“Before even crafting a route, my partners and I communicate about our motivations and vision for the trip, so that we understand our shared needs and goals,” says Morgan Tilton. Wherever you plan to ride, Tilton also suggests hitting the road with an intention of what you want out of the bike trip-a tip beginners and experts alike can take advantage of.

“That experience with a professional will give you the tools and knowledge to safely venture on your own,” says adventure writer and bikepacker Morgan Tilton. Amid the pandemic, many have covered COVID concerns as well, with frequent temperature checks, mask wearing, isolated meal prep at camp sites, and testing.Īfter getting a guided bike trip under your belt, you can use that template to plan future excursions. Many group trips like the one I went on also feature support teams to help cyclists along, with first aid, repairs, or even by driving heavier equipment to your campsite, which is especially useful for novices. “We’ve been locked up for so long that this new trend has more to do with finding yourself, and looking for bigger challenges that go beyond the day-to-day routine.”įor those curious about bikepacking but unsure where to start, look to tour companies like Western Spirit, Trek Travel, or Adventure Cycling, who can do the heavy lifting of planning and executing your ride. “The variety of being able to backpack overnight or for weeks at a time really opens the sport up to anyone with a base-level of fitness,” he says. Stefano, who declined to share his last name, was an avid bikepacker well before this current boom. It’s that range of activities that draws people in, says Stefano of biking Youtube channel Blindstuff MTB.

Trek bike tours