10 Tips For Your First Bikepacking Trip

[@l1ncs]

Tips: start a day leg as early as possible; take breaks and power nap; arrive as early as possible to set camp (avoids ground damp), get your tent dry as late afternoon is often the warmest air (assuming good weather); if touring longer and self-supporting send care packages ahead via post if remote; take x3 riding gear as x2 might not dry quick enough in dodgy conditions; pack flip flops; have an emergency comfy and warm set of clothes kept in a separate dry bag to fall back on as needed; use flight mode on phone; get micro usb lights/GPS etc to charge with Power-Bank easily; get a bike stand with multi contact points; assume needing 4-5l of water every 24h; set time limits to remind when to look for a pitch (if wild camping); check bike setup every morning (clean brakes/rims, check lights etc); know your routes in advance (Google Maps, OS maps etc); gauge speed to appropriate HR rather than average speed or cadence, as latter may vary due to conditions; always rest when tired; eat even when you don't necessarily want to (on longer rides); lip balm and sun screen in 50-60SPF GPS: Bryton 420 has a 35h battery life; can be charged by Power-Bank when in use

[@OmmerSyssel]

Wet clothes can be dried by riding, or during sleep. Cadence is very important for healthy knees, never mind the conditions.

[@timovanderheide9579]

I've got a bryton 420 atm, battery is great but everything else is limited. Personally I would get one that has got a map on it, does tracking and just something that is not Brighton, I get absolutely frustrated by it sometimes. Keeps lagging when uploading longer routes and since a few weeks the screen just kept on showing the same thing while I wanted to upload my ride or do anything else. This keeps on happening and isnt great. Does explain why it's a bit cheaper tho. P.S. i have had it for over 2 years but you'd expect it to still work

[@mukkaar]

Idk about naps, unless you don't sleep very well on move/camping. Otherwise take naps if you already take them. Also, I highly recommend Garmin edge explorer 2, It's actually quite inexpensive and meant for bike touring. For me I actually bought it because I don't need all the fancy training software, I just want to monitor and save stuff like my speed, route and cadence when I'm road biking. But this year I went touring for month in Europe and it was perfect. And since it's modern Garmin product, it has many features that are helpful for biking and traveling. Battery also lasts for a quite a good while.

[@brianbassett4379]

Constipated thinking... all derived from inside the box.

[@arunas3164]

@@mukkaar i have the explore 2, but the problem is it is limited to what lenght trip you can load. usually no more than 500 km. So you can't put default full eurovelo route in it for example. And phone apps would be perfectly fine with your long routes (like kamoot). So i ended up drawing maps on strava by hand following eurovelo routes and then uploading daily segments to edge explore.

[@jodeskid]

#11. Stick to tried and tested! Know your kit and how it works for you especially if you're going multi day adventures and camping/bivvying. Nothing worse than getting somewhere and its pishing of rain or you're getting eaten alive by midges and it's the first time you've tried to pitch your tent. I would suggest loading up your bike and going for a short ride to see how it feels and make sure it feels balanced- no wagging tail packs or floaty steering. Then unpacking it and repacking again to see how it all fits together. When packing think about the order or frequency you use the thing or the criticality of the thing. Finally, unless you absolutely have to, don't use anything new on your contact points eg new cleats, shoes, saddle, shorts, grips, gloves etc. Keep to tried and tested.

[@EscapeePrisoner]

Tip for getting clothes even dryer. Once you've rolled the towel up, stand on one end of the roll to clamp that end to the floor, grab the other end without letting everything fall to the floor end, and twist the whole towel roll really hard really tight. When you slowly release the twist the towel draws maximum water out of the clothes. Much better than the folk dancing.

[@MustachemanOmnomnom]

But then you don't get to do the folk dancing though.

[@jamesb2059]

Recently cycled over 1000 miles through France and used my phone, an earpiece and Komoot which directed me based on the route I had planned. I'm not convinced one needs to have an expensive extra device, Garmin or otherwise. Just saying.

