A lot more people are bikepacking

[ichitan]

Years ago, there were not a lot of bikepackers. It seems, with people learning more about other parts of the world, and people sharing bikepacking experiences on the internet, more people are now bikepacking.

Some people travel by bike and camp in tents. Others travel long distances by bike, but stay in hotels and similar places of accommodation.

Some people travel by public transport, such as buses, and hire bikes at their destination. But people have been doing this for years.

Some people travel for a few months. Others travel for years.

Some people don't have a lot of savings, so they need to camp out.

One bikepacker recently told me it was a cheap way of living. If you compare the cost of renting a home in one of the first world countries, bikepacking is a less expensive way of living. Plus you get to see interesting places, and meet interesting people.

The best bikepacking bikes use the pinion gearbox.

https://forums.bikeride.com/thread-8654.html

[Lss555]

I always looked at bike packing as more of an adventure that’s like backpacking but you can cover more ground and see more places but I could definitely see that being cheaper then renting as long as you could find a way to work while bike packing? Do you people work and bike pack year around as a lifestyle?

[ichitan]

(10-26-2023, 02:16 PM)Lss555 Wrote:  Do you people work and bike pack year around as a lifestyle?

Most people who bike pack have been working, and have saved enough money. A small proportion look for work as they travel. I met one bikepacker recently who was planning to teach English. I met an old man traveling the world, who would have been on a pension.

A lot of bikepackers only do it for a few months, then return home to work. Some people travel for years. I met one family recently who had been bikepacking for 3 years, and was planning to continue for another 2 years or more, before returning home. After that they were planning another adventure, which still involved traveling.

I don't bike pack. I travel to a destination, and pay for accommodation. I use a bike to travel to the places I can reach in one day, and return to my room in the evening. I like a comfortable room, and prefer to stay in one place longer. You can get to know people, and make friends.

[GirishH]

Hello ichitan, thanks for starting this discussion. I have been teaching Englihs, Kannada and Hindi while bikepacking..:-) It truly has been a wonderful "life" or "lifestyle". Right now I am on another bilpeacking trip in my state of Karnataka, India and so far it's been a wonderful experience. Incidentally during 3-days of riding, I took two English classes..:-)

(10-26-2023, 03:22 PM)ichitan Wrote:  

(10-26-2023, 02:16 PM)Lss555 Wrote:  Do you people work and bike pack year around as a lifestyle?

Most people who bike pack have been working, and have saved enough money. A small proportion look for work as they travel. I met one bikepacker recently who was planning to teach English. I met an old man traveling the world, who would have been on a pension.

A lot of bikepackers only do it for a few months, then return home to work. Some people travel for years. I met one family recently who had been bikepacking for 3 years, and was planning to continue for another 2 years or more, before returning home. After that they were planning another adventure, which still involved traveling.

I don't bike pack. I travel to a destination, and pay for accommodation. I use a bike to travel to the places I can reach in one day, and return to my room in the evening. I like a comfortable room, and prefer to stay in one place longer. You can get to know people, and make friends.

---

Hello lss555, for me this bilepacking trip has been about seeing more parts of the India I was born and grew-up in. So, I have been freelancing, writing and try to experience life. I have met a lot of interesting folks one whole even invited and fed me lunch in his place, just yesterday. The day before I rode a national-level gold medalist in Volleyball.

(10-26-2023, 02:16 PM)Lss555 Wrote:  I always looked at bike packing as more of an adventure that’s like backpacking but you can cover more ground and see more places but I could definitely see that being cheaper then renting as long as you could find a way to work while bike packing? Do you people work and bike pack year around as a lifestyle?

[GirishH]

Ichitan, just curious if you are "advertising" for pinion gears..:-)?

(10-26-2023, 06:10 AM)ichitan Wrote:  Years ago, there were not a lot of bikepackers. It seems, with people learning more about other parts of the world, and people sharing bikepacking experiences on the internet, more people are now bikepacking.

Some people travel by bike and camp in tents. Others travel long distances by bike, but stay in hotels and similar places of accommodation.

Some people travel by public transport, such as buses, and hire bikes at their destination. But people have been doing this for years.

Some people travel for a few months. Others travel for years.

Some people don't have a lot of savings, so they need to camp out.

One bikepacker recently told me it was a cheap way of living. If you compare the cost of renting a home in one of the first world countries, bikepacking is a less expensive way of living. Plus you get to see interesting places, and meet interesting people.

The best bikepacking bikes use the pinion gearbox.

https://forums.bikeride.com/thread-8654.html

---

Ichitan, just curious if you are "advertising" for pinion gears..:-)?

(10-26-2023, 06:10 AM)ichitan Wrote:  Years ago, there were not a lot of bikepackers. It seems, with people learning more about other parts of the world, and people sharing bikepacking experiences on the internet, more people are now bikepacking.

Some people travel by bike and camp in tents. Others travel long distances by bike, but stay in hotels and similar places of accommodation.

