Bikepacking isn’t all perfect sunsets and expensive gear — no matter what Instagram shows you. In this video, I share the real truth about bikepacking: the struggles, small joys, and lessons I’ve learned from solo trips and wild camping with my bike.
From slowing down and being more present, to pushing through tough moments, to experiencing the kindness of strangers — here are 5 things nobody tells you about bikepacking.
If you’re new to bikepacking, looking for tips, or just curious what it’s really like, this video will give you an honest look at life on the road.
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Let’s be honest, most of what you see on YouTube or Instagram about bike packing is complete nonsense. Perfect sunsets, endless or empty roads, the latest bike and bike packing gear, as if those are the main ingredients to be able to have a great bike packing adventure. But the truth, bike packing isn’t that glamorous at times. It can be hard, it can be lonely, and it can get very muddy. Sometimes you just want to quit. Here are five things that nobody tells you about bike packing. And the first is it teaches you to slow down. And I don’t just mean literally on the bike because of course you do go slower when you’re bike packing, but I mean in all areas of life. I found that when I do these long solo bike packing trips without a huge deadline, I’m not in a rush. I can be more present and appreciative of the things that I’ve got. And this spills over into my everyday life. When I come home, I’m much more thankful of everything that I’ve got around me. And I learned to take mental snapshots of my day with my two young children and appreciate the time that I’ve got now that I may never get back with them. It’s so easy in our everyday lives to just be focused on the next thing, rushing from A to B. But taking some time out to go on a bike packing trip really reconnects you with what’s important and allows you to spend some time on being present and enjoying the moment. And the second is sometimes it is rubbish. You can get cold, miserable, wet, tired, injured, and sometimes you just want to throw in the towel. However, it does help build up your mental resilience if you push through these things. And there have been a few times for me personally where I really wanted to throw in the towel, but I didn’t. And I’m so glad I didn’t when I finally finished the trip. Equally though, I have thrown in the towel several times and been very glad that I did. And on occasion, that is the best thing to do if you’re really not enjoying it. Sometimes it’s just worth going home and trying again another time. And the great thing about this is that when you do have really good times, they feel amazing because you can’t have great times without experiencing the bad times as well. Which kind of leads me nicely onto the third thing that nobody tells you about bike packing is that your inner chimp is probably a lot stronger than you think. Most of us nowadays have very comfortable lives and we’re rarely put in a position where something is so hard we have to tell ourselves to keep going. And bike packing on occasion does do that. And you will have that voice inside your head nine times out of 10 telling you to stop. But it’s really important for your own mental health and general well-being to exercise that and try and push back as much as you can. I’ll caveat that by saying that your inner chimp is sometimes right and is worth listening to on occasion. If you ever felt in danger that you’re going to get injured or you’re going to get lost, that’s the sort of time that you do need to call it a day. But otherwise, if something’s just hard and you don’t feel you’ve got the energy to do it, that’s the time to really try and push through. And the fourth thing that nobody tells you about bike packing is that your adventure doesn’t have to be a 3-w weekek epic across a country in some really remote part of the world to be a good one. You can have an amazing adventure just over a weekend like most people have available to us. The great thing about that is you take pleasure in the small joys that it brings. A nice warm pair of socks in the morning, an amazing camp spot, a nice cup of tea after a long hard day of riding, or an amazing view. These are the little things that make a bike packing trip amazing. It doesn’t have to go to the far ends of the earth for it to be worthwhile. And finally, the fifth thing that most people don’t tell you about bike packing is that the people that you meet on the way, often strangers, are those that really make the adventure magical. These days, all of us are led to believe that any stranger that we meet in a foreign country especially is probably someone not to be trusted. And I found the exact opposite. And from speaking to some of my friends who’ve been to even more remote places than me, they’ve often said the same. It’s the countries that you’re probably the most scared to go to where the people are the most hospitable. I’ve been helped by so many kind strangers over the years. Whether it was Ron and Carol up in the highlands of Scotland who helped me fix my puncture or the Icelandic man who drove me in his van down to my campsite during a terrible storm. All of these people are people I’ve either kept in touch with or remember fondly when I think back to my bike packing trip in those places. I’d be curious to get your thoughts on this. Everyone has different adventures. So, let me know things that you’ve learned or things that you were never told about bike packing before you started that you’ve subsequently learned in the comments section below. And before I go, I just want to make something very clear. You don’t have to have a certain type of adventure for it to be worthwhile. Everyone does adventures differently. Whether it’s due to your life commitments, whether it’s due to your age or your mobility or your location, an adventure is an adventure regardless of those parameters. So, just get out there and have a good time. Thanks so much for watching and I’ll see you in the next one.
