Bikepacking Convergence
Last weekend, we got a HUGE crew out Bikepacking. It was a joy to share this space with new friends!
If you plan it, they will come. Right?
My friend did most of the planning and inviting, I just gave some campsite input. We set a meeting time and place, and had a planning document to make sure no one forgot their toothbrush (I remembered mine this week! Ironically, she did not and I had a spare along!) We set out for 2 full days, 2 nights sleeping out, and an easy way back. All in, 17 people started out with us! Holy buckets! The biggest group of packers I’ve been with outside of a sanctioned race event.
After we got outside of town, it was a chill pace. It is hard to keep so many people moving, so if you’re with a large group, be aware of who is “driving”, giving 5 minute warnings to get going and asking “anybody not ready?”. The train moves as fast as the amount of stops, so try to encourage people to take care of needs at all stops. That said, this group did awesome! Organizers really only needed to take care of people’s navigation!
Lunch Break!
Day one included a stop at one of our favorite local bikepacking hubs, SpokeNGear Bicycle shop aka Cedar Coffee Co aka Cedaero Bicycle Bags. It is a great spot in Two Harbors, and can serve as a starting or stopover point. They have done so much for the bikepacking in this region! We avoided some rain at the shop and at the nearby grocery store. Some folks improvised rain gear that they forgot, whoops!
Trash Bags suffice for rain gear in a pinch!
We were lucky enough to stay in a frinds yard and have a river to relax (and bath!) in as well as a sauna. We shared food, drink, and a bag of dehydrated cheesecake!
The nest day some folks headed home for other obligations, and 11 continued. We meandered, and sang, searched for good sticks, and generally had a blast. I detoured up to the Camp House Fire site, (see my other post!) to check on a friend’s cabin and viscerally experience the aftermath of a wildfire that was closer than any I’d yet experienced.
Our second campsite was a dry one, so we had stashed some water jugs to support that location. Day two always seems to fly by!
I promise, the final rider was OK!
The Camp House Fire just a week ago impacted properties only 3 miles north of our route.
We had a few small mechanicals amongst the group, including a broken spoke. Luckily we were well prepared for any expected circumstance, both with equipment and trail repair knowledge! See my repair kit on a previous post!
Of course, we stopped to play, and to smell the flowers!
At camp, we chilled, basked in a beautiful sunset and good company, and reflected on two great days. In the morning we packed up and zipped back home, even having time for a cookout later in the day after taking care of gear cleaning!
I’m grateful for this enthusiastic group!
If you want a similar fun weekend trip, look for local groups that support biking and bikepacking, see if there are any talks about “how to bikepack”, or start getting your own kit together with help from resources like Bikepacking Roots and Bikepacking.com
Have fun out on the trails!
