I started using a mtb and then gravel bike to commute to work occasionally, around 30km of gravel and bikepath and l'm a reasonably experienced hiker. I'm used to camping solo in rough country and I'm fairly comfortable being uncomfortable. So, I figured bikepacking was an obvious choice! I posted a picture of my mtb set up for bike packing a year or so back but never actually got time to plan a trip.
I just had a week off, it should have been two but had too much to get on top of so had to cancel one. This already put me in a bad headspace and between some home duties and need to be back for the weekend, I knew I was hard pushed for time. I was determined to get my first bike packing trip in though even if didn't really have the energy.
The weather turned awful, i waited it out with the 5 day window closing and finally pulled the pin on a rainy morning when the forecast showed improvement.
I should have driven somewhere and done a couple of cruisey days for my first outing but I had it in my mind it needed to be challenging to count as a first trip.
So, instead I left midmorning, rode for 40km to catch a ferry from sorrento to Queenscliff outside of Melbourne Australia… some gravel, mostly road. Then cycled another 40km to Geelong with the intention of catching an evening train to Camperdown to do the Otway rip over 2-3 days. As I understand it this is not a super challenging route but is through spectacular country with good campsites.
Two problems, I haven't ridden any real distance in many years and I've only ridden drop bar for the last year or so, and never more than 30km at a time. The last 10km into Geelong was horrible, super painful, and mostly on bike paths. This was not the bikepacking adventure I'd wanted.
I probably should have chalked it up to a lesson learnt and called it a training ride but I was stubbon and determined to not waste my only week off. I grabbed a cheap hotel, got up early and took the first train I could and decided to do the Otway rip lite which is 160 km rather than 260km. The nearest train station to the trailhead was 30km. By the time I got rolling it was 10.30am. I rode mostly gravel to Forrest it was torturous, everything hurt. I got there had a bite to eat and knew there was no way I was going to make the circuit in the two days I had left.
I called it and hightailed it back to the train station, it was agony, i also missed the train by 5 mins and had to wait on a cold station for 3 hours. I took the next train to Melbourne with my tail between my legs but thankfully not a saddle. After another train to 30kms from where I live and a lift from there I got back home with saddle sores, painful legs and having not used any of my camping gear haha.
I was bummed yesterday but making peace with it today. I guess I got to test out packing and riding a loaded bike, I know the gear would have worked if I'd camped as it's all well used and familiar and I am actually fairly happy with putting 160km under my tyres, even if it was 60% road and bike path. That's probably the furthest I've ridden in more than a decade.
It definitely wasn't the epic bikepacking adventure I'd imagined, but i'm pretty sold on this being something worth investing time an pasion into. For the 50km I spent rolling through countryside and forrest on unsealed roads, it really was a great place to be, even with the pain!
Next time, I'll make sure I'm in the right headspace, and will make sure I'm bike fit!
by macey918
6 Comments
How’s does your bike fit? Are you not tempted to raise the bar hight with a different stem and reduce the reach by putting the saddle forward?
Great route for around Melbourne, and sounds like you’ve got some decent takeaways for the next adventure. Heading up on the PTV to Macedon or Woodend and doing some day trips through Lerderderg will get you some bike fitness but easy spots to pull out if you’re feeling sore
A big congratulations on your first tour. It takes time to learn what pace one is comfortable with. The most important thing is to do it. And learn. Hope there will be more tours for you.
You cannot fail if you learn something. Good on you for getting out there and trying! Your experience is a good lesson for others as well – start with small, short, un-ambitious trips and build up from there. And don’t feel bad about throwing in the towel – you were smart to realize it wasn’t working and change your plan, rather than trying to “push thru the pain.” Remember, it’s supposed to be fun! I am sure you will be back out there with many enjoyable trips to come!
That saddle rail position doesn’t look safe at all. If your legs are feeling cramped, raise your seatpost a bit for now and make sure the saddle rails are clamped within the safety markings
You’re bike looks great, is the alloy frame sufficiently forgiving? Once you get a bike fit, you could look at the plethora of options to make the ride easier (starting with the tyres, tubeless, pressure and the rest of the contact points).
My suggestion would be to find the time to go for longer rides – not bikepacking, just get some longer rides in and get a feel for them first.
Having said that – 160kms is a decent ride!!