What is the difference between bike packing and cycle touring?

[Oldhippy]

Those that go out for months and multiple continent trips from what I've seen tend to stick to the 'traditional' pannier system and do everything from roads, jungles, deserts. Back packing is just an updated version with 'new ideas' on an old theme in my opinion. Gravel bikes and all the other myriad of 'specialist' bikes today all appear to be marketing first. Each to his or her own though.

 

[tyred]

I think the marketing bods tried to give the illusion that bike packing was a go roads less travelled thing when in reality a tourer can do the same thing. Panniers seem to be much tidier in my opinion without squishing everything in. I've never had an interest in minimal packing as I like home comforts when touring.

I think I'm the same. I can't do lightweight. Even for a long day ride, I will always have my saddle bag with food, tools, etc. I've never found the extra weight any real issue, although I'm not chasing personal bests.

When touring, I always seem to have people who admire my Carradice Super C panniers. They are heavy, bulky and old-fashioned but also very well designed and clip off and on the bike very easily. When I arrive at the hostel, I can just unclip them in seconds and walk in just as easily as removing a suitcase from a car boot.

They've also been completely waterproof in all the time I've had them, and I re-waxed them before going to the Hebrides, so hopefully they will stay that way for years to come.

 

[Oldhippy]

Ultimately, if it gets people on a bike travelling distance they are proving it as a valid form of transport. Many years ago I met a French couple touring the world with a young child and a baby, lunacy to some, but what a great start to life. In my opinion do it any way you like as long as you're out there.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I think the nature of what you call it, has more to do with what you are doing than how you attach luggage to your bike.

If you are out locally, using a mix of roads and off road, sleeping in woods with no tent. Just a sleeping bag and plastic sheet for cover. Maybe only away for one or two nights. Does that qualify as tour or does bike packing more accurately capture the sense of it?

For me I think the origins of bike packing come from people taking bikes where traditionally you would be on foot and back packing. Maybe you have taken your bike down a green road or land rover or old mining track.

If you are heading up the Hebridean Way, spending a few days doing it. Then you are touring. If you are doing it in a day, then you likely racing it. If you are sleeping in audax hotels, you are on an audax. The luggage setup does not make the distinction. It is how you are tackling it.

But as above, as long as it means people are getting out on their bike on longer outings, who cares what they call it? That is, if they want to put a label on it.

Sometimes it is best not to label something, and just get on with whatever “it” is.

 

[Andy in Germany]

This may help:

 

[matticus]

It was possibly fine to classify bike-packing as a sub-niche of cycle-touring where you use light/aero luggage, take minimal luxuries and travel fast*;

... but now we have people doing credit-card hotel-to-hotel rides as "my bike-packing trip in July". Folks will kick against this, but it's pretty clear that this happens because the newer term is now far more fashionable. There is a whole generation for whom trad-looking bikes with panniers are very unsexy.

Close the thread!!!

*wotever that means!

 

[Chief Broom]

I'll hazard a guess that this is bike touring Josie Dew tends to take the kitchen sink! she once rode up Porlock Hill fully loaded and carrying a bag of apples she had been given!

 

[Webbo2]

This may help:

I’m not watching anything from someone who’s got dude as part of their name.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I’m not watching anything from someone who’s got dude as part of their name.

That's a shame: it's a well-made video and tells a good story. They also have a nice self-depreciating humour.

 

[Webbo2]

That's a shame: it's a well-made video and tells a good story. They also have a nice self-depreciating humour.

I was jesting.👍

 

[steveindenmark]

Bike packing is where you dont take half your gear and replace it with uncomfortable nights or a credit card.

 

[tyred]

Bike packing is where you dont take half your gear and replace it with uncomfortable nights or a credit card.

I've requested a carbon fibre credit card from the bank.

Think of the weight savings!

 

[MichaelW2]

If you bought the wrong kind of bike and have to attach bags by straps, clips and bailing twine, you are bikepacking.

 

[rualexander]

I'll hazard a guess that this is bike touring Josie Dew tends to take the kitchen sink! she once rode up Porlock Hill fully loaded and carrying a bag of apples she had been given!

View attachment 808921

Nice photo!
I took it 😁

 

[robjh]

Those that go out for months and multiple continent trips from what I've seen tend to stick to the 'traditional' pannier system and do everything from roads, jungles, deserts. Back packing is just an updated version with 'new ideas' on an old theme in my opinion. Gravel bikes and all the other myriad of 'specialist' bikes today all appear to be marketing first. Each to his or her own though.

Largely no difference at all, it's just that the term bikepacking has become more popular recently*. There is probably a type of short, light and off-road trip that is archetypal bikepacking, and extended fully laden trips at the other end that are only called touring, but for 90% of the activity there's no real distinction.

*I had thought that the term bikepacking was quite recent, but someone helpfully showed me an example from the 1970s. Still relatively unknown I would say until about 15-20 years ago.