Your first bikepacking trip

[PirateGirl]

How did you plan out your first bikepacking trip? Did you stay close to home or jump in head first with a crazy trip? Did you just go for 1 night to test everything out and see how it did, or multiple nights? Did you wish you had planned differently for your first trip?

[FeloniousDunk]

After 3 over nighters and one 2 nighter, I feel like I've gotten all the gear shook down and am ready for a big one.  I'm glad I did these shorter ones first, but it wouldn't have been disasterous if I hadn't, just not quite as comfortable or able to cover as much ground.

To echo what some one else said on here, the hardest part so far has just been leaving the front door.

[sean salach]

i took my first one with a friend, just to try it out. i had done several point to point day trips before, with all my gear, so i kinda knew what i was doing. after that i took a two weeker, then a year and a halfer.

[montejw360]

Did the White Rim with a friend a few years ago, one night at Murphy's Hogback.  No real planning, we just wanted to do the ride.  Couldn't get the nerve up to one day it.  I had a seatpost rack on a full suspension bike, won't do that again.  Panniers on the rack.  Carried 2 gallons of water from Potato Bottom to Murphy's, not fun.

Haven't been bikepacking since, but want to start again here in WA.  Have one trip sort of figure out.  Want to get a seat bag and frame bag(s).

Monte

[flatfishy]

what was the problem with a seatpost rack on a bouncer???

[montejw360]

what was the problem with a seatpost rack on a bouncer???

It's a lever on the seatpost.  All the weight is dumped into the rear shock through the frame.  I had to pump the rear shock up, probably added 100 psi to keep the sag right.

[flatfishy]

kinda makes sense i suppose.

feel like a dullard for asking.

[Oz]

I did my first one just a few weeks ago in the California desert.   It was a one nighter but I chose a challenging route that I had never ridden before.  The mileage was within my abilities, but the location was remote enough that I had to filter water from a stream in order to finish the ride.  I also brought a buddy with me.  He turned out to be a better route-finder than I was, so I was glad he came along.   I

[SandLizrd]

Jumped right in.  First ride was the Great Divide (south to north).

It really isn't as crazy as it sounds.  I knew backpacking well, and I ride.  I built the perfect bike for the job at hand.  Had lots of time and just enough money & went for a ride.

There's a lot of riders with crazy skills, but riding dirt roads isn't so complex, ya know?

[YuriB]

I pretty much jumped right in but I tend to learn best from mistakes. The only real issue I had was rain and mud (clay) but I learned tons and continue to learn with each trip.

[chrisx]

jump right in
How did you plan out your first bikepacking trip? [i]carefully, my carefull planning changed along the way, changed a lot.[/i]  Did you stay close to home or jump in head first with a crazy trip?far from home, very. Did you just go for 1 night to test everything out and see how it did, or multiple nights?multiple nights Did you wish you had planned differently for your first trip? all plans change along the way,  just go.  there is no one right way, just go.
 

[Marshal]

How did you plan out your first bikepacking trip? Did you stay close to home or jump in head first with a crazy trip? Did you just go for 1 night to test everything out and see how it did, or multiple nights? Did you wish you had planned differently for your first trip?

I did a 1 night out & back, the more you read about how to go light the shorter your learning curve imo, be sure & post up your 1st trip, good luck

[eyecandyandy]

I came from almost no background in backcountry.  I've been on many day hikes and those just whet my appetite.  I started mountain biking in college and as things progressed I decided bike packing would be fun.

I actually did a couple road tours before bike packing.  This was a good way to come to terms with exactly what you do and don't need.  You realize exactly how much of a safety net you need (no, you don't need a french press).

When I wanted to start going ultra-light I went on a few car camping trips and only brought ultralight gear to try out.  Even camp-outs in your front yard can make gear problems immediately apparent.  The more familiar you are with your gear the more fun you'll have.

As far as picking a route: think about the longest ride you've ever done, cut it in half for your daily volume, and then look around for a campground/campsite you want to stay at and work backwards.  In my case I wanted to ride Kachess Ridge so I chose the Easton, WA campground at the base of the ridge and worked backwards to my start in North Bend, WA.

Good luck!