Top 5 Bikepacking Tips | Felix’s Japanese Cycling Adventure

In 2017, BikeRadar Video Manager, Felix Smith was lucky enough to quit his job and go cycle touring. His partner had always wanted to visit Japan, so a pretty crazy plan to cycle across the country started to form.
Although Felix had done a fair bit of cycling before, mostly mountain biking, he had almost no experience of living off a bike. So, as you can imagine, after months of preparation and thousands of kms later, he learnt a few things.
In this video Felix explains the top 5 things he learnt whilst cycling through the beautiful country of Japan!
For more information on the route and cycling in Japan visit:
www.japancycling.org/v2/cguide...
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#adventurecycling #bikepacking #explore

[@bikeradar]

What do you think about Felix's tips? Have you got any tips of your own? Let us know in the comments! 🏕 🚴🏼‍♀️

[@antoneckert686]

some really useful tips brought to us with such a calm attitude :) i'd like to know how you lock your bikes and your stuff up when you leave them to walk through a city or such?

[@jpettigr]

@@antoneckert686 You've never been to Japan before..... That's not an issue generally

[@MixMasterMarx]

1. Felix’s voice is fantastic. He is like the Bob Ross of Cycling. 2. As much as love the other presenters talking tech, these travel videos are what is truly needed now during the Covid Lockdown. Please more photography like this.

[@maquismark5852]

Ahhh! Just what I needed after reading Tom's Kickr bike review and seeing the thing costs nearly THREE grand. I am now in a calmer place thanks to Felix's cool video diary. Is Felix available for bedtime stories? His voice is very calming.

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for watching our videos! Unfortunately Felix isn't currently able to meet your request but we're sure he'll be featuring in future videos so keep an eye on the channel! 🧖‍♂️

[@TomMarvin1]

😅 It's quite pricey, right?!

[@maquismark5852]

@@TomMarvin1 I'll say!!! I mean it's a good piece of kit judging by your review👍but I could get myself a tasty bike AND a Wahoo Kickr Core for the same dosh.

[@willian.direction6740]

In Japan 1990 I got a pair of Perl izumi nicks best pair of cycling shorts I ever owned. My crocks help my feet recover from cycling or hiking, use them all the time around home after exercise. Thanks for the great video and advice.

[@Sergio_Math]

Bike Radar, again confirming to be the best cycling channel. Great video!

[@MartijnLV]

Love the video and practical tips! Been thinking about a cycle tour/trip for a long while. Thanks for sharing, Felix. Love the calm with which you explain everything as well.

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for watching! Hopefully some help and inspiration for your next adventure.

[@PacificSolo]

Japan is a beautiful country, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the scenery! I should check out the website, thanks for the tips!

[@PacificSolo]

I love cycling in Japan. Once I followed the Cherry Blossom front from Kyushu to Hokkaido and another time with my dog from Nagoya up the coast to Aomori. Love it. Thanks again for posting and your tips. Spot on

[@stevethistle7974]

Thanks for the videos very inspiring. MY advice is just get out and do it, no real need for fancy bike specific bags, use what you have and enjoy the experience.Part of the fun is figuring out how to make what you have work for you. Albeit you can learn from the first trip and adjust and then buy more specialized equipment as your budget and enthusiasm allows.

[@AussieInJapan]

Such a great video Felix. I've watched it several times and love seeing your perspective on your Japan trip. I live in Japan and have only done a 3 day bike packing ride and after the last year of covid-19 travel hassles I am planning some bigger camping rides. Really love the advice about clothing and keeping a relaxed attitude. Food and cooking while on tour are of interest, but with the amount of convenience stores I am guessing running out of food or drink was never a problem.

[@advancelast1740]

Really informative , useful and interesting- thanks 🙏

[@monty2078]

Felix, you are a very good presenter. A very informative video.

[@rodgeabenes7762]

Great bike adventure! Japan is really a nice place, we did enjoy our vacation there and planning to go back for a longer time and perhaps do the same ride, Hokkaido and Sapporo are nice places to visit. Thanks for those tips Felix.

