In 2015, Lael Wilcox completed the Tour Divide — a 2,745-mile self-supported mountain bike race from Banff, Canada, to the Mexican border — faster than any woman before her. She finished in 17 days, 1 hour and 51 minutes. Even more astonishing, she arrived at the start line after riding 2,100 miles from her home in Anchorage, Alaska, carrying all of her gear on her bike.
Photos from the route showed towering mountain ranges, endless gravel roads and tiny towns scattered across Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. I had never heard of the Tour Divide before Wilcox’s record-setting ride, but her story sent me down a rabbit hole that would eventually lead to my own first bikepacking trip and later a partial ride along the Great Divide.
For years, I read blogs, watched YouTube videos and researched equipment. The more I learned, the more bikepacking seemed complicated. I didn’t own camping gear. I had never mountain biked. I wasn’t even sure how people attached all of their belongings to a bicycle, and I didn’t know how to use my minimalist camp stove.
But when I finally did it, getting started was far simpler than I had convinced myself it would be.
What keeps me coming back is the combination of adventure, community and self-discovery. Bikepacking allows me to travel in an environmentally friendly way, reach places that are only accessible by bike or on foot, and challenge myself physically. It has given me a new perspective on places close to home and helped me discover trails, campgrounds and landscapes I never knew existed. It has taken me to incredible places I never thought I could reach on my own and introduced me to amazing people along the way.
Here’s what set me on the path:
Start ridiculously small
When most people think of bikepacking, they picture crossing crushing mountain passes or disappearing into the wilderness. My first overnighter was a one-night trip to Crystal Cove State Park, less than an hour from home, with a small group of experienced and novice bikepackers. It was close enough that I could call for a ride if something went wrong, but far enough away to feel like an adventure.
Pick a campsite close enough that you can bail if you need to. Choose a route with manageable mileage and minimal elevation gain. A loaded bike is heavier, slower and takes more effort to climb. Ride with GPS is a useful planning tool because it lets you preview routes and check elevation profiles before committing. Tell a friend or family member where you’re going. Figure out the easiest route back home. Knowing you have an escape plan makes trying something new feel much less intimidating.
Borrow before you buy
There are gear libraries in Southern California that will loan nearly everything you need to go bike camping. Wild Wolf Cycling Collective (wildwolfcc.weebly.com) is one of them. The group centers women and gender-expansive riders, hosts beginner bikepacking trips and provides the equipment needed to get started. Rather than charging a rental fee, they ask for a donation or volunteer time in exchange for using the gear. Their volunteer-led library includes everything from water bottles and sleeping bags to Priority bicycles and panniers.
For someone who’s curious about bikepacking but not ready to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on equipment, borrowing gear can remove one of the biggest barriers to getting started.
Bikepacking Roots maintains a gear library map that pinpoints lending programs across the country.
Another option is to borrow equipment from friends. Before buying anything, ask around. You may already know someone with camping gear or a bike they’d be happy to lend you for the weekend. There are also rental options. Sports Basement, which has locations in Orange County, Long Beach and South Bay, rents both bicycles and camping gear.
Your first trip does not need to look like Instagram
Social media has a way of making every bikepacking trip look like an expedition across Iceland. Most people’s first trips are much less glamorous. Mine certainly was, though the sunset from atop Crystal Cove State Park was spectacular and the company even better.
Hike-a-bike is totally normal. It is very common to walk a fully loaded bike up steep hills. A loaded bike can weigh 70 pounds or more, making climbs much more challenging than they would be on a typical day ride.
Inexpensive and used gear is fine. The Cub House in San Marino and The Local Bikestand in Pomona host gear swap meets where you can find great deals on used equipment. There’s also plenty of gear available through Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. While ultralight gear is pretty sweet, you don’t need ultralight everything. Most items just need to be compact enough to fit in a bike bag.
Use public transit
My first trip was multimodal. I took Metrolink to Tustin and pedaled to Newport Beach to meet the group. Combining public transit and bicycles opens up all kinds of possibilities. Metrolink covers a lot of territory in Southern California and has dedicated bicycle cars. Unlike Amtrak, Metrolink does not require a bike reservation.
The train can drop you off at Corona-West, which is roughly 10 miles from Chino Hills State Park and its campground, a place that feels worlds away from city life. Metrolink can also take you to San Juan Capistrano, which is just a 4-mile bike ride from Dana Point Campground. Those are only a couple of examples.
Don’t let campsite reservations stop you
Look for campgrounds with hike-and-bike sites. Places like Emma Wood State Beach offer sites specifically for people arriving by bicycle or on foot. Policies can change, so always check ahead, but these kinds of sites can make spontaneous trips much easier than trying to snag a reservation months in advance.
Go on a shakeout ride before your departure
Pack your gear on your bike a few days before your trip and take a ride around your neighborhood. You’ll quickly discover if something is rattling loose, rubbing against your tire or making your bike difficult to handle.
Find a group to go with
There are groups on Meetup that plan overnight bike camping trips. Some bicycle shops, like The Local Bikestand in Upland, regularly organize overnight rides in Southern California. Greg Goodwine, the owner, and his partner, Diana Sjol, plan routes and make campsite reservations. Greg also helps riders get set up for overnight trips.
If organized rides aren’t your thing, invite a few friends and plan a simple overnight of your own.
Make a list and check it twice
Create a packing list before your trip. Mine includes camp meals, clothing, shelter, sleeping gear, toiletries and small but essential items like a headlamp, phone charger, bike repair kit and camp chair. A checklist helps ensure you don’t forget essentials and makes packing for future trips faster and easier.
For years, I assumed bikepacking was something reserved for people with expensive gear, wilderness expertise and thousands of miles of riding experience.
I was mistaken.
You don’t need to be Lael Wilcox. You don’t need fancy gear. You don’t need wilderness expertise. You just need a first trip. The rest, you can learn along the way.
Bikepacking vs. bike camping
These terms are often used interchangeably, and there’s a lot of overlap. Generally, bikepacking refers to bicycle travel that includes gravel roads, dirt roads or singletrack, usually with a more minimal setup. Bike camping is a term for any overnight bicycle trip, typically on paved roads and often using traditional bicycle touring equipment such as racks and panniers.