- Estimated Cost: $15
- Max Trip Size: 12 people
Interested in trying out bike camping? This trip is a mellow opportunity to do so. It can be ridden using most types of bicycles. Last year we had a wonderful mix of new and seasoned bike campers. We’ll begin at the Como Park Pavilion in Saint Paul and pedal 30 miles to O’Brien, at a pace comfortable for everyone. Two-thirds of the trip is on the Gateway Trail. Unknowingly, I scheduled this on the same weekend at the same campground as the Spring Extravaganza, so in addition, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy (and register separately) all of those festivities.
Cost details: Though we will be camping adjacent to the Extravaganza in the group camp, I reserved a site specifically for bicyclists. Your share of this camping fee will be somewhere between $9-14, depending on the number of participants. This is a BYOF (bring-your-own-food) trip.
In the spirit of the Rovers’ Beginning Backpacking trainings, I will soon be posting notice of an Intro to Bike Camping Clinic that will take place in late April or early May. At it, we will assess how ready your bike is for touring, discuss gear and how to carry it, talk about physical preparation, and provide a free mini-tune of your brake and shift systems. Oh, and there will be a potluck afterwards! A final FYI: the Rover’s gear locker has bike panniers available to use on this trip.