Bikepacking vs. Loaded Dirt Touring

[ToddBS]

Trying to define the differences in my mind.  I've been reading some here, and some folks seem to be talking about racing in the same breath as bikepacking. Is it a competitive sport?  I can see that the gear is a defining difference - bikepacking as defined by some on this forum does not involve panniers and racks from what I can glean.  What is the difference though that defines a particular ride as one or the other?  Personally I'd consider the GDR as loaded touring, but I've also read people who did it with a more minimal (bikepacking) setup.

Is the length of the ride a defining factor?  Is bike camping the same as bikepacking?  Is bikepacking more along the lines of day trips?  Pardon my ignorance in this but I haven't come across any real definition of it.  Most references I've found on the web equate it with either touring or bike camping.  I get the impression from these forums that it is something else.

[AZTtripper]

I'll take a crack at this though it could be as simple as it is what you want it to be but for the sake of clarification.

I'll start with bike camping IMO this would be a camping trip with bikes being some how involved as a means of transportation not going car camping and then doing day rides. Weather you drive to a TH or ride from home the main goal of the trip is a camping location and riding is not the be all end all. I can think of one 3 day bike camping trip I did in CA we drove to a TH did a 4 mile ride down a 4x4 road and made camp near by a creek, hung out did some bouldering we had climbing shoes with us. The next day we did an unloaded ride of about 20 miles out and back and then hung out back at camp. On the last day we rode up the 4x4 road 4 miles back to the car and went home. It was fun but I wouldn't say we set any records. And we didn't ride any single track but if we had it would have been unloaded.

Loaded dirt tour IMO has more of a travel distance goal, more time would likely be spent on the bike trying to get somewhere camp would be just a place to sleep. IMO this could mean bringing more gear to make camp a little more comfy and possibly last longer then 3 days may or may not include single track. In 2004 I did a big ride touring the AZT spent about 2 months working out 3 sections of the trail. First I rode from Mexico to my home in Tucson. Then spent 4 days riding out to a dead end the trail was still under construction. I then had to go back home and get some work done before I could take off for the final leg. The last piece was the biggie all the way from Tucson to Utah with a big detour around a giant ditch. I had a full squish bike with 2 racks 4 panniers lots of camping gear plenty of food and spent a lot of time hanging out at camp sites along the way.

Modern bikepacking again this is just my take on it. But it seams like things have progressed a lot in recent years. Most riders seem to be going rackless and fairly light, there are some great products mostly hand made by two one man companies, using modern lightweight backpacking gear. I would say that if you aren't riding single track then you are not bikepacking very few backpackers go out to hike on roads, unless they are on a through hike ie AZT, ATA, CDT, PCT ect. To me any ride that includes bringing sleeping gear riding on single track would be bikepacking. Weather you spent one night out or 30 the goal for a bikepacker is IMO to ride most of the day make a camp and ride again the next day and so on. With an emphasis on single track and getting out in to places you might not otherwise go.

Ultra racing seems to be a growing part of mountain biking starting with the GDR race then the AZT 300 and CTR. IMO these races are long, long enough that it only make sense to plan on having some sort of sleeping system. While it would be possible to ride with out it, having the gear to stay warm and sleep seems sensible. It would surely be possible to ride the AZT 300 and stay in a hotel room or 3 along the way but it makes more sense to plan on having what you need to sleep. From a safety stand point if nothing else, just in case you ended up at a higher elevation area and just couldn't stay awake any longer you could stay warm and get some sleep. Not sleeping seems to be a big part of it thou if you want to win any of these races you will likely have to go with out much sleep. On this years AZT 300 the winner never stopped for more then 2-3 hours at a time.  

Hope this make sense of it all for you.

  

[ToddBS]

Those are some pretty good explanations, especially with the personal experiences.  So, I'm gathering then that bikepacking - in the sense that it is practiced on this forum - is about the trail. 

I don't live in a mountainous or what you would call "vast" area, so my singletrack experience is trails that don't really go anywhere.  They basically form loops or a system of trails, but they don't leave the confines of whatever park or forest they may be in.  Some destinations close by have up to 40 miles of single track available, but it isn't a trail that leads anywhere except back to the trail head.  I take it then that bikepacking in that case would be riding out and doing part or all of the 40 mile trail network, spending the night somewhere on the trail, then waking up and riding the trail the next day, heading home after.  Similar in a way to bike camping, but as you pointed out bike camping is more about riding to a camping spot expressly for the purpose of camping.

Armed with these definitions, I think I can safely say that bikepacking is something very feasible for me.  My ultimate goal is touring; I'm setting a goal for myself to ride the GDR some day - not as a race but to see a beautiful stretch of North America and enjoy the ride.  That's going to require a lot of time and money though.  Bikepacking sounds like something I can do on weekends and holidays.  Thanks again for the information.

[AZTtripper]

Great make it what you want it to be I read an article in the Rivendell reader http://www.rivbike.com/
about what they called the S24O sub 24 hour overnight ride. Basically the idea was leave home ride out and spend the night ride home in under 24 hours. Rivendell is more of a roadie commuter shop but the idea works for MTBs as well is should think.

Enjoy.

[tRoy]

I've done 5 sub 24s this year!  Stuff that pack full of beer, sit in the woods, stair at a fire or the moon...  good way to express myself sometimes.

[DiDaDunlop]

sub24's are really great. You can perfect your gear and have a quiet evening.

Bikepacking for me is with a minimal kit going where bikes usually are less evident. Be it road or off road. Albeit off road is always better.

[DaveH]

Sub 24s are great, I've done far too few this year!

My definition of bikepacking:  being self-supported so you have everything you need for an overnight w/sleep included, and having that stuff loaded in a way that allows you to ride anything you would/could ride unloaded.  That might include soft bags, racks, panniers - for instance all were present at CTR.

