Depends on how intence, far and long to go-to. No tin-fod, that's for sure. Genderkind created plenty of options for (mountaineering) climbing and trekking food: from sublimated meat and beef jerkies to nuts, grains and chockolate/cane sugar.
When backpacking in europe and especially italy we'd order a pizza with a side of pasta each. The waiters got very confused as why 2 people would order 4 meals, the rubbing of tummies and point at the bikes came in handy then. Bottle of coke and an espresso been heaven a few times aswell
I would go into a deli. Every deli shop also did sandwhiches even if they didn't advertise it. They always had meat cheese and bread so I would ask the butcher for one.
I remember reading in the Bridgestone Owners Bunch newsletter that John Stamstad ate a lot of Little Debs on his Continental Divide ride in the early 1990s. When I Bicycle tour or backpack, anything that has high calories.
I'm picking up my first mid road bike (ever) --The Domane SL 8 Disc, tomorrow. You guys have been a wealth of knowledge for a beginner like myself. Very entertaining also --I'm going to miss Matt though. :(
Awesome guys! Thank you! I've only done traditional bike touring but would love to try bikepacking. Always wondered where you fit the food for the more remote trips. I've definitely thrown healthy eating to the wind and had my fair share of unknown biscuits and sweets on trips abroad haha. Cheers!
For grocery's i like to take a small thin rope back-pack with me (those back-bags you get during events for goodies etc.) handy for those things that don't fit in your bike-bags (Like, food, which you don't carry with you for long, because you eventually have to eat it...)
I don't drink soda's so my go to fizzy drink is Apfel Schorle when touring in Europe. I can't seem to find an equivalent here in the states and honestly it wouldn't be the same anyway.
When touring I always carry a musette bag folded away to carry the evenings petrol station food shop/bag of beer. Flapjacks are the usual go to. Keep some fruit pastels/jelly babies for the sweet treats. Snickers and M&Ms tend not to melt as easily as other chocolates (I'm looking at you, Bounty). Brioche buns are good to carry en masse on the saddle pack, as is a bagette! For the evening a nice cheap tin of heinz beef ravioli or Frank and beans to cook on the jet boil is always a good shout aswell. That way you can save money for the mega midday meals.
You guys missed the ultimate Ultra Endurance and Bike packing drink!!!! Chocolate flavoured Milk :-) another go to favourite is Iced Coffee Milk...regardless of the outside temperature, milk will always last long enough until you have finished it over the next few hours without going off. Or it can also be taken to your road side camping spot and drunk all night and into the morning. So much healthier than coke by a mile! To be used in conjunction with normal water and kept in its original container if on the bike but you can easily slam milk down on a shop or service station stop.
you guys should do a video about the varying distances/types of touring/bikepacking trips and how to setup the bike and what to use. I've followed both this series and bicycle touring pro and noticed alot of variance in the types of bikes and storage. I was curious about your choice of drop bars and more agressive geometry to what he often uses which is paniers, flatbars and a steel bike. Recently he's been doing mountain bike bikepacking which spurged my interest in a video of the generalizations of setups suited for varying distances and trips. Do you find that you walk around off the bike alot and the clipless pedals become a hinderance? What is the advantage of drop bars for bike packing as well as the agressive geometry considering the long distances.
I did my first self supported tour in France years ago with a Surly Long Haul Trucker, flat bars, and panniers. It worked well for my first trip but the bike setup has changed as my needs and comfort issues changed too. When I got back from my first tour I quickly ditched the flat bars for Salsa Wood Chipper drop bars. Even with Ergon grips and bar ends I couldn't stay comfortable after hours on the bike with straight bars. After doing a trip in Austria with lots of climbing the Salsa's got changed to FSA drop bars with a flat top for more comfortable climbing. My wife and I both like to climb big mountain passes and we find these bars more comfortable. They also mimic the shape of the carbon bars on our Bianchi's we ride at home. Both of our LHT's have S&S couplers so the frames comes apart. We also have special S&S bags that allow us to check them at the airport as regular luggage. Flying bikes to Europe from the states is really expensive so we built these bikes just for traveling abroad. Unfortunately, these bags have to go with us as we ride and the best way to carry them is folded and strapped across the rear panniers. There's definitely nothing "aero" about that setup but it's what we have to endure to do the rides we really enjoy. If we stayed in one location we could go lighter but we prefer to ride across or through countries when we tour. We both also use Pearl Izumi SPD compatible shoes and XT or XTR MTB pedals. These are the only shoes we bring other than flip flops. They're comfortable enough to walk in and still work well on the bikes. Every now and then you'll hear the cleat grinding on the pavement but that's the only difference I can feel/hear. I even climbed the cobbles up to the Festung in Salzburg with no issues. I have gotten a few inquiries from TSA agents when they see the cleats while going through security though. Since you're on a "tour" the more upright position allows you to take in more of the sights, sounds, and smells as you pedal along. You can always reach for the drops if you need a break from the wind. Two years ago while riding the Camino de Santiago in Spain I did stop and slam my stem due to a strong headwind. We were on the plains section of the Camino Frances so there wasn't much to take in! I've got to say that I've found this GCN bikepacking series really helpful and inspiring. So much so that I went out and bought a Specialized Diverge so that I can do some trips here at home. It will also double as my lightweight touring bike and "beater" bike for rides down in Baja too.
