The island of Santa Cruz De La Palma is now in the crosshairs as I continue to attack each island of the archipelago. My only question is: has anyone done this before??

The island looks like a complete hellscape of ravines and high altitude mountains 2000m +, bare in mind I plan to be fully loaded out on a hardtail mountain bike and would like to do a full loop of the island including some inner island madness. Is it possible? It looks like a complete logistical nightmare but people told me this about Madeira & I survived that insanity. Any advice and / or recommendations for a route are greatly welcomed although I’m not partial to lots of road riding.

Some photos of what I’ve already completed for attention!

I have such gratitude for this community and all who plan these routes for the rest of us to enjoy. This route had such a nice mix of single track, a lot of rail trail, and urban paths that made for an incredible 3 days of riding. I managed to experience the best of fall weather that this region has to offer from a cold but sunny start to drizzle and low clouds on the second day, and then a little bit of rain today but nothing uncomfortable. I ran into a few folks riding portions of the route for day rides, but I had much of the northern portion of this route all to myself. Fall really can be a great time to get out there.

Last photo is from this evening’s return along the Olympic Discovery Trail…because that was a beautiful ride too!

This summer I did the biked from Pittsburg to DC. This was my first multi day bike trip. I was 16 when I completed it and it took me 3 days. I also did it by myself which was super fun.

Very fun 7-day trip! A little over 250 miles and 20k feet of gain. Lots of this was paved but there were long gravel and trail sections too, and a couple nights of camping outside designated sites, so I think it counts as bikepacking! The interesting part of the route (from Auburn to Reno) was via quarry trail + poverty bar/western states trail (ssh don't tell the cops) to Ruck-a-Chucky (though the river ford at poverty bar was more substantial than I thought so I had to camp at poverty bar), then up to sugar pine reservoir via foresthill road and finning mill road (though I ended up camping a couple miles short of the reservoir on the side of finning mill road), then foresthill road up to Robinson flat, and then the highlight was probably the ~20 mile chunky gravel soda springs road between Robinson Flat and Truckee. Finally from tahoe did the incline flume trail (super fun) plus a bit of the tahoe rim trail (a bit less fun on this bike, lots of hiking) before descending mt rose highway into Reno.

This was my first ever bikepacking trip so I'm glad I was able to finish it at all! My original plan also called for looping around lake tahoe and doing a bit more of the tahoe rim trail. It's absolutely possible to do that in the same number of days, however I had to de-scope things after day 2 because there was a 100 degree heatwave and I was getting so many flat tires (5 total on this trip) and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Bike is a 1994 Trek 930. Pretty basic gear: Jandd economy panniers that almost fell off a couple times, a blackburn outpost frame bag whose top stitching is pretty much kaput, and some custom front fork storage based on blackburn cage + hose clamps.

Some lessons learned:

• Keep the distances short enough that you can arrive at campsites before dusk and leave enough slack for exploring random side trails on the way. I did not do this for the first two nights. It's pretty sad to arrive at the campsite after dark and not have any time to explore during the day. I had a lot more fun on my 30-60 mile days after I decided to cut out the tahoe loop, than my 85 and 75 miles on day 1 and 2. With these shorter distances I had time to go on hikes and explore things around the campsite, and fuck around a little bit during the actual ride too to deviate from the official plan, and it makes a big psychological difference to get to the campsite while there's light.
• Go tubeless if you possibly can! My next big bike project is going to rebuild these wheels with tubeless compatible rims. Getting flats seriously affected my trip.
• Please for the love of all things holy bring enough actual padded shorts to wear every day, or a way to wash a smaller number of padded shorts. I wore standard shorts a few days and ended up with pretty bad saddle sores at the end of the trip.

happy to answer any route-related questions for anyone planning to do a similar trip! Among other things, I'm very inspired to go back to Foresthill to do the Mosquito Ridge Road as a day ride on my road bike.

GPX file

Hi all,

I built ArtifyRoute, a tool that turns a track into a map poster.

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• Upload a GPX, connect Strava, or draw a planned route on the map.
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Feedback is welcome. Happy to answer any questions.

I am looking for something cheap and packable I can use as a winter riding layer. What do people’s winter kits look like? I’m looking for something versatile I could wear in the 40-50F range.

So I have I bikepacking trip coming up and last time the p-clamps I used broke and messed up my paint before they broke. So I’m wondering if I can drill my dropouts to hard mount my rear rack. The frame is chromoly and the dropouts are 7mm thick on the thickest parts. I marked where I think they would go

Hello! I am preparing to take my first bike packing trip solo from Baltimore to New York during the week of Thanksgiving. The plan is to bike during the day time (~4/5 hours, which is realistic for me), arrive at my destination and spend the rest of the day there (I figure that since this is my first time doing anything like this, I'd stay in a hotel). The way back I would take a bike/train.

I was hoping to see if anyone can give me some advice regarding the path I should take. What I have planned currently (based on ChatGPT suggestions) is Baltimore -> Havre de Grace -> Newark, Delaware -> Philly -> NYC. I would be following the East Coast Greenway path. I also would appreciate any kind of suggestions regarding what kind of equipment to take with me, what sort of condition the bike I use should be in (I have a Schwinn mountain bike that I'll be taking to the bike shop to get any necessary repairs done) and any other advice people have found useful.

