Bikepacking

Bikepacking

Bikepacking trips travel along mostly backcountry singletrack and hiking trails, often using gravel paths, or fire roads to link them up. Because of the terrain, bikepacking gear setups tend to be lighter than those used for traditional backpacking trips.

BIKEPACKING ACTIVITIES

Bikepacking trips are generally overnight trips in backcountry settings. Travel is on maintained and unmaintained roads and trails approved for bike travel, regardless of the land manager. Parties may make off-trail excursions, on the bike or on foot, as long as the party follows LNT and the route does not expose any party member to terrain that is unreasonably hazardous for them to cross, given their skills and experience. Avalanche terrain will be avoided whenever possible during snow traveled biking activities.

Day bikepacking trips can be offered for specific purposes such as “shake-down” rides, “gear check/testing”, training rides, and clinics. The intent of day trips is to prepare participants for longer or harder overnight trips and help them develop skills, confidence and necessary fitness.

DIFFICULTY RATINGS

The difficulty of a bikepacking route is rated using this scale as a general guide.  Bikepacking trips are classified either as Gravel or MTB (Mountain Bike) based on the predominant terrain traveled. Trip rating, specific distance and elevation gain, type of bike, gear and skills requirements will be determined  by the trip leader and posted in the activity listing and communicated to participants in pre-trip communications.

Bikepacking Gravel

  • Travel predominantly on unpaved maintained and unmaintained roads or doubletrack trails.
  • Gravel biking experience required. Skills depending on route difficulty.
  • A gravel bike required; tire size minimum depending on route (please check within each route rating). Note that even for Gravel 1/beginner rides minimum tire size is 38 mm.
Rating Miles (per day)     
Elevation Gain (feet per day) Physical Difficulty Technical Difficulty
Gravel I < 20 < 1,500 Relatively level riding; gentle graded hills; 2-4 hours/day (excluding stops). Smooth riding surface with few obstacles on mostly hard-packed trails with mostly good gravel (i.e. "Champagne gravel"). The routes are generally devoid of obstacles such as rocks and roots but may occasionally feature some coarse gravel, potholes or wooden debris that can be avoided paying close attention to the trail surface (e.g., graded dirt roads, rail trails); suitable for beginner gravel riders. Tires 38+ mm ok.
Gravel II 20-40 1,500 - 2,500 Moderately hilly terrain with climbs up to 20 min each; 3-5 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). Occasional obstacles and/or steep sections (e.g., maintained forest roads, mellow singletrack); any technical features can be rolled over or avoided; suitable for gravel riders with beginner mountain bike skills. Tires size 38-42 mm ok.
Gravel III
40-60 2,500 - 3,500 Hilly terrain with frequent long hard climbs, some of which may be steep and unrelenting; loose and steep descents; up to 6 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). A mix of smooth and rocky, loose terrain with periodic rock features, roots and other obstacles, that can often be avoided or maneuvered around with some mountain bike skills. Some sections of route may feature rocky, loose, and/or steep ascents and descents; (e.g., 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain). Hike-a-Bike sections possible based on skills and weight of bike/gear; suitable for intermediate mountain bikers or intermediate gravel riders who are able to choose lines and focus on navigating obstacles.
Gravel IV 60-80 3,500 - 5,000 Very hilly terrain with abundant climbing; some steep and loose climbs, some very steep and unrideable (hike-a-bike required); 6+ hours of riding per day (excluding stops). Significant sections of the route include narrow (singletrack) trails with frequent obstacles such as drops up to 10 inches, steep and loose climbs and descents; (e.g., un-maintained forest roads, 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain). suitable for riders with intermediate to advanced mountain bike skills.
Gravel V up to 100 > 5,000 Extremely hilly terrain with very steep loose climbs, some requiring bike-pushing (hike-a-bike) and/or carrying. Frequent long climbs lasting 30 min-2 hours; up to 10 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). Very challenging route with large obstacles (such as rocks, roots and drops over 10 in), exposure, very steep and loose climbs and descents (e.g., un-maintained forest roads, 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain); suitable for riders with advanced mountain bike skills.