[@ReneSaarsoo]

I've cycled using paper maps, mobile phone, an old Garmin unit without proper maps... You definitely don't need an expensive device. But out of all the options I've tried, a good head unit is the most convenient. Then again, you'll have more adventures when you get lost :)

[@Choccytube]

Very useful set of tips, I knew all of them except the clothes drying trick, I've booked all accommodation for trip that have radiators. From now on I'll try the towel trick. The sleeping and overpacking stuff I've learnt from hiking, use a bag size for what you need, or you'll just fill a bigger bag with stuff you don't need. Another little tip for packing is to lay all your stuff out before you go and keep what is essential, remove what you MAY need and pick one luxury item. Another great video.

[@felixjackson2670]

Very good. Just want to say a big thumbs up to Chris for his excellent talk through of his gear on a previous video. So articulate and thorough. Brilliant. Thanks.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Thank YOU 🙏

[@vincent.b.2030]

Really enjoyed the video! Gearing up for my first trip. Will be getting inline bags on your guidance. Best of luck with the channel!

[@peterwilson3250]

Great you included Josh Reid's segment. Also excellent just to watch you two travelling together and always respecting each other.

[@Cade_Media]

Josh is the man!!

[@0402045118]

When camping, make sure your tent is facing east in the morning. If it's a sunny morning, this will help drying up your tent when it's wet from morning dew or rain.

[@KPong1337]

i still dont have the cajones nor the means yet to try this but with every video of yours (and others) i watch i get that much closer to trying it! Big ups, gents, from the Spain of the US, Cali!

[@Cade_Media]

👊👊👊

[@markjthomson]

Stem bag things... oh so good... yes... horse nose bag for riders! My touring set up is all in line UNTIL I have to add my tent... then it goes on the forks, but by that time I figure I'm touring not racing. Helps stabilize the bike really nicely. I have also added clip on aero bars, more for comfort than aero, gives a different position to ride and helps prevent numb hands... and improves aero - kind of balances out the bags on the forks... OK not really but that is what I tell myself...

[@peterthayer1819]

I rode los angeles to massachusetts way back in 1986, I always kept two hostess apple pies in my handlebar bag so I always had way more carbs than I needed, bonking sucks, I think I ate about 150 of those that summer.

[@thebikepackingdad]

So I watched this a while ago before I got stuck into the bikepacking world. Good tips that have served me well so far. Just wanted to come back and say thanks now that I’ve started my own blog / KZbin set up. Good stuff mate, cheers.

[@AndrewCoakley]

Pro tip that I've learned from this series: Francis should have packed lip balm 😬

[@radfahranfänger]

uv50 lipbalm is a thing…

[@BrumCraft]

Great tips especially the food bag. I use 2 climbing chalk bags as 'cockpit' bags on tours, so useful

[@enlightenedpreparingep4006]

I use a Maxpadition mega Rollie pollie almost every day. Mark or play comes in stupid handy and when not in use you just roll it up. It’s what’s referred to as a dump pouch in the pew pew world. But what I carry mostly is gloves and phone and or speaker often a hand tool or two and often a water bottle with packets of vitamins

[@jergleason15]

Excellent advice and simple strategies to use. Couple of things with the Garmin that have been a big help for me on bikepacking trips. Using the ClimbPro and battery-saving mode have been a game-changer... The ClimbPro feature categorizes most of the big climbs for the ride; distance, and gradient. Battery -saving mode will give you three days of riding for every charge. A big help when charging devices can be tricky on the road. Looking forward to you guys riding together on future trips. Best friends on bike adventures is always fun to watch! 🚲🚲🤟🏽

[@tcw8287]

Hi, which Garmin do you use? Thanks

[@lanacarlsson-irwin7545]

We always put all our stuff in ziploc bags of various sizes inside the panniers. Helps keep things organized and DRY. Can never be too dry. Also, I carry an open mesh laundry bag designed for putting delicate items in the washing machine. It weighs nothing and is small. I use this to dry underwear or socks while riding by putting them in the bag and then draping it over my bags and securing it with a bungee cord that I'm using anyway. Also, a shout out for paper maps! Nice to see the bigger picture and they don't have batteries or present a theft target or get shattered.

