Food planning/packing

[Lentamentalisk]

How do you get all your daily calories when bikepacking? For the few overnights I've done I have brought freeze dried meals with me, but I'm 100% certain I won't be able to restock on those in whatever small towns I pass through on a longer trip. I also carefully prep bars and sweets and such that I know will be enough, and taste good, and all that. I've tried to camel up, and eat a bunch of food at each town, but that ends up slowing me way down, making me sleepy, and giving me cramps.

How do you make sure you have enough food, nutritious food, and not end up hauling bulky, heavy, rapidly spoiling food for hundreds of miles?

[offroute]

I'd work with what's available and plan on being underweight at the finish. Optionally, mail postal caches to yourself in advance.

I'd try to rely on the first two of those approaches, as POs are not the most convenient in terms of hours of operation. Stove fuel also may come to bear, which most likely can't be mailed. But sure, a handful of extra F/D meals is fairly inconsequential to carry – mostly bulk, little weight. One advantage of caches is you can toss in contingency items like bike parts and other consumables, just mail back whatever you don't need when you pick up. You can also mail back anything no longer needed (bear spray, warm gear, maps) without making a dedicated PO visit.

Always pack a plastic jar of PB and bread, or whatever high-calorie foods that are palatable to you. I like to pack protein powder and mix with milk when available.

Ultimately, though, I don't see a way to keep from being on the "touring diet." I simply can't muster the appetite and take enough time eating to maintain any sort of weight. "Cameling up," to me, means going into it without being too lean. Trying to load up on nutrition during the ride, it's already too late, so I can see why that doesn't work for you.