backpacking.. but with your bike. Go way further way faster than walking + can pack beer and slingshots to maximize fun….. Hit me if u have questions about how to get into it!
would love a lil summary of how to get started! I have a gravel bike that's more than equipped to do it i just haven't had an opportunity to full send it but i would love to make a reason to
royallmonarch start local! Get some used bags (or sew your own) and try loading up the bike different ways, try a longer day trip first to see how everything works. look at rig pics on bikepacking.com or Radivist to see creative ways people load their bikes. Then start to dial in the gear you bring, the more u do it the more you’ll learn what the essentials are. if there’s interest I can share a gear list later
Been obsessed with the idea of backpacking and I've hardly even camped before. Maybe it's the escape or maybe it's using my body to get somewhere far away, I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm totally fixated on my goal of biking from NYC to Montreal next year. It's 432 Miles and it'll take around 5 days. This account is a little more silly & fun, but fuck, these guys look like they're having a good time. Makes it feel less headass cycle guy core.
In 2021 I bought a shitty 80s road bike for about $300 from this guy named Richard who lives in Ditmas Park— I wrote about him here. This purchase sparked a love for biking that has become a borderline obsession ever since, and after validating that this hobby wouldn’t be short lived, I finally upgraded my bike last spring.
There are a dizzying amount of factors when it comes to selecting a bike, but at some point I caught the bikepacking bug from this lovely Instagram page @genosac. Their account is just a couple of people in Minneapolis who go on these weekend camping trips while riding through national forests, and they upload perfectly soundtracked edits that just radiate good times. It’s infectious.
I spend 95% of my time in New York City so I’m not sure how much bikepacking I’ll actually end up doing, but I ended up getting a “gravel bike” / “all terrain bike” from a smaller East Coast brand called Crust. The exact model is a lighter steel frame called the Lightning Bolt and a friend (@photo.realism) helped me pick out components + put it all together. I have it pretty decked out, but that’s nerd stuff that doesn’t belong here.
I love it, it’s my baby, and I’ve already put close to 500 miles on it since May. I’m constantly looking forward to my next ride whether it’s a 20 mile rip before work, a 10 minute errand ride, or an all-day beach adventure with friends. It gets me outside, keeps me in shape, gets me with friends, and shows me parts of the city that I probably would have never went on foot. My loud n’ proud love of cycling has led to many a friend catching the bug as well, so let me know if you need any help or have questions. I’d love to pay it forward.
Got into it quite recently after ripping around nyc on one of those e-bike shares around. Living in a much more rural area, rides are quiet and calm. Meditative and great exercise. You really earn the beer at the end. Solo or with friends, any days a good day if you ride.