- Max Trip Size: 8 people
In the spirit of the Rovers’ Beginning Backpacking Program, join me if you are curious about/committed to experiencing camping via bicycle. I am forming a 3-session series to learn, practice and go(!) overnight bike camping. Our route will take us on roads and/or trails. When camping by bike, the travel itself is not just a means to the end, but deepens the experience, immersing you outdoors throughout your time away from home. It’s a joy to roll into a campground on a bicycle, earning admiring looks from your fellow campers! I look forward to sharing knowledge from years of self-supported touring and leading a youth bicycling program. Rovers membership is required for all 3 sessions with the hope that people can attend all sessions.
Session 1: (3 hours) We’ll meet at my Saint Paul home (address will be provided for attendees) for a presentation & discussion on: preparing/adapting your bike to carry gear and propel you most efficiently down the road and up the hills; options for bike and camping gear; and useful preparations before going on tour. The Rovers’ Gear Locker has bike panniers and camping gear available for this trip!
There will be separate postings for Sessions 2 & 3, but here’s a preview of them:
- Session 2 will take place on June 2. It will be a dry run to practice packing your bike, along with a local ride to experience handling your loaded bicycle.
- Session 3, on the weekend of June 22-23, will be the overnight trip to a Metro-area campground. We’ll bike 30-40 miles each day.
Given this is a new program, I’d like to learn the level of interest by January 31, before committing to making campground reservations. Looking for a minimum of 4 people by the 31st to move forward, with an eventual maximum of 8.
We’ll share the cost of the campsite; food will be your responsibility.