[@artistglyn]

Nice to see the almond blossom. Love Spain in February.

[@markreams3192]

You can ride mountain bike shoes and pedals on road rides. I don’t think that anyone has ever demonstrated a real difference in efficiency. I haven’t ridden road shoes and pedals since I stopped racing many years ago. I really like the Tailfin bags you use. I haven’t had a chance to use mine yet. Soon I hope! I bought them because I first saw them on your channel.

[@chrisc1140]

Ooh the showering with and drying your gear is excellent! I did that for years with my rowing spandex and it was a natural progression to my biking shorts (also useful when not bikepacking to save money on more gear without smelling...ripe)

[@jevonjennings5778]

I've used my old climbing chalk bags for ages and it works great, some are bigger than others which helps. If you're on a budget these are the way forward until you can afford a specific bag

[@CentristRN]

+1 for inline bags. Huge difference with efficiency. Makes the trip more fun.

[@mld8]

For anyone else who is looking for this type of bag I believe they are actually called "top loading" or "trunk" bags

[@syrus3k]

Here's a tip that I discovered in real life: Don't be over-ambitious in how far you're gonna go. I had a fairly miserable 3 days because I was trying to do about 150 miles a day. Not fun. If I was to do it again I'd say maybe 60/75 miles max/day for a multi-day trip.

[@MattRose30000]

This is one of the most important tips. I did a similar thing where I went 300 kilometers on trekking bikes with a friend in two days. Nearly fell off the bike at the end. And we didn't have time for anything else. Last year I did a 12 day trip with 100 km max/day and some days off in between. Much more relaxing.

[@leoniehamm4671]

Agree!! I just came back from a 8 day trip where I cycled 120+ km everyday with a heavily packed bike. While I could do it, I was miserable by day 3. Next time I will set a daily limit, so that I don't push myself too hard and can actually enjoy the trip.

[@brianbassett4379]

Of course, you did, Pumplin.

[@chrissdehaan]

*Learn to use earplugs correctly* would be my advice after watching this. I don't know if you were doing it for show at 9:56 or who else needs to hear this but you really need to roll them tight in your fingers then quickly get them much deeper into your ears. They expand in your ear, and the tight fit really stops sound much better. Cheers for the video, overall great advice.

[@veijopitkanen8385]

Funny. I've done long biketrips for fifteen years and absolutely disagree on every single advice here 😄 . I'm guessing it's because your starting point (of view) is road biking and mine's trying to mentally get as far as possible from the idea that travelling by bike is a race. I also never wear bicycle specific clothes or use a smartphone or garmin. Just good old paper maps and panniers. I do text home every now and then to tell my family I'm safe but I try to get along with limited amount of information as I've found it very relaxing.

[@weldonreed1950]

Looks like they are racing not touring

[@bruderbrot5268]

This is actually really good advice. 🙏

[@Windingify]

100% agreed. 👍🏽

[@nuellek]

agreed

[@VistasdelMar2008]

Don’t overpack is a fairly good piece of advice.

[@nukularpictures]

Always interesting to see how different someone can do bike touring. As someone who never sleeps in a hotel during those trips it seems so alien. When I am on the tour with my girlfriend we have tents, sleeping bags, cooking utensils, solar charger, etc with us. Combined with 5-6l of water per person as we do trips where we are not able to restock for 2-3 days on some legs. Seeing how freaking light you travel is just strange :D We easily have 15-20kg of gear on each bike and there is no way we could do it without panniers.

[@tomsitzman3952]

You have the best way to travel. total emersion into the experience. I like to travel light , but make every item I bring serve two to three purposes. This week I will be traveling with 12 kg plus 14 cups of water. The temperature will be around 38 C. and humid.

