Noonievut

I'm probably over-thinking this, but that's my nature.

I'm trying to decide between acquiring sleeping gear for bikepacking vs. keeping it light and simple, and staying in B&Bs and the like, and eating out.

Thing is, I don't plan to tour often, or for long stretches. I have very full-time job, a relatively young family and therefore only so much time. My plan, at least for the next couple of years, is doing 3-5 short tours a year. Maybe 1-2 tours of 2-3 nights, and 2-3 overnight trips. Some from my house, others where I drive to a destination (all within Ontario-Canada, or north east US).

I have a road bike and a cross bike. I own an Arkel meatpacker (15L) that can hold enough spare clothes, toiletries and non-camping/non-cooking items for trips of the length I'm planning. I could add a top tube bag if needed. A good, lightweight tent, bag and pad is around $1,000CAD. I can go cheaper, but that will add weight and bulk. I'll also need to add bags to hold the larger items. Maybe I can get away with a top tube bag and a handlebar bag to carry the additional items. I have a jetboil stove and can toss that into the mix for a more self-sufficient experience.

But given the small number of trips I'm planning, I'm leaning towards using only the Arkel bag and putting money towards a roof over my head...and food, and a faster ride so I can ride further with the limited time I have.

Anything else I would want to consider, given my situation? I'm sure I'm missing some details to share in asking this question...so please point out any key things I've missed.

Thank you!

3speed

travelinhobo

Eh, many of us don't associate with those who credit card tour. That isn't real touring. Plus, if you minimize your experience during the tour, you'll minimize the opportunities of meeting the locals, having horrible and great experiences, meeting other tourers, etc. So are you wanting to bike tour or just escape your family?

mev

One thing I might add is your personal preference.

Loaded touring and credit card touring are different in a number of ways including how heavy your bike rides on the road, and what it is like in that overnight. Some like having a bed in a mostly climate-controlled zone and for others there is something nice about sleeping out in the tent closer to nature. In some cases it might be easier to encounter folks out camping and in others a credit card tour might bring you closer to more populated urban areas. I'm not sure there is a single correct answer as much as there is an approach that works for you. As you point out, there are cost trade-offs here between some camping gear and individual nice lodging prices. However, I'm not sure I would make this choice mostly as a cost choice... If you really prefer sleeping indoors and going light, I expect you'll find yourself doing that some of the time even if you've bought the tent and gear. If you really prefer camping out and cooking out in the wild, I expect you'll find an inexpensive way to do that instead even if you thought it was going to be credit card touring...

Me personally I've ended up with a bit of a hybrid of both. I like the sense of flexibility I have and sense of taking it all with me that taking camping gear provides -- and I also like the creature comforts of a bed and a shower after a day of riding too. So I'll often end up carrying some light camping gear even when I also end up with most days in a motel. I'm not too excited about making reservations in advance - but instead letting it unfold as it comes.

So somewhere in this equation I'd bring in your personal preferences since there isn't one right answer as much as there is an answer that best fits what you want to do...

Bandera

I do weekend rides to a nice old hotel with a great kitchen and a very good wine cellar, taking all day to get there through the Hill Country.
Fitted out much as club cyclists have for a century or so for self supported rides at pace on secondary roads in challenging terrain the load is only what is necessary and no more on a machine designed much like the classic British club bikes of the '60's-'70's with modern components. A long brisk ride in scenic rural countryside with an excellent meal waiting at the end in the comforts of a well managed historic hotel is how I roll.

As always, suit yourself.

PS: $1,000 buys a lot of memorable stays, meals and beverages and does not take up room unused in the closet 360 days per year.....

Noonievut

Tourist in MSN

I agree with Mev, do you prefer camping or do you prefer sleeping indoors? For the small number of trips you are talking about and the small number of nights per year, staying indoors certainly is not a big budget buster. Tours that I plan myself, I might stay indoors on average one out of five to seven nights, thus mostly camping. But I prefer to camp in interesting places, often in state (provincial) or national parks. But I know people that will go out of their way to stay indoors where they can buy their food from a restaurant near the motel.

Don't let cost be your deciding factor, do what you think you will enjoy the most.

Abu Mahendra

Seems like quite a lot of expenditure and weight addition relative to the few days/nights you'll be on tour. Plus where you live, you probably need two sets of gear to account for the seasons.

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Noonievut

debade

I've done both and enjoy both. When working, (retired now), DW and I would take one week vacations CC touring. When we started, we were on our carbon bikes with a handle bar bag. Along the way, we added a back rack with a bag. We toured Nova Scotia, Oregon Coast, Lake Michigan, Natchez Trace, among others. It was just easier or seemed so. We often shipped out bikes to a bike store and back home. And flew to our starting point. The LBS put the bikes together and we were on our way.

Our longer tours have also been terrific. We have biked the southern tier, Mexican Baja, and more. A lot more flexibility but also more difficult and what feels like more planning.

