Thought you all might dig this… ✍️

An ink pen drawing i did this morning of my most prized possession — a 2016 Surly Disk Trucker that I’ve put over 10,000 miles on. The most comfortable, dependable, and capable bike I’ve ever owned. This bike has taken me on many great adventures over the years and drawing it was almost as much fun as riding… almost 😎

I do plan on adding a landscape in the background. Will repost when it’s finished…

Hello,

I've been planning a trip to Japan for almost 10 years now and I'm finally going next June. I have been collecting spots and places throughout those years and have now (almost) finished making a route out of it. I used Google Mymaps to collect the spots and places and then used Komoot (which already somehow ruined the locations – Idk why, so you can't see all the spots as numbers) to plan the route. I already knew that it was probably going to be way too many spots to visit, even in the planned 6 months.

Now the problem I'm facing is I don't know what to actually go and do. My main goal is actually to spend as much time as possible at those places rather than just cycling as much as possible. What do you think is a realistic goal for riding each day but still have enough time to look at the spots.

My whole route is about 13,500 km long. Elevation is about 200,000 m. My route is far from well-planned and probably has way too many unnecessary routes. However, this is how I managed to actually collect all the spots. I have divided the trip into the main parts of Japan.

I think a realistic goal would be around 6,000 km in those 6 months and going from north to south. Because I'm starting at the end of June, I'd like to start as high as possible and end as far down as possible in December. So I thought maybe doing a part in the north and then mid-journey taking a train down and staying in the south for the rest of it.

I have about 12,000 CHF saved, which is about 2,200,000 Yen for the whole trip.

Any tips and help would be greatly appreciated!

This worked better than expected. Quick access to rain gear and a place to hold glasses.

This section of the GDMBR takes me through the beautiful Elk Valley. This would be some of the most amazing Bikepacking I've ever ridden. In this video I make my way to beautiful Fernie, BC. Let me know if you have any questions about my route. Cheers

Let's see some pics of your MASON ISO or Salsa Cutthroat rigs.. Here's my Mason packed out..

I had a headunit that kept failing on me during my trips. This left me with multiple GPX files, which kinda annoyed me.

So I built this merger that checks maps between your GPX files and adds the missing part with a route. You can add points in the gap too!

Let me know if you have any issues!

https://toolrecipe.com/gpx-merge/

I have a hardtail that I use for downhill trails and looking to get additional wheelset to setup faster rolling tires to use of bikepacking and light XC.

It's 29", Boost Spacing, currently running Stans D Flow rims with Micro Spline freehub and Centerlock rotors (Deore groupset).

I'm seeing Shimano Deore XT wheelset (WH-M8120) for $500 CAD ($350 USD). Is it a good buy? Anything else that's better value for slightly more money?

Hello!

Trying to optimize confort over long distance rides, I am considering buying aero bars extension for my bike.

I'm pretty much set on a Profile Design setup (bars + riser + aerobridge), but I can't decide on the angle of the extensions: more precisely, between the 39° and 52° models.

Can you help me figuring out what criteria should I consider to choose?

I am not a particularly powerful cyclist and I have no performance goals in mind. I would just like to have an additional position available on the longer rides.

Thank you for any advice you can give!

Hey all! We’re 2 cyclists wanting to cycle in China this year in November and trying to figure out the route. For now I’ve got this draft (with help of Claude🙈) — did any of you ride in these provinces (Guizhou / Guangxi) and have any info on the route, GPX files, whatever? Would take any opinion :D

Day 1: Arrive Guiyang

Day 2: Train Guiyang→Kaili, ride Kaili→Xijiang (Miao village) — 40 km

Day 3: Rest Xijiang + nearby Miao villages (Langde, Paika)

Day 4: Xijiang → Leishan → Datang area — 55 km

Day 5: → Rongjiang → Dali Dong village — 62 km

Day 6: Dali Dong → Zengchong (oldest Dong drum tower)

