“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time”
Every journey starts with a single step (or pedal stroke)… and when embarking into the world of bicycle travel things can seem somewhat overwhelming; especially given as we firmly believe that traveling by bike is not actually the sole preserve of ‘cyclists’. Many of the people we’ve met on massively impressive bicycle adventures started out with little or no cycling experience. Part of the fun is all about learning your lessons from the road but there are some basics that it’s useful not to have to learn the hard way…
So we’ve put together an introductory course to help set you off on the right foot…
Highlights:
Highly experienced and qualified bikepacking instructor accompanying you throughout the course.
Two days bikepacking skills instruction in a small group, with the chance for one-to-one tuition, advice and support.
Overnight wild camping mini-adventure in a beautiful secluded spot.
All bikepacking luggage and Firepot evening meal included.
Bike and camping kit hire available (so you can just turn up with a sleeping bag and bags of enthusiasm!)
Group: Open group dates (min 3, max 6) to meet like minded adventurers. (private groups also available on request)
Price: 2 day (1 night) Fully guided course - £170pp (private group discount available)
After something else?…
About:
‘Bikepacking’, is essentially strapping stuff to your bike and going off for a ride that lasts a few days (or a few days more). A bit like backpacking with a bike… get it?.. Clever. It’s getting lots of attention as a ‘new thing’ in cycling but really people have been doing this stuff since bikes were invented…
What has come along more recently is lots of nice lightweight stuff that allows you to be self supported whilst still having a bike that’s enjoyable to ride. As such it lends itself to micro-adventures in off-road mountain bike touring or fast and light road touring.
The beauty of bikepacking is that you can do it anywhere, even riding straight out of your own back door you’re likely to have an adventure finding things you never knew were there. A bicycle and a few bits of kit is all you need for short escape where you’ll go and have fun riding your bike then sleep out under the stars. We reckon it’s the perfect antidote to the stresses of ‘modern life’.
It all sounds very simple, and it is, but like most things, if you’ve never done it before it might all seem a bit daunting; you might not have anyone to go with; you don’t know what kit to take with you; you’re not sure what to eat; where to sleep… all of these things can easily put you off ever trying in the first place and that’s where we come in…
Details:
We’ll do a two day instructional experience, as a group, to show you all the basics you need to know so that then it’s easy for you to get out and have your own adventures.
We’ll kit you out with all the bikepacking luggage you need to carry your stuff on your bike. If required you can also hire a bike and camping equipment from our adventure hire fleet. Alternatively, you’re welcome to bring your own bike and/or equipment.
We’ll first spend a bit of classroom time on what to take, how to plan and how to get things ready but then we’ll learn by doing; heading off the beaten track on a guided overnight bikepacking adventure into the Scottish Highlands, covering all the stuff you need to know along the way.
No previous experience is necessary and it isn’t an endurance test so only a moderate fitness level is required. It’s more about enjoying being out and about to show you the ropes of bikepacking:
Gear: What to take and how to pack your bike.
Bike skills: Loaded off-road riding.
Basic bike maintenance.
Navigation.
Wild camping: what to do, where to sleep, how to make shelter
Fuel: Camp cooking & nutrition
All you’ll need to bring is a suitable sleeping bag and bags of enthusiasm!
Itinerary:
Based in Inverness, we’re perfectly and conveniently located for beginning your adventure into the Scottish Highlands! Whether you’re traveling by train, air, road, foot or bike, the course is located just a short walk from the town centre with a multitude of accommodation options.
In the morning you'll meet Pete to go through kit, what to take, how to pack the bike, basic bike maintenance, and route planning. You'll then head out into the hills at a gentle pace and with plenty of stops - you'll spend the day riding off-road, going through skills and techniques before finishing up at a beautiful wild camp spot in plenty of time to set up before it gets dark.
Day 2:
After you've enjoyed a night sleeping under the stars, you'll pack up and slowly cycle back to Inverness, enjoying the scenic views of the Scottish Highlands along the way. There will be time to cover any other skills that you want to learn about and you can choose from an easy or more challenging routes back!
You’ll likely finish at a cafe in the early afternoon before arriving back at base, where you'll unpack and get the chance to ask Pete for any final advice and tips. After that you're free to head home or carry on exploring!
Experience:
No previous off-road cycling or mountain biking experience is necessary and only a moderate fitness level is required - but you will need to be happy cycling around 20-30 km per day and having a go at sleeping outside.
You are welcome to bring your own bike and equipment or you can hire it all from us. All you need to bring is a sleeping bag and a sense of adventure - we can guarantee you'll have an amazing time and come away with skills, knowledge and excitement!
What’s included:
Experienced and qualified bikepacking professional accompanying you throughout the course.
Two days high-quality bikepacking instruction in a small group of 6, with the chance for one-to-one tuition, advice and support.
Overnight wild camping mini-adventure in a beautiful secluded spot.
Full bikepacking luggage hire set up to suit your bike.
Your choice of tasty Firepot evening meal.
What’s not included:
Accomodation - if you’re staying before or after the course you’ll have to sort your own accommodation. There are plenty of options.
Pickup - the course will start just a short walk from Inverness town centre with plenty of public transport links.
Bike /extra equipment hire - you can add on the packages you need when you book your space
Extra food and drinks - Bring along whatever snacks and breakfast you fancy for the weekend. You'll have the chance to pick up extra food from our favorite local produce shops on day 1, otherwise there’s usually limited opportunities along the way. Occasionally the the course will conclude with a cafe stop if the group is keen.