At the end of the day, I am not sure these types of tours are worth comparing. . I think it is a lifestyle choice that like us might change over time.. Both are great because seeing the world from a bicycle saddle at human speed is the way to do it.

boomhauer

If money isn't the issue then definitely credit card touring.
The riding experience will be more pleasant. Less weight.
If you only have a few days and hotels can be had easily where you are going why not? Taking a shower is nicer in a hotel. (vs. my usual sponge bath in a restroom)

Tourist in MSN

They changed the name to The Great Trail.
https://thegreattrail.ca/
https://thegreattrail.ca/explore-the-map/

Papa Tom

This is such a personal decision. I have always fantasized about carrying a tent and camping on my bike overnights. But then when I think about all the hotel luxuries I'd be missing out on at the end of a day sweating on the saddle, I quickly change my mind. Other people have just the opposite experience.

An advantage of staying in hotels is that, if you get tired of it and want to switch to camping, you can just not book a hotel on the next tour. Once you've bought all the accessories for camping, you're kind of married to it. That's just my opinion.

Whatever you choose, enjoy the rides. I've been doing two or three overnight rides a year since the late '90's and they are always a highlight of my year.

spinnaker

Those that have the means to credit card tour don't associate with bums.

spinnaker

At my age I don't like camping more than a couple of days in a row. I would much rather have a roof over my head each night and take the opportunity to sample the local cuisine along with the local beers. I think it adds to the experience. Using warmshowers in foreign countries gives you a chance to get a small sample of what life is really like there.

raybo

Machka 

We've done and have enjoyed both. Go do a tour with what you've got now ... see how you like it. As you go, if you think you'd really like including camping in the mix, then start making preparations for that.



See the story of Rowan's and my last tour (probably last one for quite a while) in February here. i mention it in Post 34, then tell the story, with photos, in Posts 37 and 38.
2018 - Your Short Tours

I have fond memories now of that particular credit card tour.

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u235

​​​​​​Are locals hanging out in self supported camping areas? In theory the ideal place to be up/close/personal/share with others would be a hostel. You can't avoid that concept there even if you wanted to.

reppans

spinnaker

I have stayed in hostels were I hardly saw anyone else (other than in passing like any other hotel). Stayed in a private room and there was no breakfast so not much interaction with other guests.

Big Lew

I normally haven't toured for only 2-4 days, usually 750-2500 miles at a time and try to avoid the big cities if possible.
I carry complete self sustaining equipment "just in case" but will use any reasonably priced motel or other accommodation
I chance upon at the end of each day. I've camped out in all manner of situations and terrain during my lifetime, so camping
out during tours isn't a big problem but there are reasons I will use motels if they're available.
--security--I can lock all my stuff and bike up in a room and then go out and explore about at my leisure at the end of the day.
--comfort--camping out in the areas I enjoy touring (up north) is also bug season, so it's a lot more enjoyable inside a motel
then out whacking at mosquitoes while setting up and taking down camp, never mind cooking and washing etc.
Back to what to carry. Don't expect things to go smoothly all the time so carry repair equipment including a good 1st aid kit.
Unless you make reservations, there is the chance, especially if you're touring on weekends or holidays, that all the motels
are booked up. Then again, if you have problems during your day's ride, you might not reach that reserved motel, so having
camping gear with you will save the day....just thoughts to consider...

u235

Sounds like a crappy B&B minus one of the B or just no one there

Me personally, I've camped, hunted, fished, in various forms since I was born. Hammock, tent, cabins, trailers, bunkhouses, in the hatch of my car etc.. When it comes to my bike trips and camping in general (2-10 days not "tours"), I can't justify the jump up to carrying cooking/preparing stuff and multiple days of food on the trip and never have (unless no chance of getting more food somewhere and I've never had that on a bike trip). I'd gladly purchase and eat a cold can of beans, sardines, veggies, and something like dry breakfast cereal right from the bag or can before I'd cook something. If I really want something resembling breakfast, dinner, I'll stop at the first dive. You are in the middle of no where in a strange place, dirty, living outside, sleeping in a tent/hammock possibly treating your own drinking water, all the greatness of the experience, is your desire for perfect oatmeal for breakfast or no hot coffee really the tipping point where you draw the line? Everyone is different, just my view.. Heck, at home I mix raw oats with peanut flour (PB2 or similar) and water and eat it.

saddlesores

locals don't hang out at hostels. you're more likely to run into gap-year backpackers from your part of the world staying there...

jefnvk

I've done both. I don't personally find sleeping in a tent everynight or if I cook my own meals to enhance the biking experience. If that is what I cared about, I'd go camping. Then again, I enjoyed the trip I did camping as well, even if setting up and taking down camp was a bit of a drag every day.

If you have the money and there are accommodations where you are going, go CC for the first time. Some people think it is cheating, but my free time is mine, not theirs, and I'm certainly not in a competition with their preferences. At the very least, trying out a CC tour for your first one is not going to cost you much more than a nice set of camping gear.

Beat me to it

IN any case, a big part of traveling to me is meeting people. Hard to do that if you insist on traveling self contained and stealth camping. Not that those things are a bad way to spend time alone, if that is your goal.

fietsbob

Buy the gear ahead of time, carry it on your bike ,

vs just spend $ as you go, carry less,
and stay indoors at night, dry, clean sheets, showers,
eat in restaurants , talk to the locals.. etc...