BICYCLE TOURING the EASY WAY - What to pack? How to pack it? Isn't Green Bay, WI the frozen tundra?

Wisconsin is absolutely beautuful in September and there's no better place to be than cozy, quiet Door County. It's an out of the way pennisula in Lake Michigan that forms Green Bay to the northwest. Watch me pack up my bike to do some island hopping via ferries to meet a group of friends on a week long bike tour. Bike Packing, Bike Camping, Bike Touring....whatever it's called, its definitely the way to go!

[@jameslynn9913]

I like theses videos just as much as the shop videos. It’s all good stuff man!

[@ScottCarlson-cz7wj]

Thxs! I wrote down your packing list. 16 years old, 1979, 525 mile/5 day MN ride w/Jim Klobuchar, I hardly packed squat; pup tent, bag, t-shirt, cut off shorts, toiletries, tire repair, 1 water bottle! Good thing I was young -ha.

[@bkefrmr]

I gotta say, as many times as I’ve heard that story, it seems cliche, but I believe it, and it’s amazing to me. When I see the photos, everyone is so skinny. Makes me wanna take off for 2 months and see how little I could get by on.

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

Having raced for years this type of cycling is totally alien to me but I must admit it looks great fun. Really enjoyed the video 👍👍

[@bkefrmr]

It’s like cyclocross but not idiotic 😉

[@hutzman7664]

My college roommate was from Washington Island. Went up there a couple times and camped on Rock Island. Beautiful place!

[@scottrok13]

I remember the first time my friends took me to Rock Island state park in Wisconsin back in the early 1990s. The waves and air were so quiet that we could hear the sound of millions of tiny insect wings buzzing off in the distance = not bothersome at all = a very soothing low buzzing off in the distance💤😴

[@azdesertrat6969]

Thanks for taking us along!

[@bkefrmr]

You betcha hey!

[@NKopp714]

That's very inspiring. I'm pretty sure Washington Island and Rock island are on the agenda for next year.

[@bkefrmr]

I recommend Min two nights at Rock for sure

[@joen3992]

Thank you for taking me on your bike trip....hope you had a wonderful time. I did. Peace....

[@rickjenkins1238]

I really enjoyed that. It brought back many memories of my rides up there.

[@mxaexm]

Door County is my favorite place in Wisconsin. Did my first (so far only ) century ride there a few years back.

[@DetraDearmas]

I probably would have slept in the hammock!! Great trip!

[@69Harveyb1]

Thanks for letting us tag along

[@LookingBackAdventures]

Nice to see the lower part of the Rock Island boat house. We were there two years ago and the water was so high the bottom was filled up. Rock Island is always a stop for us when at the Door. Great video and nice single track with the fully loaded bike 👍Love when that happens.

[@albert85b]

FOUR SCOOPS?!?! You like your coffee strong ;)

[@bkefrmr]

Ha! I thought I edited that out! 🤣😂😬😳🤯

[@themoodyteam]

Really enjoyed the video, but if you dialled back the music volume it would be so much better 👍

[@MrHoustonismydog]

That was beautiful, except the hammock shot, the was a like a Solent Green Cocoon waiting room.

[@MrHoustonismydog]

Also, dig the music, matched the ride perfectly

[@pentiuman]

I put my spare tube in a plastic sandwich bag to protect it from sharp edges as tools and other objects around it could poke or wear a hole into it. Oh - and I leave my sausage stick at home. In its place, I bring the kitchen sink. - And the kitty could be put in the dry bag, for obvious reasons.

[@a.l.alexander3668]

I subscribed to help you grow. Love what you do. Peace Al

[@sonalmalhotra07]

Lovely video. Great images. Never beent o lake Michigan and good to see it.

[@flatlander6928]

I see the Fender wrap on ur thermos. Do you dub ur own music on the vids? Excellent tunes to follow your travels! I’m 70 years yung and don’t get to primitive camp as much, thanx for the ride.

[@bkefrmr]

The intro/outro guitar is all me

[@fatbikearcticnomad2122]

Beautiful Bike bro!

