GRAB BACKPACK AND YOUR BIKE
Want to be part of the bikepacking scene? Those who do it say a phased introduction is the best way to begin
Bikepacking is a great way to see New Mexico. Those who do it say a phased introduction is the best way to begin.
Bikepacking is for everyone—even presidential candidates.
New Mexicans who recall former two-term Gov. Gary Johnson’s extreme athleticism will not be surprised that he’s participating in the Tour Divide, a 2,768mile bike ride along the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico, which started on June 8. Track Johnson’s progress at trackleaders.com/tourdivide17.
The Tour Divide is bikepacking at its most advanced, but the sport doesn’t have to be so intense. The sport is simply unsupported mountain bike touring for one or more overnight stays. Riders carry all their food, water and camping gear on racks and bags, and ride mostly off-road.
“You can bikepack anywhere for any duration—just set your goal accordingly,” says Jackie Shane, a Santa Fe cyclist with several trips under her spandex. “If I want to get from point A to point B, I just load up and go.”
In essence, bikepacking is touring on a mountain bike. Bike touring is the same idea, but is done only on paved roads.
“Bikepacking works great for any variety of terrain,” says Jeff Della Penna, an avid cyclist from Santa Fe whose introduction to bikepacking was on the Camino de Santiago in Spain about 10 years ago. “On a recent bikepacking trip in the Jemez, we rode on gravel roads, remote single-track trails, and a bit of pavement to piece together the route.”
For first-time bikepackers, a good place to start is with long day rides to acclimate to many hours in the saddle. Gravel roads crisscross New Mexico and provide a nice introduction to distance riding.
The next step is to try some close overnight camping trips on the bike to make sure the experience is safe while still enjoyable. Ultralight gear that’s designed specifically for strapping to a bike is ideal, but the gear used for backpacking works as well. Try working up to single-track riding carrying gear, with the lightest possible setup.
“Have safety nets in place for your first trips,” Della Penna says. “Make sure you have cell coverage, are near a main road, and stay near a water source.”
Several nearby areas boast miles of ideal riding for bikepackers, including the Sandia and Jemez mountains, the Pecos Wilderness and Rowe Mesa. To sample some of the Continental Divide Trail in New Mexico, explore the Cumbres Pass, Pie Town and Abiquiu areas.
A big part of the fun for many riders is route finding in remote areas where few others tread. “Bikepacking is like backpacking in the backcountry: beautiful, remote, wild, vast, with very little to no traffic,” says Sandra Corso, a wilderness guide who’s leading a group of bikepackers on part of the Great Divide route from Banff, Canada, to Whitefish, Mont., this summer.
Besides riding several sections of the Continental Divide route, Corso has also toured the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Arizona Trail, San Rafael Swell in Utah, and “quite a few places in New Mexico.”
Corso is often in charge of dealing with challenges that arise on the trips as a guide. “Broken gear? Walk or hitchhike. Too hot? Stop and nap under an umbrella. Too cold? Stop and make some hot tea,” she says. “If you plan ahead and prepare and never overestimate your abilities, you’re good to go. Any surprise along the way is an opportunity to test your personal leadership mastery.”