How to Save Money on a Bike Tour // Bikepacking on a Budget

[@VeloObscura]

Our recent tour wasn't exactly a budget affair and we were fortunate to be able to afford a few luxuries on the way (mainly beer), but we did learn a lot along the way in terms of where the money was going! Do you travel with a tight budget? How do you keep your finances in order? Check out the affiliate links in the video description for a few budget gear options!

[@michaelismichael4640]

Hang on!! Beer's not a luxury!!!

[@VeloObscura]

@@michaelismichael4640 👈This man knows what's up! Looking forward to making it to SE Asia one day and taking full advantage of the $2 post ride beers! Australia is hard on a bicycle nomad!

[@xmateinc]

I did the trans am in 2012 and warm showers was great. Met some really nice people. Really helps you to break the stereotypes we build up from all the content we consume.

[@VeloObscura]

It really does! A lot of people say that the best thing about bike touring is that you meet so many people. I think most of the best people we met were Warmshowers hosts. We'll forever be humbled by the experiences and interactions we've had using that site.

[@thedoopa3169]

I'm about to lose my job. i live in an expensive area and have been getting ill lately and got a pacemaker. i have been gaining my strength and have a really good e-bike. i been thinking about just taking my bike and going without looking back. i'll stop biking when I find a place I can afford to live. im grateful for videos like these

[@VeloObscura]

I'm so glad that you found the video helpful! What country do you live in? Are you thinking about traveling there or internationally?

[@thedoopa3169]

@@VeloObscura I'm American. It would be all here, I couldn't afford international because I'd have to get my passport and pay for flights or trains

[@VeloObscura]

@@thedoopa3169 - I see! More and more people are travelling via e-bike these days. I'm sure with things like the Warmshowers network it would be possible to get a charge when needed etc...

[@thedoopa3169]

@@VeloObscura I have a custom battery, I can get 60 miles on one charge with throttle only during normal conditions

[@thedoopa3169]

@@VeloObscura cont. I have a solar panel as well. I currently keep it for emergencies but I plan on upgrading for a more reliable charge

[@ianlindridge5378]

Very good stuff. Even an experienced tourer could use a refresher. But not dumpster diving and probably not road kill either! I think the bike repair is really important. I hope you and Bonnie can get back on the road again; your Aussie tour is the only (long) tour I have watched from the first episode to the last. Thanks.

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks for kind words, mate! The dumpster diving is something I can get behind, but the roadkill is probably a bit extreme for me. I won't rule it out though! I'm planning on taking a minimalist fishing kit with me on future adventures, which I think will be a great way to get some free grub - as well as being a nice way to spend some downtime. I'm really glad you enjoyed our tour videos. I'm not sure if there'll be anymore touring in Australia, but there are definitely more adventures on the horizon! Cheers!

[@ianlindridge5378]

@@VeloObscura Just a thought: I read Cold Beer and Crocodiles by Roff Smith every cold snowy January here in Minnesota U.S. Is this a book you are familiar with?

[@VeloObscura]

I have not read that one - but I just ordered a used copy from Amazon! Looking forward to reading it when it gets here!

[@erickozokas]

Great video. I like to plan trips where some days are spent with friends and family in other areas to offset some accommodation costs. Basic bike maintenance and carrying basic tools can really save a lot when something goes wrong.

[@VeloObscura]

It definitely does. I don't want to put anyone off by saying that you can't tour unless you're a pro mechanic, but boy does it make it cheaper! 😅

[@FollowThomas]

Good ideas. I used warmshowers on my bicycle trip from Miami to Key West. It was great. 👍

[@VeloObscura]

Warmshowers is fantastic! We have met some wonderful people and made some friends for life.

[@FollowThomas]

@@VeloObscura Absolutely! Those people in Key Largo were the only active warmshower hosts in the Florida Keys, wonderful people.

