Before you get confused by perfect set-ups on social media, ask yourself a simple question: do you have a bike that works? And then see if this bike is suitable for you. Is there such a thing as the perfect bikepacking bike?
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The perfect bikepacking bike?
If you have a bike, voilà, your bikepacking bike! At least it will be good enough for your first time. Maybe you'll start with an overnighter to get a taste of bikepacking for the first time. Off you go on Saturday, back on Sunday.
You don't need a special bikepacking model for a bikepacking tour. However, your bike should brake reliably, the gears should suit your terrain and the tyres should work on the surface you want to ride on. That's enough to get you started.
A bike with countless eyelets on the frame or an integrated storage compartment in the down tube can be practical, but is not a prerequisite for setting off. All you need is a bike - and a tour that suits it.
It can be a gravel bike. A road bike. A mountain bike. An old trekking bike.
Tour and bike must fit together
Your route is decisive for your choice of bike. Or the other way round. Plan your route so that it suits your bike. And to you.
Do you mainly drive Asphalta road bike works wonderfully. It rolls easily, is efficient and is great fun, especially on longer road stages. With slightly wider tyres, bad roads and even easy dirt tracks and forest paths are no problem.
Would you rather Gravel, forest paths and mixed terrain a gravel bike is the better choice. It is fast enough for the road and at the same time offers comfort and safety off-road. This versatility makes it a good choice for many beginners.
Will it really rough, technical or very steepa mountain bike plays to its strengths. More tyre width, more control, usually lighter gears - this makes a difference, especially with luggage.
I've been bikepacking on a road bike and a gravel bike myself, depending on what route I had planned or what my goal was: to get from A to B quickly because there was a family reunion in B or to be on the road. I love the road bike on tarmac. As soon as it's longer over gravel or I want to be flexible, the gravel bike is the bike of choice.
So if you want to buy a new bike and keep as many options open as possible, a gravel bike is the most versatile choice for many bikepacking tours. When things get more technical, a mountain bike makes more sense. And for pure road tours, a road bike is perfectly adequate.
Small gears are worth their weight in gold
With luggage, climbs suddenly feel twice as steep. Although pushing can be a pleasant change, it is frustrating and annoying in the long run. Especially if you are travelling in mountainous terrain, I recommend the lightest possible gearing. I have never experienced a gear that is too light on a bikepacking tour.
At the same time, it amazes me in retrospect how I rode the Badlands bikepacking race with rather heavy gearing (38-42) - in other words, with gears that were actually anything but ideal for the steep climbs. Not that I would have chosen such a heavy gear ratio for the steep climbs and the many metres of altitude, but it was what I had. And it worked.
Does that give you the courage to set off on your bike as it stands?
Bike check before the tour
Before you set off, it's worth doing a quick bike check so that your tour doesn't fail because of your equipment.
Brakes
Are the brake pads still thick enough? Do the brakes grip cleanly or does the lever feel spongy? You need to be able to rely on your brakes.
Tyres
Are they badly worn, porous or already have small cracks? Are they sitting properly on the rim and holding the air? A flat tyre on the road is no drama. But starting with worn-out tyres doesn't have to be.
Circuit
Can you shift cleanly through all gears? Does the chain jump? Does it rattle a lot? Poorly adjusted gears are more noticeable under load with luggage.
Chain
Is it heavily rusted or visibly worn? A new chain is cheaper than a new cassette - and rides much more comfortably. If you are unsure, go to your trusted bike shop.
Everything solid?
Are the stem, handlebars and seatpost really tight? Loose handlebars are not a minor problem, but can lead to a heavy fall.
If everything fits, you can start packing. What you really need to take with you depends on your tour. In this article you will find questions and suggestions to help you develop your own packing list.
The most important thing
All you need is a bike and an idea for your tour. The most important thing for your first tour is that your bike works reliably and that you feel comfortable on it.
The best bikepacking bike is the one you set off on, because most adventures don't fail because of the wrong bike, but because you don't set off at all.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