Some people travel by public transport, such as buses, and hire bikes at their destination. But people have been doing this for years.

Some people travel for a few months. Others travel for years.

Some people don't have a lot of savings, so they need to camp out.

One bikepacker recently told me it was a cheap way of living. If you compare the cost of renting a home in one of the first world countries, bikepacking is a less expensive way of living. Plus you get to see interesting places, and meet interesting people.

The best bikepacking bikes use the pinion gearbox.

https://forums.bikeride.com/thread-8654.html

[ichitan]

(10-27-2023, 04:18 AM)GirishH Wrote:  Ichitan, just curious if you are "advertising" for pinion gears..:-)?

No. I have no connection to the company which makes Pinion gearboxes, or any of the bike manufactures which use them.

If you do your research, you will probably agree, they are the best. They are also expensive, compared to what many of us spend.

When you travel for a long time, you want a strong bike that will not break.

For people who don't want to spend that much money, get a strong bike, with which the parts are readily available. So it is easy to buy spare parts during your travels.

[Lss555]

(10-27-2023, 02:03 AM)GirishH Wrote:  Hello ichitan, thanks for starting this discussion. I have been teaching Englihs, Kannada and Hindi while bikepacking..:-) It truly has been a wonderful "life" or "lifestyle". Right now I am on another bilpeacking trip in my state of Karnataka, India and so far it's been a wonderful experience. Incidentally during 3-days of riding, I took two English classes..:-)

(10-26-2023, 03:22 PM)ichitan Wrote:  

(10-26-2023, 02:16 PM)Lss555 Wrote:  Do you people work and bike pack year around as a lifestyle?

Most people who bike pack have been working, and have saved enough money. A small proportion look for work as they travel. I met one bikepacker recently who was planning to teach English. I met an old man traveling the world, who would have been on a pension.

A lot of bikepackers only do it for a few months, then return home to work. Some people travel for years. I met one family recently who had been bikepacking for 3 years, and was planning to continue for another 2 years or more, before returning home. After that they were planning another adventure, which still involved traveling.

I don't bike pack. I travel to a destination, and pay for accommodation. I use a bike to travel to the places I can reach in one day, and return to my room in the evening. I like a comfortable room, and prefer to stay in one place longer. You can get to know people, and make friends.

---

Hello lss555, for me this bilepacking trip has been about seeing more parts of the India I was born and grew-up in. So, I have been freelancing, writing and try to experience life. I have met a lot of interesting folks one whole even invited and fed me lunch in his place, just yesterday. The day before I rode a national-level gold medalist in Volleyball.

(10-26-2023, 02:16 PM)Lss555 Wrote:  I always looked at bike packing as more of an adventure that’s like backpacking but you can cover more ground and see more places but I could definitely see that being cheaper then renting as long as you could find a way to work while bike packing? Do you people work and bike pack year around as a lifestyle?

That’s sick just cruising India, doing freelance and living life 🤘🏼

[ichitan]

(10-27-2023, 02:03 AM)GirishH Wrote:  Hello ichitan, thanks for starting this discussion. I have been teaching Englihs, Kannada and Hindi while bikepacking..:-) It truly has been a wonderful "life" or "lifestyle". Right now I am on another bilpeacking trip in my state of Karnataka, India and so far it's been a wonderful experience. Incidentally during 3-days of riding, I took two English classes..

Do you teach English for money?

I have been casually teaching English, sometimes at English schools, sometimes just assisting students at home, but not for money. I just help on a casual basis.

People wanting to earn money teaching English normally need to commit to doing it for some time, like a number of months.

[GirishH]

Hello Ichitan, I began teaching languages (English, Kannada, Hindi) online, primarily to support my travels and explore ways to stay employed. During my time in Ecuador, I volunteered to teach English to children in a village that embraced me. Although I was offered a teaching position in the same village, they required a commitment of at least a year or two, which I couldn't accept.

As I teach online, I can continue to travel by bike and earn a modest income. Unfortunately, I lack other skills to sustain a living, so teaching remains my primary avenue..

(10-30-2023, 09:53 AM)ichitan Wrote:  

(10-27-2023, 02:03 AM)GirishH Wrote:  Hello ichitan, thanks for starting this discussion. I have been teaching Englihs, Kannada and Hindi while bikepacking..:-) It truly has been a wonderful "life" or "lifestyle". Right now I am on another bilpeacking trip in my state of Karnataka, India and so far it's been a wonderful experience. Incidentally during 3-days of riding, I took two English classes..

Do you teach English for money?

I have been casually teaching English, sometimes at English schools, sometimes just assisting students at home, but not for money. I just help on a casual basis.

People wanting to earn money teaching English normally need to commit to doing it for some time, like a number of months.

[enkei]

I was hoping to join the bike packing ranks this year but ended up working too much. Roll on, Spring '24!!!

