How to Explain/Debate Bikepacking is not Touring

[heatherjh1]

Hi,

I have a coworker who insists bikepacking is touring.  I just do not think he gets it - or maybe it's just me.   Please help 


From: Douglas
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 9:09 AM
To: Heather
Subject: RE: bikepacking == touring

Hitchhiking could be considered a form of hiking, since when there are no rides, some hitchhikers actually walk down the road with a backpack on their backs.

From: Heather
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 9:00 AM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: bikepacking == touring
And like hiking is hitchhiking.


From: Douglas
To: Heather
Subject: RE: bikepacking == touring

They may not use the word ‘mountain’ but they do talk about bikes with 26” wheels.   And the use of a mountain bike is not precluded from touring.  The basic ingredients of a tour are packing gear and riding to some place and staying overnight.

Don’t forget…the top link on google for bikepacking refers to it as “anything from ultralight singletrack tours to fully loaded dirt road touring”.

If you have a problem with that…take it up with bikepacking.net…

Tour tour tour tour tour tour tour tour tour


From: Heather
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 8:41 AM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: bikepacking == touring

Also, nowhere on the first page do I see the word “mountain,” combined with bike.

Also, where I do see the word “mountain” on your second link, the topic begins with “There are numerous variants on the traditional road tour…”  Please note they are talking about “road tour.”  Also, “The key difference between a mountain bike and an expedition touring bike would be the addition of racks for panniers, and tougher, all-purpose tires.”  They are not referencing mountain bikes.

On the second page, “Mixed Terrain Cycle-Touring bikes are a cross between mountain and road bikes.” (not mountain bikes proper)

With a quick skim of those two, I can see they are not describing mountain bikepacking.  Here is mountain biking/cross country mountain biking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-country_cycling.  Now throw some packs and a large camelback on for the trip.  Here are the packs we bought: http://www.revelatedesigns.com/

From: Douglas
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 8:26 AM
To: Heather
Subject: RE: bikepacking == touring

Touring consists of biking with gear and staying somewhere overnight.  However you do it, whether it is riding around the block, as you say, or riding up a big hill on a dirt path…it’s touring.  Bikepacking sounds like a shorter version of “expedition touring” where cyclists travel over many varied trails and dirt roads in undeveloped countries or remote areas and carry everything they need.

You seem to have a view of the term ‘touring’ as a lightweight easy type of bike riding.  You might want to check out touring a bit more because it is quite varied in the types. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_touring

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touring_bicycle


They use “tours” because it is the only term similar enough to give people even a partial clue as to what they would be getting into.  Not your ride around the block.  It’s “bikepacking,” like backpacking on a bike.  I am guessing most bike touring does not involve a backpack, rather panniers.  They certainly did not do it justice…

From: Douglas
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 7:50 AM
To: Heather
Subject: bikepacking == touring

The first link when googling ‘bikepacking’ is bikepacking.net. 

They describe it as “anything from ultralight singletrack tours to fully loaded dirt road touring” .  Bikepacking.net focuses on ‘off-road touring, away from cars’


Bikepacking == off-road touring!!

[Adam Alphabet]

Bikepacking isn't touring?

[Done]

Bikepacking isn't touring?

Yeah, that's what I thought too. Seems like bikepacking could be defined as touring with a mountain bike. Depending on mileage, terrain, weather, etc. this means that it could be harder or easier than road touring...

[AZTtripper]

A night or 3 spent riding and sleeping out on my local mountain trails = bikepacking.

A multi-week traverse of the entire AZT = bikepacking tour.

Unless it's a race there are no rules!

My .02

Tim

[Done]

A night or 3 spent riding and sleeping out on my local mountain trails = bikepacking.

A multi-week traverse of the entire AZT = bikepacking tour.

Unless it's a race there are no rules!

My .02

Tim

Nice examples.

[joeydurango]

I figure bikepacking is touring, generally speaking.  Same concept!

[bmike-vt]

there is a thread over at bikeforums on their touring section arguing about the differences between 'trekking' and 'touring' via bike.

whichever you choose, be sure not to accept any help from other riders you meet on route and do not use your cellphone! ever.

[John G]

I'm no expert, but I kind of categorize it this way. YMMV, of course.

Touring
All Travel by bike, from fully loaded with full racks and a trailer to credit card touring with nothing but cash/card and maybe a change of clothes. Can be on any surface and trail, but the more you carry, the harder technical terrain becomes.

