When it comes to bikepacking and ultra cycling, I have been so lucky to go to some incredible places around the world with incredible people. Like with any bikepacking experiences, sometimes things get a little crazy and years later you look back and just have to laugh.

I was recently reflecting on some of the rides I have done and having a stroll through my Instagram. It got me thinking about times when I never would have expected to be in a situation, and although different, it was amazing. 

In this article, I want to tell you about some of the times I have been away and felt I have had some special moments. Here are some of those times!

Before We Start!

A lot of these adventures were so long ago, and I don’t have much when it comes to content. Some of them I made videos (Years ago, terrible quality, I’m sorry). I also took pictures, which I have taken from my Instagram at low quality. I hope it paints a picture for you. 

Jebel Shams, Oman Desert

The first place I’m going to start on these bikepacking experiences is Oman. I actually spent a lot of my youth growing up there, so when a race came up, I knew I had to be in it. Bikingman Oman looked fairly challenging on paper. It was about 1000 km long and a lot of climbing.

One point that stuck out for me was going up the biggest climb on the first night, Jebel Shams. Not only did I have to walk for an hour or two as I was so low on food and dehydrated. It got cold, and one of the best views in Oman I saw was at night and one of the starriest skies ever. 

I ended up taking twice as long to get to the top but ended up chatting to the legendary Juliana Buhing on the way up, who is one of the best female ultra cyclists in the world and just an incredible person. I also descended at 2 am after some food in a hotel. 

Alpe D’Huez, France

Now you’re probably thinking, Alp D’Huez, that’s not too crazy Robbie. Well the way I did it was not advised. I decided to go to the legendary mountain and climb it in December. That’s right when it’s a ski resort! Talk about epic bikepacking experiences.

I cycled all the way from the UK across France. There was miserable weather most days, and I did not have the right clothing for the job. I cried many times because I was just bullied by the miles every day and even turned up two days late for work on my return.

The mountain road was mainly ice, and I had never been so cold on the descent, but it was worth every bit of pain I had to endure. The view from the top was mind-blowing, and being the only cyclist on the mountain was so special.

Punta Olimpica, Peru

The Inca Divide is a race which is in Peru. It’s a road and gravel event and one of the most challenging ultra-cycling events on the calendar. I was so out of my depth in this race, and it pushed me to my absolute limit. Looking back, I’d probably do it again even though I had a tough time.

Punta Olimpica was one of the giant climbs in the race. Being 4730m high, it’s a very long climb. It took me around 6 hours to reach the top from 2000m. The altitude was so challenging. It felt like every pedal stroke emptied you of energy and was cold. 

The view from the top was mind-blowing, and although challenging, it was so quiet on the way up, and conquering something that tall made me feel I could do anything. Peru was an amazing place, full of beauty, but a tough place to cycle for many reasons. 

Wuling Pass Climb, Taiwan

Taiwan is one of my top three places to ride a bike. I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance to go there. It’s a cycling paradise! The Wuling Pass Climb is well known by another name, the KOM challenge climb, one of the toughest hill climb races in the world. 

I was in an event called Bikingman Taiwan, and you had to cover two-thirds of the KOM Challenge climb. I started early in the morning and went up on a very quiet day. It was a 50-mile-long section for me, and it felt like it never ended.

Oh my, it was beautiful, and on the way up, the views were stunning. There were monkeys on the roadside in arms reach, and as you rose through the valley, the experience was just like nothing I had ever imagined. It was so stunning and a place I couldn’t get my head around.

Splügen Pass, Switzerland

I have always had such a soft spot for Switzerland as a country but only ever pass through due to it being a very expensive place to be and on my bikepacking budget I couldn’t afford to be there long. 

The Splügen Pass is a climb I have done 4 times, if I am correct, and it just gets better and better each time. I haven’t done a huge amount of the Alpine passes, but out of the ones I have done, this is my favorite. It’s a 2114m climb and is on the most amazing tarmac with the most beautiful views, and a lake too!