[@burkestorti4586]

What! No paper maps? During my 20 years (1980-2000) of bike touring, that's all we had for navigation. Good to see that there are still touring cyclists. Memorable: tours 1980, 6 days (solo) over Sierra Nevada mountains from SF Bay area & back. 1998, 5 weeks (solo) in Italy at age 50. 1988, 4 weeks (group of 6) in New Zealand. 1984, 3 weeks (group of 4) Vancouver to Calgary. 1993 4 weeks (solo) tour from Munich in the Alps Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Italy. And more!

[@rickbeckner9906]

These are some excellent tips, many of which are also useful even when not bikepacking but doing longer rides. Enjoy Spain!

[@monochromebluess]

Excellent run down of the tips. Especially setting up a tent in higher ground and late at night to keep nosey folks away. Glad you two are back up and running after a few days away. When I saw the green bread I thought both of you had come down with food poisoning. And where have you guys now reached at the moment.

[@Cade_Media]

Videos are a bit behind, we just hit Alicante!

[@stuartpotter4923]

Nice tips! I like to have a mix of savoury and sweet snacks and split them between stem bags - savoury on the left.... then all I have to think about is what I'm craving, or what I've had enough of. I also like to store all my emergency spares and tools in a single location that's easily accessible but somehow separate from my other gear. That way, They're super easy to find when I need them, but not in the way of everything else. They're usually all strapped together to the frame in a wee bag or tool roll.

[@skinsplitter2001]

On the cleaning your kit tip. Instead of stamping on the kit in a towel, jam it in a door or under something and twist as hard as you can.

[@ReneSaarsoo]

In my experience just twisting the towel-wrapped clothes with my bare hands is good enough to get the clothes almost dry. And I'm pretty far from having strong hands :)

[@VictorElGreco]

Some companies like Bontrager even make bike-touring-specific SPD shoes that look and feel like normal sneakers. Strongly recommended for our “hybrid” lifestyle, cycling, shopping, going out for dinner, walking around etc.

[@PumpkinVillage]

Very good tips. Checking out a head unit for my birthday. A lot to look at. Thanks for the video. Take care, Al

[@fijikimbo]

Thanks for the tips 👍🏻 Heading to Normandy for my first bikepacking trip in April 😊

[@Cade_Media]

Enjoy!

[@compassionsix]

Eye mask and ear plugs are a must. Sleep = Recovery

[@Sohasorouri]

Planning for my first trip and I'm very very excited about it 😁✨️ kinda worried, but I'm full of hope, and this already reduced the stress a lot. Thanks!!

[@jamescraven5001]

Have you done your ride if so hope all went well

[@Jim-ub9qy]

Two of my favorites right there. Thanks for sharing the ride with us...I'm really enjoying your daily download.

[@randycallow3736]

1st tip.. get front panniers and rack.. don't eliminate the most effective carrying point.. your bike is already a burro and all the junk cancelled out any light weight carbon fiber benefits..

[@Paul_Budd]

With my lad we did night ride from Liverpool to Leeds it was 136 miles by canals, and about sleep yes, sleep somewhere not far but away from road to have calming rest

[@davidalderson7761]

Tracker is great advice. I have one and use it all the time. North Pennines is not well sorted for mobile phone and neither is many other places in Europe so relying on phone is BAD. I USE SPOT but Garmin just got a new version with a long battery life compared to version 1.

[@ipulledthepin7179]

How do you find the SPOT? Thinking of getting one as much more affordable than the In Reach Mini

[@davidalderson7761]

@@ipulledthepin7179 very happy with it. Feel confident it works. Be careful with which subscription you use as it can be expensive. I use 5min beacon when cycling and change it to 10min when walking. Battery lasts longer that way. SPOT X has two way. SPOT Gen 4 is one way. Set up via website basically and forget. App lets friends or family see you. Different beacon buttons can be preset with messages. So happy. Downside is they are all satellite based so don’t expect them to work at the bottom of a bag, they won’t. But satellite based system does give you a true alternative to GSM 4G etc. if phone won’t work you have beacon tracking you.

