Bikepacking, explained for absolute beginners

What bikepacking actually is
You ride your bike somewhere, you sleep, you ride home. What you need goes in bags on the bike instead of on your back. That's it. The rest is detail.

You probably already have the bike
Almost any bike in good working order will do a first overnighter, whether that's a gravel bike, a trekking bike or a solid hybrid. Wider tyres and low gears help, but you don't need to buy anything new for this.

The four things beginners actually worry about

• "Is my bike good enough?" Almost certainly yes. Check the brakes and tyres and make sure nothing rattles. If it's roadworthy, it's trip-worthy.
• "What if I can't carry everything?" You'll need less than you think. One saddle pack and one bar bag covers a first night away.
• "Where do I sleep?" On a campsite, for trip one. It's the low-stress option, with showers, drinking water and other people around.
• "What if something breaks?" Learn one repair, fixing a flat. That covers the overwhelming majority of problems you'll meet on the road.

Your first trip in three steps

1. Pick a short, waymarked route. Aim for 40 to 80 km over two days, starting near a train station so you always have a way home.

2. Get two bags, a saddle pack and a bar bag. Borrow them if you can. For one night away, nothing else is essential.

3. Pack for the real forecast. Use the checklist instead of your imagination. Overpacking is the most common first-trip mistake by far.

What you don't need for trip one
A frame bag, a stove, clipless pedals, a bikepacking-specific bike, or anything bought "just in case". All of that can wait. After one trip you'll know exactly what you actually missed.