Matthew C Interestingly, my wife’s bike is setup closer to her Bianchi’s because of her stature. She’s 4’11” so on those bikes with 700c’s the headtube is about the same height as her 26” equipped Surly. Mine ends up being taller in the front because that’s how I prefer it for touring. We also end up on gravel on most of our rides in Europe sooner or later. Having higher bars allows me to descend in more control when off-road. I can always slam and flip the stem if I need to get lower like the 2 days I had on my Spain trip. My Diverge is setup similar to the 3T’s they’re riding. Also, they’re taller and are probably trying to mimic their normal road bike positioning. When you look at the ultimate goal of those bikes (going fast on gravel) it makes sense.
*@Josh* - I haven't gone bikepacking yet but I've done extensive backpacking, usually in remote mountains where there is no support. On long trips we sometimes resorted to freeze-dried food in order to carry sufficient quantity without it being too heavy. My most extreme trip was 17 days for a little over 100 miles (over 161 km) and, even with 100% freeze-dried food, my pack weighed 65 lbs (29.5 kg), not counting the water. Have you used freeze-dried food for bikepacking? If "yes", what brands?
I was on Iceland and going to Scotland soon. I am using dried Veggies for that so if you are doing that more often thing about getting yourself a good dehydrating machine (one with metal mashes instead of plastic), they are mechanically simple enough so a cheap one will do and they will last for quite a while. Get a kilo of frosted peas, corn or whatever, throw them in and you get 200g of good and cheap dried stuff. Got through 3 weeks with rice, dried veggies, mushrooms, some spices, beef jerky, oatmeal and dried fruits. Lots of recipes when you look for tracking food so just because you are in the middle of nowhere does not mean that you just get the nutrition without flavor. Current calculation is 18kg of luggage wo water with food for 10 days, rice and pasta refill every week for 3 weeks overall. The dried stuff is quite interesting through the year as well, the taste gets much more intense when dried so a healthy snack for every season
did you bring your self dried meals to iceland? did they make any problems at customs when you arrived? (as they only allow certain types of dried food and only up to 3kg)
What about taking carbohydrate drink mix so you can drink it with water? Too heavy/big? Its pure maltodextrin, fructose and electrolytes, so I think its worth carrying around.
What do you think about carrying a hydration bladder in a backpack? And generally about backpacks for bikepacking? I think it could be a problem on a road bike because of sweating and weight, if you put more things into a backpack.
On a bikepacking trip or bike tour you spend a ton of hours in the saddle each day. After awhile the backpack causes hot spots and starts becoming a nuisance. I'm to the point where I can't even stand to use one on a short mtb ride anymore. However, I do see plenty of people that use them on the trails and bike routes I've ridden. I see more people using them in Europe than in the states unless it's a mtb ride. Since bikes are used as transportation over there instead of a "toy" it seems like a natural thing. I did ride up on a rollerblader along the Danube who was using a giant backpacking pack as she rolled across Austria; tough woman!
Motorep146 Thx for your response. I often use a backpack it on my MTB, but there my saddle is just a bit lower than my handlebars. Ond my roadbike I have a drop of 4 cm so the force is different.
Beef jerky, nuts, oatmeal, Tuna pouches/cans, tortillas, chewy candy, fruit bars/cookies, My fruit is usually eaten the same day or else it goes bad or squished.
#torqueback I'd love to see a comparison between a road bike and a flatbar road bike like a Canyon Roadlite. I got rid of my road bike because I didn't feel in control when compared to my MTB because of the position of brake levers and narrow bars. I think a light flat-bar road bike would suit me fine. What do you think?
