I just finished my first bikepacking trip ever. It was European Divide Trail stages 26-28 + about 100km to Barcelona. I know, that is way less than the whe EDT, but 830km and 11,300m climb in 9 days was quite a challenge for me.
Some learnings/findings:
- 9 days was probably too short for my shape (I don't ride more than 70km a week, and rode 100+km a day a handful of times in my life on an asphalt road). It was more a "sport trip". Quick breakfast, packing everything and then riding till the sunset.
- Camps in France are closed in October. I found only a single opened camp (more a farm) on my way in France (5 days). Was wild camping the rest of the time. Definitely didn’t expect that.
- It is very hard (next to impossible) to find a cafe/restaurant In France opened for lunch. I was hoping to have a quick lunches in towns/villages but kitchen usually opens at 7pm. Ended up just snacking during the day.
- Sliced my tyre open in France towards end of the day 3. First time stitching a tyre. Was able to find a bike shop in 22km and the fix held well.
- I put my tent and poles to the rear bag at first. The poles were chafing against the steel rear rack and on day 2 I found shock cord snapped. Was able to fix it with a piece of rope but moved tent poles to the front.
- On my day 7 my new Durston tent was ripped at night, just a day before rain started. Temporary fixed it with gorilla tape and sticky tape. I still don’t understand how that happened, it looks like someone sliced it with a knife.
- My Sea to Summit dry bag has a few holes now, probably due to chafing against the rack. Any advice on how to reduce this issue is welcome!
- My Coros Dura GPS worked without charging all 9 days and gave up just 15 mins before my finish.
by ogreswamp
7 Comments
Great pics and awesome repair technique 👌
I don’t understand why you say it’s nearly impossible to find a place for lunch in France. Where you either looking at the wrong time or at the wrong places? For me the best thing about bikepacking in France is that even in the smallest villages you have amazing boulangeries that offer a “lunch menu” for about 10€ consisting of a soft drink, a sandwich/quiche/croque monsieur/etc, and a dessert.
Awesome! And nice OMM rack!
Epic trip and majestic pics 🔝🔝👍👍
Well done mate! 👏🏼 Congratulations, epic trip!
Looks pretty successful for first bikepacking trip! How did you like the Spanish part, was it as hard to find food since? restaurants open quite late there too. I just recently moved to Barcelona (technically still waiting for a visa) so I’m very interested in doing trips in and out of the city.
Amazing repair technique.
Where’s the lake in pic 5? Beautiful.