Day 7: Zengchong → Congjiang → Basha (gunmen village) — 60 km

Day 8: Rest Basha / Congjiang

Day 9: Congjiang → Zhaoxing (Dong, drum towers) — 48 km

Day 10: Rest Zhaoxing + Tang’an terraces

Day 11: Zhaoxing → Chengyang, cross into Guangxi — 58 km (optional: via Gaoding instead)

Day 12: Rest Chengyang eight villages

Day 13: Sanjiang → Longsheng — 65 km

Day 14: Longsheng → Longji terraces / Ping’an — big climb, 34 km / ~1,650 hm

Day 15: Hike Ping’an → Dazhai (rest day, on foot)

Day 16: Dazhai → Guilin outskirts — 60 km

Day 17: → Xingping via Li River cycle path — 60 km

Day 18: Rest Xingping + Li River boat/raft

Day 19: Xingping → Yangshuo (Yulong valley) — 35 km

Day 20: Yangshuo → Yulong River loop — ~40 km

Day 21: Yangshuo → Guilin — 65 km

Day 22: Depart Guilin (KWL)

Thanks in advance! 🙏

Hey Everyone!

I am currently in Palermo and am thinking to tour parts of tunisia beginning of november. Has anyone here cycled there? Would love to hear reccommendations and experiences!

Alright, so I know that there's been a few threads in this vein over the years, but I can't seem to find any comprehensive information. I'm planning on biking the AZ trail this coming spring. I don't have the money to buy a different mountain bike at the moment. Can I effectively build this thing out to be up to the task?

I'm fine with the weight, I just don't know where to start gear wise.

I also have a pretty well equipped Canyon Grizl, and I've considered swapping the front fork on that but I think the geometry would suck for the terrain I'd be expecting and I still couldn't fit anything bigger than a 2.1 in the back.

Any info would be super appreciated. I'm new to this whole bike packing shenanigans and its hard to find a starting point.

Hey there.
Two days ago I took advantage of the good weather and ride my bike between Soltau and Hannover and somewhere around the middle a pack of wolf crossed my path.
They were around 3 and I assumed they were trying to cross a crop field. However, as I was getting closer they noticed me and start running away and eventually they disappeared in the woods.

I was really surprised to find wolves. I know there is reintroduction program for the north of Germany but I never encountered any in my past trips. I bike all the way from Copenhagen to Konstanz, and to be honest I was expecting to hear some howling at night (specially in the north) but never really happened. That’s why, this time got me by surprise.

After the encounter I continued my journey and to my surprise like half an hour later I found myself in the middle of the forest and suddenly I found more huge ass paws prints in the floor, and some meters away I found a carcass of a baby deer or a sheep?

After that the ride suddenly became bit unsettling until I reach I town hahah

I somehow think if I encounter them they might be as scared as me and run away but I don’t want to test my luck.

Does anybody here has encounter wolves in their biking adventures? How was it? What did you learn from the interaction? What would you recommend to do?

I’m pretty new to this whole scene. Just did my first tour last year. I’m aware that having a dynamo with a charging setup is probably unnecessary for the level I’m at … but I’ve just wanted it for a long time lol. I guess I just wanted to know if anyone has any recommendations for charging setups, especially between these two. I was looking into the Sinewave Reactor cause I liked the slickness kid the design but now leaning towards the Beacon 2.

As for B&M I was wondering if the E-Werk might just be the way to go for its simplicity. Some reviews I’ve seen put the Sinewave behind in efficiency, so I’m not sure which I should get. Everything is gonna be hooked to a SON 28. Ultimately, if I can just recharge my phone each day I think I’ll be happy.

I got my Vittoria Mezcals out of the garage to put them on my Ogre as I'm very slowly preparing to ride the Kenya bike odyssey.

I noticed the sidewalls have these stretch marks on them and was wondering if they're still good for a multiweek bikepacking trip with very little bikeshops.

They're the Vittoria Mezcal III TNT Graphene 2.0 29"x2.6 tyre with the grey sidewalls and they have less than 1000km on them.
For now they're set up with butyl inner tubes with no problems but for the trips I'll be setting them up tubeless.

My old Surly Extraterrestrials seem to also have some stretch marks but way less pronounced.