[@davidalderson7761]

@@ipulledthepin7179 I meant to add. If you have any issues then call the. Freefone don’t text or email. They get complaints because people expect text and email complaints to be dealt with in minutes. A phone call will solve everything in 60 seconds. I had to call about billing all done and dusted in no time. My card was out of date I couldn’t change it at the time online so called them. That the only non issue I have found complaints about. ✅

[@neilt]

Good tips. And thanks for the reminder about Garmin head unit tracking facility - I was thinking of unnecessarily buying an InReach Mini, but really don't need to at the moment.

[@timporter8886]

Great tips guys, thanks for taking the time to film this!

[@philokrnotch387]

2nd major bike trip around all of the Finger Lakes NY. Spring/summer. Just my two lakes are 40 miles long and 2 miles wide. Plus a ton of other smaller lakes in the region. 1st was AT NC to NY

[@neilparks2651]

Really enjoyed the video and presentation of the top tips. However, I'm putting in a word for Low Tech. I've done 1,000's of kms around Europe and had great adventures on a 40 year old 10 speed racer - paper maps, toe clips and trainers, old style mobile phone 'just in case', basic bivvy gear and some vaseline 'just in case'. I like to eat plenty, but come on...a doo hickey gadget that reminds you to eat - Chateauneuf de Pape Rodney! Last week the best day was 130km with 1,900m of ascent. Anyway, it's all good.

[@yk-py9ht]

You can download the offline map to your navigation app in your phone and use in the plane mode to save battery. Carrying a large powerbank is a good idea.

[@grahambell9831]

Good reminder for a do's & don't 10 point bike travel list 👍Live tracker, top idea. Was it really GREEN BREAD? 🤔😉. Oil Tankers ⛴️ / Angry Birds 🐦/ Horse 🐎 Bag! An eclectic mix From Chris & Francis today !

[@stanbekker]

That towel drying tip is a cool excuse to do crazy dances on bikepacking trips, thanks for that!

[@henrymerewether2872]

Thanks for the tips guys, great vid! Done a few tours, but found several of your tips really useful for another upcoming tour in Mallorca. Gracias!

[@niceone1swe]

Thanks!

[@Cade_Media]

cheers Nils!

[@spare9434]

All very true, I agree wholeheartedly. One thing I am so glad to have discovered just before this trip I'm on is Shimano sandals. I've never owned sandals in my life, but I'm so glad to have these to cycle in this heat. A bonus, I don't need socks!

[@englishcyclist]

Always take the tools/and cash cards with you, if you can't sort it out then buy yourself out of any mechanicals. I've been know to get a taxi in the middle of nowhere to the nearest town to fix the bike, always is a weird request over the phone if the taxi drivers got a big boot?

[@johnrouse8100]

Is there a way of working our how far you can travel in a day with a loaded bag over an unloaded one? Or is it just by feel/ trial and error/ guesstimate?

[@tlabuscagne]

Planning to do my first bikepacking trip next year. Probably looking at around 1000 km in total. My question for all you seasoned riders reading this, do I need to splash out on a new bike? I currently own a 2022 Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 which is essentially a hybrid, but would this do the trick?

[@mukkaar]

Definitely, any bike will really do as long as it's comfortable for you. Well except road bike, unless you are really strict where you bike. Only thing I would look into is maybe getting better saddle, something like Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel. Granted, if your current saddle is fine, there's no need. But this could be issue with longer times sat on bike. Frankly you don't even really need clip pedals, I personally have dual pedals and I use both sides quite a bit. If you were doing super long world tour in some more less developed places, you might want to get bike that has steel frame just so it can be repaired if necessary, but otherwise, almost any bike will do as long as it's has decent gearing and it doesn't have thin road bike tires.

[@tlabuscagne]

@@mukkaar awesome. Thanks for the advice!

[@mukkaar]

@@tlabuscagne Np! :) Sorry, I posted wrong saddle. I meant Selle Italia SLR Boost Endurance SuperFlow, this meant for longer distances. But ofc, really the only thing that matter is how comfortable you are on the saddle. But it's probably safer bet if you are looking to go for long distances.

[@NickSmith-hv9zi]

Tip 11. Don't take annoying friends with you that often wine about everything.