[@lawrencesmith7869]

1) do you share your Strava ID? 2) I had an instructor tell me over 30 yes ago, #1 rule of troubleshooting… assume customer is lying and look at issues as if they’re completely wrong and don’t know what they’re doing. Once you get past those, you can focus on the real problem 3) I like what you’re doing and developing your character… love the rides shows

[@michaellemberger6785]

NERRRRRRRRRDS Seriously though, loved the brief Little Lake cameo.

[@johnbouchard9840]

You should do a video on your thoughts on ebikes!

[@karlr6810]

A bit of feedback…dial back the music so any on-bike commentary can be heard. I couldn’t hear what you said while laying in the hammock while waiting for the ferry. 🍻

[@BIKEnSKILLET]

Music is annoying on videos I've only found a few I like.

[@testtest-ol3yi]

...or just remove it entirely. makes the video worse to watch and adds unnecessary extra effort for the creator.

[@webslinger67]

Yeah i wasgoing to say just you and thebike and surroundings

[@manuelluis5456]

Your reportoir is very extensive! Thumbs up anyway!

[@themoodyteam]

19:45 so my ‘missed ferry’ story is from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. They are very religious there, think ‘McAmish’. We raced to catch a ferry to a smaller island, only to miss it by minutes and watched disappointed, as the ferry crossed over the straight. However, as we examined the timetable it dawned on us that it was a Saturday evening and there were no ferries on a Sunday for religious observance. If we had caught it, we would have been trapped there for 48hrs 😲

[@scottrok13]

What happens on the car ferry stays on the car ferry! And we’ve all missed one of those ferries on those 2 islands at one point or another😂

[@johnsheetz6639]

Cold is okay but I don't do snow anymore.

[@michaelm801]

What kind of bike is it? Would you recommend some “vintage” bike that would be good for bikepacking (but also wallet friendly)?

[@davidburgess741]

I've come to the conclusion that anything beyond an overnighter requires a tent. I strap 4 Zrests onto the lo rider front rack, tent and poles to a real rear rack. In an affront to the bikepacking community, everything else goes into a set of 40 liter Vaude panniers. I also had a scare riding down a steep grade heavily laden with cantilever brakes. I eagerly converted to a disk bike after that one! What is it with the hanging on to quill stems, bar end shifters, and cantilever brakes? Spending a small fortune to ride an outdated, but "cool" bike. Metal is still toughest and usually better,. I'm stuck between the fast racing stuff, and the latest outdated trends.

[@Chrisinvention]

Great bike trip. Wisconsin is always good, as long the mosquitoes aren’t riding along.

[@bkefrmr]

You got that right!

[@christopherguzzi1316]

Seeing the couple on the tandem bike made me question one of the many questions I have in life. Is a tandem bike heavier or lighter than two bikes of equal construction materials?

[@paulklahr997]

Nice setup! Such a timeless machine. What coffee filter is that?

[@Joe_from_iowa]

Thanks for sharing!! Love the stickered up thermos (~);}

[@pentiuman]

25:04 - How would the rescue helicopter even see you through those trees?

[@pinkertonpunk]

Dead Kennedys on the thermos. Respect. 🤘

[@alanprice7584]

Just a little query, did you know the other guys on the ride? Here in the UK there's always chatting and banter going on when touring, just wondered. Otherwise what beautiful scenery and weather, wonderful.

[@matthewsponseller]

Like how clean your cable routing is from the bar end shifters, did you just run the cables under the bar tape and down similar to routing integrated shifter cables? Thanks for any info or suggestions. Like the channel greatly, but only just discovered it a few days ago… now subscribed!

[@paulw1365]

What is the your name on Strava

[@peterinnes6853]

21:15 yes! Let’s see vloggers trying not to be creeps! Preferred you being a good citizen on public transit than a weirdo!

[@BIKEnSKILLET]

Would be hard but what places to see 😊

[@Veterans_for_Harris]

Is that your Boston?

[@gregdimler9654]

What? No cycling gloves?

[@davidmailander8165]

I might have missed it but did you pack bug spray?

[@bkefrmr]

Nope!

