What is Bikepacking
Bikepacking is a way to see the world and connect with nature. It’s a mixture of all-terrain cycling, backpacking, and camping. Bikepacking is simply loading up the essential gear on an off-road capable bike for an overnight or multi-day ride. For most riders, the appeal is enjoying nature and the solitude of a gravel road or trail.
How Long Has Bikepacking Been a thing?
Before bikepacking was a thing, early American bicycling explorers in the 1880’s used the “safety bike” along with frame bags and lightweight setups to travel the countryside. The term “bike-packing” was probably coined sometime around 1973 by Dan Burdenand. He and 30 others made a first of a kind bicycling trip from Alaska to Argentina and called it the “Hemistour Bicycling Expedition.”
Later, bicycle manufacturers capitalized on this new market and started to produce “Touring” bicycles. These machines were made of stiffer steel alloys that would absorb more of the road impacts and handle new weight requirements. Around the 1980s through about the 1990s, bicycle manufactures started to target more off road cycling rigs like “Mountain Bikes” and later “Gravel Bikes”. These models made significant improvements to bicycle handling by using stronger, newer metal alloys and carbon fiber frames that were designed to be light weight and handle the stresses of packing equipment like sleeping bags, tents, and extra clothing. Bikepacking gained significant popularity in the early 2000s and has surged today as a distinct specialized, and popular activity thanks in part to new routes provided by the “Rails to Trails Conservancy.
What Makes This Form of Cycling Interesting?
Some say this type of cycling celebrates self-sufficiency, living minimally for a period of time, appreciating small towns, and the people you meet along the way. It’s an appreciation for how far your body can take you with the help of a simple, mechanical machine. Bikepacking provides a break from the constant noise and stimulation of modern life, offering a “socially distanced”, nature-focused experience. It caters to the urge to explore “out of the way” places and creates a sense of empowerment to tackle long-distance routes. By moving away from busy highways and onto trails or lightly used dirt roads, many cyclists feel significantly safer and more at peace, especially solo riders. Some even say “it’s a bit of therapy on wheels.”
What Are the Basic Items Needed for Bikepacking?
For the most part, you will need a sturdy bicycle. Most mountain bikes, hybrids, and gravel bikes are adaptable for bikepacking. I prefer to use my Trek Fitness/Hybrid bicycle because it allows me to ride more upright instead of bent over. That way, I can see the surrounding countryside scenery. I would recommend getting at least a rear bike rack so you can add panniers. As usual, you will need to carry at least two water bottles, a tire pump, a spare tube, maybe two depending on how far your ride, and a patch kit.
If you are planning on an overnight, you may want to add a tent and a sleeping bag.
Trails near Kansas City
Most of the trails near KC are on the outskirts of the greater metropolis or just way out of town across the state. So, you will need to drive out to the trail head and find parking or have someone drop you off at the trail head. The below list is a good place to start:
For the Katy Trail, you could park at Union Station and take AMTRAK to Saint Louis, MO - if you are adventurous.
Organized Bikepaking Tours
- Pack-Palooza
Basecamp Flink Hills hosts this in October on the Flint Hills Nature Trail. Make your own route to the campground and hang out with other bike packers, compare gear, how to make coffee and menus. Enjoy the campfire.
- Peddlers Jamboree on the Katy Trail
- Crossroads Bike Tours
This compnay offers several tour types: Self-Guided, Guided, BigBAM. They also offer Trail shuttle services for riders who want transportation and logistic support without bookeing a full tour package
If you found this article was helpful, please consider donating to our cause.