Cycling UK Forum

Not had mine yet!

Taking a while for mine to make it to deepest Wet Cumbria too.

Mine has arrived. I am unimpressed at the very high frequency of references to bikepacking and complete absence of reference to any and all other forms of cycle-camping.

jgurney wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 1:40pm Mine has arrived. I am unimpressed at the very high frequency of references to bikepacking and complete absence of reference to any and all other forms of cycle-camping.

I was quite bemused in a recent issue of a mag where 'bikepacking' in Scotland involved staying in B&Bs, to me bikepacking means self-sufficient overnights, and typically not staying on formal camp-sites but 'camping wild' en route?

It seems 'bikepacking' is a new catch-all term for 'touring'...

cheers,

Keith

Traction_man wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 1:50pm

jgurney wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 1:40pm Mine has arrived. I am unimpressed at the very high frequency of references to bikepacking and complete absence of reference to any and all other forms of cycle-camping.

I was quite bemused in a recent issue of a mag where 'bikepacking' in Scotland involved staying in B&Bs, to me bikepacking means self-sufficient overnights, and typically not staying on formal camp-sites but 'camping wild' en route?

It seems 'bikepacking' is a new catch-all term for 'touring'...

cheers,

Keith

I have a relative who goes wild camping.

In a motor home the size of a bus.

Traction_man wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 1:50pm

jgurney wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 1:40pm Mine has arrived. I am unimpressed at the very high frequency of references to bikepacking and complete absence of reference to any and all other forms of cycle-camping.

I was quite bemused in a recent issue of a mag where 'bikepacking' in Scotland involved staying in B&Bs, to me bikepacking means self-sufficient overnights, and typically not staying on formal camp-sites but 'camping wild' en route?

It seems 'bikepacking' is a new catch-all term for 'touring'.

I was told in no uncertain terms that the cycle camping I do is not bikepacking because I use panniers and ride mainly on surfaced roads.

mcshroom wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 12:34pm Taking a while for mine to make it to deepest Wet Cumbria too.

Not made it to wet Lancashire neither!

jgurney wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 5:47pm

Traction_man wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 1:50pm

jgurney wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 1:40pm Mine has arrived. I am unimpressed at the very high frequency of references to bikepacking and complete absence of reference to any and all other forms of cycle-camping.

I was quite bemused in a recent issue of a mag where 'bikepacking' in Scotland involved staying in B&Bs, to me bikepacking means self-sufficient overnights, and typically not staying on formal camp-sites but 'camping wild' en route?

It seems 'bikepacking' is a new catch-all term for 'touring'.

I was told in no uncertain terms that the cycle camping I do is not bikepacking because I use panniers and ride mainly on surfaced roads.

Yes, I have heard that as a distinction too between cycle camping and bikepacking, the latter though seems to be gaining wider currency at the mo--no doubt bikepacking is in the eye of the beholder. Certainly it's being banded about a lot in the mag of late. I don't object at all, either way.

all the best,

Keith

I just go touring using my bike and camping.

Traction_man wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 8:14pm

jgurney wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 5:47pm

Traction_man wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 1:50pm

I was quite bemused in a recent issue of a mag where 'bikepacking' in Scotland involved staying in B&Bs, to me bikepacking means self-sufficient overnights, and typically not staying on formal camp-sites but 'camping wild' en route?

It seems 'bikepacking' is a new catch-all term for 'touring'.

I was told in no uncertain terms that the cycle camping I do is not bikepacking because I use panniers and ride mainly on surfaced roads.

Yes, I have heard that as a distinction too between cycle camping and bikepacking, the latter though seems to be gaining wider currency at the mo--no doubt bikepacking is in the eye of the beholder. Certainly it's being banded about a lot in the mag of late. I don't object at all, either way.

all the best,

Keith

The book 'Bikepacking for Beginners' was written by Robin Adshead in 1978. The front cover depicts him on a touring bike, 2 rear panniers, tent on top of the rack, and a large bar bag. The term was used to describe cycle touring long before the current generation of 'bikepackers' was born!

pedalsheep wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 10:16pm

Traction_man wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 8:14pm

jgurney wrote: ↑9 Aug 2021, 5:47pm

I was told in no uncertain terms that the cycle camping I do is not bikepacking because I use panniers and ride mainly on surfaced roads.

Yes, I have heard that as a distinction too between cycle camping and bikepacking, the latter though seems to be gaining wider currency at the mo--no doubt bikepacking is in the eye of the beholder. Certainly it's being banded about a lot in the mag of late. I don't object at all, either way.

all the best,

Keith

The book 'Bikepacking for Beginners' was written by Robin Adshead in 1978. The front cover depicts him on a touring bike, 2 rear panniers, tent on top of the rack, and a large bar bag. The term was used to describe cycle touring long before the current generation of 'bikepackers' was born!

Great to hear that! I think the key shared ingredient for both bikepacking and cycle camping is being 'self-supported' (nice piece on this here https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-101/) , that's the appeal to me anyway.

So using hotels and bed and breakfasts doesn't really cut it for me as 'bikepacking', attractive though these are, and differentiates cycle touring from bikepacking (AKA cycle camping, whichever term we prefer to use).

Cheers,

Keith

The best and also the shortest description of bikepacking that I've heard is given by Lael Wilcox at 1:06 in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyG8fD ... prZD-0TI6Q

For those who can't be bothered to follow that, she says "Bikepacking for me is carrying enough on your bike that you can ride somewhere and spend the night outside."

I just logged in to chuck the Robin Adshead book into the mix as well. I di that occasionally to annoy the trendies
Still pick up the book occasionally.

Bikepacking.
What I do when I check out of my hotel with my Super C's. Slide in stays, click on clips and all done the bike is packed. Am I missing something?

My mag arrive Friday morning.

Seems a bit like the old tired discussions about real cyclists as opposed to some other kind.