Good To Know
Preparing for a trip
Most Living By Bike bikepacking trips will include a mix of public trails, gravel trails/roads, and car driven roads. Often times, we will camp at sites with minimal amenities (aka, non-potable water, no trash cans, minimal cell service), so you should be prepared with all the gear you would need for a remote, self-supported trip. I am the guide and here to help you prepare, but I cannot carry gear and tools for everyone!
Each trip assumes you can take care of yourself on the ride, and that if you have any questions ahead of time, that you will ask the guide (me) or friends beforehand. You will be given the route file (on RWGPS), a list of stopping points (places of interest, water, bike shops, lodging etc.) and any other supporting documentation needed prior to the trip. We ride as a group (btw, you will be added to a groupchat with other participants before the start of the ride), and while you don’t have to know everything about bikepacking (these trips are, of course, fantastic learning experiences), please be as prepared as you can.
Please reference this general guide for preparing for your next trip. Please also check out this page for a short list of brands I would recommend buying from if you are in need of gear. We never stray too far away from help, but with an average of 45 miles a day of cycling, it’s best to try and avoid any preventable problems :)
Participant Prep Guide/Rig Checklist
Has my bike been at the shop recently for any persistent issues? Are my cables, tires, and general bike parts all in decent condition? If not, please take your bike to the shop at least 2 months prior to this event (because you never know how long it’ll take for a mechanic to fix your bike)
Please, do not wear a backpack. If you are in need of extra bike gear, preferably ask around your community for bags/items to borrow, or ask me (Claire) for something to borrow.
Make sure your front and rear lights are charged. Bring lights.
If you are joining me on a gravel-based trip (which is most), ensure that your tires are not thin & slick road tires. Get something >32mm thickness, with some tread, and of a decent brand. Ask your friends and bike shop for recommendations if needed. In general, do not use dry-rotted/heavily worn down tires on a bikepacking trip- it is a recipe for flat tires. Use good quality tires.
Ensure that you have downloaded the bike route for offline navigation ahead of time. The route will be sent to you near the start of the trip.
Ensure that you have a decent phone/gps mount for navigation during the ride. We will not be side-by-side for the entire trip, so be prepared for navigating alone when the time requires it.
Ensure your chain is in decent condition (aka, not rusting, not worn down). Lube your chain before the start of the trip.
Ensure all bolts on your bike are tightened (such as your rear rack), because you’d be surprised by how many bolts fall out!
For people with clipless pedals, ensure you have tightened down all screws (with locktite) to prevent clips from becoming loose on the ride.
Ensure that your braking system (brake pads and cables) is in good condition & works effectively. When you squeeze your brake levers, there is at least a length of two fingers wide between the lever and the handlebar, and you can confidently come to a stop.
Ensure you have a repair kit that includes: 1-2 spare tubes/sealant/DARTS, a multi-tool, zip ties/screws/nuts/bolts, tire levers, CO2/travel pump, chain lube, and anything else needed specific to your bike.
Please make sure your bags are not 100% full. We make food stops along the way and you will need space in your bags for food. A good rule of thumb is, when you’re done packing, your bags should only be 80% full.
Please, for the love of the universe, do not buy something cheap off of Amazon for your trip. It will not last you and you really should not spend your money there anyways. Go to your local bike shop or check out my Buy page as a starting point for equipment.
While you are not required to do everything on this list before the start of a trip, please recognize that the less prepared you are for a trip, the higher the chance of things going wrong and getting held up.
Some things to help you get ready
I have created a YouTube video playlist (whole list here), specifically for my guests, to help them prepare. Not required to watch any of these, but they could be helpful for those who need it.