Some riders do stash a CamelBak bladder in the frame bag and route the tube up above the stem. The problem is that unless you have separate pockets in the bag tools and other items can rub holes into the bladder leaving you without fluids. I prefer to use bottles since I've never had one fail. I carry one in a feed bag on the bars if it's really hot out and I'm burning through fluids. I also prefer to use aluminum cages on my touring bikes. They can be bent to hold 1 liter bottles that can you buy anywhere in the world. In fact, I only bring one water bottle when I tour in Europe and buy 2 liters of Evian. Then I refill those when riding through towns at any fountain I come across. BTW, Switzerland has the best water!
Mark Marlatt yeah i tend to sweat more than the average from the whole body which is why i wear wetdry cloths. But i must be losing something. And since I'm on a low carb diet that might contribute.
TechPimp you should look up "primal endurance" or "primal blueprint" by Mark Sisson if you are doing low carb. His diet plan isn't necessarily good for everyone but he has great way of teaching how to train based on how you eat. May help you! How low carb are you going?
Those two 750 ml bottles seem hardly enough for riding all day long in remote areas, especially in hot weather. I'd need at least twice the amount for a long day in the saddle.
I'd say you were lucky to find some open ones on your route. It's happened to me more than once that I can't find any source of drinkable water for the entire day, and that even cycling exclusively on road.
That's what i like about bicycle touring/bickepacking. You can consider cakes, biscuits and sweets as proper food for sportsman :D Someone says its unhealthy? Yeah, mayby but look on the calories per gram ratio!
I used to think like that. But after 10 years of bikepacking, you begin to notice the effects of surviving on crappy food. In any case, sugar has 4 calories per gram, fats have 9 calories per gram. You can't beat nuts and peanuts.
I would totally agree about the nuts, but you can't get them easily everywhere with reasonable price. About the sweets and stuff it was half-joke half-truth, but so far i'm considering bike touring as awesome way for traveling for few weeks/months, not really a lifestyle. I guess the more you ride the more "normal" your meals should be. Lets take road cyclists living on energy gels for example ;D
I just realised that I have been eating exactly like that for a long time,it's just that I don't bikepack!!! haha. Seriously though, Why no mention of wearing small camel back for water?
CamelBak's suck after awhile. They're heavy and you always end up over packing them making them worse. They're incredibly hot too. I can't even stand them while MTB'ing any longer. I use a Revelate Designs Jerrycan on my Ripley to carry tools and as big of a bottle as I can fit in the frame.
Banana(potassium) is not a good alternative to salty foods(sodium) LOL. You can't just replace the main electrolyte that keeps water in you sodium with potassium. In fact potassium has diuretic effect.. Chips full of unhealthy vegetable oil is also far from good option. Salt is everywhere. Just carry bag of salt(ideally sea salt) and add it to the water you drink..
Anyone who bike tours long enough ends up knowing plant foods are the best. They are hydrating, digest better and are a lot less likely to make you sick, plus they don't go off when you store them in your bike. Staples like oats, pre packaged rice, pasta, potatoes, breads, biscuits, chips, breads and sandwhiches . Peanut butter and jam sandwiches are always around and you can always find and pack some muesli or oats, mixed nuts and dried fruits such as dates a put them in a cup of water. Once you mix the oats around in water it makes its own oat milk. High energy, whole foods with lots of nutrition. Always carry something salty and something sweet. I have a sweet pocket and salty pocket on my bike. Get out there! th-cam.com/video/GT516I6LegM/w-d-xo.html
Parrish James You don't want to eat that much carbs. But I appreciate ypu mention oats, they are great way to start the day. Fermented oats are much better source of nutrients, remember about the importance of removing phytic acid from your grains, seeds and nuts.
You can't fly with fuel canisters. Unless you can be sure of finding fuel at your starting point you're screwed. That said, I still carry a small stove and cup when I fly. I can normally find fuel along my ride somewhere and it's nice to make coffee during the day even though I'm staying in Pensions at night.
I'm on a 6 month bike trip right now and the really annoying thing is all this plastic garbage. It really makes you angry to see all those stuff laying around in the nature and your own huge consumption doesn't make it any better
Unfortunately I've got an infection in my testicle from riding a bike apparently my seat cut off circulation and now I have epididymitis so I've got to wait at least 2 weeks before I can ride a bike that really sucks I think I'd rather lose my nut than not be able to ride my bike
airsofter2247 I'm not sure of the exact angle but its slightly nose down and slightly to the right. Its a Giant connect saddle that came on my bike. After I get rid of the infection I will play around with the position and possibly change saddles
Why not carry a light weight frameless back pack, such as an Osprey Talon 11, for example, with a 2.5-3.0 liter bladder, and maybe carry your rain gear or other light clothing items. There seems to be a taboo toward even small back packs, entirely, as it relates to bike packing philosophy. Yet, long range touring cyclists, and even MTB XC riders, have been utilizing them for decades...why is that? Also, anyone who has back packed, knows that the weight is on your hips, anyway, so carrying a cycling designed backpack with bladder, and a jacket and gloves, (and wallet and passport on your person) will not break the bank, and offer more flexibility...NO? I don’t get it???