[@splashpit]

I was on warmshowers for eight years and hosted everyone that asked was up to about ten times and not one comment of thanks or review on my profile , when I cycled France not one reply and l bet it was because of the lack of comments on my profile . It’s been four years I’m back from my trip and iv not visited the site again .

[@VeloObscura]

Wow, that's so unfortunate. I've left reviews of every host I've stayed with - surely it's the least I can do? A couple never left reviews for me and it was a little frustrating given how valuable they are for hosts to assess what I'm like and whether they should host me. I understand your frustration.

[@michaelismichael4640]

The bike repairs is a huge issue. Having the skills to do them is important to keep you on the road too.

[@VeloObscura]

Absolutely. Not only from a budget perspective, but also just for self-sufficiency... Being able to wrench on your bike means you can go to more remote areas and thus bigger adventures! The real adventures aren't near the bike shop... 🤷‍♂️

[@xmateinc]

I rode the trans am with basic knowledge. Now Im a full fledge bike mechanic, gonna be nice on my next tour to not have to worry about repairs.

[@thomashughes_teh]

The only bike mechanics I've met who didn't tour, raced.

[@johnranyak1374]

Would like to see more content on stealth camping. Thanks.

[@VeloObscura]

There'll hopefully be some of that happening early next year! Thanks for commenting! 😁

[@Hopped777]

I survive on hummus and brown rice cakes. Usually cost under $5 and does a meal or two. Coffee and beer I can’t really resist, sadly it’s super expensive in Australia these days. I do take caffeine tablets in case I miss a coffee, prevents headaches. Beer I try to drink less than a pint, ideally a pot, if I’m mid journey. Apples are great for a light breakfast, refreshing. For me stealth camping is the go. If you’re down Magnetic Island way there’s plenty of spots you could go. I coughed up for a cabin because I needed to recover after very long days hiking and snorkeling.

[@VeloObscura]

Good shout! I think that would make a great light lunch for me, but I'm a pretty big eater after a long day on the bike! I usually have an apple as a mid-morning snack. A nice juicy one is always really refreshing and a nice little energy boost. When we passed through that area we stayed with a wonderful couple via Warmshowers and then camped at Bushy Park on the way out of town.

[@SB-hr5yr]

I misread that to start with.... I thought you said, I survive on Humans and brown rice :-)

[@VeloObscura]

😳

[@Hopped777]

@@SB-hr5yr I’ll save that option for the zombie apocalypse

[@hobocyclist]

Nice vid! 👍 I’m down with this, especially the food getting tips!! 🚲🍗

[@Jarrod_D]

👍😎

[@AlbertHensley-v3b]

Road kill? Really??

[@AlbertHensley-v3b]

Even Mad Max eats alpo instead of road kill.

[@AlbertHensley-v3b]

Crocodile Dundee wouldn't eat road kill..

[@VeloObscura]

I haven't done it, but plenty do!

[@sspoonless]

If you are one of those mechanically inept, but at least carry the right tools & spare parts, that makes it possible for a fellow traveling mechanic to help along the way. Special tools almost always save money on the first use. Multiple adapters for the various butane & propane containers are small & provide multifuel flexibility, & butane is much cheaper than propane or ISO butane.

[@VeloObscura]

That's a pretty good idea! At least some of the really basic tools or perhaps a few spokes - and if you don't find someone along the way, then maybe you can learn! You're right about the butane canisters too. We found that they were readily available in Australia in many places that standard propane/isobutane camping gas canisters were not - and cheaper too! Thanks for commenting!

[@freddixon]

We absolutely love being WarmShower hosts! We look forward to all of the guests traveling from all over the world. Become a host if you can. ;

[@VeloObscura]

It's such a great community! We've made such great friends by using it! Thanks! 😁

[@lionsroar4713]

Dumpsters diving I used to work for a convince store and at the end of the night we'd dump out all the stuff that was expired like sandwiches, salads, pre cut packaged fruits, breads. Sometimes you can just go in at the end of the night and ask for the "write-offs"

[@VeloObscura]

Great tip! Thanks so much for sharing! It's such a shame that so much food goes to waste - might as well make use of it! 😁

[@andrewprettyquick2070]

I'm using an oldschool cup and cone bracket, I can Repair it, as opposed to replace, I carry loose ball bearings for this task. No need for crank arm puller either, hefty lever and boiling water works fine for me.

