Basic Bikepacking Course - Seattle - 2023

Bikepacking Course

Basic Bikepacking Course

Combine your backpacking and off-pavement cycling skills to experience the joy of travelling off-the beaten path on all types of terrain. Go further than on foot on singletracks trails, gravel and remote logging roads carrying all your essential gear! In this course you will learn how to pack and carry overnight gear on your bike and how to perform common field maintenance tasks.

This course provides a solid foundation in Bikepacking. Topics covered are personal clothing, personal and group gear, loading and carrying gear, trip planning and preparation, camp setup and bike field maintenance.

Course Prerequisites include:

 -  Students must own (or have the capability to rent or borrow) a mountain bike or gravel bike and be capable of riding over an extended period of time/miles, primarily off - pavement, on gravel and /or singletrack trails.

 - You must have recent overnight backcountry camping experience.

 -  Students must be capable of riding up to 20 miles in a given day, trip and terrain dependent.

 Successful completion will allow the student to participate in Bikepacking outings.

                                        

Lecture 1: Bikes, Gear, Clothing, Bike Bags

Lecture 2: Bike Field Maintenance  Clinic

 Lecture 3: Trip Planning and Logistics  

 Check Ride:  Full-gear, one day trip to shakedown bikepacking gear

Field trip: overnight  bikepacking trip

 Graduation Requirements:

  •  Attend each of the three lectures,
  • Attend the Check Ride trip
  • Attend the final overnight bikepacking field trip

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements
Course Activity Date Availability Leader
Bikepacking Lecture #1
Seattle Program Center
Tue, Aug 22, 2023
Registration opens May 1; Instructor registration open now
20 participants
7 instructors
Check Ride
Palouse to Cascades Trail
Sat, Sep 9, 2023
Registration opens May 1; Instructor registration open now
10 participants
7 instructors
Bikepacking lecture #2
Seattle Program Center
Tue, Sep 12, 2023
Registration opens May 1; Instructor registration open now
20 participants
6 instructors
Bikepacking Lecture #3
Seattle Program Center
Tue, Sep 19, 2023
Registration opens May 1; Instructor registration open now
20 participants
6 instructors
Bikepacking Field Trip
Deschutes River State Recreation Area
Sat, Sep 23, 2023 -
Sun, Sep 24, 2023
Registration closes Sep 21
20 participants
5 instructors
Roster
Required Equipment
  • Mountain Bike or Gravel Bike (if you do not know what qualifies as a gravel bike, please inquire with course leader, must own before course start)
  • Helmet, eye protection glasses, and gloves
  • Bikepacking Bags (can be purchased after lecture 1)
  • (Optional) Daypack
  • Ten Essentials
  • Overnight minimalistic Backcountry/Backpacking Gear
  • Appropriate Clothing
  • Bike Maintenance Tools
Course Materials

There are no materials for this course.