Although pure speculation, based on the posts I'm seeing, women cyclists in the Northwest (and beyond?) have far greater enthusiasm for gravel riding than road riding. The rationale is simple: riding gravel feels safer than riding with automobiles. Add to that, within the bikepacking subdiscipline, women also seem to be strongly motivated to go on solo adventures. Here are … [Read more...] about Women Gear Up for Bikepacking
Bikepacking
Gearing up for Bikepacking
As gravel cycling (re- ?) catches on with an increasingly wider group of riders, you may be among those toying with the idea of bikepacking. The terminology around bikepacking is a bit confusing. Northwest in Motion is using the working definition that bikepacking requires: a bike, an overnight stay, and a bias for routes on dirt and gravel. In contrast to the overlapping … [Read more...] about Gearing up for Bikepacking
Bikepacking: XWA 2019
XWA is a bikepacking race on the Cross Washington Mountain Bike Route. The 684 mile ~48,000' Route is comprised of singletrack, dirt roads, and a little pavement. Although the Route travels through remote areas, there are many resupply opportunities. The Route is physically and mentally challenging, and is also considered a test of the rider's bikepacking kit and gear. Troy … [Read more...] about Bikepacking: XWA 2019
Bikepacking is…
Until recently I had the mistaken idea that "bikepacking" was a strictly non-competitive activity that combined bikes and camping, and synonymous with the "bicycle touring" and "adventure cycling" genres. Whatever you call it--bikepacking, bicycle touring, or adventure cycling--have all been around as long as bicycles have existed, and long before paved roads. To add to … [Read more...] about Bikepacking is…