[@bikeradar]

Hi Rodge, I missed your comment but thanks for watching and I'm glad to hear you are also wanting to go back! - Felix

[@Tom-mb7cf]

Great video Felix look forward to more of your content on BikeRadar

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for the comment and for watching! From all at BikeRadar

[@Wolfman1250s]

What a great trip 👍 Love Japan 🇯🇵 been there with my family, would love to cycle there one day.

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for watching! Glad you also enjoyed your trip to Japan - Felix

[@rowerowysztos]

Great Tips! I also ride and completly agree. The only thing that I will change is the bike. In my opinion touring bicycle is much more convenient for long distance riding with tent and all that stuff.

[@cyclerevive]

Looks like you had an amazing time. Thanks for the tips.

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for watching from all at BikeRadar!

[@TurneyUK]

Sounds amazing, what a fantastic adventure. Well done 👍

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for watching! - Felix

[@DovidStern]

That's beautiful! Edit: Also I really want to do a bikepacking trip. Like really really badly. Hope the coronavirus lets up soon so I can do it more easily.

[@AussieInJapan]

Lovely video and great commentary shares Felix. Not necessarily general, more of a Japan tip is to carry some cash as not everywhere accepts cards. I always carry some small coins for vending machines in case that one saviour machine is out of change.

[@MrBaxterrify]

Amazing post! You’ve got the most amazing hair I’ve ever seen lately.

[@DavidMackenzie]

Nicely done Felix.

[@michaellovric9975]

thanks for the tips

[@tojilumanogjr.4498]

I wish I have the financial capacity to also do this. Nice vid! 👌🏻

[@bigmikeshooter]

Bravo Felix.Hello from Greece.

[@bikeradar]

Hello! And thanks for watching, from all at BikeRadar

[@Eon0007]

My tip would be to ensure you take sun cream and moisturiser even on windy, wet cool days your face etc can soon dry out. Nice trip 👍

[@LJ-rz4zg]

Cool .....never knew they drive on the left.... cheers

[@JogBird]

yay, i used OSMAnd for my recent bike tour too

[@ikederpike]

Good tips! Like the VAAST shirt, is a review incoming?

[@kubagajda7347]

I've bike-packed only once, trying to cover the coastline of Poland. As iI realised, loaded fat bike is ridiculously heavy, so covering the distance was already harder, and actually as soon as a stormy weather forecast came in on the day 4 I decided to quit and take the train home :P Not particurally courageous of me, but hey, It was just the first time

[@andrewcbartlett]

There's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.

[@lamborghinilovemunich]

great video! watching it while eating sushi in Japan. Could you tell me the tent and sleeping bag you use?

[@JibbaJabber]

Great advice, pics and music. Felt like I was there! Maybe because I've been on a few trips like this as well. As you've indicated, it's the Up AND Downs that make an adventure truly memorable! BTW, what camping kit did you take, and what if any changes would you now make? In fact, this might be worth another vid😃 👍👍👍👍

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for watching! It sounds like you've been on an adventure or two. I took a Wild Country (Terra Nova) 3 person tent, Mountain Hardwear Lamina synthetic down bag and a relatively cheap blow up mattresses from Mountain Equipment. We also used a nice Primus stove for our almost daily noodles. I'd love to make another video on this, perhaps something up to date in the future! I'd have brought some leg warmers if I could do it again! Cheers, Felix.

[@JibbaJabber]

@@bikeradar Cheers, Felix. I remember times like climbing 3hrs up a mountain pass in only to find out is was in fact a dead end. Oh how we laughed (NOT). Thanks for the equipment list, v.useful. All in all, definately, worth a follow up vid - inc how to make tasty noodles (now I'm feeling hungry) 😋 Keep up the good work. 👍

[@Tneknos]

Pinch and zoom is possible on a good GPS such as Hammerhead. Then you are not using your phone power for navigation.

[@maxville8904]

Hello nice trip and Nice video. Want brand of rain jacket and down jacket did you have ?

