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Human beings like to have as many experiences as they can, and if you are an athlete that loves to explore the world, then your hunger only grows after each adventure. Bike packing has evolved into various forms over the years, and it not only includes international bike packing and even winter bike packing. With the advent of tracking technology, you can now desert bike packing. If you have been dreaming of riding through the sand and exploring the deep parts of the desert, then this article is especially for you. We have compiled some of the best tips to follow should you decide to go bike packing.
Six tips to follow for a successful desert bike packing trip
Make sure you have water
The essential survival need that is hard to come by in the desert is water. If you are going bike-packing in a desert where the water sources are clearly defined, it is advisable to take a lot of water with you and store it in a filter bottle. This will allow you to refill the bottle from these water sources when you come across them in the desert. However, if you are traveling to a place where the water sources are unknown, you are hoping to navigate for some time before eventually leaving the desert area. You should carry enough water to last you through your desert journey and beyond. You should have light packs of water, and you should avoid drinking too much at once. The bottom line is that you should never run out of water when you go bike-packing in the desert.
Travel light
Even though you need to carry water and other essential equipment with you, you have to make sure they are lightweight, and the weight of your bike can easily support them. This means that when you are preparing to go bike-packing in the desert, your gear should be designated as lightweight. When you are traveling and cycling through the desert, you are already in one of the hottest terrains globally, and you are bound to feel tired and spent after some time. If your gear is too heavy, you would soon feel the pressure, and your journey would no longer be as refreshing and exciting as you initially planned it out to be.
Use sunscreen
As we said earlier, the desert destination is one of the hottest places globally, and this is because of the harsh sun that is most common around areas like that. If you are going bike packing in the desert, then you should expect to meet a more challenging climate than the one you are used to already. One of the ways you can adequately prepare and beat this condition is by using sunscreen. Sunscreen will protect your skin and allow you to ride around the desert with as much vigor as you like.
Carry a repair kit
One of the worst things that can happen to any bike packer is to have his bike develop a fault on his tour without him having a repair kit to fix the bike. If you are bike-packing in an urban area, you can easily take the bike to the nearest repair shop, and your problem is solved. However, if you bike-pack in the desert and your bike gets damaged, you are in a whole lot of trouble. You must carry a repair kit with you anytime you go bike packing so you can save yourself the heartache of walking home all by yourself while dragging your bike and other gear slowly behind you.
Take electrolytes and protein bars with you
If you want to stay strong throughout your desert bike packing journey, you need more than just water. You also need food that will give you strength and keep you going. Since it is impossible to come across your occasional food canteen in the desert, you should carry protein bars and electrolytes with you. This will allow you to get the best nourishment on the go, and it will keep you strong enough to enjoy every minute of your bike packing journey.
Study the terrain
Perhaps the most critical advice we can give to anybody going bike packing is to study the terrain. Before you head out into the desert, you have to check the scope, water points, entry and exit points, landmass, and other necessary things about the desert. This will allow you to plan your route and optimize your journey so that you don’t spend more than one minute more than you planned.
Conclusion
Adventure is life, and risk-taking is what keeps us going. If you are planning on going bike packing and still thinking of how to go about it, following these guidelines will help you plan and execute a successful trip. Cheers!
