Bikepacking is the New Racing

As we long for simpler times, the idea of skipping an official start line and heading out on a custom-made adventure is more tantalizing than a 50-minute, four-corner criterium on a weekend. The newly-minted BT700 route in Ontario is a perfect example: despite multiple road, mountain bike and even gravel events on a weekend in mid-july, more than 60 riders toed the line for the unofficial grand depart on the route designed by adventure cyclist and frequent Canadiancyclingmagazine contributor Matthew Kadey. “You’ll never experience a more positive vibe among riders than at that start line,” he says. The riders ranged from bike-packers aiming for a casual nine-day pace to a select few who battled it out to finish in a little more than two days.

“Overall, I think the trend toward less-competitive cycling is far better for community development and increasing interest in cycling as it is more welcoming on almost every level,” says Michael Barry, a former pro roadie who now runs Mariposa Bicycles with his wife, Dede. Barry is seeing fewer requests for custom competitive bikes and more for bikes designed for all-day comfort.