I love the idea of bike camping, cyclocamping, velocamping, or whatever you want to call it. I’ve even bought special gear to go out and ride as far as I want to and settle down for the night. The only problem is that I’ve only gone out a few times.
It not because I am not experienced at camping, nor is it that there is a lack of places I could set up camp at… it’s just camping isn’t fun all by yourself. And really… who the hell wants to just go ride somewhere with twenty or thirty pounds of supplies so you can sleep on the ground and cook hot dogs.
Bringing people creates comradely and great stories This post is becoming Grant Peterson’s wet dream in the making. Proof of this Here and Here.
Surprisingly enough there are a lot of sites with sections dedicated to bike camping. These dudes are pretty extreme. I chatted it up with a few of them a few years ago. They have logged many hours and miles doing things like this. Like I said, I’m savvy and interested… but still wet behind the ears. Some people live out on their bikes with camping supplies enough to be misjudged as homeless folk. Seriously, and they love it. I don’t think I want to be one of these guys either. I just want to be able to bring an overnight backpack and be able to drink and chill with some friends.
Take a look at how many places there are around here:
Not all of these locations are 1oo% legit, but they are places I have stayed with friends or family. I think the one in the top, right corner; Audra State Park is only 15 miles away from home, and the Stonecoal Wildlife Reserve is roughly seven or eight miles? Regardless of the distance, Grant Peterson’s S240 philosophy is perfect:
On an S24O, going home is the plan from the get-go, so it’s not wimping out. You can have a miserable night like we did, your gear can get battered and soaked and packed away wet, and it just doesn’t matter. Plus you’ll have good stories to tell afterward. Like mine, they are not the most hilarious stories and maybe they won’t be death-defying, but they’re just the kind of experiences you need now and then to appreciate your day-to-day comfort — and they’re best done on S24Os.
Like I said, bike camping sounds fun and people should do it more often instead of reading my blog or watching American Idol or whatever is cool these days.
What I bring on my bike camping rides:
- 70oz camelbak (reservoir only)
- Lighter
- Digicam
- Piepan and or bit of foil
- Stainless Steel Cup
- Floor Mat/Pad
- 6′ x 8′ Tarp
- Lightest, Most Comfortable Tent I could buy
- Sleeping Bag, or Sleeping Bag Liner depending on temperature and desired weight/space
- Foods (no more than 3lbs)
- Tea bags/Sweetener/?cervezas?
- Inflatable Pillow
- Frame Backpack to carry it all in.
For my bike, I typically put the rear rack on so I can mount my tent, sleeping bag and floor mat to it and it makes riding so much easier! I also suggest not bringing your brand new $4000 bike with you. Bring your commuter/rain bike. it will do well enough.
Back on the topic of S240s – these are great ideas. I love the thought of them with friends. Just riding out somewhere until a consensus is made and camp out. I really want to do one of these as soon as the weather clears up from the snow.
Here are a bunch of interesting links: (some are a bit over the top though)
http://www.rivbike.com/article/bike_camping/camping_vs_touring
http://www.rivbike.com/article/bike_camping/a_kit_for_one_night_out
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm
http://topeak.com/products/Bike-Tent
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/camping.htm
http://www.listphile.com/Bike_Camping_Checklist
http://www.adamk.ca/bike_camping.html
http://www.adventure-cycling-guide.co.uk/camping.htm
http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/Petersen_S240s.pdf – BEST
http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2007/07/very-vague-s240.html – I love his blog, and you need to check this out!
WV Cycling 
irregardless is not a word
Fix’d. Thanks~
I’ve been thinking about bike camping for a while now too I have been thinking of a 4 day tour through some of the heartland of WV mountain biking.
JJ – Whenever back in buckhannon or whererever, give me a few days notice and we may be able to wrangle up some people!
See the world from your bicycle, believe me it is the best way to travel. There is no other way to travel that allows you to fully appreciate your environment and to meet local people.
It is simply an ecological, economical an true way to travel.
A lot of people do it by themselves and absolutely love it. I travel around the world for 5 years with my wife and it was the best experience of my life… so if you’re thinking of doing it, go for it!
There is much more than carrying around pounds of luggage, sleeping on the ground (although I like that) and eating hot dogs!
The best place to get bicycle touring gear is: http://www.cyclocamping.com and here is a very good forum with a great network of bicycle travelers: http://www.cyclocampinforum.com
Steph – Quite true. You guys really do have a lot of helpful info too.
Although I would’ve preferred if you went into a little bit more detail, I still got the gist of what you meant. I agree with it. It might not be a popular idea, but it makes sense. Will definitely come back for more of this. Great work
I’m in the Army now stationed in Hawaii now but will be separating and going back to Morgantown WV to attend WVU. I have been dying to go on a bike expedition that lasts at least a few days. I will have plenty of time to do this but I don’t know anyone. I’ve been gone for a while. I ride a Specialized and am pretty serious about my riding but crave some adventure in the wild. Like I said I have military training in outdoor survival and plenty of gear, just no one to go with and not 100% sure of where to even go. This looked like a good place to start.
Oh, there’s a whole gaggle of punks with bikes in Morgantown. Start friending people on facebook, and you’ll catch on fast.
I just bought a B.O.B. Trailer and my wife a new mountain bike, a tent, sleeping bag, other supplies with this same idea in mind! However when I went out and charged all of this up I didn’t think… WHERE?? It seems finding a days worth of biking trail that allows dispersed camping along the way is hard to find in my area (Charleston/Huntington)
Any suggestions!?
Take it short the first time, just to see how all of the equipment works in real-life application. What about to Ripley or Point Pleasant? There are several tiny wildlife mgmt areas/state parks around the two towns that you could camp in.