Looking to get more adventurous? Extend out your day ride to something a bit bigger? Got some new roads or trails you’re looking to tick off? An overnighter is the perfect way to do all of these things! Whether it’s road or gravel (or mtb), keep on reading; Ollie and April will be offering up some advice on what to pack and how to get it on your bike.
On your quest for new roads/trails, you have to decide if you want to flashpack (hotels) or bikepack (tents). Usually for a single night overnighter, people tend to opt for staying in a hotel, as you can carry light and enjoy a pub feed and a cozy bed at the other end.
The overnighter extends you away from your usual loops to explore new roads or trails you might have been eyeing up or wanting to explore. Start from home, or take the train outta town if you’re after all killer and no filler!
Pack List
Non-negotiables:
- Spares - Tube, tyre levers, extra sealant, tyre plugs, multi tool, chain breaker, quick links, pump, tyre boot, cable ties, chain lube, gerber dime or similar. Consider spare brake pads as well if you’re riding in wet or muddy conditions.
- Water - Chances are you’re going out further than normal, don’t be caught out in the midday sun. We travel with 2x 1litre bottles as a minimum.
- Rain Jacket - No matter how unlikely it is to rain, a good packable rain jacket can get you out of all sorts of trouble.
- Navigation Device - This one kinda goes without saying, but you’ll need something to keep you on track.
- Toiletries - Toothbrush, toothpaste, SUNCREAM, hand sanitiser, some basic first aid supplies; think snake bandage if you’re going off-road here in sunny Australia.
- FOOD - New trails can take longer than expected! You don’t want to get caught out with the hunger flat.
- Electronics - front and rear lights, cables to charge your lights, nav & phone. Add a battery pack and consider a spare set of lights (including a good helmet light) if you’re planning big days.
Warm weather pack list:
- Your cycling kit of choice - Be it lycra or t-shirt and shorts, whatever makes you comfy!
- Spare clothes (for off the bike) - If you’re lycra inclined, a spare tee and shorts will keep you comfy off the bike
- Socks - a fresh pair of socks always helps the morale
- Thongs or Slides - if you’re not in mtb shoes, your feet will be thankful of a break
Things to add if it’s cold/wet:
- Waterproof gear - Rain jacket, waterproof socks, gloves and if it’s really bad waterproof pants
- Puffer or Down Jacket - something to keep you warm off the bike, a good quality packable down jacket can save you and is worth spending some cash on
- Layer it up- Add in warmers, a thicker baselayer and a gilet.
Things to add if you’re bikepacking:
Your sleep set up of choice. If you can’t decide between a tent and a bivvy check out the blog for that!
Most of us here are Curve err on the side of a lighter weight sleeping bag and wear all of our warm layers when we hop into the bag. If you have to choose between a fleecy liner and an insulated mat, we find that weight is better spent on an insulated mat than on a fleecy sleeping bag liner. Consider an insulated mat if the temperature is super cold or a solid foam mat instead if you’re rolling that bivvy out on some inhospitable terrain.
Inflatable pillow or no pillow at all is a matter of personal preference.
Other items to consider:
If you’re heading to areas without reliable phone service, consider taking a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). A PLB is a compact, lightweight emergency device that sends a distress signal via satellite, alerting emergency services to your location when activated. Popular models of PLBs: Garmin Inreach and Spot Tracker.
Sporks are IN and dangle cups are OUT. That’s the Curve way, but you do you; pack a whole dinner set if you think it’ll be fun.
But how do I get all this on my bike?
There’s no one right way to do this; it’s a very personal thing. There is a wide range of great bikepacking bags available for you to carry all your gear. Most of the Curve crew like to distribute the weight across the bike and put heavier items towards the centre where possible.
The most common collection of bags for flashpacking (packing without sleep kit):
- Top tube bag - handy for plugs or electronics that you might need handy on the ride
- Feed bags (also called stem bags) - keep them snacks at easy access
- Frame bag - You might be able to get away without it, but if you need a bit more cold weather gear or jackets, this is a good place to add storage
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Saddle pack or Tailfin Rack - 10-16L depending how much gear you want to carry
If you’re carrying a sleep kit, this can be carried on your handlebars in a dry bag under aerobars (just like THIS) if you’re using them or in a handlebar pack depending on the shape and size of your gear.
Pro tip: Even if your bags are advertised as being waterproof, it’s best to put anything that you don’t want to get wet into a dry bag. Lightweight dry bags are also a good way to organise your gear inside the saddle pack.
Watch our video with April and Ollie talking through how to pack for flashpacking HERE
I’m all packed up, anything else I need to think about?
It always pays to check that your tyres are in good condition, that your sealant is topped up and that your brake pads have plenty of life left. If there are any issues with your bike (no matter how small) before you set off, it’s best to address them before you depart, to save you from bigger problems further down the road.
Once you’re all packed up and your bike has been checked, a shake down ride is always worth doing. It’s a great way to check that the bike handling isn’t impacted by the packing strategy you’ve chosen and that all the bags are secured and well clear of the wheels.
That’s a wrap!
You’re ready! It’s time to get out there and enjoy; don’t do anything we wouldn’t do!