What I pack for a bikepacking overnighter (+ tips for beginners!)

[@howardbecdove9780]

Great advice, thank you. You may have included it in your toiletries, but I always include a flannel. Great for washing your face, which always makes you feel better when windswept or on head or neck (wet) in hot weather etc, great for a wipe over, ( more environmentally friendly), especially great after a shower to save on the towel, ( mop over wet skin, squeeze out, repeat till dry), even to mop over wet tent…. to name a few.

[@cs16Tactics]

Always interesting to see what other fellow bikepackers take with them :D What you said about the pillow is true. For me at least, I "hated" overnight trips in the wilderness because of lack of sleep. I always tended to wake up on every sleeping cycle (~ 90min or so), rolling around and finding it hard to sleep. Nowadays I've done everything to get my sleeping on the same level (or even better?) than in my home, and a single __pillow__ was the main tool for me! Good sleeps are key ingredient for good trips! (And I've done many more things to help my sleep: - QUILT so I can roll around and feel like having a blanket like in home - Trying to set up camps NEARBY LAKES so you can go swimming before sleeping and get rid of that sweat, sunscreen and bugspray - WIDER sleeping mat so I can roll around and sleep on my sides - Melatonin on those nights I feel like I'm not tired enough to fall asleep.)

[@SheelaghDaly]

Love these tips! Totally agree that ensuring a good sleep is key 👌 I’m interested in trying out a quilt! May I ask which one you use?

[@grahambonner508]

When i decided to get back into mini bike adventures about 20 years ago (3 nights in summer) I only took a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, paper map and a bike. No phone, no tent, no cook set. Like you say, you just gotta do it. All things will evolve with experience anyway.

[@SheelaghDaly]

I love that so much! Thanks for sharing that Graham :)

[@natashahussain6281]

Definitely good advice to cut things out/find alternatives to make that first trip easier! Finally did that first 100km out trip I've been wanting to do for a while. Biked to a provincial park where I met up with friends who were driving who were able to bring all my camping gear. Had a great friends trip over the weekend and left my things with them again and took only snacks/water/bike repair stuff to get home.

[@SheelaghDaly]

That is AWESOME!! What a great way to get started. Well done!!

[@brentjennings3267]

Nice video as always. You explain things very well! You have a great gear set up. Take care.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Thanks so much Brent! Hope you’re having a great summer!

[@Rebecca236]

You're tent is amazing! 🤩

[@SheelaghDaly]

I really love it!!

[@clodoaldomarques401]

I respect the cyclists, but the same time I think if you start to get too technical, we will lose the magic of ride a bike.... lose the simplicity of it.... and you in your videos make it so nice and easy that I am biking more than before, thank you very much. from Naples Florida.

[@SheelaghDaly]

That makes me so happy to hear you are riding more! Thanks for sharing that :)

[@welshbikepackingadventures]

Great video girl! Have a wonderful time, sounds a fantastic trip, very jealous here. Take care lovely lady

[@bobalinga]

Great video. I tend to overpack a little bit but then we can get 3 seasons in one day!

[@SheelaghDaly]

Agreed! I'd rather be prepared 😄

[@TeakWoodIsHard]

I wear 32 degree (brand) skivies, inside-out. The seams are always sewn on the inside so inside out makes the smooth side of the seam on the outside. Duh

[@shorelinerach01]

What rack are you using on the back?😊

[@SheelaghDaly]

This is an Axiom streamliner :)

[@jennifercrosland9352]

Hi Sheelagh, I tried bikepacking this summer. Had fun but too much weight, not enough training and hills near parry sound killed me.. That being said, looking forward to round 2 on flatter ground. My question is, I have a rear rack that looks very similar to yours. Different model but similar mount , journey unifit. I found the weight in the back caused quite a bit of "shimmy" in my front end. Do or did you have the same issue? If you did, any advice on how to fix it before I give in and replace it. Thanks Jenn

[@SheelaghDaly]

Hey Jennifer! Happy to hear you tried bikepacking! There's always lots to learn each time :) That’s a good question. Apologies in advance if I’m repeating anything you’ve already considered. So some things to consider are that, each bike has a different geometry (and potentially frame material) that will affect it more or less when a load is added. For instance, my first bike touring bike was designed for cyclocross racing which has geometry that makes you feel more like you’re “on top” of the bike - this made it feel more unstably with a heavy load. My current Surly Bridge Club is designed to have me feel more like I’m “in” the bike and therefore I don’t feel much difference when I load up my bike. All this to say that it may not be the rack that is at fault. I find no matter the bike, when I load it up I feel a bit of “shimmy” for a day or two. Eventually my muscles come to expect this shimmy and adapt to it so I notice the shimmy less or not at all. It would likely be worth stopping in to your local bike shop to discuss ways you could spread out the weight (i.e. handlebar bag, fork packs) as having all the weight on the back could increase the feeling of shimmying. Also good to have them double check that the rack is properly installed and get a sense from them of whether the geometry of the bike could be playing a role as well. Hope that helps!

[@jennifercrosland9352]

@SheelaghDaly thanks Sheelagh, I'm pretty good with the mechanics. The bike is a 2004 15in specialized hardrock comp disc. I did one local test ride with a 2 person tent on the back which was horrible, coming back we split the load between us which helped. Second go I had more weight but added fork cages to reposition.. I am now looking at repositioning the resr rack and redistributing the weight around the bike. We will see how it goes!!

[@SheelaghDaly]

@@jennifercrosland9352 Sounds like you have a great plan in the works :) Happy trails!

[@stigohara4961]

The name of the Agnes is heavier than the tent itself.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Haha it's quite a mouthful! But I do love the tent itself :)

[@rob0tmassacre]

Have you shared which bike store you work at in toronto? Would love to come in and give ya a high five and pick your brain, if that's not too intrusive!

[@SheelaghDaly]

Aww you are so sweet! I haven't shared that just because being a woman on the internet can be scary sometimes so I keep that private for my peace of mind. But I have had some viewers stumble upon me at the shop and it's been so fun. So if you happen to come across me at the shop I'll give you the biggest high five and love to chat! But you're also welcome to message me here or on Instagram/Patreon if you have any particular questions :)