What is bikepacking?
The term bikepacking is a composite of bicycle and backpacking. And that's exactly how you can describe it: Travelling by bike with light luggage.
Bikepacking is a form of cycle touring that is characterised by its lightness and flexibility. It combines elements of cycling, camping and backpacking. Bikepacking involves travelling longer distances by bike, carrying everything you need for accommodation and food. In contrast to traditional cycling trips, which often involve the use of heavy luggage racks and panniers, bikepackers use lighter equipment that is attached directly to the bike frame. Specialised bikepacking bags such as handlebar bags, frame bags, saddle bags and more are used.
Bikepacking vs. cycle touring - what the AI says
The difference to cycle tours lies primarily in the concept and the way they are organised. Cycling holidays can take various forms, from short day trips to tours lasting several weeks. Cycling holidays often focus on reaching specific destinations, visiting places of interest and experiencing the surroundings. The equipment is usually attached to luggage carriers and panniers, which can lead to a higher load on the bike.
Bikepacking, on the other hand, is all about adventure and experiencing nature. Bikepackers often seek out roads with little traffic and paths off the beaten track. They usually spend the night outdoors, either in a tent or in the open air. The route can be organised flexibly depending on preferences and conditions. By dispensing with heavy equipment, you are faster and more manoeuvrable on the road.
To summarise: bikepacking is a lighter and more flexible way of travelling by bike that focuses on the outdoor experience and adventure. It is characterised by the use of special lightweight bags that are attached directly to the bike frame. Cycle touring, on the other hand, can cover a wider range of trip types and destinations and often involves the use of heavier equipment and panniers.
Bikepacking vs. cycle touring - that's what we say
Bikepacking is a lighter and therefore more flexible way of travelling by bike. Both when travelling by bike and when bikepacking, contrary to what the AI says, the focus is usually on the journey, the experience of nature and adventure. The lighter overall weight of bikepacking makes it easier to cover longer distances. The equipment is stowed in special bikepacking bags that are attached directly to the bike frame. When travelling by bike, the equipment is often much heavier and is transported on and on luggage racks.
Different facets of bikepacking
Not all bikepacking is the same. The possibilities are as varied as the bikes and the luggage.
Overnighter - a night outdoors
An overnighter is a night spent outdoors. Campsites are good destinations or places where wild camping is permitted. This quickly turns a weekend into a micro-holiday and a micro-adventure. You can even incorporate the overnighter into your working week by ending an after-work round not at home, but at an overnight spot. The next morning, you can either go straight to work or back home.
Multi-day tour
Long weekends are ideal for multi-day tours. Whether the destination is a long-delayed visit to friends or family or a place. For a multi-day tour, either round trips like this tour are ideal:
Or you can go on a tour from A to B and then take the train back home at the end.
Travelling on your own for weeks
The longer the tour, the less accurately you can plan ahead, so many unpredictable things can happen. Wiebke Lühmann is a passionate bikepacker and last year cycled from Hamburg to the North Cape in 30 days. The start and finish were fixed, as was Eurovelo 1, which she followed for the most part. In between was flexible. Depending on her mood and many other factors, the day trips were sometimes longer and sometimes shorter.
Unsupported bikepacking events and bikepacking races
At bikepacking events and races, participants either have to plan a route themselves and cycle to certain points, known as checkpoints, or they have to follow a predetermined route. Between the start and finish, everyone is on their own. No help from friends is allowed, and in some cases not even help from other race participants is permitted. Hotels may not be booked in advance; food and drink will be provided en route.
Gravel
At bikepacking events without gravel support, the route is always predetermined - at least the editorial team is not aware of any other format for gravel bikes. All participants start at the same time and ride the exact same route. The races usually cover several hundred or thousand kilometres and include countless metres in altitude.
Street
In road races, there are those with a predetermined route and those where you have to plan your own route. In the NorthCape4000, a bikepacking event of around 4000 kilometres on asphalt roads and cycle paths, the route is predetermined. The situation is different in what is probably the best-known race in this area - the Transcontinental Race. Here, everyone plans their own route, which must include four checkpoints. In addition, a predetermined course must be completed at each checkpoint.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
