I have no idea about backpacking! Please help

[Molly]

Hi all,

I have no idea about backpacking. I am a woman in her mid twenties and I am from India. Please help me with the basics of backpacking. Any help would do. I need your suggestions since I have very little knowledge. Where should I start? How much time does it take me to be prepared to do backpacking? If I were to choose to take a tour within my country, what all measures must I keep in mind?

[fotooutdoors]

There is a lot of info on these boards, so I would really recommend doing some reading, especially in the "Trip Reports" and "Personal Setups" sections (they are accessible from the home page).

Personally, I think you are ready to bikepack if
1) you love riding your bike
2) you know how to camp in the wild
3) you can do some basic bike repairs

Of course, safety is important, so knowing where it is safe to bike and where it is safe to camp is important.  But basically, I think that is about all there is to it.  You can get bogged down with specific gear, the best bike, etc, but the basic knowledge necessary to bikepack is pretty...basic, and often location-specific.  So, in that vein, maybe try your first trip near to home if there is an area good for bikepacking that you already know.  Oh, and keep the first trip short.  That way, the implications of under or overpacking are not as severe.

Good luck!

[joeydurango]

Check this out, it may help.  I wrote it up a couple years back, and update it once in a while:

http://www.velorutioncycles.com/bikepacking-primer

[stever121051]

Molly

how is your planning going?

Did u find what you were looking for

steve