When it comes to bikepacking, there’s a lot to learn. It’s unfortunately not just riding a bike. It’s ensuring you are eating properly, having the correct kit, and even properly navigating a route. In this article, we want to discuss some of the biggest bikepacking challenges and how to overcome them.

Using this information, you will be able to avoid those common mistakes and ensure your bikepacking trips go right the first time. Let’s start discussing the top 10 challenges and how to overcome them!

Mistakes Are Good Lessons

Before we start, it’s important to understand that mistakes are lessons. We must sometimes make errors to learn from them and continue to improve. As an ultra-endurance cyclist, I have made many mistakes and often learned the hard way to get it right. 

With this in mind, I feel I owe so much of my experience to mistakes. Many situations that, at times, felt unfixable now I know are actually not too hard to get out of. Broken spokes, ripped tires, losing valuables, and even being lost. 

Top Ten Bikepacking Challenges And How To Overcome Them!

Now for the exciting part! Let’s start discussing the top ten challenges and how to overcome them! Here’s what you need to know! Feel free to add any later in the comments you feel I might have missed.

Terrible Route Planning

The first issue we come across when it comes to bikepacking and bike touring could be better route planning. Even the best applications can take you on awful trails or even try to put you on a busy main road at times. 

Solution

The easiest solution to terrible route planning is using good applications such as Komoot, checking the roads using Google Maps Street View, and choosing safer routes over busier roads that might be quicker. Here’s an article on route planning!

Bike Breaking Down

Bikes do break down. That’s just what happens when you are bikepacking. It might come from falling off or even just wear and tear. Like anything mechanical, it will need to be looked after properly. 

Solution

Quite simply, when it comes to a broken bike, you need to learn proper bike repairs. These include changing an inner tube, turning a wheel, adjusting gears, and even tightening a headset. A day of learning could completely change the outcome of a trip. Use good components from Shimano or SRAM when on bikepacking challenges.

Weather Turns

One of the biggest challenges of a decent trip is when the weather changes. I can honestly say I have made this mistake a few times. Going on an adventure and the weather going wild without being prepared for what’s to come. 

Solution

The simplest solution to this problem is not to change direction or wait for the weather to change but to just take the correct clothing. Our winter cycling kit article provides a great example. Learning to cycle in poor conditions is an important skill.

Fatigue

Another challenge a lot of bikepackers face is fatigue. This is when the muscles get so tired that they start to ache and don’t have the ability they once had before. It’s normal for this to happen, but it can be a big challenge for many and a quick trip ruiner. 

Solution

There is an easy solution to fatigue, and it comes in the form of either resting more along the trip, going in at a slower pace, or taking on a less aggressive route compared to the mountains you might be climbing. 

Not Eating Enough

The biggest mistake bikepackers make is often not eating enough. You burn a lot of calories when bikepacking, and they need replacing to ensure that you continue. Not eating enough means we get heavily fatigued, ache, feel tired, and our body can even start using our muscle as fuel!

Solution

The simple solution to not eating enough is to start eating more and drinking more water. Pick foods like carbohydrates to help with energy production, and getting protein will help you in recovery.

Loss Of Motivation

Next, we have a loss of motivation. It’s not rare to lose motivation when on a bikepacking trip or race. It makes it tough to continue and makes the riding a little miserable sometimes, which isn’t what bikepacking is about. 

Solution

When this happens, it’s important to find a source of motivation and continue to push onwards. It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to give up, but you have to remember why you’re on the trip and think about the end goal, not just that moment. 

Sleeping

Another big problem for many bikepackers is sleeping. It can be challenging to find places to wild camp or campsites, and you might even struggle with hotels. Not only is this a challenge for many, but often, people struggle to sleep away from comfortable places. 

Solution

Firstly, finding places to sleep, such as hotels and good wild camping spots, takes practice. It’s not always easy, but using applications such as booking.com and similar ones for campsites goes a very long way. Good equipment helps when sleeping rough.

Overestimating Mileage

It’s really easy to fall into the trap of overestimating what you are capable of each day you are riridng. When I first started bikepacking and ultra cycling, I had a daily target, which was often too much, and I would struggle to hit it. 

Solution

It’s important to consider the fatigue you get from riding day after day, the terrain you are riding on, the elevation you have to achieve, and even the type of bike you are on. Think carefully, go in light, and be realistic.

Turning it from an adventure to a challenge

When it comes to bikepacking and ultra riding, it’s easy to turn an adventure into a challenge. Trying to do big miles each day and complete a trail or route quicker than friends or followers. It’s super important not to fall into this trap, or it makes it miserable and much harder work.

Solution

Define what kind of ride you want before you leave. If you want a relaxing adventure, make sure you go into your trip with that attitude. If you want a challenge where you can really test yourself, go in with that attitude. Try not to swap halfway through. We speak about this in this article.

Choosing Speed Over Comfort

I’m sure many of us reading this can relate to this. Bikepacking and ultra cycling aren’t always about speed. To be honest, the biggest factor is comfort. Certain bikes and setups will make you very quick, but if you can’t stay on the bike for a long period, then it’s just going to be tough to get mileage in.

Solution

In my opinion, it’s always important to choose comfort over speed. Bikes with relaxed geometries and lower gearing are always going to be more suited to bikepacking then racing machines. It’s better on the body to ride slower for longer than faster for shorter. A bikefit goes a very long way!

Bikepacking Challenges: A Final Note

Bikepacking is going to offer you a lot of different challenges. Not only will it challenge the way you cycle but also your resilience and your ability to loook after yourself. We wish you all the best on your adventures. Remember to have fun!