[@dani.lefebvre]

YES! Should be #1.

[@vincentmorris6262]

Hi there .I'm planning to cycle from Ireland to sicily in September this year .I'm using a hybrid bike .can you give me any advice on how I should train for this .I was thinking to cycle around 100k per day on the trip so should complete it in around 5 weeks

[@williamplatt9071]

Brilliant. Thanks for the tips. Just planning my first bike packing trip. A question if anyone can help… when I am about an hour into my cycle my elbows buzz and the forearms go numb. It’s really uncomfortable and takes away the fun. By the end of five hours it’s miserable. Any suggestions???

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

can i ask how to you set up drink and food reminder i have a edge 520

[@timcampbell4338]

This is the second bikepacking video I’ve ever watched. The first was Josh Reid cycling home from China, very entertained when he popped up this video haha

[@inakilrg]

A twist for the towel drying trick: once rolled, then twist the towel like you would to drain the water out if it was soaking wet. Twist it hard with the clothes in, then check 😉

[@hikingwithsaabath957]

What kind of rack setup on that cervelo road bicycle?

[@bobbafett1971]

What is overpacking? You guys base on weight or if you finished and never touched it. I need to bring food, tent, sleep system, water purifier. I wish I could get lighter. But I'm do bike tours where there isn't a hotel or anything.

[@Cade_Media]

Yeah if we finished and haven't used something, ditch it for the next trip!

[@OmmerSyssel]

Me too.. Max 15 kg was fine for 5 month /8000 km during Northern/Eastern European autumn and winter. Bring what you need, not what you want ...

[@cynthiamgentles6781]

In bear country, best camp with a portable electric bear fence. At. 2.4 lbs, it’s small kit that brings huge peace of mind.

[@hackgolfer7352]

Well done Garmin getting Francis on board!

[@HawklordTV]

Cute LOL. I did this stuff 40 years ago....no phone, paper maps and creativity was your biggest ally. However this being said.....yes....you def want an easy to reach bag for food and your rain jacket etc in a bag on your steering wheel. Also a tip: use 2 drinking bottle set up. I had one with tap water and 1 with a yoghurt/lemonade mix. Something Im wondering for a long time now: why is nobody wearing bike gloves anymore? I see this even with pro cyclers. Besides the obvious comfort they provide...they also protect your hands in a crash (humans have the reflex to extend their arms when crashing to break the fall). Another thing I dont really understand: why nobody is placing their bags as low as possible for reasons of stability. I remember there used to be a brand that made frames were you could attach the bags just above your wheel axis. This greatly improves the stability of your bycicle. Another (pro) tip. There is a brand (not going to advertise here lol) that makes bags of canvas with a rubber coating and use NO zippers as these are extremely vulnerable. These bags have been proven to be airtight and so strong that even jumping on them wont break them. They are loved by the aquatic community and I used them for years as a motor cyclist.

[@ReneSaarsoo]

Regarding no bike gloves: I think the bar tape has gotten so much better over the years, that you don't really need gloves for comfort.

[@ericb.4358]

Good tips and the first one is the most important. I'm an ultralight backpacker so I know how to pack light. It's my monster E-CELLS 2 wheel drive, 2 battery, dual suspension bike that has the real weight but it has RANGE. it's mainly for hunting to pack out deer and elk meat. Going on backcountry trails? CARRY AN EMERGENCY SATELLITE BEACON.

[@MrDraich]

I have to say i didn't think of the last tip(mask/plugs). Thats why such videos are perfect. You didnt mention though anything about a first aid kt? And whats the minimum of tools/spares would you recommend?

[@Cade_Media]

Might do a video on the absolute minimum I would take on a trip

[@greggjames448]

I always use the live track feature on my 520 and also the crash detection has alerted the wife a couple of times

[@Bronya2003]

One more tip. Take a small kitchen sponge with you (you cen cut a piece if it's too large). It takes zero weight and volume. You can clean your bike and yourself after some muddy/rainy/dusty day with a bit of water, and become way more attractive in front of hotel receptionist or train stewart.