[@VeloObscura]

The sealed bearings vs cup & cone is something that comes up from time to time and although I love the serviceability of cup & cone, I always just end up going to cartridge bearings.... For a BB, I'd rather have a replaceable one. I just think that $30aud/$20usd/£15 is a really negligible amount considering how seldom I need to replace it. I don't really want to be messing about with loose ball bearings and whatnot in some random campsite when I can just screw in a new XT Bottom Bracket in literally 10 minutes. No crank puller required, just a 4mm hex and a Shimano TL-FC41 - which is very compact and also works on direct mount chainrings and brake rotors - which makes for a very neat system! The other place it comes up for me is with wheel hubs. I've built a couple of wheelsets recently and its become a sticking point a couple of times - However I ultimately go with cartridge bearings. Partially for a couple of reasons mentioned above, but also because I'd rather just have a replaceable bearing than run the risk of eventually pitting the races on the hub and then have to replace the entire thing, which of course means rebuilding an entire wheel. For my upcoming around-the-world tour I will carry 4 x 6001 bearings - enough to replace the ones in the rear wheel - just in case I can't find them on the road, but they're a very common bearing, so it shouldn't be an issue hopefully! Would love to hear what kind of longevity you get from your cup & cone, as they seem to go on forever! Also if you've had any issues with pitting. Cheers!

[@paulomoises9361]

Congratulations Bro.... I really appreciate your advices. Thank you so much.

[@VeloObscura]

Thanky-you, mate!

[@MrWattsinside]

Great vid again guys. You gonna finish your Oz lap? A stealth camping tips would be awesome.

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks mate! Not sure about the lap... I have some other adventures in my sights right now... I won't write it off though! Will do some thinking and see about a stealthy video soon. 😁

[@bigmac3006]

I liked, commented and subscribed! Great vid.

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks! I appreciate it, mate!

[@rdkuless]

I carry the NUUN hydration electrolyte tablets.. Just drop one tablet (10 per tube) into 8oz of water) and it gives you all the electrolytes you need to avoid dehydration or heat stroke.. They make you feel better immediately when you are in the sun.

[@VeloObscura]

Yeah, I used to use electrolyte tablets a lot. I used them all the way from Perth to Melbourne - however, they're pretty expensive when you're on a long term tour and travelling with a budget.

[@joshandjamesvosperfromhere6887]

A good summary.

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks! 🙏

[@stigohara4961]

Subscribed ❤

[@Funderingarivardagen]

Great info🙏❤️

[@daivapetrikaite]

Nice trip 😊

[@alirezafazeli8222]

Perfect.

[@adilchakir5269]

Very good video !

[@VeloObscura]

Thank you, sir! 🙏

[@tonyfrewin4822]

Great advice there. Just completed my first bike tour from John O Groats and was hoping to use warm showers a few times. As a novice to cycle touring I wasn’t confident where I would be at the end of each day so mainly camping but when raining trying to get some accommodation. Only really requested accommodation first thing in the morning of the day. I found many said they preferred to be flexible and not long term booked but nobody was available of the 6/7 that I messaged. Do you find hosts preferred to be booked in advance or just ad hoc on the day? The warm showers idea seems such a good one but on this trip, it didn’t work out for me. Would love to hear your thoughts.