39 Comments
Am I wrong about these? Let us know what you wish you’d known about bikepacking before you started below 👇 👇
I’ve learned you can spend a LOT of money on things you don’t need! Any bike will do, strap your kit to it and off you go. It’s the adventure that counts, not the brand of bike or kit.
Cracking video
Number 3 sounds like pure David goggins haha. But seriously, don't the navy seals have a 40% rule. This is a reflection of number 3.
Not done bikepacking yet, because I'm planning some backpacking trips first, but in 2026 I plan to attempt it with the gear I've got. Inspired by channels like yours. Thanks for the video.
The trick is to start small. A single nighter. Even B&B's. Enjoy the experience without the big challenge when starting out.
Well said 👍🏻
Very nice video! (not a huge fan of the clickbait-like title, but eh). I think youve made some very good points. I've heard the phrase "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable" and thats such a powerful one.
Excellent commentary Tom and you've just given me my new challenge… How many times can I throw in the line 'inner chimp' in to any of my meetings at work this week. I might get sectioned but I'm going to give it a go! Thanks Tom
Don’t get hung up on the route, especially if it’s a published one chosen. Most routes are arbitrary. They’re like food recipes – a good starting point but don’t be afraid to deviate from it if needed, or you just feel like it.
A refreshingly different take on things they don't tell you about bikepacking type videos. Would wholeheartedly on al the points you make. 👍
Some of our best memories are about people, like talking for an hour outside a grocery store to a WW II paratrooper. Also you remember the hardships you pushed through and made it to the other side. You are more likely to push yourself as sometimes there is no other option. Of course there are also the beautiful things you see too.
I would prefer to bikepack then be at work,slave and waiting for those 3 weeks off! Bikepack guys-Be free!
Bikepacking is spending a lot of money to be homeless lol
I learned a lot about click bait from this video
You don't need half the stuff you take with you
Sometimes getting to the end is the best bit, the relief that it's done and you can now rest. A moment to look back at what you did and got through.
All good tips👍 Its easy to get caught up in all the hype over gear – it does effect how the trip goes after all – but ultimately getting out there & experiencing the freedom is what counts. I think Im having to go with the people you meet as a personal highlight – from being approached by someone in their mid-80’s outside a Spar shop who simply wanted to look at (& chat about) my gravel bike to see ‘what people are riding these days’ to meeting some dog walkers who also happened to have just finished refurbishing a new bothy I knew nothing about when setting off: a free night (& possibly) the 1st person to stay there!
You couldnt plan such pleasures!😎👍
It can be whatever you want it to be. I had a fantastic 5 day Bike Packing adventure last week all within 50 mile radius of home. Only the first day was roughly planned before setting off.
My first bikepacking bike was a 90s Marin Bear Valley from the recycling center, cost me £20. Needed a bit of work, handlebars were changed for some MX pit bike bars with the bolt on cross brace removed and rolled back the bars for a swept back Jones bar feel on the long 100mm stem. New seat, tyres and rack. These old rigid mtbs with a tall stack are great. Inexpensive, easy to fix. Dont need expensive kit 👍
So, some interesting thoughts, but absolutly nothing to do with wasting money on the wrong tent then as the intro pic strongly infers?
