Was I a bit harsh?

[Firmo]

To me, bikepacking is about strapping luggage to my bike, be it the road bike, CX, or MTB. It must comprise of multiple days and take me places I have not explored before. It must involve packing sleeping gear (sleeping bag, silk liner, etc) but not necessarily involve sleeping outside (ie Bothy, sub standard hostels).

I really like the article in question. It sums up how I feel about the bikepacking. I'm sure Apidura will do very well out of it. It surprises me that BearBones hasn't been name-checked / linked as the go-to resource for like-minded folk on the article though. BUT - anyone who reads that article and genuinely feels compelled to get in to this 'activity' will of course stumble upon BearBones in no time (as we all have!). I suppose that justifies your (Stu's) response/rejection to their request for a paid advert.

I do think that bikepacking is getting popular. Its becoming a 'trendy' form of adventure. People turn their noses up at rambling over the Moors on foot with a backpack, but the recent surge in interest in cycling combined with the novelty of adventure, plus the stylish look of frame bags and saddle packs really makes bikepacking look both cool and adventurous.

[Charliecres]

While waiting at Euston for the train to Aviemore last week we had a constant stream of people asking about our gear and plans. At least a couple already had some gear and experience. I think there's no doubt there's growing interest in bikepacking but, as Stu says, few will be tempted to the tramp side.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Big as in, in mainstream cycling replacing Wiggo-aspiring mamils? I doubt it, but there's certainly signs of more interest / demand for touring bikes of the non-trad Galaxy type.

I'm sure there is ... but how many DH bikes were sold to people who'd never seen a DH track? How many folk are riding 'Enduro' bikes, who'll never venture near an Enduro?

Perhaps the bikes are/will become trendy without the actual 'activity' becoming so?

At the moment, I think 'adventure' is trendy ... mainly because it's been packaged into safe, bite-sized chunks that involve minimum risk, discomfort or effort.

[ootini]

Big as in, in mainstream cycling replacing Wiggo-aspiring mamils? I doubt it, but there's certainly signs of more interest / demand for touring bikes of the non-trad Galaxy type.

I'm sure there is ... but how many DH bikes were sold to people who'd never seen a DH track? How many folk are riding 'Enduro' bikes, who'll never venture near an Enduro?

Perhaps the bikes are/will become trendy without the actual 'activity' becoming so?

At the moment, I think 'adventure' is trendy ... mainly because it's been packaged into safe, bite-sized chunks that involve minimum risk, discomfort or effort.

To be fair, as a newbie, I'd like to admit that I have no idea what kind of MTB I have. The bloke in the shop just referred to it as a general purpose mountain bike, I wouldn't know if it's a DH bike, an XC bike, an enduro... Wouldn't have a clue...
It's a KTM Ultrafire 27.5 btw, so if anyone would like to inform me what kind of bike it is, I'm all ears.

[benp1]

To be fair, as a newbie, I'd like to admit that I have no idea what kind of MTB I have. The bloke in the shop just referred to it as a general purpose mountain bike, I wouldn't know if it's a DH bike, an XC bike, an enduro... Wouldn't have a clue...
It's a KTM Ultrafire 27.5 btw, so if anyone would like to inform me what kind of bike it is, I'm all ears.

I'd say that's an XC 100mm travel hardtail

But the bike you have doesn't really factor into the adventure you have, as long as it's not a bike that stops you from having that adventure

I did the WRT last year on a £500 Specialized Hardrock. My current MTB is more like 5 times that price, but it hasn't meant I'm doing anything significantly different. The bike is more capable and lighter, but I'd still ride the same trails

It's definitely more trendy now, but I'd say bite sized adventure is in general - wildcamping trips, camping in general,

Getting into the outdoors and appreciating where you are

[Matt]

Looks like a decent starter all round XC (Cross country) type bike.

Kit looks half decent and upgradeable as wish / get to know what you want more.

But you could've done the WRT no bother on that, you could equally take it round a trail centre and have decent time.

[ootini]

To be fair, as a newbie, I'd like to admit that I have no idea what kind of MTB I have. The bloke in the shop just referred to it as a general purpose mountain bike, I wouldn't know if it's a DH bike, an XC bike, an enduro... Wouldn't have a clue...
It's a KTM Ultrafire 27.5 btw, so if anyone would like to inform me what kind of bike it is, I'm all ears.

I'd say that's an XC 100mm travel hardtail

But the bike you have doesn't really factor into the adventure you have, as long as it's not a bike that stops you from having that adventure

I did the WRT last year on a £500 Specialized Hardrock. My current MTB is more like 5 times that price, but it hasn't meant I'm doing anything significantly different. The bike is more capable and lighter, but I'd still ride the same trails

It's definitely more trendy now, but I'd say bite sized adventure is in general - wildcamping trips, camping in general,

Getting into the outdoors and appreciating where you are

Thanks, I thought it was XC (Cross country) as opposed to anything more niche or specific.

I think your last sentence about appreciating where you are really sums this up for me. I've lived in North Wales all my life and found myself noticing how gorgeous the countryside is as I've got older. I'm now hoping to make the most of it and really enjoy it more, and the bikes are going to help me do that, whether on or off road.

[Matt]

If it were trendy amongst those who already ride, then I think there'd be a lot more people actually doing it ... or perhaps thinking / dreaming about doing it is actually enough in these days of virtual experiences

Aspirational lifestyle marketing

Buy a Land Rover
Buy a North Face Jacket (or Canada Goose thingy)
Buy some Hunter Wellies

Imagine all the times you're going to use them..

Then go to the supermarket...

and yes... I have a Land Rover, a NF jacket, and Hunters....