What's your go-to bikepacking food? 🌮🍕🍤
Soreen cake bars (malt loaf)
Banana, electrolytes, water, snickers, chocolate bars, biscuits, local food, protein powder pouches... Etc. I'm from India btw.. 😊
Granola bars
Bananas.
Depends on how intence, far and long to go-to.
No tin-fod, that's for sure. Genderkind created plenty of options for (mountaineering) climbing and trekking food: from sublimated meat and beef jerkies to nuts, grains and chockolate/cane sugar.
You guys should seriously consider bringing Josh in as a presenter! He's great!
“They might get a bit squished. You soon get over it. Standards tend to drop.” So, so true.
When backpacking in europe and especially italy we'd order a pizza with a side of pasta each. The waiters got very confused as why 2 people would order 4 meals, the rubbing of tummies and point at the bikes came in handy then. Bottle of coke and an espresso been heaven a few times aswell
matthew benger That sounds like a pretty good high carb fix there!
I would go into a deli. Every deli shop also did sandwhiches even if they didn't advertise it. They always had meat cheese and bread so I would ask the butcher for one.
Josh is great in front of the camera. Good addition
I love how much work they put in their video's 👏👏👏
kaneki Kun Thanks!
Love this old-school Si!
You guys are getting some miles out of these bike packing videos. But I'm not complaining as I really like them!
Glad you enjoy them!
I remember reading in the Bridgestone Owners Bunch newsletter that John Stamstad ate a lot of Little Debs on his Continental Divide ride in the early 1990s. When I Bicycle tour or backpack, anything that has high calories.
The best content so far. more gravel videos and backpacking gcn! keep it up!
Thanks Ryan, glad you have enjoyed the series!
Thanks! I needed this advice for a 100 mile off road (first 40 miles) and on road (the rest) ride I will do on the Summer Solstice.
I'm picking up my first mid road bike (ever) --The Domane SL 8 Disc, tomorrow. You guys have been a wealth of knowledge for a beginner like myself. Very entertaining also --I'm going to miss Matt though. :(
Sounds exciting!
I like the tyres on si's very nice👌
these bikepacking videos are great. keep them coming, amazing work!
Awesome guys! Thank you! I've only done traditional bike touring but would love to try bikepacking. Always wondered where you fit the food for the more remote trips. I've definitely thrown healthy eating to the wind and had my fair share of unknown biscuits and sweets on trips abroad haha. Cheers!
4:24 GCN Calendar, December right there. #merryxmasladies
Great video again GCN! It is so many good tip and enjoyable see them over and over again!
Thanks Petinka for watching!
For grocery's i like to take a small thin rope back-pack with me (those back-bags you get during events for goodies etc.) handy for those things that don't fit in your bike-bags (Like, food, which you don't carry with you for long, because you eventually have to eat it...)
Good tip Ivar
Good one.. Added few more points to my back packing options.. Thank you folks 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
All this bike packing content is just 👌
8:29, like a happy dog waving with its tail :-) #woofwoof
Coke is my backup energy booster and a Reece chocolate bar for a moral booster. 100mile plus, salt nuts and haribo in feed bag
I don't drink soda's so my go to fizzy drink is Apfel Schorle when touring in Europe. I can't seem to find an equivalent here in the states and honestly it wouldn't be the same anyway.
When touring I always carry a musette bag folded away to carry the evenings petrol station food shop/bag of beer.
Flapjacks are the usual go to. Keep some fruit pastels/jelly babies for the sweet treats. Snickers and M&Ms tend not to melt as easily as other chocolates (I'm looking at you, Bounty).
Brioche buns are good to carry en masse on the saddle pack, as is a bagette! For the evening a nice cheap tin of heinz beef ravioli or Frank and beans to cook on the jet boil is always a good shout aswell. That way you can save money for the mega midday meals.
Sounds like you have some pretty nice touring food!
Loved it! I want to do this!
Good information. Thanks.
