Overnight Bikepacking Trips
The best way to think about bikepacking would be to consider it as 'off road touring'. The emphasis is often on light weight, self sufficiency and adventure. There's something very liberating knowing that you're carrying everything you need to spend the night high in the hills or deep in the forests. It's something which is gaining quite a following as more people rediscover their bike as a form of transport and its ability to take them on a real journey. Specific bikepacking races such as the Tour Divide, Colorado Trail race and even our own, Bear Bones 200 help to keep interest high. For a more detailed explanation of what Bikepacking is, click HERE.

The Cambrian mountain range offers fantastic terrain for bikepacking. Miles and miles of valleys, peaks and forests the majority of which have very few inhabitants, so the feeling of 'being out in the wilds' is a very real one. The thought of packing your bike with everything you need for a couple of days and heading off into the hills can be quite daunting at first. What do I need to take? Where will I sleep? What will I eat? plus numerous other questions will all require answers ... that's where we come in. Throughout 2012 we're going to be running numerous bikepacking trips. There will be two types of trip available so we're hoping there'll be something to suit everyone regardless of experience or ability.

To help keep the bikepacking trips as accessible as possible, we've kept any kit requirements to a minimum. Obviously there will be certain items required such as a sleeping bag and backpack but other more specialist equipment such as bivvy bags and sleeping mats can be hired from us for a reasonable cost. A full, suggested kit list, including tips on how to pack, will be sent out well in advance of trip start dates. If you've got any questions regarding bikepacking trips or would like a bespoke trip arranging for your group, don't hesitate to get in touch.

2 day/1 night - foothills of Plynlimon
An ideal introduction to bikepacking. A two day/one night trip following a route high up on the plateau below the five peaks of Plynlimon. An area as rich in history as it is in spectacular scenery. The first day we'll ride south, steadily gaining height which will eventually lead us on to the plateau and our overnight spot high in the hills. We'll spend some time running through all the main overnight requirements such as erecting a shelter, finding safe water and cooking before spending the night beneath the shadows of the mountains. The following day we'll pack up and continue our journey through the Cambrians before eventually turning north and heading for home. A well earned cup of tea awaits and a chance to reflect on what you've just done. Total distance covered over the two days is around 60-70 km, ridden at a leisurely pace.

Sat/Sun May 5/6
Sat/Sun Jul 28/29
Sat/Sun Sep 1/2
Sat/Sun Nov 10/11
Cost: £85 pp

2 day/1 night Private Trips
One to one - £100 pp
Two people - £85 pp
Three or more - £75 pp

3 day/2 night - Elenydd
A tour of Elenydd, an old Welsh name for the area we today call the Cambrian mountains. A three day/two night trip through an area largely unknown by mountain bikers. The Elenydd tour roughly follows the route of the Bear Bones 200 bikepacking race. It involves a higher mileage than the Plynlimon trip and obviously has the need to carry more supplies due to the longer duration, however there will be the odd chance to replenish supplies along the way. The route is pretty circular and mostly made up of old drovers roads, forest roads, quiet lanes and ancient tracks some dating back nearly 1000 years. Over the three days we'll cover somewhere in the region of 200 km and spend two nights sleeping at some very special locations.

Sat/Sun/Mon Apr 7/8/9
Wed/Thu/Fri Jun 27/28/29
Sat/Sun/Mon Aug 25/26/27
Cost: £130 pp

3 day/2 night Private Trips
One to one - £150 pp
Two people - £130 pp
Three or more - £120 pp