It's official.
I signed up for my FIRST self-supported micro-tour! Enough of me talking about what I want to do - it’s time to start doing it.
I bought my Surly Pack Rat last summer with the intent of eventually trying some bikepacking (though I have now learned that the kind of trips I’d like to do would be considered touring, and not bikepacking) but I never had a solid plan for this endeavor. Since it was Sunday, and the NFL playoffs were on, I was at a bar but I still wanted to do some research and learn more about what would be entailed for a first trip. I love beer and doing research and planning so I was living it up:
I created a spreadsheet to start tracking some of the items I’ll need to get. I have experience hiking and camping so I have a lot of the big necessities: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, stove, cookware, etc. But then there are the bike-related necessities (maybe not necessities but I’ll call them that): a rear rack, panniers, bungee cords, a front fender; and just general items that I’ll potentially need: rain pants, packable camp towel, waterproof shoe covers, perhaps a collapsible camp chair?
I have a tendency to overdo it (maybe tendency isn’t the best word? overdoing it is pretty much a defining characteristic of mine - I get sucked into certain subjects and experiences while I try to learn more about them) and so I don’t want to run out right away to buy all of these things that I think I need but probably really don’t! I want to focus on the actual things that will be needed, those mainly being the rack and rear panniers I’ll need to carry my load. Will I want a pedalcell/dynamo hub to help power devices? Maybe. Will I need frame bags for the front of my bike? Maybe. Will I want a lighter sleeping pad and bag combo? Maybe. Will I need to replace my FSA Metropolis handlebars so I have options for more hand positions? Maybe (though I can also look into installing them upside down for a slightly more aggressive riding style). But until I know these things for sure, I am going to try and hold off on making those types of purchases.
In doing all of this research and planning, I got the urge to just commit to a trip so I wouldn’t be able to make excuses for myself. Since I’ve never done this type of riding before, I knew I wanted to go with people who were experienced for the chance to learn from others along the way. Unfortunately, I don’t know many any people who have bikepacked or bicycle toured but I knew that 718 Cyclery organized micro- and multi-day tours. I met Joe, the owner of 718 Cyclery, when I first moved to Brooklyn and signed up for a 1:1 maintenance class that he was offering during the pandemic. Joe was the person who taught me how to fix my first flat (it took seven years of fairly regular riding for me to get my first flat [it took 7 days of living in Brooklyn for me to get my first flat and THAT is really what should be noted here]) and he has been a great resource ever since (he helped me get set up with a spare wheel and training tire for when I’m riding on my trainer).
When I was doing some of my research, I stumbled across an article (or something, I can’t remember now, plus, there were beers involved) that actually referenced the micro-tours led by 718. In this article/IG post/TikTok video (honestly, maybe I imagined reading this?), Joe specifically mentioned the overnight trip to Croton Point Park, NY as a great first experience. The trip is 44 miles each way and leaves from lower Manhattan and with a few trips to this location already planned for 2022, I was able to choose dates that would work with my schedule (mostly I wanted to avoid the summer because I’m a sweaty beast and also don’t sleep well in the heat). So, on May 2nd, I will start my first bike touring experience!
And proof that I ACTUALLY registered:
I have yet to do longer distance rides on my Pack Rat and I have NEVER ridden with a load so I am hoping to get some good training rides in leading up to the actual trip. As a PSA (and a reminder if you read my post about my first mountain biking experience), I HATE hills and elevation so good luck to me:
