How to Explain/Debate Bikepacking is not Touring

[sarge@mach5]

I remember as an 8 year old kid, strapping  a lunch box and jacket to the banana seat of my schwinn apple crate. The trip to Waddells market and diner was 10 miles and had, what was considered at that time, 2 large climbs that had me pushing up the last section into town. After lunch, and a dollars worth of 10 cent candy, the ride home in the afternoon heat with a belly full of Sugar Babys was even harder. Was this bikepacking? Hell yeah! . When we try to define or categorize something it takes away the spirit with which it was conceived. Then people feel like they need certain gear and stuff to be able to participate, and many will say forget it and move on to something else. I guess my point is, bikepacking is what you make it!

[caseygreene]

To add on to the last 2 replies, I think this DD episode by Brendan Leonard really nails what the problem is in trying to quantify/qualify the difficulty of any outdoor activity, including bikepacking: http://dirtbagdiaries.com/webpage/what-is-hardcore-

ps. it mentions a record holding bikepacker

[jbphilly]

Bikepacking is a form, or sub-category, of bike touring. Specifically mountain-bike touring with a minimal load. What's there to debate about? And who cares?

You can also argue about what bike touring is. I'd say it's any overnight bike trip. That includes supported and credit card touring on one end to self-supported on the other, and two-day one-night bike camping trips on one end to round-the-world, years-long trips on the other.

[DIabetic Adventurer]

what if you ride on and off road? on the same ride?

This sounds like Michigan one minute you are on a paved the next minute a gravel road that turns into a two track then becomes a trail that suddenly disappears altogether. During the ride you find this all to be normal and none of it shocks you.

[juanbendedknee]

Douglas and Heather,
First, GET BACK TO WORK!
Secondly, you are both wrong.

You are riding bikes, then camping, you are also SAG support for yourself, and team cook.

I went on a long bike ride this summer, I had made a handlebar bag up front with two panniers in the back. While I was riding, the front of my bike was bikepacking and the back was bike-touring (what was I doing?). Lastly, I used a frame bag, but it was centrally located between the front and the back. What was IT doing?

I decree I was bike tour packmping.