Ultralight touring. 
Combining the concepts of ultralight/minimalist hiking with travel by bike. Differs from Credit Card touring to me primarily by including the utility/means of camping outside and possibly cooking. Paved road, gravel and light trail.  Load carrying might be with light rack or traditional bar bag and Carridice saddle bag. Probably what I do and enjoy the most.

Bike Packing.
Taking the concepts of ultralight touring further along to equipment and terrain (and weather?) not usually associated with bicycle touring.  Mountain bikes and bags that attach without racks.  Off road and technical routes which would be much more difficult to ride with more traditional equipment. Getting farther from the beaten path.

No matter what, its all good.

[Area54]

Pfft, labels. Slap him with a glove, organise a ride for him. He brings his touring bike, you bring your bikepacking bike. Sometimes the best teacher is experience...

Sounds like he is a generaliser - if he can ride a bike, then maybe in his mind he could ride the TDF?

[Kirk]

Amusing discussion, especially since this is all pretty new to me.  So, as a newb I my thoughts/ assumptions are or were, that there was a difference between the two.  I thought that tourers stuck to the pavement primarily and that bikepackers stayed in the dirt trails primarily.  Not that anyone is necessarily better than the other, it's just preferences akin to trail running or road running, some choose one or the other and some do both.  Am I all washed up?

[LiiT]

Everybody wants be different...for me bikepacking covers all the areas of regular bike touring, but also means you have the ability, bike, and equipment to ride technical singletrack in the backcountry...

Granted you can ride any bike on any surface if you're stupid or have guts, but to do things efficiently and well is another matter.

 I enjoy the smell the roses mentality, but I've also got a lot of things to do in this world and if I can afford different tools for different jobs, so i can git'r done, then awesome.   If i'm stuck on a cheap or inappropriate bike or crap equipment, then hooray i'm still having fun, but little things can start to add up on tough trips. 

Difficulties on the road or where civilization is nearby is a much easier situation to resolve than being 30miles out bushwhacking over mountains and riding horse trails...

Bikepacking for me elevates the bar on durability of equipment, lighter weight and compactness of gear to maintain control of the bike in technical situations, and overall self-sufficiency in the backcountry.   

But in reality, a bike is a bike is a bike.  My bike can ride things I will not, so....

[AZTtripper]

But in reality, a bike is a bike is a bike.  My bike can ride things I will not, so....

Grandma says close your eye's and trust the bike!

[dave54]

You're getting your knickers in a knot because some anally retentive word parsing purist is arguing definitions?

Why do you care what someone else calls it?  Does it somehow diminish your riding?  Or is this a 'I want to always be right' situations?

[Damnitman]

...seems the OP is the "anally retentive word parsing purist" arguing definitions, as his/her arch nemesis is generalizing...kinda like the whole square/rectangle thing...

  or  ...not sure which is more appropriate here...

[Flounder]

Bikepacking is touring if you ask me, but it denotes a certain type of travel. Just as "fast packing" is backpacking at near running speed covering big miles, bikepacking usually includes very light loads on singletrack trails. If I tell my friends I'm doing a bikepack trip, they understand it'll be on singletrack. If I say I'm going bike touring, I think they also understand I'll be loading up the panniers and probably trundling down the road.

So, I do think there is a common understanding that the two types of travel are different, but they're all touring in my mind.

[offroute]

...it's just me...

[dave54]

I also have an RV.  I will set up my RV and use it as a base camp for long day rides and S24's.  When I casually mention I am going camping over the weekend to my coworkers some smartass will say it's not really camping in an RV.  My reply is either to ignore it, or say "You can call it what you want.  I am going out in the woods over the weekend while you stay at home."

[DesertDog]

A night or 3 spent riding and sleeping out on my local mountain trails = bikepacking.

A multi-week traverse of the entire AZT = bikepacking tour.

Unless it's a race there are no rules!

My .02

Tim

Maybe that should be stated as:  

A multi-week traverse of the entire AZT = bikepacking tour(ture).


Touring, trekking or bikepacking; call it what you will.  

Just take off and hit the pavement and/or forest roads and/or trails and enjoy!

[csm]

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

[krefs]

I think of bikepacking as doing what backpackers generally do, but faster and on wheels: Stick to the trails. You could call it singletrack touring, too. Riding the Great Divide Route? That's dirt road touring in my mind. But if you were hiking the CDT, you'd do a heck of a lot of walking dirt roads, but it's still considered backpacking, although they seem to like to just call it "walking."

So in the end, what's it really matter what someone calls it? Just get out there and ride. Bring gear for overnight if you've got time.