Whenever I feel like I can't ride any further, usually when it's caused by bad weather or exhaustion, I sing quietly to myself:
Why worry
There should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now (Dire Straits)
And to this day, I can say that Mark Knopfler is right.
As a reply to your question, I learned that:
1: You don't need a perfect setup or bike
2: You don't need to go for 6 months trips through remote Africa (not that I've done that) to have an adventure. You can do a 3 days locally and have a great time.
3: I appreciate having a home more.
4: Much of the time you spend meeting new people and chatting(depending on how remote you are).
5: There are many, many, many good people out there. Many more than bad.
I have a crappy bike and setup, often experience four seasons in one day, and make all sorts of stupid decisions. My bike trips are far from perfect. I love every minute of the struggle locally and abroad. like you say, I like to push through. It exercises my mental fortitude and makes me appreciate home all that much more. I do push too hard sometimes (my family asks me why I even bother doing it lol). I've ended up with heat stroke and gone on dangerous roads when I shouldn't have, for example. But I've always had wonderful strangers to fall back on when I've needed it. I've learned a lot from it all!
Cleaning up and unpacking from a 3 day trip I enjoyed tremendously…mostly pavement and heat and humidity but I experienced all 5 of your points😎
I'm glad I'm bike touring, and not bike touring
I take a cargo bike and most of my gear is from decathlon except my sleeping bag which I payed a kings ransom , I learned in my early years camping that it will be miserable from day one if you are cold at night
1-5 great info. But the best bit for me was your summary. Everyone's adventure is different. So important that I'm just compiling an article on that very topic for Cycle magazine!
Keep on cycling x
Being able to change the route/trip in case of really bad weather, a too difficult route, equipment failure etc. is imo the most useful skill. Especially on longer trips things might not work out as expected, so planning for an alternative route or an option to shorten the entire trip is something to consider.
Sometimes these kinds of trips don't pan out as planned.
I completely agree. Before a bike trip, I'm always full of excitement, but facing bad weather or other uncomfortable situations brings about difficulties I don't usually experience in daily life.
I think it's important to try things that suit my circumstances. It doesn't have to be expensive gear or a long journey. As you said, I like that it can have a positive effect on my life.
Learning that most people are kind really is the most important lesson i've learned from bike touring. And my personal philosophy is that it's always okay to give up. Pushing through is admirable and can be really valuable, but at the end of the day, it's supposed to be fun and if you're not having fun, why are you doing it? Just try again next time.
The other bike tourists you meet definitely can be inspirational. Plenty of older folks out there in their late 60s, early 70s just enjoying life and doing some pretty incredible rides.
Very thanks this video❤❤
I 100 % agree with your 5 points. Nothing to add.
The other thing about bike packing is that it is very doable right up into old age. Going light to enjoy what is on offer in your own locality, especially wild camps, are so rewarding Here speaks an 87-year-old!
Tom – all good points. The key about bikepacking is just get out and try it – one overnight trip in a scenic area near where one lives is a great way to sample it. And the best bike for it is the one you have – and if camping is less appealing, pay for a bed and breakfast that first night. I'm dating myself by saying that when I grew up in the seventies, there was less agonizing over the "right bike," the "right tires" and other gear. I rode a drover's road over a mountain pass in Scotland on a fixed-wheel Carlton then arrived at the youth hostel in Braemar to find it fully booked, so ended up sharing a very cold night with other cyclists in a Girl Guides' hut. It least it did not snow.
Heading off to orkney and northern scotland for a 5-7 day bikepacking trip on Thursday, I will definitly keep this information in mind.. Top Vid.
I love the hardness of life. Bike packing is not easy that's why I love it. Love the rain the wind the challenge. That's why Ive lived in my van for 10 years now. You are spot on with pushing through for your walls to help mental health and well being.
I fully agree, that people are amazing in majority of times and it brings a good memories about your trip
Im a bikepacker and this is dead right 👍
Never feel you are letting yourself down if you need to regroup, and jump on a train. You can always continue the next day and by that time, you will have forgotten all your troubles.