It doesn’t even need to be an epic month-long adventure.
At the beginning of the month I felt like I needed a short break from the day-to-day before winter is coming.
I packed a camping mat, sleeping bag, 2 water bottles, snacks, a change of clothes, and a few other little items.
Switched off my phone and just hopped on my bike.
I rode roughly north-east by the position of the sun, bought food and water when I needed it, and looked for a nice meadow when I was tired in the evening.
In just one long weekend I had crossed half of Germany, and reached the sea.It was one of the most liberating feelings ever.
It doesn’t even need to be an epic month-long adventure.
I try to regularly spend the entire day on my bike when I have the chance. I’ve yet to do an overnighter, but just being on my bike brings joy to my life.
There isn’t a single person on the planet who can tell me that running an errand by car brings them happiness and peace, but I get to experience that every. single. time.
To tour by bike would be an absolute dream!
I’m lucky to live in a country where sleeping outside is easily possible, safe, and legal, and it’s always possible to hop on a train back if things don’t work out. I’m doing this on easy mode.
If that isn’t the case for you, either try to lodge with an aquaintance within cycling range, or look for a campsite in advance.
Even without much training, it’s easily possible to cover 100km / 60 miles in a day on flat ground, if your bike fits you. Cycling clothes also help a lot.I’m lucky to live in a country where sleeping outside is easily possible, safe, and legal
Unfortunately, this is not the case for Ontario, Canada, unless I wanted to go WAAAAAAY up North to extremly wild Crown Land (where the bears are).
This is probably the biggest barrier, because standard campsites charge as much as a hotel, even if you are camping without a large vehicle.
Even without much training, it’s easily possible to cover 100km / 60 miles in a day on flat ground, if your bike fits you. Cycling clothes also help a lot.
Yeah, 100km is very doable. I’ve been aiming for 200km+ lately, but even then, it sucks that these are out-and-back rides. Still, I come back wanting to ride more :)
I need to go bike packing
Same. I miss the woods.
A great read that makes me want to chuck it all and find a nice long road to nowhere to bicycle/camp down… just need my own Bear to bring along for the ride!