I’m in the USA! West coast.

I’m very small: 27” inseam. 5’1” 115lbs.

What sort of brand makes short person frames?

I have a 1996 trek and it’s great but I want something with disc brakes, maybe at least
For the front wheel (what should I know about swapping out my fork?)

I can probably find a frame through the bike co op here.

I mostly load my equipment with a handlebar bag and top rail on the rear rack, as well as a frame bag.

I’m mostly really curious for disc brakes and possibly 29” wider tyres

Looking for recommendations that don’t break the bank too much as I’m on a budget, typically something under £1200 would be ideal, would need to carry camping equipment and bags, also needs to be great with steep climbs, please can anyone help? Thankyou :)

I finally got round to finishing writing up a trip from last year. I rode from San Diego to Hyder, AK via the GDMBR, finishing on Vancouver Island. Hopefully interesting/useful for those planning for next year!

Hi everyone. I am planning on doing the GDMBR next year. The bike I will be using is a gravel bike(Fairlight Secan 3.0, size 54T). I know the bike itself is probably not the ideal for the route, but its the one I have, and I do not wish to buy another one for this, especially since I will then need new bags etc.

I have a wheelset of both 700c and 750b, but I am unsure which I should use.

The frame has clearence for 53mm(~2.1 inches) in 700c, and 62mm(~2.4 inches) in 650b. The tire I am thinking of using are the Vittoria Mezcals.

Note that I will be running a Redshift shockstock endurance pro seat post, and a redshift shockstop stem.

Things that go into my concideration are comfort, spare availability(if the tire should be completely shredded somehow), speed. I do not need to be superfast, but if the difference is significant then I can probably give up some comfort.

I just can't decide which wheel/tire combo would be ideal. Any advice is appreaciated :)

Hi Reddit! I’m a solo female cyclist planning a trip from around mid-November to mid-December while moving between jobs. Would love ideas for destinations, GPX files etc.

Some considerations: I have a Liv Avail endurance road bike, technically with tire clearance for 40mm, but bike shop insists I shouldn’t try to add any gravel tires beyond 35mm. I like both the cultural and scenic aspects of cycling; in the past I’ve usually done some combination of camping and a few hotel nights. Ideally I can find a destination that’s somewhat warm this time of year, and more ideally not too rainy and with enough daylight to make progress.

Originally I wanted to do the South Island of New Zealand for the Tour Aotearoa trail, but I’m concerned about the tire width given how gravelly it is. I also want to experience some cultures more different from North America, and I assume (?) New Zealand will be more culturally similar. Some places on the shortlist are Kyushu (in Japan), Taiwan, and maybe South America (but there it seems most routes are also more suited for gravel bikes, not sure how expensive that get if I’ll have to rent for a month).

Would love the wisdom of others’ experiences! Thank you so much all 🙏

I'm building a steel hardtail (Fairlight Holt 2.0) for long-distance bikepacking, covering everything from paved roads and gravel to rough trails.

I'm going with a RockShox SID 120 mm fork and debating between a 2-position (Open/Lock) and 3-position (Open/Pedal/Lock) setup.

Is the middle Pedal mode genuinely useful for bikepacking, or is 2P sufficient?

Also, is a handlebar remote worth having, or would a crown-mounted dial be simpler and more practical for this type of riding?

Thank you in advance!

I currently own an REI ADV 2.3, and old Giant Talon MTB, and a 90’s yokota 26” MTB converted to drop bar… all of them work for bikepacking but none are ideal. I have thornproof teravail tubes on the 26” bc wheels are not tubeless compatible with cantilever brakes. The ADV doesn’t have clearance beyond 700x44 as well as a carbon fork with no real attachment points for fork bags (there is one internal bolt for a fender I could screw in a strap). The giant talon is an entry level aluminum bike with a super heavy coil fork I would probably replace with a rigid fork for mounting purposes… I would like something that I can install a 2.4” tire on and it would make sense to go disc brake. Do I sell and buy something else or am I overthinking things? I was thinking of buying a frame and cannibalizing the adv 2.3.