[@PunjabiCyclist]

Top tips Francis especially when I am planning my first multi-day trip this year... thanks 🙌

[@arbondisunarjo6894]

Man, I did go touring for 3 days with 60% mountains and remaining mixed roads along beaches in tropical climates. Tropical heavy rain soaked me and let them dried out along until I reached hotel before night comes. I made mistake as I put my logistics in my pannier ended me difficult to accesss it while on mountaineus roads. Good advice, I got my stem bag ready since then.

[@jb-lu4vo]

All this is very interesting, but I would like to know why the majority of cyclists and yourselves use the color black in clothing because it is less seen in low-light conditions and is much hotter because it attracts the sun's rays. Thank you for your video and take care both of you.

[@michaelokeefe2084]

Just to be cool looking 🤣

[@michaelokeefe2084]

But overall it is less efficient in every condition than white.

[@mikafoxx2717]

Because they're the bad guys? Obviously.

[@fenderbenderspecial]

As a mountain biker whose clothes look like a spilled bag of Skittles, I appreciate this comment.

[@tilly1995]

Because of aerodynamics bro. The black pigments in the clothing absorb sun and wind rays which increase velocity by up to 50%. I have a PhD in Physics

[@HeadPack]

How should one go about the fluids? E.g. my bike has 2 bottle cages, but 2 bottles is nowhere near enough to drink on a day on the bike, especially when its hot, and when there are not that many places to refill.

[@Cade_Media]

Usually refill at cafes at lunch, much to the dismay of the Spanish locals because they don't drink the tap water! But it's been ok for us

[@justinf1343]

My top tip! Don't use a carbon frame for bike touring. They feel like a piece of spaghetti when loaded up with a rack and panniers. Trust me as I did the North Coast 500 on a Specialized Diverge and immediately came home and splashed out on a steel framed Niner RLT gravel bike. Absolutely cracking bike for both touring and gravel.

[@OmmerSyssel]

A well built carbon frame specific for tough use has no issues with loaded travelling. EG Wilier Jena is excellent..

[@a1yallop]

Re; the Garmin competition. Just to remind you both that I haven't got one and I really really want one. Also, I live in Benissa near to Calpe so cheap postage given your in Spain.

[@kostais]

When Josh speaks that reminds me lovely Scotland

[@davel3616]

Comment on using a phone to navigate. Cell phones have GPS chips in them, basically the same as a Garmin device. The reason Google maps doesn’t work when you don’t have cell service is because it can’t download the map. The phone knows your GPS coordinates, but that’s not useful if it can’t plot it for you on a map. If you have an app with pre-downloaded maps then it will work even if you don’t have cell service. I like the Gaia GPS app for this (use it mostly for hiking / camping).

[@Cade_Media]

You can pre download maps on Google maps but it still won't let you calculate a route

[@graemewilson1152]

Tip, decathlon sell stem bags as a water bottle holder for £5. The quality is good.

[@graemewilson1152]

Search FABRIC HANDLEBAR BOTTLE CAGE, can’t post links

[@zipworks]

Thoughts on aero-bars for bikepacking?

[@Cade_Media]

a great extra hand (and extra place to strap stuff) position, particularly for longer days and you will almost definitely go faster using them on the flat.

[@cooltwittertag]

My first trip i rode with 40kg of stuff and it was totally fine, yeah i couldnt do the 13% climbs anymore but other than that i didnt feel it that much

[@bolkmichael3580]

my phone also has gps. in an emergency you can look for alternative routes. You can also use it to book your next accommodation in the hotel.

[@WCIIIReiniger]

I got around the mobile battery problem by connecting a power bank to my phone. Works like a charme and I don't need to spend so much money on a new computer / head unit.

