Things they don't tell you about bikepacking / bike touring

[@Bloodroot5]

6:48 deep heat spray. Legal.

[@WestGoesEast]

Interesting! Does it work?

[@randelscyclevlogperthwa7342]

Great video as always, cycle touring has that bit of unpredictability which makes it exciting. A few times I've had the option of camping on the edge of a graveyard but chickened out, a bit too spooky.

[@WestGoesEast]

Thanks. The toilet I slept in in the video was at a grave yard. I find woods when it's windy the scariest!

[@WestGoesEast]

Thanks. And yes very true. That toilet I slept in was in a church yard. It's the forests on windy days that I find most scary

[@josephhaddakin7095]

1:20 Baby wipes About every 10 days or so, I'll buy a shower at a truck stop(U.S.) & do my laundry at a laundromat. 3:05 free hot spa at Pagosa Springs, CO😊 4:08 I only rough/stealth camp. I can never bring myself to pay for camping. 7:17 I've never had a problem with mosquitoes or gnats. I don't have a reaction. The black biting flies within a 50 mile radius of Dodge City, KS was horrible though. I had to use bug spray. 9:30 I can't count how many heated discussions I've had with the wind. Twice I visited with the elusive downhill tailwind. 17:45 as long as the sign is facing you, you're good to go. 20:52 I switched from 175mm to 170mm cranks. My knees thanked me. Thanks for the video👍

[@WestGoesEast]

Sounds like you have experienced a few hurdles yourself. Thanks for watching! :)

[@ferruccio4531]

to fight off midges I use a cap with a net, long sleeves and long baggy trousers. you can cycle in the rain all day wearing a poncho, rain pants and overshoes for motorcycling. rain jackets will get you wet after a while in heavy rain, a poncho won't.

[@WestGoesEast]

Poncho is a good shout

[@EnduroMarcel]

All this struggles make bikepacking great. Yeah it sucks to be in this situations sometimes, but at the end of the day it's what makes the trips special. Great video mate dropped you a sub

[@WestGoesEast]

Agreed! Thanks for watching and thanks for the sub :)

[@emerald-islander]

Great video

[@WestGoesEast]

Thanks!

[@TravellingTorunn]

Very useful and also entertaining video from an experienced bikepacker 🙂 I kind of expected the clips from the overnight stays in the loo and under the camping table 😂 The dogs were scary 😱 But it seems that you got away without getting harmed. Thank you for sharing this video and all the lovely views and great tips 😊

[@WestGoesEast]

Glad you found it entertaining. Thanks for watching :)

[@dividenddaddy3769]

Thanks for posting this video upon my request. Really appreciate it. I've only done solo bike tours where they take your luggage to the next hotel and your job is to ride to the next hotel that day. Not sure I'm cut out for bikepacking...

[@WestGoesEast]

Glad that you watched my video and I was able to answer your questions. Tbf your way of bikepacking sounds quite nice! :)

[@jok3r54]

Ever thought about using a priority bike with the belt drive system. Seems to be up your alley

[@WestGoesEast]

I have actually really been thinking about getting one of these. The thing that's holding me back is that if it goes wrong it's a lot harder to fix. Do you have any advice and know any specific models that you can recommend?

[@jok3r54]

@ I’ve never used one personally. I’ve just seen the KZbinr by the name of Ryan Van Duzer. Priority 600 X.

[@christiantaylor962]

This made me chuckle throughout. Very relatable. I have slept in graveyards, a pigsty even someone's garden (they didn't know)😂 The joys of bikepacking. Great video. Your LEJOG which I really enjoyed too has inspired me to do the same. I have a 1517mile route to do next May aged 58😂 I am sure I will experience most of the contents of this video.😂

[@WestGoesEast]

Ha, not sure I fancy a pigsty. I've also slept in someones garden and they found me, luckily they were cool with it. Glad I have inspired you to do Lejog, it's a great thing to do! Thanks for watching and the comment :)

[@nmjazz09]

Really enjoyed this! Subscribed and ready for more!

[@WestGoesEast]

Nice one! Thanks for watching :)

[@splashpit]

When there is heavy rain or killer wind l call instant rest day or days. Bizarre time expectations people put on daily rides astounds me it’s not a race slow down and enjoy the experience. A flannel and running tap at a cafe is the best shower or a collapsible bucket and locked toilet stall. My biggest fear was not highways and trying to avoid them.

[@WestGoesEast]

I'll take a day off if it's possible but sometimes it's unavoidable especially if I have a plane or ferry to catch. Sometimes i'd rather be getting a bit wet then sat in a tent in the middle of no where all day. Agreed on a locked toilet sink....I've had a decent wash many times in those :)

[@ellerybice3787]

In those tunnels, drop an activated road flare at the entrance, people may heed the accedent ahead warning. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 🚴🏼🚴🏼🚴🏼

[@RsRs-o4r]

Really good no bs 👌

[@WestGoesEast]

Cheers!

[@paulr7496]

10:10 min. NEVER bring a smouldering log or ashes/ disposable bbq into your tent. You will go to sleep and never wake up.

[@WestGoesEast]

Ha good one. I'll add it to the list!

[@stevemullin1195]

What handlebars are you using on your bike? What tent are you using that you can get your bike into?

[@WestGoesEast]

I'm using butterfly handle bars (most recently) and the tent is the Vango Scafell 300 Plus 3 Man Tent. Previously I had the Berghaus Peak pro3.3 which is basically the same tent just better materials

[@stevemullin1195]

@WestGoesEast what model of bars and where can I get one.

[@WestGoesEast]

I got the whole bike from a bike shop in Brighton UK, called Brighton Bicycles. Unfortunately they don't exist anymore.

[@grumpy-dad3701]

For number 2's its either find a pub or toilet. Or dig a deep hole, drop and cover. Who cares about a shower for 2 / 3 days.

[@WestGoesEast]

@@grumpy-dad3701 yes about the pub or toilet....I've even had a wash in a public toilet block. Yes I don't care about a wash for a short trip but longer ones it is nice!

[@grumpy-dad3701]

@WestGoesEast 2 days is enough for me. After that I find it becomes uncomfortable at times.

[@splashpit]

Depending on the country but most that have a pretty good disability accessibility normally have toilets that also have a shower for mistake cleanup normally at walk in doctors cinemas bigger shopping complexes train stations , once you know finding them is easy

[@surfskate3]

A face cloth and water 1/2 L clean up is something that sould be done daily and you will not stink put out a towel on your sleeping bag in your tend and clean all up every day or before bed would be better

[@surfskate3]

Eat quality food not junk food go for things like salted peanut in a feed bag every 15 20 min with a sip of water and real meals

[@kiliankramer8940]

Warum schaut er aus wie Tomatolix?

[@JPBVideo]

Eh, after a certain age, even if you're still bikepacking, the junk food will catch up to you. It has nothing to do with your weight, has everything to do with your digestive system and endocrine system.

[@EnduroMarcel]

QUestion to all bikers who wear these cycling pants the whole day: HOW?! It's the most uncomfortable thing Ive ever worn. My balls feel like they're in prison and I'm sweating down there like crazy. Are my pants trash or is it just like that? Because if so, I reither choose the pain

[@WestGoesEast]

Haha. I thought the same but turned out my shorts were just trash. I got a decent pair and my balls thanked me for it and I didn't feel so restricted. Still not perfect but a lot better 🙂

[@ferruccio4531]

buy in a size larger until you feel comfortable and change the brand if needs be.

[@EnduroMarcel]

@@WestGoesEast Hey thanks for the answer mate, gonna try some other pants then

[@WestGoesEast]

@EnduroMarcel no worries