[Gari]

I don't really care what you call it, I am just happy to be at the "cool kids" table finally, in my 50s, even if it is for just a few months

[Richpips]

At the moment, I think 'adventure' is trendy ... mainly because it's been packaged into safe, bite-sized chunks that involve minimum risk, discomfort or effort.

Bikepacking as an adventure, I guess it looks great if you watch some of the videos and look at the pictures on a sunny day.

I wonder if the guys doing the Cairngorm Loop this weekend stopped for many pictures, or have made a short film?

[jameso]

At the moment, I think 'adventure' is trendy ... mainly because it's been packaged into safe, bite-sized chunks that involve minimum risk, discomfort or effort.

That sounds more like re-defining the word adventure (edit, as I know you're suggesting by writing 'adventure'). Is glamping now adventurous? : )

All goes with the regular over-use of 'Epic' I guess. Not wanting to sound like an adventure-snob, tbh I don't care what people do or how they describe it as long as they enjoy it and whatever we do on bikes is little compared to that taken on by sailors or mountaineers. A bit of understanding of the relativity of it all may be missing for some though.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Bikepacking as an adventure, I guess it looks great if you watch some of the videos and look at the pictures on a sunny day.

I wonder if the guys doing the Cairngorm Loop this weekend stopped for many pictures, or have made a short film?

Exactly Rich.

Having looked through a few of the recently and soon to be released books about 'adventure', I don't recall too many pictures of people head to toe in crap, limping, bleeding, soaking, shivering, etc, etc.

[Pyro]

This is the thing, though: To you or I, those things aren't 'adventures'. Glamping IS 'adventurous' to some people. The thought occurred to me reading the 'Extreme Sleeps' book - how far from the idea of 'extreme' I found them. But, that's me/you/us with the levels of experience and misadventure we've had. To Joe/Jane Public who never leaves the sofa, a night in the garden is 'extreme', cycling somewhere to sleep rather than along the road to the shops IS 'epic'.

It's not a re-defining of the word, it's just evaluating the use of the word in the context of the people involved in the activity.

[jameso]

Pyro, agreed about the relativity bit. Stretching it to the limit it if not strictly redefining it, maybe.

[Pyro]

Pyro, agreed about the relativity bit. Stretching it to the limit it if not strictly redefining it, maybe.

Possibly, but again, that stretch and that limit are relative to where you're standing.

I had previous with that author over her objection to a newspaper using the word "gruelling" in regards to some guys doing the 5 Ferries Challenge in Scotland for charity - a 50-odd miler, split into 4 ride sections and 5 ferries (strange, that). To you, that might be a cruise; to me it might be moderately uncomfortable; to my dad, who did the same ride plus a bit over 2 days, it might be fairly hard in one go; to a bunch of 55-65 year old Glaswegian blokes who've seen a beer, a pie and a cig or two in their lives, 'gruelling' might not be a bad description.

I'm very much with you on the "I don't care what people do or how they describe it as long as they enjoy it". Like you say, it's easy to end up sounding like an 'adventure snob', when what you're actually wanting to do is encourage people to have their own adventures. It's all relative...

[Dave Barter]

Bikepacking as an adventure, I guess it looks great if you watch some of the videos and look at the pictures on a sunny day.

I wonder if the guys doing the Cairngorm Loop this weekend stopped for many pictures, or have made a short film?

Exactly Rich.

Having looked through a few of the recently and soon to be released books about 'adventure', I don't recall too many pictures of people head to toe in crap, limping, bleeding, soaking, shivering, etc, etc.

Watch this space for 2016....

[Bearbonesnorm]

Watch this space for 2016....

I'll look forward to it ... I want to see plenty of 1000yd stares cast through bloodshot eyes, framed by crusty baked faces

[Ian]

Watch this space for 2016....

I'll look forward to it ... I want to see plenty of 1000yd stares cast through bloodshot eyes, framed by crusty baked faces

Have you watched the Love of Mud film?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Have you watched the Love of Mud film?

No, but I'm not sure I should be typing that into Google!

[jameso]

that stretch and that limit are relative to where you're standing.

True, or relative to the normal use of the term which is part of the re-defining or 'just people getting soft' point. I always understood the word to include the unknown, uncertainty, possible danger or risks etc, without any of that -relative to the participant- it's not what I understand as 'adventurous', isn't it just 'new stuff'? Like a new TV series or this week's Burger Special at the pub (which actually could be risky..), or glamping.

what you're actually wanting to do is encourage people to have their own adventures

That's it, has to start somewhere. I do think that once you've had a minor 'epic' (sorry) or hardship-adventure you can then find aspects of adventure in very normal activities simply done with a different attitude, ie winging it without directions for the chance of ending up somewhere new or unexpected, etc. That's possibly less likely to happen if you'd never stepped memorably beyond the comfort zone before and learned that you can cope better than you expected.

For the muddy bloodshot look, there's some good 24hr rider portraits in Cranked Issue 1.

[ootini]

Have you watched the Love of Mud film?

No, but I'm not sure I should be typing that into Google!

Talking of which, has anyone done a Google image search using the string 'pipedream 300' ? I have.

[Richard G]

They look quite comfortable...

[Ian]

Have you watched the Love of Mud film?

No, but I'm not sure I should be typing that into Google!

It's a safer bet than Pipedream 300, I can tell you

[ootini]

Have you watched the Love of Mud film?

No, but I'm not sure I should be typing that into Google!

It's a safer bet than Pipedream 300, I can tell you

Yep.

[Matt]

Is that the matching pillow that goes with the sleeping bag?