hi!
i leave for my first big bikepacking trip in the next few days and will be riding from geneva to sicily.
i have a hostel booked for my first few days in switzerland but from there im playing it by ear weather i cowboy-camp or find a roof over my head. i got a one way ticket so it leaves the timeline up to me (as of now im thinking somewhere around 8 weeks)
60km days give or take and eventually work up to 100km days
most ive ridden is about 60km in one day.
i made a little vision board with everything im taking and notes to remind myself while packing/on the go so ill include the route and my complete setup if anyone has tips or criticism for me.
ciao!
EDIT: ill be taking a train through the alps simply because i dont wanna do that to myself… yet.
by couldbjohn
6 Comments
wow, sounds fun. good luck!
Hi, are you going to be riding some really rough terrain? Those are really fat tires with big knobs, they will have a lot of rolling resistance. I would switch out for tires with less rolling resistance. Vittoria Mezcals are vers popular among bikepackers, Continental Gravel Kings and their new version, the Dubnitals, have very low rolling resistance. I run a gravel king in the rear and a Mezcal in the front, in 2.2/2.25 (55mm). Great for all-around, but a bit too much for the mostly paved part of my trip right now, in northern Norway.
Sounds good. I ve also went a round in Italy, i went down the whole Adria till Bari and then onwards in Apulia. Going to St Maria di Leuca and above the west side but not on the coast.
I found wild camping pretty unchilled in Italy mainly as it was hard to find any spot without people or cars. just very dense country.
The camp spots were pretty cheap so i didn’t go for the hussle here.
The east coast was very nice to ride, don’t miss out on those 1-2 big climbs on the east, i think it was some kind of national park.
Very steep but great views.
Around big cities like Napoli i often took a regional train with the bike to avoid all that crazy traffic etc.
Andre careful with italian drivers, especially on the village side i came across quite some aggressive drivers and people who had no focus on the road as they did video call someone and nearly went over me.
enjoy the food and the awesome swimming spots
I am going on a trip of simular distance in a couple days. I found your list very helpful . You are brining much more than me , but reminded me to pack some toilet paper. Thanks!
Leave the jeans at home and you could actually ride across the alps.
no mudguards?🤭