Pathfinder.Gregg Cheers! 👍
Excellent video and loving the locals, motorbikers complain when they only have around 150 ltrs of storage you guys sure put that to bed. :D
You guys missed the ultimate Ultra Endurance and Bike packing drink!!!! Chocolate flavoured Milk :-) another go to favourite is Iced Coffee Milk...regardless of the outside temperature, milk will always last long enough until you have finished it over the next few hours without going off. Or it can also be taken to your road side camping spot and drunk all night and into the morning. So much healthier than coke by a mile! To be used in conjunction with normal water and kept in its original container if on the bike but you can easily slam milk down on a shop or service station stop.
you guys should do a video about the varying distances/types of touring/bikepacking trips and how to setup the bike and what to use. I've followed both this series and bicycle touring pro and noticed alot of variance in the types of bikes and storage. I was curious about your choice of drop bars and more agressive geometry to what he often uses which is paniers, flatbars and a steel bike. Recently he's been doing mountain bike bikepacking which spurged my interest in a video of the generalizations of setups suited for varying distances and trips. Do you find that you walk around off the bike alot and the clipless pedals become a hinderance? What is the advantage of drop bars for bike packing as well as the agressive geometry considering the long distances.
Hi Matthew, good idea for a video. We found for this trip the drop bars were great for descending, and they are flared helping increase stability.
I did my first self supported tour in France years ago with a Surly Long Haul Trucker, flat bars, and panniers. It worked well for my first trip but the bike setup has changed as my needs and comfort issues changed too.
When I got back from my first tour I quickly ditched the flat bars for Salsa Wood Chipper drop bars. Even with Ergon grips and bar ends I couldn't stay comfortable after hours on the bike with straight bars. After doing a trip in Austria with lots of climbing the Salsa's got changed to FSA drop bars with a flat top for more comfortable climbing. My wife and I both like to climb big mountain passes and we find these bars more comfortable. They also mimic the shape of the carbon bars on our Bianchi's we ride at home.
Both of our LHT's have S&S couplers so the frames comes apart. We also have special S&S bags that allow us to check them at the airport as regular luggage. Flying bikes to Europe from the states is really expensive so we built these bikes just for traveling abroad. Unfortunately, these bags have to go with us as we ride and the best way to carry them is folded and strapped across the rear panniers. There's definitely nothing "aero" about that setup but it's what we have to endure to do the rides we really enjoy. If we stayed in one location we could go lighter but we prefer to ride across or through countries when we tour.
We both also use Pearl Izumi SPD compatible shoes and XT or XTR MTB pedals. These are the only shoes we bring other than flip flops. They're comfortable enough to walk in and still work well on the bikes. Every now and then you'll hear the cleat grinding on the pavement but that's the only difference I can feel/hear. I even climbed the cobbles up to the Festung in Salzburg with no issues. I have gotten a few inquiries from TSA agents when they see the cleats while going through security though.
Since you're on a "tour" the more upright position allows you to take in more of the sights, sounds, and smells as you pedal along. You can always reach for the drops if you need a break from the wind. Two years ago while riding the Camino de Santiago in Spain I did stop and slam my stem due to a strong headwind. We were on the plains section of the Camino Frances so there wasn't much to take in!
I've got to say that I've found this GCN bikepacking series really helpful and inspiring. So much so that I went out and bought a Specialized Diverge so that I can do some trips here at home. It will also double as my lightweight touring bike and "beater" bike for rides down in Baja too.
Motorep146 so compared to the 3ts they are riding in the video I assume your and your wife's positions are much more upright and relaxed?
Matthew C Interestingly, my wife’s bike is setup closer to her Bianchi’s because of her stature. She’s 4’11” so on those bikes with 700c’s the headtube is about the same height as her 26” equipped Surly. Mine ends up being taller in the front because that’s how I prefer it for touring. We also end up on gravel on most of our rides in Europe sooner or later. Having higher bars allows me to descend in more control when off-road. I can always slam and flip the stem if I need to get lower like the 2 days I had on my Spain trip.
My Diverge is setup similar to the 3T’s they’re riding. Also, they’re taller and are probably trying to mimic their normal road bike positioning. When you look at the ultimate goal of those bikes (going fast on gravel) it makes sense.
Cliff Bar white chocolate macadamia!!! Give me a supply of that and water and I can go for days.
Nice choice!
*@Josh* - I haven't gone bikepacking yet but I've done extensive backpacking, usually in remote mountains where there is no support. On long trips we sometimes resorted to freeze-dried food in order to carry sufficient quantity without it being too heavy. My most extreme trip was 17 days for a little over 100 miles (over 161 km) and, even with 100% freeze-dried food, my pack weighed 65 lbs (29.5 kg), not counting the water. Have you used freeze-dried food for bikepacking? If "yes", what brands?
