11 Bikepacking & Adventure Riding Tips
As discovered during an overnight bikepack
I was sitting in front of the computer, trying to write a guide on how to start bikepacking / adventure riding for The Big Adventure feature – and I wasn’t loving it. It quickly turned into a generic list of do’s and don’ts. Sure, it was helpful, but it wasn’t exactly a page-turner. I sat, ironically, staring at my computer with this single line staring back at me:
Tip #1: Just start
You don’t need perfect gear, a flawless itinerary, or some far-off exotic location. Just go.
Right then, my phone pinged. A message from a mate – let’s call him Bill:
“Heading out Kingaroy way Friday to Sunday. Gordonbrook and Wondai MTB trails Friday, KKRT [Kingaroy to Kilkivan Rail Trail] to Goomeri Pub and back Sunday. $40 each to split a twin room. BYO earplugs…”
It was Thursday. I’d done only a handful of bikepacking trips, but I figured I should take my own advice and go. Actually, I replied something like, “You guys ride Friday, I’ll get sorted and meet you Saturday morning in Kingaroy.”
Tip #2: Use what you have to go bikepacking
Cue the gear scramble. CamelBak? Too heavy. Handlebar bag from my touring bike? Too small. But the front rack off my commuter? Perfect! Add a dry sack from the German supermarket centre aisle, an old Topeak BackLoader, a 15-year-old bento box, and a mystery frame bag, and voilà – my improvised bikepacking setup was complete. Read our bikepacking gear guide for more info.
Tip #3: Comfort is king when bikepacking…especially on the butt
But what bike? My commuter is faster but has no compliance and skinny tyres at high pressure on dirt roads is a recipe for a bad time. The mountain bike it is, while it has fewer hand positions, it’s overall far more comfortable then others in my fleet.
Tip #4: Don’t overthink things
Then, in a bout of overthinking, I swapped the wheels for a set with 35mm rims and 2.4” Maxxis Aspens. Did I need to? No. Did it look cool? Absolutely.
Tip #5: Be flexible
It was Friday, and I received another ping from Bill:
“Might drive to Gordonbrook, ride there. Then drive to Goomeri, ride towards Kingaroy, then back. Sunday—Goomeri to Kilkivan, then Gympie for the Victory trails.”.
Tip #6: Stick to the plan if it works for you
I stuck to my plan—less driving, more riding—and aimed to meet them coming back while I was heading north. We’d do the Kilkivan leg together Sunday morning. It satisfied my inner completionist.
Tip #7: Allow time to do things
Saturday started with the usual: early drive, coffee hunt, trail roll-out. Barely 500m in, I ran into a friend marshalling for Bicycle Queensland’s Wondai Gravel event. One of the best things about bikes? You stop and chat. Unlike waving from a car, it’s a real connection.
With a mere 66km on the cards, I had time to explore. I diverted through the McEwan State Forest MTB trails and rolled into Wondai. After a stop at the BQ event hub and a supermarket run for snacks, I pushed north.
Tip #9: Check your frame for hairline cracks and #10: Have a contingency plan
Mid-afternoon: Ping! Uh-oh.
Bill, it turned out, hadn’t checked his frame for hairline cracks. The result? The evidence of aluminium fatigue failure sent via text. Luckily, he was in the town of Murgon when it happened. I was just outside town, so I rolled in to find his bike chained outside the pub – and Bill inside, working through a lineup of Murgon’s finest lagers.
The rest of the group had headed back to get a car and rescue Bill and his bike. I kept going and reached Goomeri just as they returned. We laughed (mostly at Bill’s expense), had a few drinks, and made a new plan: no Kilkivan ride Sunday. Instead, they’d hit some singletrack a bit further north.
I stuck to my solo mission – back to Kingaroy, via the full KKRT.
Sunday saw an early start, a bakery stop and goodbyes. I rolled out into the cool morning mist, a little nervous about the climbs and trail conditions. The further north you go, the rougher the trail – less sealed, but far more more adventurous.
The early mist gave way to blue skies, and I cruised into Kilkivan mid-morning. Beyond here, the corridor continues but isn’t yet open to the public. One day, I hope, for another adventure.
I saw a surprising number of other riders – tourers and day-trippers – which bodes well for the trail’s future.
The return was uneventful, but never boring. Rolling pastures, shaded creeks, wildlife, and friendly faces. Those are stories for another time, perhaps under Tip #8.
Because, sure, this wasn’t the Munda Biddi or Iditarod. But it was a start. And I know one thing for sure, Tip #11: Experience is the best teacher.
12 Tips for bikepacking / Adventure Riding
- Just start.
- Use what you have.
- Comfort is king (on the bike).
- Don’t overthink things!
- Be flexible.
- Stick to the plan.
- Allow time to do things.
- It’s on the trail
- Check your frame for hairline cracks.
- Have contingencies.
- Experience is the best teacher.
Are you an enthusiastic adventurer on the bike? Perhaps you’ve ridden all of Canberra’s singletrack in 24 hours, or have a tale about a helicopter evacuation that time when things didn’t go to plan on your ride? Send it in to anna@adventureentertainment.com, and you may have the chance to feature in The Big Adventure of AMB #214
