Justin Lichter - Basic Illustrated Bike Touring and Bikepacking

Justin Lichter has hiked more than 35,000 miles since 2002, including thru-hikes on the Appalachian Trail, International AT, Eastern Continental Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Great Divide Trail, as well as treks in the southern Alps, New Zealand, Africa, Iceland, and the Himalaya Range. He is a Triple Crowner, having hiked the ECT, PCT, and CDT (more than 10,000 miles) in one year. Check him out at justinlichter.com.

Justin Kline has pedaled loaded bicycles tens of thousands of miles. While he prefers the dirt and solitude of the wilderness, that hasnt stopped him from exploring some of the busiest cities around the globe on two wheels. Whether on the Great Divide, at home in New Hampshires White Mountains, or in an olive grove halfway around the world, his best rides end under the stars with nothing more than what was carried on his bicycle. Justin currently works remotely while pedaling on an open-ended international bike tour.

BASIC ILLUSTRATED

Bike Touring and Bikepacking

FALCON GUIDES

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Distributed by NATIONAL BOOK NETWORK

Copyright 2016 by Rowman & Littlefield

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lichter, Justin.

Basic illustrated bike touring and bikepacking / Justin Lichter and Justin Kline.

pages cm

Includes index.

Distributed by NATIONAL BOOK NETWORK--T.p. verso.

ISBN 978-1-4930-0968-8 (paperback : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-4930-1923-6 (e-book) 1. Bicycle touring. I. Title.

GV1044.L53 2015

796.64--dc23

2015022342

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

The authors and Rowman & Littlefield assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book.

It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.

Ernest Hemingway

The sensation of exploring and traveling by bike is like no other. Suddenly a daily ride can become an overnight adventure, a week-long vacation, a month-long escape, an open-ended expedition, and so much more. We have all experienced the excitement of travelthe unknown, new people, places, and experiencesbut adding the element of a bicycle into the travel equation brings the experience, possibilities, and rewards to heightened levels.

Traveling by bike allows you to connect with your environmentfeel the weather, experience the surroundings, deal with adversity, and bond with locals who would otherwise be strangers. While riding, you are naturally traveling at a speed that allows you to absorb your surroundings. Rather than just observing the environment, you experience its every element. You establish an instant connection with the road surface and gradient, natural elements of Mother Nature, scents of the surroundings, and local culture. In some cases these elements can provide some of the most euphoric experiences, and in other cases they may provide the greatest level of adversity youd care to experience. Regardless of which, youll feel more alive, and we can guarantee the result will be a vivid memory that your mind and body can recall from multiple senses.

We have been fortunate to travel tens of thousands of miles under our own power, predominantly by bike and foot, to some of the most amazing destinations around the world. This book provides a culmination of our experience on the bike and in the backcountry, and is designed to provide you with the foundation and inspiration to set out on an overnight journey by bike.

In the pages that follow, well review basic cycling and camping gear, packing and traveling techniques, backcountry skills, and tips from the road that will save you time, money, and energy before heading out on your first, or next, bike tour. Youll find this Basic Illustrated Guide not only provides a foundation for bike touring and bikepacking skills, but also serves as a reference tool for seasoned cyclists.

Now lets talk more about the road ahead and get one step closer to turning the pedals.

Justin Lichter aka Trauma and Justin Kline

Remember to pack it in, pack it out, tread lightly, take only pictures, and leave nothing more than faint tire tracks by practicing Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. Visit LNT.org.

CHAPTER ONE

Road touring can be a great introduction to bicycle travel since you can have access to many of the comforts of home and often remain within cell phone service in case you have a repair or other issue you cant deal with. A tour or bikepacking trip on the road is easily accessible out your front door and can be an opportunity to travel to places that would have otherwise been done by car. Even when touring routes you have previously driven, youll find the experience by bike to be far different and provide new perspectives to even a familiar landscape.

If camping is not for you, then credit card touring can be an ideal option. This involves carrying minimal gear and food, utilizing towns throughout the day to stop for meals, and ending the day at full-service accommodations. This shaves weight and items from your kit since you can do without a sleeping system, shelter, or having to carry much food. Even in remote areas of the United States, it is hard to go over 150 road miles without coming across a town or convenience store.

Bike Selection

The great thing about bike touring is that it can be easy to enjoy with equipment you likely already own, especially when touring on pavement. Bike options are plentiful, so developing a better idea of your budget, planned routes, and desired style of touring will help narrow the focus. Typically the best starting point for selecting a bicycle for road bike touring is taking an honest assessment of how much weight you plan to carry on your journeys. If you are a lightweight traveler carrying only the necessities, then a traditional road bike is a solid choice to keep consistent with your ultralight mantra. If you consider yourself someone who packs for the occasion, enjoys a few of the comforts of home, and brings along those just-in-case items, then a dedicated touring bike will be best suited to handle the weight of your cargo.

Road Bikes

Touring on a traditional road bike enables you to travel quickly and easily, assuming you are carrying minimal gear and traveling a nicely paved route. Skinny tires ensure minimal rolling resistance, and drop-style handlebars offer several hand positions and an overall aerodynamic position while on the bike. Road bikes, especially those designed for racing, are crafted from the lightest weight materials available and are often equipped with ultralight wheels, making the pedaling as effortless as possible. For competitive endeavors these attributes are ideal, but the weight savings on the bike sacrifices features and durability that you may require for longer touring pursuits.