[@mrmarrow8918]

Nice video :)

[@Joe-xi5gh]

Super cool tips Felyx! I'd also like know how do you get your hair so thick and curly? Do you use any product, or simply stick to a meticulous 'rinse, lather, repeat' regime?

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for watching, Jim! Felix is sworn to secracy when it comes to his hair care - think of it like the Crabby Pattie recipe from Sponge Bob Square Pants!

[@jevgeniardassov]

About the shammy I would argue. I have Craft, Assos and dhb bibs and the most comfortable shammy by far I have is cheap Chinese copy of Void set... Take it however You like. But in my case it is true.

[@800getfighted]

Looks amazing! Is there any chance we could see your kit list? What did well vs what was unnecessary etc. and was there anything you missed? Really interested in cycle touring but seeing what people use would really help out. Thanks!

[@bikeradar]

Hi Oliver, thanks for watching. In terms of sleeping kit, I took a Wild Country (Terra Nova) 3 person tent, Mountain Hardwear Lamina synthetic down bag and a relatively cheap blow up mattress from Mountain Equipment. We also used a nice Primus stove for our almost daily noodles. I'd have brought some leg warmers if I could do it again! Cheers, Felix.

[@mukundvohra1695]

Felix lovers 👍

[@jacqueschiron4035]

Cool video! Maybe just tone it down a smidge.

[@PJSinohin]

is Felix still tired from his bikepacking? i had to set playback speed to 1.25. great tips!

[@jasonmallari7622]

What navigation app you used?... Just to recheck the app... Thanks

[@almeidaaaandre]

Great tips! Can you camp anywhere in Japan? And Could you plan where you’ll going to stay with maps indications?

[@eilrach299]

Generally no, but who will stop you? Japan is a place of order and people will generally only camp in assigned areas. Sure you may get away with anywhere but you may also get caught and told to move on. Also, in some areas there are bears, monkeys and wild boars (and more) who will gladly ruin your evening of camping fun!

[@anshumandeshpande1332]

nice, respect!! Any problems with stray dogs? I guess not

[@Imul95]

What tent do you have? I am looking for a long time for exactly a tent of this size and especially height! I‘d really appreciate your help thanks!

[@bikeradar]

Hi Simon - Wild Country Coshee 3 person tent. Not the best in terms of quality but great space and weight! Thanks for watching, Felix.

[@Imul95]

@@bikeradar Thank you so much!

[@davidholdman5518]

Good video, thanks! You say that your brakes failed and you need to replace/repair them, what actual bike spares and tools did you take on this trip?

[@bikeradar]

Hi there, thanks for watching! Having spent little time riding in mountainous places my brake pads wore out faster than I expected on a long descent. I took spare pads with me so it was a quick fix. Other than the usual multi tool, tyres levers and inners tubes I also took some zip ties, electrical tape, small pair of pliers, gear cable, a large hex key to remove my cranks, a small hex key to remove brake pads, a chain breaker, spare mech hangers and a spare sram quick link. I think that was it! - Felix

[@COYSMike]

Remember it's about the journey not the destination

[@prostadadaj]

Wouldn't it be more practical to do bike touring on a flatbar bike? I mean the sleeping bag doesn't always fit between the dropbars. Were you able to change gears with the sleeping bag attached?

[@ili4707]

My Bag is usually below the shifters. I do not have trouble shifting or breaking, though I always touch it with my hand.

[@Tneknos]

Drop bars give you much more variation in position, helping your hands, arms, back and backside. There is usually plenty of room between for sleeping bags etc.

[@bikeradar]

We didn't have a problem with shifting after getting the front bag positioned properly, although with narrow road bars that could happen. I like the other positions I could use on the bike compared to a flat bar but my partner would have preferred a taller handlebar height.

[@ek8507]

awesome perspective, good content. Editors of Bikeradar PLEASE consider better audio balancing. i dont want to keep adjusting audio between voices and the stupidly loud spaces in between. stop changing the background music from 5% to 10000%, its frustrating and distracting.

[@nedis4]

How did you keep the bikes and all of your gear from being stolen?