I can’t recommend it highly enough. This climb has broken me so many times, but looking back, I would go back again and again. It was the first climb of that magnitude I had done. I only thought places like this were on a postcard. 

The Netherlands

In 2019, I went into a race called The Race Around The Netherlands, or RATN for short. I had done a little cycling in the Netherlands but never experienced the country as a whole, which was a shame because I live so close to it and was actually born there!

The race took you around the border, and out of 100, I finished 9th or 10th. I can’t remember right now, haha. The Netherlands is an incredible country for cycling, and the race was around 90% on cycle paths and 10% on roads, with most having a cycling lane. 

Although it might not have huge epic climbs, it is just one of the most picturesque places to cycle. It’s flat and fast, and the experience for me was great. The Dunes on the west coast are a highlight for me. Overall, it was just a place. I never knew it would have been such an amazing cycling experience. 

Jura Mountains, French / Swiss Border

The Jura Mountains, for me, was an unexpected gem. In March 2016 or 2017, I went on a trip to cycle down to Italy, where I would have a holiday for a couple of days. From the UK, I cycled there, and very little went to plan, but it was still fun.

The Jura mountain region was amazing. I remember cycling through, and although I found it incredibly challenging, it was such a lovely place to ride. Note to self on Sundays, nothing it is open. I had to knock on a door for water and ask to buy food. Instead, I got invited for lunch.

On my last day in the region, I crossed an amazing pass to Switzerland in the snow, and although it was cold and incredibly wet, I loved it and want to go back again soon in the summer. 

Black Forest, Germany

On a world record attempt, I found myself in the Black Forest. It was nighttime, and I was lucky to find a hotel late at night as a storm was on the way in. After 4 hours of sleep, I got up and knew to stay on track, I had to be out in the rain and thunder. Bikepacking experiences don’t come more fun.

I get scared at times, but the flashing of lightning and the shapes made in the forest scared me on many levels. It was panic-riding at its finest, with my heart rate through the roof. As the sun rose and the skies cleared, I found myself in a very special place. 

The black forest was quiet and beautiful, the roads were incredible, and it had the most amazing feel to the area. It’s so green, and it’s like the air has extra oxygen. I wish I weren’t in such a rush because it was phenomenal there. 

Bulgaria BBQ

I went into a race called the Transcontinental twice and pulled out both times due to personal reasons. It’s my unluckiest race and never seems to work out. I won’t go back to the third-time-lucky rule here, either. Self-route racing isn’t my strong point.

On the first night of the race, accommodation is very hard to find as there are 300 cyclists, with most looking for a place to stay. I’m not a big fan of sleeping rough and would rather go through the night. At midnight, in a small forest area, I encountered a lot of noise and was really low on supplies. 

It was a BBQ. I stopped to ask if a hotel was close as I didn’t have reception. Instead, I got an offer to sleep in the garden and was also invited to a BBQ with the most amazing family. We had such a laugh! I lost a couple of hours in the race, but who cares? That moment was special.

Burger Shop, Serbia

On the same ride as the BBQ above, I was riding through Belgrade, which is in Serbia. I knew at this point I wasn’t sure if I would continue the ride. I was on the outskirts of Belgrade, going through a small town, and I needed food and water. 

I smelt what I can only describe as the most cooking in the world. I stopped, and it was a small beehive-looking shack attached to a building full of wooden benches. I ordered two bottles of water and a burger and went and sat down. 

They called me over to collect this burger, and it was the best food I have ever had. The bread was perfect, the meat was amazing, and the sauce was just incredible. Within 30 minutes, it went from 4 people in this small room to 50, and the best thing is it cost 2 Euros. Wow, I’d ride back for that burger again.

A Final Note: Epic Bikepacking Experiences

I have had some amazing times on the bike and continue to adventure and explore. These times were real standouts for me, and I, in many ways, would love to go back, but I know there’s more to see elsewhere. Thanks for taking the time to read about my bikepacking experiences.

I would love to hear about your crazy bikepacking experiences! Please pop them in the comments below to give people more to read! 

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