[@VeloObscura]

Hi Tony! Thanks for the kind words, mate - and congrats on your recent tour! Firstly, Warmshowers can just be a bit like that... Have you stayed with any hosts at all yet? Because we found it VERY hard to get a host until we'd landed the first one and subsequently gotten a positive review from them. After that it seemed to be much easier and now that we have around 15 positive reviews, people are much more willing to have us stay with them. I think perhaps it also helps that I have been very in-depth with our profile and provided plenty of info for people to mull over. And regarding the organization etc - We tend to give about 3 days notice. We've seen hosts that will only accept visitors who can give notice of a month! That's just crazy! There have been times where we've reached out to a host the day before a stay and it has worked out just fine, but we've had a much higher success rate by giving people a bit of notice. As you've discovered, it can be very difficult to try and give a lot of notice while on a bike tour. You never know what's going to happen and how much mileage you might make that day, but it does get easier with time. You can understand that people living a "normal" existence might want some notice to fit a host in-between their weekly commitments, but the life of a bicycle traveler is not quite that rigid! Hope you can gain some sort of benefit from our experiences! Cheers!

[@tonyfrewin4822]

@@VeloObscura thanks for the detailed reply. Really good advice there and yes, that all makes perfect sense. I had thought that might well be the case with getting some feedback in the first place. Life is a bit hectic at the moment but I am thinking about probably doing some hosting first to get the positive feedback next spring. I have subscribed to your channel and I look forward to gaining from your experience. 🤓

[@VeloObscura]

Funny thing is, a few of the hosts that we stayed with hadn't toured yet and were doing as you say: Building up positive feedback for when they eventually hit the road. Seems like really good idea and I'd definitely recommend doing it if you can! As well as gaining the positive feedback, I think it will also be a very rewarding experience for you! Not only will you get a feel for the "dynamic" of the Warmshowers experience, but you will also hear some great stories from the road and some great perspectives. Just remember what you needed at the end of a long day on the bike - A hot shower, a hearty meal and maybe even a beer! I see from your profile you're in the New Forest area. I've always wanted to cycle there! Maybe one day you can show us around! All the best, mate!

[@tonyfrewin4822]

@@VeloObscura yes, definitely, send me a message after the winter and you will be very welcome. Got some great cycling here and we are literally just a couple of miles from the edge of the forest. There are miles and miles of great roads and trails around the New Forest and I am well set up with bike tools etc. That sounds like a great plan 👍

[@hempmayor6639]

Most areas have various food giveaways

[@kenplays017]

Thanks for sharing

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks for watching!

[@kendallparish5611]

If you cook with a propane burner camping canister - get the adapter so you can use the green 5 pound propane cylinders instead of the small back packing cylinders. One 5 pounder will last 30 or 40 uses vs 5 or 10. On a bike trip it's important to save weight and volume; but, not to the last ounce like back packing. Don't need that $600 ultra light tent when a $150 small tent, with room to sit up, in will fit on the bike just fine. Get good water proof packing racks and panniers -recommend hard shell models that hold their shape when stuffed - I've had soft shell panniers that ended up dragging in the spokes by end of trip. Shop for food at full service grocery store and not convenience stop and shop places. The food is cheaper and better quality. Drink clean potable water - water from natural sources must be filtered and sanitized. You get sick one time and its gonna cost you. Managing what is going on with your body is a cost saver - for sore spots on/in your butt - put something on it before it gets out of control. (preparation H style treatment) I use the waxy kind when on the saddle and the medicated kind after the ride. Sun block particularly back of the neck and top of the knees - cover up - I use long sleeve, light weight, don't hit me yellow/orange/green shirts - Sore muscles - I use Ben-gay analgesic rub all the time. (smells like menthol) Most of all STAY HEALTHY! that will save you lots of money

[@VeloObscura]

Good tips! I'd forgotten about those green propane cans. We were very disappointed on our first trip when we finally found a store that sold gas only to discover they are a different connection!