I was on Iceland and going to Scotland soon. I am using dried Veggies for that so if you are doing that more often thing about getting yourself a good dehydrating machine (one with metal mashes instead of plastic), they are mechanically simple enough so a cheap one will do and they will last for quite a while. Get a kilo of frosted peas, corn or whatever, throw them in and you get 200g of good and cheap dried stuff. Got through 3 weeks with rice, dried veggies, mushrooms, some spices, beef jerky, oatmeal and dried fruits.
Lots of recipes when you look for tracking food so just because you are in the middle of nowhere does not mean that you just get the nutrition without flavor. Current calculation is 18kg of luggage wo water with food for 10 days, rice and pasta refill every week for 3 weeks overall.
The dried stuff is quite interesting through the year as well, the taste gets much more intense when dried so a healthy snack for every season
did you bring your self dried meals to iceland? did they make any problems at customs when you arrived? (as they only allow certain types of dried food and only up to 3kg)
Thanks for the video. What size tires do you have on those bikes? Thanks again.
Hey Sorin, check this video of Simon's 3T gcn.eu/3TExploro
Wow 55mm, thanks. I don't know how I've missed Simon's 3T Exploro LTD video.
Thanks for this vid
Cheers Craig
Best videos on you tube
Josh does a pretty good Jen Voigt on the bike.
I REALLY ENJOY THE VIDEO! GREAT! GUYS!
Thanks!
What about taking carbohydrate drink mix so you can drink it with water? Too heavy/big?
Its pure maltodextrin, fructose and electrolytes, so I think its worth carrying around.
TheBigCheese233 yep thats what i always carry with me, definitely wprth the weight!
Good idea!
What do you think about carrying a hydration bladder in a backpack? And generally about backpacks for bikepacking?
I think it could be a problem on a road bike because of sweating and weight, if you put more things into a backpack.
Some people chose to cycle with backpacks. All our bits fitted into the bike bags though so it wasn't an issue for us 👍
On a bikepacking trip or bike tour you spend a ton of hours in the saddle each day. After awhile the backpack causes hot spots and starts becoming a nuisance. I'm to the point where I can't even stand to use one on a short mtb ride anymore.
However, I do see plenty of people that use them on the trails and bike routes I've ridden. I see more people using them in Europe than in the states unless it's a mtb ride. Since bikes are used as transportation over there instead of a "toy" it seems like a natural thing. I did ride up on a rollerblader along the Danube who was using a giant backpacking pack as she rolled across Austria; tough woman!
Motorep146 Thx for your response.
I often use a backpack it on my MTB, but there my saddle is just a bit lower than my handlebars.
Ond my roadbike I have a drop of 4 cm so the force is different.
Beef jerky, nuts, oatmeal, Tuna pouches/cans, tortillas, chewy candy, fruit bars/cookies,
My fruit is usually eaten the same day or else it goes bad or squished.
What kind of bellend would thumbs down this ffs??? Great info and it's all free. Thanks GCN
Love this series. My rides are getting longer all the time. ......easy on the sugar boys. 🙂
Thanks Colin!
#torqueback I'd love to see a comparison between a road bike and a flatbar road bike like a Canyon Roadlite. I got rid of my road bike because I didn't feel in control when compared to my MTB because of the position of brake levers and narrow bars. I think a light flat-bar road bike would suit me fine. What do you think?
It's been 4 weeks since the Morocco Bikepacking video and SI still hasn't cleaned his face! :D
An old Army trick when cooking a rice based dish. Add a little sweetness to it by dropping in some chocolate.
Those 3T bikes are seriously good enough to eat
Simon is whiter than the sun
Has anyone tried to bring meal replacement shakes on trips like these?
What about a Camelback for your water. Much easier to drink from on rough tracks where you need to keep both hands on the bars.
Some riders do stash a CamelBak bladder in the frame bag and route the tube up above the stem. The problem is that unless you have separate pockets in the bag tools and other items can rub holes into the bladder leaving you without fluids. I prefer to use bottles since I've never had one fail. I carry one in a feed bag on the bars if it's really hot out and I'm burning through fluids. I also prefer to use aluminum cages on my touring bikes. They can be bent to hold 1 liter bottles that can you buy anywhere in the world. In fact, I only bring one water bottle when I tour in Europe and buy 2 liters of Evian. Then I refill those when riding through towns at any fountain I come across. BTW, Switzerland has the best water!