Certainly, guys like Eric at epicdesigns.com and Jeff at carouseldesignworks.com are redefining bikepacking.  Much of that innovation is driven by the self-support multi-day racing crowd.

[ToddBS]

I somehow lost track of this thread, but thanks for bringing up the Riv article.  Actually, that article and the Riv site in general have been pretty influential in getting me out and off the beaten path more. 

The sub 24s are a great way to get out and clear my head after stressful weeks at work.  I really need to do more of those than what I have been doing.  On such trips I rarely bring along panniers.  90% of the time it's with a CamelBak and a saddle bag (Carradice Super C - the thing is massive).  The other 10% I'll add a handlebar bag but only if I'm riding Midge bars.  My trips don't normally involve singe track though as there just isn't any single track in the area that I can actually camp on.  Scenes like the one in the header of this site just don't exist in my area of the world, but I try not to let it get me down too much 

[chrisx]

Flashpacking

Flashpacking is a neologism used to refer to affluent bikepacker. Whereas bikepacking is traditionally associated with budget travel and destinations that are relatively cheap, flashpacking has an association of more disposable income while traveling and has been defined simply as backpacking with a bigger budget.[11]

A simple definition of the term Flashpacker can be thought of as bikepacking with flash, or style. One school of thought defines the flashpacker as a rapidly growing segment of travelers who adhere to a modest accommodation and meal budget, while spending freely, even excessively, for activities at their chosen destination. Another school of thought defines flashpacking as an incongruous mix of 'slumming it' and luxury; of adventurous travel with those on a budget by day and sedate dining and comfortable accommodation by night.[12] Flashpackers have been further defined as tech-savvy adventurers who often prefer to travel with a cell phone, digital camera, iPod and a laptop,[13] although none of these is required in order to be a flashpacker. As with other forms of travel, the term flashpacker is mainly one of self-identification. The origin of the term itself is obscure.
I pasted this from somewhere. Changed back to bike.
Your budget determines how light you go.  Some buy every thing they need with a credit card, some bring every thing they need. 
Couple of days ago I meet two guys on the discovery trail.  One had a jumbo sized army pack, the other a day pack.  one slept with a sleeping bag and a tarp, the other used a tent and army poncho as rain fly. 
Whatever 
united we stand divided we fall

[dave54]

I hope we do not degenerate into a 'holier-than-thou' elitism.  You use a rack (or pannier, trailer, et al), so you are not a true bikepacker!

Are you trying to impress someone?  Be part of the 'in' crowd?  Keeping up on the latest fad?  Worry less about politically correct user created definitions.  Concern yourself with getting out and riding more. 

[LyndaW]

oooh I wanna be a flashpacker :-) that sounds purfect for me.  One of my fav overnights last year was to a casino: buffet dinner/cushy bed/buffet breakfast and then home again.

[Slowerthensnot]

oooh I wanna be a flashpacker :-) that sounds purfect for me.  One of my fav overnights last year was to a casino: buffet dinner/cushy bed/buffet breakfast and then home again.

And maybe something that should be made into an event....  not only how fast you ride but also count how many calories eaten at the buffet and who makes the most gambling with $40?

[stevage]

How about this for a definition: Bikepacking is a form of off-road touring where weight reduction and speed take priority over comfort. It would also be fair to describe bikepacking as a kind of multi-day mountain bike ride, whether competitive or not.

The name seems a bit of a misnomer, in that bikepacking is more akin to hiking (minimal changes of clothes, carry only the bare necessity), whereas normal bike touring is more like backpacking (spending time in cities, carrying souvenirs, books, and other luxuries).

[ScottyJ]

I really like the Stevage definition, maybe because I hate wearing backpacks while cycling.
Really I think the difference is a matter of mindset rather than equipment.
If you think what you're doing is rad, you're right.

[stevage]

Yeah, well maybe rather than a single definition, a list of points of difference:
- Panniers vs backpack/framebag/handlebars
- Comfort vs speed
- Pre-planned overnight stops vs crashing wherever
...

[bmike-vt]

the journey is the destination.

gear should play a minimal role in any sort of definition, no?
i love seeing the variety of gear / bikes / approaches in pics / ride reports.
whatever gear one uses to celebrate the journey should be left to the rider.
so many variables - weather, personal fitness, terrain, re-supply, budget, etc. etc.

[Eric]

I think it has more to due with the ability to ride the same technical / steep whatever terrain as you would unloaded.
You can still be very comfortable going ultra light.

[Mike Brown]

Great beejeezus...so, because I used a rack and bags on CT thru-bike, I wasn't bikepacking?  I was "off-road touring."  Yeah, that sounds right. 

In my mind, the difference between bikepacking and "off-road touring" is that bike packing is mountain biking.  I can do almost any trail on my bike, loaded, that I can unloaded.  Do I walk more uphill? Yes, and so do you.  Do I walk more downhill? No, but I do go slower and can't "launch it" off drops and over jumps. 

I've  done a lot of "off-road touring." It's mostly gravel road with some easy singletrack because the set-up and the bikes couldn't take real singletrack mountain  biking. 

[bmike-vt]

this isn't exactly bikepacking... more 'route scouting' but in VT we do plenty of dirt, carriage, double track and mild single track on 'road' bikes.

[stevage]

>I've  done a lot of "off-road touring." It's mostly gravel road with some easy singletrack because the set-up and the bikes couldn't take real singletrack mountain  biking. 

Yeah, I made the mistake a while ago of tackling a serious singletrack descent in the rain while fully loaded. What a disaster. The bike couldn't have been set up worse for it: slick 32mms, high seat, panniers, cantis badly adjusted, and wearing thick gloves which interfered even worse with braking.