Thank you and sorry for the long post!

Obviously the Kona Sutra LTD before year 2022 is one of the best adventure-bikes out there! However i can't seem to get it second-hand. Any suggestions of something look-alike?

50 days in, and finished.

And just like that, my first major solo tour comes to an end. Since my last post, I’ve covered another 900 km, following the coast from Tangier to Essaouira before heading inland to Marrakesh.

Along the way, I’ve learned so much, gained new perspectives on different ways of life, and listened to the stories of all kinds of people. I was invited to meals, welcomed into strangers’ homes, and offered help and kindness wherever I went.

There were moments when I was close to giving up — after more than ten days of knee pain and a forced break in Spain due to heatstroke, I kept asking myself why I was doing this in the first place. But just as often, I’d lie in my tent at the end of a day, feeling content and experiencing a sense of freedom I’d never known before. I had a blast riding gravel tracks in Spain and found myself gazing out at the seemingly endless Atlantic.

I’m happy to have a few days to rest now, away from the bike and the unpredictable rhythm of life on the road. At the same time, my mind is already wandering towards future tours and routes. I have a feeling it won’t be long before the call of the outdoors draws me back in. Somehow, this way of travelling has truly captured me.

Until the next adventure.

Last February I did a solo trip in Gran Canaria, to avoid suffering from winter depression.

I started in Maspalomas through the peak of Gran Canaria (Pico de las Nieves at 1949m/6394ft) to Agaete.

Then to La Aldea (there was a tunnel that detected cyclists: CICLISTA, barring 1 of the 2 lanes, so cyclists have a safe lane, which blew my mind away), and back up the mountain in center of the island but not the peak again of course, and back to Maspalomas. Took my tent with me but only used it was once haha.

Hello, je suis une fille qui a l’habitude de faire du bikepacking et j’aimerais partir pédaler au Japon (seule) pendant environ 1 mois (Enfin rien n’est décidé je suis encore ouverte) en janvier ou février ou mars.

Je ne sais pas encore quel trajet choisir. J’ai vu qu’il y avait la traversée du Japon mais peut être que d’autres itinéraires moins spectaculaires sont finalement plus intéressants ?

Si jamais vous avez déjà fait un trip la bas, je suis preneuse de vos retours d’expérience et conseils.

Merci ☺️

Hi All,

​A few weeks ago I completed a bucket-list challenge: riding solo and unsupported from London to Paris on my Brompton to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

​It was an incredible 4-day adventure, but doing long-distance touring on 16-inch wheels definitely brought some unique challenges.

​Quick Trip Stats:

​Total Distance: ~350 miles (took a few scenic detours!)

​Time: 4 Days

​Setup: Solo & Unsupported with front bag & gear

​Punctures: 2

​Ferries Missed: 1 (by about 5 minutes!)

​Highlights & Surprises:

​The Good: Riding along French canal paths and quiet countryside roads on day 2 and 3 was absolute bliss. The folding bike is surprisingly comfortable for long flat stretches once you hit a good rhythm.

​The Bad: The off-road / gravel cycle paths in Kent and northern France were ruthless on small tires. I got stuck in thick mud that completely jammed up my mudguards (had to use a stick to scrape it out on the trail).

​The Brutal: Strong headwinds on Day 2 really slowed my average speed down to about 7–8 mph, and pushing up steep Kent hills meant walking the bike a few times.

​Reaching the Eiffel Tower on Day 4 after fighting through Parisian traffic was an unbelievable feeling!

​I filmed the entire journey—from the Greenwich start line, tire changes, missing the ferry, to rolling up to the Eiffel Tower. If you'd like to check out the full vlog, you can watch it here:

https://youtu.be/710EzXYU43k

​Happy to answer any questions about route planning, packing gear, or touring on a Brompton if anyone is planning a similar trip!

Hey everyone!

I'm 38M and looking to ride the Badlands route in southern Spain in April 2027, probably over 6 days (April 16–21). The plan would be to start in Granada. I'd be open to staying in hotels/hostels along the way rather than camping.

Route info: https://badlands.cc/unplugged

There's an organised race on this route once a year, but big events aren't really my thing, and the race takes place during the hottest time of the year anyway. The problem is that most of my cycling buddies think I'm mad for wanting to tackle something like this and aren't keen on joining me. 😅

So I thought I'd throw the idea out there on Reddit and see if anyone's up for it!

I've done a fair bit of long-distance cycling, but this would be my first proper gravel adventure. The 6-day itinerary works out at around 120–150 km (75–93 miles) and 2,000–3,000 m (6,500–9,800 ft) of climbing per day. Definitely a challenge, but I reckon it's manageable for anyone with a decent level of cycling fitness and some experience.

If you're interested in joining me, drop me a DM and we can chat to see if we'd be a good match.