Because if you don't attach everything you carry to the bike in a wird manner, you are not cool anymore...
Josh' "bobbing" would probably kill me before anything...
What kind of shorts is he wearing at 4:36? They are nice because not too tight as spandex and not as loose as MTB shorts. Thanks
What are those cycling shorts you guys were wearing...???
Hi, they are ASSOS own shorts which you can find on their website. They were branded with GCN as a one-off for the trip 👍
If you have a DCF backpack is it worth the weight of the bags on the bike? Or to have a clean bike for faster accelerate but weight in back.
frames bags dont wrk as well for smaller bike frames
What food can help me with leg cramping?
TechPimp salt
Niemel Hánsa What just take a teaspoon of salt?
Usually salt like the others recommended but potassium can be an issue as well.
Mark Marlatt yeah i tend to sweat more than the average from the whole body which is why i wear wetdry cloths. But i must be losing something. And since I'm on a low carb diet that might contribute.
TechPimp you should look up "primal endurance" or "primal blueprint" by Mark Sisson if you are doing low carb. His diet plan isn't necessarily good for everyone but he has great way of teaching how to train based on how you eat. May help you! How low carb are you going?
Would you consider a camelback for hydration?
Which casual shorts are you guys wearing?
Hi steadfast_, they are ASSOS own shorts which you can find on their website. They were branded with GCN as a one-off for the trip 👍
You should consider running them in small numbers in your shop. :)
Those two 750 ml bottles seem hardly enough for riding all day long in remote areas, especially in hot weather. I'd need at least twice the amount for a long day in the saddle.
Hi 11robotics, Si and Josh were able to refill there bottles on the way at local shops/ restaurants. Staying hydrated is incredibly important.
I'd say you were lucky to find some open ones on your route. It's happened to me more than once that I can't find any source of drinkable water for the entire day, and that even cycling exclusively on road.
Is that the one by 3T roadie?
Can you put all the bike packing videos in a play list?
Isnt Si Gluten Free? If so then cakes and biscuits are out right? what would you recommend for anyone bikepacking who is gluten free?
That's what i like about bicycle touring/bickepacking. You can consider cakes, biscuits and sweets as proper food for sportsman :D
Someone says its unhealthy? Yeah, mayby but look on the calories per gram ratio!
You have got to get the calories in!
I used to think like that. But after 10 years of bikepacking, you begin to notice the effects of surviving on crappy food. In any case, sugar has 4 calories per gram, fats have 9 calories per gram. You can't beat nuts and peanuts.
I would totally agree about the nuts, but you can't get them easily everywhere with reasonable price.
About the sweets and stuff it was half-joke half-truth, but so far i'm considering bike touring as awesome way for traveling for few weeks/months, not really a lifestyle.
I guess the more you ride the more "normal" your meals should be. Lets take road cyclists living on energy gels for example ;D
I just realised that I have been eating exactly like that for a long time,it's just that I don't bikepack!!! haha. Seriously though, Why no mention of wearing small camel back for water?
Haha, good idea!
CamelBak's suck after awhile. They're heavy and you always end up over packing them making them worse. They're incredibly hot too. I can't even stand them while MTB'ing any longer. I use a Revelate Designs Jerrycan on my Ripley to carry tools and as big of a bottle as I can fit in the frame.
I did say small camelback, not a back pack. :) Something like a Classic or an Octane.
Water bottles are enough and you don't have to wear them.
Banana(potassium) is not a good alternative to salty foods(sodium) LOL. You can't just replace the main electrolyte that keeps water in you sodium with potassium. In fact potassium has diuretic effect.. Chips full of unhealthy vegetable oil is also far from good option. Salt is everywhere. Just carry bag of salt(ideally sea salt) and add it to the water you drink..
Nice video! For bike packing are you guys wearing mtb shoes?
Hi Aaron, they are ASSOS own shorts that you can find on their website. They were branded with GCN as a one-off 👍
what shorts are you guys wearing? @globalcyclingnetwork
What about boil in the bag or freeze dried food? Can taste a bit funky but it's all part of the fun.
Good choice CnE, is that what you take with you?
