Hi all, I'm looking to start going on a few bikepacking trips but getting a bit stick on where to begin. I'm based in Sydney and don't have a bike yet and not sure what type to purchase. I'm not looking to spend too much and I fully understand that it's going to impact my experience, I'm just looking to get a bike that will be reasonably reliable. I'm happy to put in extra work if the bike is heavier or a bit uncomfortable, I just want to try it out and I can always upgrade later if I decide it's something I really want to pursue.
First question, is a gravel bike really necessary? My current goal for this bike would be cycling the Central West Cycleway at some point, it's around 400km of paved/gravel/packed dirt roads. Would a hybrid bike suffice for this? I have a pretty loose timeline so could do this over 6/8 days if needed, having a light and fast bike isn't the top priority.
Would a reliable second hand hybrid bike be a better purchase than a cheap gravel bike? I've dropped links below to two options, but I don't really understand the pros and cons of these.
XL – Hybrid – Cannondale Quick
Fluid Alpine Gravel Bike Khaki
I have a pretty light camping set up and wouldn't be covering a tonne of ground in unpopulated areas so loading up with a lot of equipment isn't a major concern at this stage.
Thanks in advance for all of the help, if you have any other advice or tips please let me know!
EDIT- I'm about 188cm and 78kg
by Coannaje
1 Comment
Buy a used local bike that generally fits what you want. It’s a cheap way to try out bikepacking without having to buy something new.