[@arbiterelegantiarum]

hi guys, new to your channel, watched a few vids, really like your style/ energy :) keep it up

[@michaelmckeaveney5018]

If you use road shoes, just pack some cleat covers, cheap and great for walking in and take up little room

[@ZackAtek]

hoping to bike pack up to snowdon w some mates next year useful vid : )

[@jonpoon3896]

Everyone overpacks their first trip. Then as you pare down each subsequent trip, you figure your preferred way to pack

[@yokaiofwater]

My first bikepacking trip, I bonked big time. I'd like to add, pack some hydration tablets or any of those sugary powdery sports things. They're a great way to help keep up the calories and also keep your electrolytes up.

[@andrew_garcia1502]

Does the head unit give you trails or just roads?

[@6242-j1z]

what micophone you use that is clearing noise so well?

[@Karla-Flr]

Two questions ! What is that small bag on the Tailfin of josh I could not find it on the site of Tailfin. And what’s the name of this small trackunit which works everywhere ? Greetings karl 👍

[@samradcliff8817]

Do you clean your bike during a bike packing trip and if so how? Because I assume u can’t take all the normal different things like brushes degreaser etc. with u because that’s a lot of weight and bulky items as well

[@Cade_Media]

I clean the chain with gt85 and toilet roll (or whatever I can get my hands on) but that's all!

[@danielcraig1705]

What's the best way to plan out a bike-packing route in the US?

[@Cade_Media]

We used komoot when we rode the west coast

[@heidijarvis777]

I bought a Podsac stem bag from Planet X in the sale for £4.99 ready for some sportive this year to put my Percy Pigs 🐷 in. Really enjoyed following your trip x

[@Cade_Media]

All about the percies

[@DC-lu5qs]

8:10 Every time I have phone connectivity turned on, my Edge's battery life plummets. Do you do this on your long ride days?

[@Cade_Media]

Mines always connected to my phone and doesn't seem to affect the battery life noticeably

[@DC-lu5qs]

@@Cade_Media Thanks! Maybe it's some other setting that's affecting my battery life. Loving the series!

[@jorgecuenca9175]

My usual q... does seat height need adjustment while moving from road to mtb pedals? Same stack?

[@Cade_Media]

There will probably be a stack difference but I don't bother adjusting

[@darlenemartinez384]

If you stop at a store to restock what do you do to secure your bike and bags?

[@OmmerSyssel]

A light wire lock is useful. It is about slowing down eventual thieves. If anyone wants a bicycle it's hardly avoidable anyway. Keep your eyes open, shady Gypsy type men are often easy spotted..

[@samoja3618]

Please can someone tell me what is that rear rack, I can't find something like that in local stores.. tnx

[@benjaminhunt283]

Another question Francis. I see you put a link to Gt85 for your maintenance. Do you just give a zap of it for lubricating your chain? So the 85 is kind of an all in one maintenance solution on your trips?

[@Cade_Media]

Always add regular chain lube after the gt85 clean! Gt85 is a lubricant but too thin for your drivetrain 👍

[@benjaminhunt283]

@@Cade_Media Thanks so much Francis. That is what I thought you were going to say. I will use this method when I go on my short bike tour.

[@oo7chicken112]

Not that it ever happened to me. Though my tip is to keep valuables in the pannier that’s on the shoulder side of the road. Incase it pumps off or a vehicle hits you.

[@0bob0cya]

Nice tips. Thanks. Love your vlogs. I too love to cycle tour. Every summer. Milan to Nice over the Alps.

[@benjaminhunt283]

Brilliant guys! Just what I needed to hear. A lot of it is common sense but easily overlooked. Other bits on the vlog are fantastic tips, who'd have thought about the Towel squash technique? I tried it home after you boys posted. IT WORKED!(of course). Snaffle stem bag whatchamacallit, I was only talking to my LBC mad cyclist, mechanic extrodinaire about keeping up on the fuel on my upcoming trip. I have been wondering more specifically what you eat in between meals? I guess it's not practical to try and take a load of bars in my limited space(yes it is inline, LBC chap got me to buy that set up). Great Vlog. Let's all share, and I don't mean offload the stuff from my inline setup to one of my mates who says he's sticking with his 34(68) litre panniers from his last trip. Great when you follow him apparently. CHEERS!

[@Cade_Media]

Chewie sweets from the supermarkets!