Bikepacking Mountain Bike (MTB)

  • Travel dominantly on singletrack mountain bike trails. Mountain bike skills required. Skills depending on route difficulty.
  • A mountain bike with front suspension required; tire size minimum is 2.2 inches. Wider (>2.2 in) and knobbier tires recommended for intermediate-advanced routes; streamlined minimalistic bikepacking bags required for more technical (intermediate to advanced) routes.
Rating Miles (per day)     
Elevation Gain (feet per day) Physical Difficulty Technical Difficulty
MTB I up to 20 < 1,500 Short climbs of low to moderate grade; 2–4 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). Avoidable and unavoidable obstacles. Low grade, wide, consistent surface texture with minimal features. A few unavoidable obstacles such as rocks and roots (2‑inches or shorter), which are small enough for mountain bike tires to simply roll over. Suitable to riders new to mountain biking.
MTB II up to 30 1,500 - 3,000 Some steep climbs: some sections may require hike-a-bike based on rider's skills and weight of bike; 3 to 5 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). Narrow single-track trails, unavoidable obstacles such as roots, rocks, and drops that are up to 8‑inches tall. Solid understanding of the fundamentals of mountain biking including body positions, powerful braking, cornering, riding on varied terrain and experience riding trails that require line choice. Significant hike-a-bike sections if not able to negotiate obstacles.
MTB III 30 - 50 3,000 - 5,000 Hard, long, steep climbs; some unrideable and hike-a-bike sections; some lifting of bike over obstructions; 5-6 hours of riding per day (excluding stops). Steep trails of varied surfaces. Steep, loose climbs and descents; Unavoidable obstacles such as ledges, drops up to a 1 foot, rock gardens, steep loose descents, off-camber; continuous singletrack requiring focus and fast reactions developed from extensive mountain bike experience; falls can have severe consequences.
MTB IV > 50 > 5,000 Hard, long, steep climbs; significant sections of the route include narrow trail with frequent obstacles, steep and loose climbs and descents; (e.g., unmaintained forest roads, 4×4 roads or singletrack in rugged/rocky terrain). Steep trails of varied surfaces. Steep, loose climbs and descents; Unavoidable obstacles such as drops up to a 1 foot, rock gardens, steep loose descents, off-camber; continuous singletrack requiring focus and fast reactions developed from extensive mountain bike experience; falls can have severe consequences.

Regroup

In most situations during bikepacking trips, the group stays together or within short visual or shouting/whistle distance. However, in complex terrain, it may be difficult for each member of the group to be guaranteed to be in ear shot. Frequent regroups are recommended to avoid splitting the group. However, riding too close to one another creates an unnecessary risk and should be avoided. On longer-mileage, faster-paced trips or in the case of larger groups, the group may split is deemed appropriate and safe by the trip leader and sufficient number of assistant leaders are present and/or experienced riders who are proficient in navigation, first aid and able to fix minor mechanical problems 

Repairs

All participants must carry the equipment necessary to fix a flat (tube, patch kit, pump). Trip leaders are not responsible for mechanical problems, but should be capable of fixing most trail maintenance issues. Mechanical failures beyond the capability of the team to repair should be considered as emergency situations.

LEADER RATING

In addition to the route classification above, a Leader Rating is specified for each activity. This provides the leader with a way to modify the baseline route difficulty based on specifics of how they will lead the trip. Trip leaders clearly specify the distance and elevation gain for the route as well as their planned pace, any special technical challenges and special gear, skills and conditioning requirements of the trip in the trip posting within the activity summary and/or the leaders’ notes. 

  • Casual: Easy pace on mostly flat terrain, with 1-day overnight gear, no technical challenges or special skills needed.
  • Easy: Easy pace on rolling hills, with up to 2-days overnight gear, some technical challenges or special skills needed.
  • Moderate: Easy to moderate pace with some hills or hilly terrain, with up to 2 or more days of overnight gear, minor technical challenges or special skills needed (e.g. on trail bike maintenance, rough trail, single track, steep climb, log crossings, steep terrain).
  • Challenging: Moderate to strenuous pace on hilly terrain with up to 4 or more days of overnight gear, some major route challenges (e.g. very rugged terrain/trail, single track, steep terrain, log crossings, bear canister requirement, carrying water to a dry camp, possible on trail bike maintenance).

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