Anyone who bike tours long enough ends up knowing plant foods are the best. They are hydrating, digest better and are a lot less likely to make you sick, plus they don't go off when you store them in your bike. Staples like oats, pre packaged rice, pasta, potatoes, breads, biscuits, chips, breads and sandwhiches . Peanut butter and jam sandwiches are always around and you can always find and pack some muesli or oats, mixed nuts and dried fruits such as dates a put them in a cup of water. Once you mix the oats around in water it makes its own oat milk. High energy, whole foods with lots of nutrition. Always carry something salty and something sweet. I have a sweet pocket and salty pocket on my bike. Get out there! th-cam.com/video/GT516I6LegM/w-d-xo.html
Parrish James You don't want to eat that much carbs. But I appreciate ypu mention oats, they are great way to start the day. Fermented oats are much better source of nutrients, remember about the importance of removing phytic acid from your grains, seeds and nuts.
please get in touch for next trip
when does Haribo become one of you official GCN partners !
“You must also think about - VEGETABLES” 😂
powdered milk is one option if you want milk
Coeliacs would be screwed in a random gas station in the middle of nowhere! Nice to know fellow coeliacs experiences!
Hi Greg, Si is coeliac, could be one for a video 👍
Global Cycling Network, never knew that. Funnily enough I think Simon and I look alike......may be brothers from another mother! I’ll send in a photo!
what about going to the toilet or personal hygiene in genereal ?
First. I want that hearth gcn :)
Go ahead and give us a 👍
Come on Global Cycling Network, give the mother trucker his heart... ;-)
Tri-Shake-Atops sorry for my bed english
Freeze dried food works in the middle of nowhere, they don't have any milk to go with oreos?
Snickers? I was expecting a Mars bar.
Cycling Aaron Ramsey?
Si's complete deterioration over the course of the video is something to watch.
more more more
4:10 sitting with shirt open ... People in the background with jackets 😅
I’ve wanted to go bike packing my entire life but I’m too scared. So many things can go wrong. Especially in another country.
Josh "bobbin'" Ibbett
I'm a mtn biker... but I want to try a road bike, give me reason's to try a road bike...thanks
Get a JetBoil and some Freeze Dried meals.
You can't fly with fuel canisters. Unless you can be sure of finding fuel at your starting point you're screwed. That said, I still carry a small stove and cup when I fly. I can normally find fuel along my ride somewhere and it's nice to make coffee during the day even though I'm staying in Pensions at night.
I'm on a 6 month bike trip right now and the really annoying thing is all this plastic garbage. It really makes you angry to see all those stuff laying around in the nature and your own huge consumption doesn't make it any better
Unfortunately I've got an infection in my testicle from riding a bike apparently my seat cut off circulation and now I have epididymitis so I've got to wait at least 2 weeks before I can ride a bike that really sucks I think I'd rather lose my nut than not be able to ride my bike
Bobby Hempel get well soon mate.. Happy riding.. Cheers 🤞✌️
Get well soon buddy. what angle have you got your seat at?
Omkarnath Mishra thank you
airsofter2247 I'm not sure of the exact angle but its slightly nose down and slightly to the right. Its a Giant connect saddle that came on my bike. After I get rid of the infection I will play around with the position and possibly change saddles
Bobby Hempel thanks for sharing 🤣
Simon immediately vomited up that snicker bar when they cut the camera.
Why not just rock panniers? I don't see you guys getting too rowdy. Where's the trail?
Certainly an option! But we wanted to go with bike bags for this one 👍
Are you sponsored by Snickers as well btw?
Sadly no! 🍫
His bobbing up and down is sooo distracting. Si looks so smooth
what do you guys do when you're eating in a restaurant for your bike safety
you could bring MRE
no crumbly food. Too right. Depressing watching your snack disappear under your back wheel...
Is Si wrecked in every scene 😛
I believe Bikepacking is not Vegetarian/Vegan friendly espically if we rely on local food source😞😞😞.....
Hi Sumanth, it can certainly be hard sometimes! It could be worth taking larger bike bags to bring as much food as you can with you.
3:38 u can hear the Chinese tourists
Probably not to escape from but to go into reality ;-)
That bikepacker guy is so fine 😍
Never leave home without my Life straw,or a flashing rear light.
Why not carry a light weight frameless back pack, such as an Osprey Talon 11, for example, with a 2.5-3.0 liter bladder, and maybe carry your rain gear or other light clothing items. There seems to be a taboo toward even small back packs, entirely, as it relates to bike packing philosophy. Yet, long range touring cyclists, and even MTB XC riders, have been utilizing them for decades...why is that?
Also, anyone who has back packed, knows that the weight is on your hips, anyway, so carrying a cycling designed backpack with bladder, and a jacket and gloves, (and wallet and passport on your person) will not break the bank, and offer more flexibility...NO? I don’t get it???
It's just not comfortable, simple as that.
3:38 heard some chinese girls in the background