[@JamesClarke-v6e]

Forget gas stoves better by far to use a petrol stove - you can get petrol everywhere and does not require a particular bottle or adapter - I use a Coleman Featherlite

[@kendallparish5611]

@@JamesClarke-v6e nice think about propane - it doesn't spill

[@VeloObscura]

I'm alcohol stove for life - with a twig stove for backup. Alcohol costs $5AUD for a litre, which can last me a couple of weeks or more and twigs are free. 😁

[@thomashughes_teh]

It's been observed by me that bicycle mechanics charge similar hourly rates to automobile mechanics. It's become technical, obtaining parts is time consuming, and it has some of the same people skills challenges. It's really hard to convince some people that the job is all or none due to safety concerns and can not be performed according to their budget and instructions.

[@williamwood6795]

Large cities in the USA usually have a Food NOT Bombs group that can help with food..

[@VeloObscura]

Interesting... How does it work? Do they do events or have a space you can visit?

[@YoureNowOnTV]

Great tips! thanks for sharing 😀👍

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks, mate!

[@welshbikepackingadventures]

great vid kid, iv subed

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks, mate! Will check out your channel when I get in from work! 😁

[@welshbikepackingadventures]

@@VeloObscura god bless you man

[@حبيببنموسم]

شكرا لك ❤

[@surfskate3]

A sponge bath every day is ez way to save money you'll use like 1/2 L of water and get quite clean and won't stink and have that feeling of I really need a shower

[@surfskate3]

Another way to save is on gear a tarp tent and mosquito netting and the bike some pegs and small light cott light sleeping bag with puffy pants jacket as a sleep system so you can use if your riding in the cold

[@FORKandFIFTIES]

I'd probably save money by just going because at home I'm just buying Amazon things 😅

[@VeloObscura]

Hahaha, I know the feeling! On a related note: I really stress about my setup prior to leaving on a trip and agonise over every part of it - but once you're on the road, you just make it work! Then you only spend money on gear if it breaks! Cheers!

[@Ben-wm9qn]

Dumpster diving sounds dirt. I call it being a freegan. Get it. Vegan freegan. Just sounds nicer.

[@VeloObscura]

Get on the old freegan diet 😆

[@HoytFergus]

❤AWESOME

[@Bikepacking]

Flight visa are the biggest expense

[@VeloObscura]

Assuming you're going overseas! Having said that, I reckon I spent a lot more on food during a 7 month tour than on the flight to get there! 😆

[@Bikepacking]

@@VeloObscura look at flights now there crazy .. plus food is expensive in Australia even in supper marketed compared to other places .. also your comment about cheaper cooking yes in some cases example in Greece you eat out 7 euros but to buy all the ingredients would cost 20 euro … or Asia street food cheap less than 2 dollars etc

[@funk541]

yeah mate, you lost me at bin diving

[@MiniLuv-1984]

Mmmm road kill.

[@SoundEff3ct]

Road kill is gonna be rotten or filled with bugs

[@VeloObscura]

I'd like to think most people wouldn't eat obviously rancid meat...

[@brianward7724]

Sorry, D&B, but you lost me when you mentioned road kill........ I could not even bring myself to consider that......

[@VeloObscura]

Yeah, it's a bit of an extreme one - but people do it! I suppose if I saw a deer hit right in front of me, then maybe I could consider it..... Maybe I should have just suggested hunting instead? 😅

[@k.whiking4372]

Road kill!!! Yeah NA!. try fishing and, hunting. Give a man a fish and you'll feed hi for a day, teach a man to fish and you'll feed him for a life time.

[@VeloObscura]

@@k.whiking4372 -Hahaha, I knew that one would be controversial! I'll do a video soon about my lightweight touring fishing kit, but unfortunately I can't travel with a rifle! 😁

[@k.whiking4372]

@@VeloObscura Trapping, snares, spears, smoke out the rabbits need I go on. road kill is just grose.

[@VeloObscura]

@@k.whiking4372 - I don't see how an animal that was freshly killed by a car is more gross than an animal that's been sat in a snare all night, but each to their own!

[@MagicshineLights]

Awesome!