[@2xsurviver]

Really enjoy your videos, but I’d rather hear you than the music🙃

[@SFCRambo60]

What is it with bicyclists that they blow stop signs?

[@bkefrmr]

Mostly because it’s better for everyone if the bike keeps moving. Ask yourself, would you rather sit there and wait for every fucking stupid idiot on a bike to come to a complete stop, put a foot down, look both ways, then remount the bike, fumble around for the right footing, swerve to catch their balance, find the right gear…etc. etc. etc. It’s almost always more efficient and safer if I’m able to roll through when the coast is clear. I really don’t care if you understand that I’m doing it for your benefit. If that’s something you’d get upset about, we could never be friends anyway, so I’m just gonna do what’s safest and least disruptive to my community.

[@SFCRambo60]

@@bkefrmr also a good reason to ride a Trike, no feet down.

[@jeffdziak6455]

Well, at least nobody ragged on you for no helmet------ that gets old!

[@palydinaugustus820]

The most dangerous time for a cyclist on a ride is crossing an intersection. Slowing down and checking but not coming to a complete stop minimizes the time crossing. Laws designed for motorists apply poorly to vulnerable road users.

[@jefftoonstra5087]

How did you secure your Riv when you went to rock island?

[@0LMG]

Se aprecia también este tipo de videos ya que luego de trabajar hay que tomarse un tiempo para disfrutar.

[@paulenright]

Great set up and beautiful area ...lucky duck! Wondering tire brand and size ...thanks for taking us along, liking the tunes too🎥👍👍

[@davidp187]

You have to have a trail pass to ride in Wisconsin? Why? And if someone answers there will be a follow up question.

[@JustBasicGuy]

For some trails, the cost of the pass goes to maintaining the trails.

[@scottrok13]

I left a different reply, but I don’t know if it got accidentally deleted when I tried to save it. Day passes $5/per day per person for bicycling. Otherwise it’s $25 per person annually (for cycling) or free for cyclists under 16. Snowmobile and some special uses are separate trail fee I believe. ALWAYS Free for hikers and walkers. See the Wisconsin Department of natural resources webpage state trails for more information. (State trail fees are different than state park vehicle fees or camp fees).🎉

[@1972hermanoben]

Great little vacay, really relaxing to watch and very instructive re loading and packing the bike. Wish I could’ve heard your commentary better over the music - the music was a good fit though 😊 Considerate of you, not filming when you were alone on the ferry with a solo female. I reckon your instincts were right on that one - good call. I can see the sense in going for bar-end shifters on a bike where realistically you’re going to be on the hoods most of the time. Cantis the best brake choice, too: fiddly initial setup, but far easier to tweak and less worry-inducing than disc brakes, whatever the cycle industry is trying to tell us 😅

[@garyseckel295]

Enjoyed that video! (Background music was way too loud for me to. My hearing aids worsen everything.) So glad to have found your website!

[@hakanboqvist]

What kind of strap mounts are those on the fork? Very neat solution!

[@bkefrmr]

Check out my other video about the bike. I show it there.

[@bah5310]

So bicycles get to give automobiles the middle finger to go right into the ferry? Is the bike safe when left behind at the ferry going to Rock Island? Great video

[@bkefrmr]

Bicycles don’t have fingers

[@nickl.1930]

Very nice trip. Never heard of toothpaste tablets, but really like the idea and will be adding to my kit. Would you please identify the brake levers and if you’ll keep them for the long-haul or plan to change them out? I’m in need of a new pair and run cantilevers too. Thanks!

[@bkefrmr]

I think they’re just Tektro. I’m pretty indifferent about them. I see no reason to change them.

[@nickl.1930]

Good to know. That is the same brand & style I am planning to purchase. Long live cantilevers. ;-) @@bkefrmr

[@chumsole3463]

Hey bike farmer hope you have a great day! I am wondering what bike you would recommend to a 6 foot tall person planning on going across canada... Thank you so much!!

[@bkefrmr]

How long is a piece of string?

[@chumsole3463]

@@bkefrmr lol I figured!

[@rickjenkins1238]

More touring videos please.

[@bkefrmr]

Send me $2k/month and it’s all I’ll do!