One Night Bikepacking Adventure

Date: 04/16/2023

Have you ever wanted to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in nature for a night? One of the best ways to do this is by embarking on a one night bikepacking adventure.

Bikepacking is a combination of biking and camping, where you pack all your necessary camping gear onto your bicycle and cycle to your destination. It’s a great way to explore new areas, get some exercise, and sleep under the stars.

I am from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is known for its picturesque landscapes. This summer, with a big nudge from my friends, I decided to try bikepacking and enjoy the beauty that the PNW has to offer. To start simple, we chose Bainbridge Island as our destination, which is pretty close to Seattle. Here’s how my one-night bikepacking adventure went:

Plan Your Route

The first step is to plan your route. Choose a destination that is achievable in a day’s ride and has a campsite or a place where you can pitch your tent. Take into account the terrain and elevation changes, as well as the weather forecast. It’s always a good idea to have a backup plan in case of unexpected changes. We decided to stay close to home and chose the Fay Bainbridge Park just a ferry hop away from Seattle.

Fay Bainbridge Park is an ideal place for camping. There are a number of spots to choose from, whether you prefer to be close to the beach or nestled within the park under the shade of the large Douglas fir trees that PNW is known for. Either way, you’re sure to have a great time. We decided to camp under the trees for two main reasons: first, there was rain in the forecast for the weekend, and second, beaches can be windy, which means you need very strong stakes for your tent.

Here is a link to the campsite and a map of the camp area. The image is credited to the park staff.

Pack Your Gear

Once you’ve planned your route, it’s time to pack your gear. You’ll need a lightweight tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, basic cooking utensils, food, water, and any other essentials you might need. It’s important to pack light, as you’ll be carrying everything on your bike.

As this was my first time trying bikepacking, I didn’t focus much on the food aspect. The campsite was a couple of miles away from the city center, so if necessary, I could always ride my bicycle to the nearest corner store. Here is the gear I carried on my bike for the adventure.

List

1. REI Co-op Trailmade 2 Tent with Footprint link
2. REI Co-op Trailmade 20 Sleeping Bag link
3. REI Co-op Trailmade Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad link
4. RESTRAP Saddle Bag (14 L) link
5. Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bag (8 L) link
6. REFLECT360 Waterproof Rain Jacket link
7. Fjallraven hip pack link
8. HDX 24 Bungee Cords link
9. 2 Nike 32oz HyperFuel
10. 2 Protein Bars (more about food later)

I own a Canyon Roadlite 6 bike, which features an aluminum frame. Aluminum frames have both advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that you can securely attach items to the bike with a bungee cord without fear of damaging the frame. The main disadvantage is weight; aluminum bikes are heavier than other materials. However, since speed is not a major concern in bikepacking, aluminum frames are a better choice than carbon frames. Here is how my bike looked with all the gear attached.

Journey

We planned to leave at 11 AM to make the 12:30 PM ferry to Bainbridge Island, as the campground check-in was at 2:30 PM and it was about a 15-mile ride. On the way to the ferry terminal, I realized that tying the dry bag on the top tube of the bike was a bad idea. It made it difficult to clip in my shoes and pedal. So, I removed the dry bag and added it over the sleeping bag on the ferry.

After reaching the island, we met two of my friends and started riding to the campsite. It was drizzling a bit, but I enjoyed the ride to the campsite. I have added links to my Strava activity below the image.

1. Ride to Ferry Terminal link
2. Ride to the Campsite link

At the Campsite 🏕️

My four friends and I each had a camping spot reserved, but we decided to simply camp under a tree between two spots. Having a tree cover helped with the rain, even though we had a rain fly for our tent. All four of us started setting up tents. One of my friends was a pro at it and acted like a drill sergeant, inspecting our work and teaching us along the way. To be honest, this was my first time setting up a tent, so it was helpful.

I was under the impression that REI had given me extra stakes and tent cords when I tested the tent at home, but I soon learned that each cord and stake was essential. Lesson learned. The overall process of setting up the tent was smooth.

Once the tents were set up, we decided to explore the beach near the campsite. Although it was rainy and gloomy, looking towards Seattle made me happy. I was simply amazed by the beauty that surrounds the Puget Sound.

Let’s talk about food. To start, I didn’t carry much food with me on this trip and planned to depend on the corner stores around the campsite. When we got hungry, we found a decent pizza shop nearby and decided to walk over there. The walk was really pleasant with light drizzle.

On getting back to the campsite, we had a great time talking about random stuff and eating cookies and cakes. Quick shoutout to our fifth friend who drove all the way from Seattle to check on us and came bearing those delicious desserts.

Journey back Home

We woke up around 7 AM and began packing all of our gear. It was raining heavily, so we quickly strapped everything onto the bike. We left the campsite around 8 AM and caught the 8:45 AM ferry back to Seattle. It continued to rain heavily on our way back, but I enjoyed every moment of it. As I rode, I thought that if this was as bad as it could get, then there was no way I wouldn’t do it again.

Bikepacking is a fun and adventurous way to explore the outdoors. It’s a perfect escape from the city and a great way to challenge yourself physically and mentally. So pack your bags, hop on your bike, and embark on your own one night bikepacking adventure.

Retrospective

On retrospecting this adventure here are some things I can improve on.

List

1. Packable Sleeping Bag
2. Top tube bag for the bike
3. Front or Rear rack
4. Rain Pants
5. Packing food supplies