[Noraaa]

I sometimes commute by bike. When I ride more, it’s often after get off work. I enjoy the opportunity that cycling gives me to fully face nature. I'm happy with every ride I take and it makes me satisfied when I see the data recorded on my BP Doctor TR12.

[Dusan]

Both bikepacking and bike touring are definitely much less expensive than renting an apartment and living in one place, especially if you camp out.

On my bike touring trip through Europe a few years ago, I was spending around $10 per day on average and wild camping most of the time, so I was spending only around $400 per month for about three months. That's impossible in any EU city today.

However, nowadays I mostly do shorter bikepacking trips because I love exploring off the beaten path. Plus, I feel that I'm more mindful of the stuff I bring with me when using frame bags compared to panniers since there's less available room. You really need to think through every single thing you pack.

[Mr joe]

Bikepacking can be a lot of fun. I recently went on a bike trip on my visit to Barcelona. I'm not sure if this is considered bikepacking. It was extremely exciting to do. Thanks to my guide at https://gowithguide.com/spain We visited Citadel Park, Olympic Port, and the Barceloneta District. I plan to do more bikepacking in the future. I like the relaxed pace of discovering local locations.

[GirishH]

Hello Noraa, I too loved commuting to and back from work because I cycled and it introduced me to so many other cyclists and see the changes in the nature as it went from one season to another. I was in Boston area. And, yes the health benefits (both [physical and mental) that come with cycling..:-)

(05-17-2024, 05:48 AM)Noraaa Wrote:  I sometimes commute by bike. When I ride more, it’s often after get off work. I enjoy the opportunity that cycling gives me to fully face nature. I'm happy with every ride I take and it makes me satisfied when I see the data recorded on my BP Doctor TR12.

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Hello @Dusan, I will message you privately too, but I would love to learn more about European bike touring. I hesitate to tour or bikepack in Europe due to the exorbitant prices one would pay for staying overnight. I carry all my tenting gear but would appreciate some suggestions.

Here in India, staying at motels can cost about $10 a night. I am carrying all my tenting gear but am still a bit wary due to safety issues or the fear that has taken root. I do plan to tent once I get to the less sparsely populated parts of India, though.

I just finished packing my bikepacking gear onto my bike for an upcoming journey toward the Himalayas. As you mentioned, I went through each item before packing it in. I have also learned to use the same items for multiple purposes. I will be riding in my ankle-high hiking shoes since I hope to hike/backpack once I reach the Himalayas. I can also run in them when I need to get some runs in and they definitely can be used for short jaunts to the market or such.

I am debating whether to pack a pair of sandals as a second pair of footwear or to bring lightweight water shoes. I might even unpack and go through everything again before hitting the roadt… :-)

Because I have bikepacked like this in the past, it's easy to 'rewire' my thinking and know that I can repurpose an item for another use. However, after a gap of living in the 'non-bikepacking' life, it takes some time to get back into that mindset… :-)

For reasons you mentioned, I too got rid of my panniers as I would end up packing the kitchen sink… :-(

(05-17-2024, 11:44 AM)Dusan Wrote:  Both bikepacking and bike touring are definitely much less expensive than renting an apartment and living in one place, especially if you camp out.

On my bike touring trip through Europe a few years ago, I was spending around $10 per day on average and wild camping most of the time, so I was spending only around $400 per month for about three months. That's impossible in any EU city today.

However, nowadays I mostly do shorter bikepacking trips because I love exploring off the beaten path. Plus, I feel that I'm more mindful of the stuff I bring with me when using frame bags compared to panniers since there's less available room. You really need to think through every single thing you pack.

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Welcome, Mr Joe. Hope you had fun in Barcelona! I'm not sure what the official definition of bikepacking is, but I consider it a way of traveling by bicycle while carrying all the (minimal) essentials you would need. What those 'essentials' are can vary. I typically carry my tent, sleeping bag, stove, gas, spare tires, tubes, water, and enough food for one day. Many times, I don’t use most of these because I end up staying in a motel or eating at a restaurant—like in the first photo where I rode a borrowed bicycle from Portland, OR, to Seattle, WA, while staying in an Airbnb. But when I'm out in the mountains or National Parks, I end up using all my gear—like in the otherworldly Páramo de Piñán in Ecuador, where I used everything, including the food.

Airbnb is a great way to explore nearby towns and cities on your bicycle. If there’s public transportation available, it’s even better because if you get too tired, you can bring your bike back on a train or bus… :-)

Again, good luck with your bikepacking and bike touring!

(08-21-2024, 01:33 AM)Mr joe Wrote:  Bikepacking can be a lot of fun. I recently went on a bike trip on my visit to Barcelona. I'm not sure if this is considered bikepacking. It was extremely exciting to do. Thanks to my guide at https://gowithguide.com/spain We visited Citadel Park, Olympic Port, and the Barceloneta District. I plan to do more bikepacking in the future. I like the relaxed pace of discovering local locations.