Cheers! 🤙🏻

Reddit suggested I cross post this but it is a credit card tour. Still, who am I to question Reddit. I have started planning a September 2027 tour starting in The Hague and ending in Berlin. Please consider my route and offer suggestions and feedback. You are welcome to join me. Planning 2027 Cycling Tour-The Hague to Berlin – getmytravelingshoes

Trip report time. I rode the North Branch Trail northbound to the Robert McClory Trail to get to Zion from Chicago. No punctures, no crashes, only minimal amounts of blood, but TONS of mosquito bites. Checking into the campsite was a pain but that's my fault for not making a reservation beforehand. I had to scope out compatible sites for my hammock and then ride back to the camp host, but my first 2 options were taken. RVs were unfortunately everywhere which sucked, but I did see several other bikepackers. Why do RV people always need to use bright rope lights everywhere?

The highlight - I stopped at a nearby grocery store when I got to town and loaded up on steak taco supplies to cook with my MSR pocket rocket. That was a smart move. My biggest dumb move - I applied bug spray before I left but didn't bring any extra to save weight. This is really silly when you are going hammock camping next to Lake Michigan. I got destroyed and flys kept biting my gross sweaty legs. I wanted to stay longer in the morning but got out of there ASAP because I was miserable everywhere but inside my bug net.

Overall, I really enjoyed the slow change of pace on a fully loaded Surly Preamble compared to my usual fast road rides on a Cervelo Caledonia. The 50 miles home today felt like the longest ride of my life and I am no slouch. I want to do another trip before the end of the year after I upgrade my rear bag setup. I swapped my rack and panniers for the Rhinowalk 13L bag and it performed okay.

How would something like this do on a 2 day trip?

Hey! I’m a noob to bike touring, and working my way up slowly. I’ve started undertaking 50-80 mile day trips recently, and will be doing a roughly 110 mile trip at the beginning of next bike season. My goal is to end the season with a trip up to the Finger Lakes from NYC. The route is roughly 415 miles or so. I plan to camp along the way, and carry the appropriate gear to do so.

In terms of baggage, how much room do I actually need for a trip like that? I currently have no plans for anything longer than that, though that may change if the ride goes especially well. I’ve been eyeing the Axiom Oceanwave 55 panniers, to pair with a Topeak Frontloader 8L for a total of 63 liters of storage. My tent will just get strapped to the top of my rear rack, I think.

One thing to note is that my fork doesn’t have any mounting points for bags or racks. I’ve found an Axiom Lowrider that should work, and Old Man Mountain racks will work. I’m just trying to get the best dollar-per-liter while giving me upward mobility for longer rides, and quality bags.

Hi there!

Im going to travel to Malaysia by bike from the Netherlands in the month May 2027. I will be traveling by bike but some parts (the route from Georgia to Kazakhstan) I will be going by plane because of the geopolitics.

I was wondering if you guys would have any suggestions on bikes? I’m looking for a bike that will be compatible for this trip. Im looking at a budget of 2500 for the bike (if that is possible).

PS: I will and want to have some experience before going to do this journey, so before going I will be making smaller trips in Europe.

550km and 10400m of elevation gain on a gravelbike but mostly on asphalt from 9 to 12 of October 2026. This was my fifth bikepacking adventure (all between 3 to 5 days long) as a 20 year old. Slept at cheap hostels and had perfect weather (sunny and quite chilly). Every day I started around 10:00 AM and ended the day around 6:30 PM. I took some photos with my 2009 pocket camera. None are edited afterwards, but there’s a filter used inside the camera settings.

Used a 15L saddle bag with clothing, 2L framebag with important stuff (keys, wallet etc.), 1.5L snack bag and a 2.5L handlebar bag full with bike tools which I didn’t use because I had zero problems this time.

Day 1 (153km): from my hometown Calella to Viladrau. Route was close to Girona so I saw some professionals and did some popular climbs. Got the first amazing views of the trip along the Sau reservoir and ended with a long climb through thick forest.

Day 2 (161km): started the day through Les Guilleries. I found a hidden point of view where some people were fishing (see first photo). Afterwards I descended to the beautiful city of Vic, whereafter I climbed to the Pre-Pyrenees. I slept at a hostel along the beautiful San Pons reservoir.

Day 3 (124km): the queen stage. It was amazing from beginning to end, and most photo’s are from that day. Long, quiet climbs and perfect descents with incredible views and hairpins. Probably my favorite day on the bike ever. Ended in Saldes, a charming mountain village next to Pedraforca, the most impressive mountain I’ve ever seen (see photo 13).

Day 4 (107km): mostly descents this day which I really enjoyed. In Vic I hopped on a bus back to Calella to avoid some rain and avoid the last 90km which would result in 200km on one day.

The last 3 photos are from my iPhone 13 which also turned out great.

I'm planning my first 2–3-day trip. The mileage looks doable based on my normal day rides, but I've never done it back-to-back with a loaded bike. I'm a little worried I'll overdo it on day one, especially with hills or a headwind, and have nothing left the next morning.

I'm not sure how much less to plan each day compared with a normal day ride. How do you guys figure that out? Or is it more about taking it easy throughout the day? I'm trying not to overpack, but I'd be curious if there's any gear you were glad you brought. Mostly just want to enjoy day two instead of dragging myself through it.