[@bikeradar]

Japan has an incredibly low petty crime rate so it is actually a very stress free place to travel by bike in that regard. We did bring mini cable locks for piece of mind but sometimes we didn't use them. Thanks for watching!

[@alexdoherty1984]

How did you store your bike travel case in Japan?

[@tomcrigstar]

Easiest way is to use a simple cardboard box that bikes come in new and dispose of it when you arrive. then simply visit a bike shop in japan before you leave and ask for one.

[@bikeradar]

Yes, we did exactly that. The people at the Specialized store in Tokyo were really helpful with getting us a box. Not so easy getting it across town on the trains though!

[@alexdoherty1984]

Thank you

[@radumate]

which is the best time of the year for such a trip in Japan?

[@eilrach299]

I recommend Spring or Autumn/Fall. Summer is very hot unless you go to the northern island of Hokkaido and Winter is bitterly cold and as Japan has a lot of mountains it can be harsh for touring.

[@stancox7573]

Last week in March up to the end of April avoiding Golden Week is great. It can be very cold in the morning but generally warms up nicely. Places will be busy because of cherry blossom season. October/November are also good and depending on your timing you might hit the autumn colour (koyo) season. I dont camp but do day trips from hotels. It is a fabulous place to ride.

[@bikeradar]

I agree with the other comments Radu, we went out for Spring and it was cold sometimes in the morning but after 6 weeks it had warmed up considerably. Any later in the year and you run the risk of very high humidity and summer storms. The blossom was also a massive reason why we chose to go in Spring - it was stunning! Thanks for watching, Felix

[@alandragicevich2421]

What bike did you ride?

[@bikeradar]

Hi Alan, the bike I rode for this adventure was the Cotic Escapade. It's a steel framed, drop-bar bike with fairly traditional features apart from sliding dropouts. I had a mountain bike/road gearing mix to get my gear low enough for the mountains 🏔🏔 Thanks for watching, Felix.

[@adanielweaver]

My fiancee and I want to go to Japan on our honeymoon. I hear the government are giving incentives to boost tourism. I don't know if she would swing for something like this though....

[@ahedgerow]

"... Click the little Bell icon so that every time we upload a video, you get a notification.... __________" I shall have to get used to not hearing a "WOOOOO!" or a "ARRRHAH!" in that gap

[@brtg59]

hey, i have a question. can i jump, ride etc. hard on GT Avalanche Sport 2019? i mean can i hit hard trails and it won't get damaged or something? i was having the Kross bike and when i was jumping etc. the rear derailleurs just broke

[@FhargaZ]

Its like Abroad in Japan with less swearing.. 😄

[@pillychops]

It was all going so well until you mentioned the Crocs.

[@Lo0NaTik1]

Did you need to carry a bike lock?

[@bikeradar]

Good question, we didn't really need to but we had a couple of cheap cable locks for piece of mind. It's worth mentioning that petty crime is incredibly low in Japan so we'd needn't have worried too much - Felix

[@laurenceliu794]

Is there a video of the trip? :)

[@usman5140]

Reason why a dedicate gps is better than using a smart phone: better battery life and you never know when you’ll need to make an emergency call. What if you crash with the smart phone on the bike and it breaks?

[@andrewcbartlett]

you get your spare out of the bag

[@tommyschlebusch]

Background music is very loud compared to talking

[@bikeradar]

Thanks for watching and the feedback!

[@nuttynut722]

you got some strong ginger hair

[@stevegraham3041]

No need for padded shorts 🙄 especially for just 5hrs of riding

[@harryhenry3053]

charisma on 11

[@andrewcbartlett]

I have learnt I need a fit girlfriend into cycling and camping

[@LittleJoe6]

Doesnt every man need that?

[@ThePedro8-25-78]

If you don’t own crocs you aren’t living!

[@charlieworsfold2661]

first

[@bikeradar]

Congratulations! You've just earned yourself 1,000,000 BikeRadar gold stars ⭐️

[@synsynsy]

Why did you wear gloves? Are you a malnourished vegan? (Low fat, pure sugar) *don't hate, i'm just sayin'..