrained. It’s really easy to want to do huge miles without much rest, but this won’t help you. 

Many bikepacking coaches will recommend in your training to regularly only go up 6 to 8 hours maximum unless you are doing special training. Being on the bike every day and doing long rides all the time isn’t going to do you any favors. 

11. Bikepacking Training With Others

Training with others is a great way to help you push yourself and become a better bikepacker. I have trained with incredible athletes who have pushed me and taught me to be much better. 

Not only does this help with my motivation, but it also gives me ideas on how I can improve and allows me to look at what other people might be doing, which I am not. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help and advice. The bikepacking community is amazing. 

12. Practice Navigation

You will be riding and eating a lot when bikepacking, but another big part of it is navigation. Although you might have an all-singing, all-dancing satellite navigation, you must learn how to use it.

Practice going on your local routes using a satellite navigation system, and also practice working around diversions. The last thing you will want on a bikepacking trip is to not understand how to navigate because on an adventure it will be even more challenging on a trail with no reception. 

A Final Note: Bikepacking Training

Bikepacking training differs greatly from training for a time trial or a hill climb event. There’s so many more factors to consider and if you want the best out of a bikepacking trip you need to be creative and make it work.

For A Full Guide On How To Train For Bikepacking Check Out Our Bikepacking Training Guide!

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