The Cowichan Valley 8 is a 190km figure-eight bikepacking route that starts and ends at the parliament buildings in downtown Victoria, British Columbia. Become a member to support this and learn more about the initiative here. More here. July 2022: There are additional closures between Hope and Chilliwack Lake due to washouts. Rideable over 3 days (if youre fit), this route absolutely nails the High Country bikepacking adventure experience. Some chunky gravel. Find the full route network below (other than overnighters), including race routes, contributed routes, and our routes. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. Rail trails, country backroads, MTB parks and alpine road ascents, they're all here! Plus, they are a great double for a pillow. Along the way youll also see evidence of settler history, in the form of old railway, logging, and mining infrastructure. Surface: mostly well-groomed gravel. Just short enough to enjoy a few stops along the way. Learn more here. Terrain:very hilly until the Warby Rail Trail. Dried fruit is a great snack option, as are your regulation muesli bars. As such, our editorial team, route creators, and Route Stewards serve as mediators for route improvements and opportunities for connectivity, conservation, and community growth around these routes. The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you wont want to miss! Yes, you will lose bike-bag space, but you still have the usual bag options, they will just have less volume, and there are also some nifty cargo-carrying options, such as Aeroes Spider Rear Rack, Handlebar Cradle and accessories (see our review of this set-up, here). These single-ring drivetrains go very close to matching the limits of a 2x drivetrain setup especially in terms of those granny-gear ratios. Find the best Bikepacking trails in Victoria (Australia). The historic town of Beechworth is the perfect start/finish point for your High Country bikepacking or flashpacking adventure. A massive thanks to Pepper for putting her faith in my route planning skills and blindly riding out into the wilderness on what is a very challenging part of Victoria for bikepacking. I have a few too many in Victoria's high countrythe story of a mountain biking and brewery road trip. For the well-off, there are titanium-frame options. Terms of Use: As with each bikepacking route guide published on BIKEPACKING.com, should you choose to cycle this route, do so at your own risk. Too many p. - 160.7 km, +1345 m. Bike ride in Victoria, BC, British Columbia. These days, dehydrated meals are pretty damn good and easy to pack in your bike bags. Day 1 of this ride departs from Gravelmob HQ at The Old Beechworth Gaol and sends you on scenic backroads through farming country before arriving for lunch in the King Valley village of Moyhu. Can be done on a gravel bike. Bikepackings exploratory (and fun) ethos, and its focus on going lightweight where possible, saw a resultant need in a new, effective way of lugging gear, where those narrow trails wouldnt cause any grief, and you could still ride your bike as it was meant to be ridden, i.e., you didnt have to make allowances for wonky weight distribution and that wide rear end. Some two-person hiking tents can be as light as 1kg. As mentioned earlier, gravel bikes come with the standard road size wheel 700C (equivalent to a 29-inch wheel) and these are great. Beechworth is 30 minutes from the Hume Freeway. A short bikepacking overnighter can be just as rewarding and restorative as a big trip. The climb up is steep and challenging, but on a clear day youll be greeted with views of the ocean and mountains in the distance. Bikepacking and cycle touring routes in Victoria, Australia rides Click through to rides on the maps below or scroll through the list below Featured Gals Gone Gramps iconic, moderate-hard, gravel, mountain bike Where: Grampians/GariwerdWestern Victoria Length: 155km Difficulty: moderate/hard Terrain: mixture of hills and flat GCOR is a 440 mile unsupported ride around the rugged and remote Olympic Mountains in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Six of the best steel gravel bikes for sale in Australia in 2023, Five of the best victorian cycling roads you probably haven't heard of. And for those looking to have a red hot crack, you just might be able to knock it over in under 48 hours. Your fitness, amount of remote experience, riding ability and bike suitability is also out of Gravelmobs control. Well, thats actually pretty simple to answer: bikepacking borrows partly from the North American term backpacking, used to describe self-supported multi-day/long-distance hiking. What:challenging climbs, fast descents, temperate rainforest, farmland, Yarra River, small towns, gourmet food & wine, Where:the Otway Rangessouth-west Victoria. Map 2. More here. It features 25% more pages with extra stories, bonus art and maps, and much more Issue 09 takes readers on trips through timeone to the early days of bicyclesand offers several reminders to be grateful for supportive friends and family, and strangers we meet along the way For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives weve long been eager to share May 2022: There are closures along the KVR due to washouts and landslides. Surface: sealed and unsealed roads, rail trail. The only issue with that larger (and thus faster) wheel size is if you wish to fit fatter tyres for rougher trails. Over three foggy days and frigid nights, I experience the beauty of the Grampiansand ponder the direction of my life. Negatives are that you have no floor, condensation can be an issue in more humid climes, and that creepy-crawlies have free reign. We have several in the works already, with many more to come. The tubeless tyre works with the use of a liquid sealant that you put inside your tyre. Be sure, however, to check the length of the tents poles and if they will fit inside one of your bike bags length-wise. With rolling hills, limestone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, amazing beaches, and endless bush, theres something for everyone. Published in Renew Magazine. The routes are just suggested loops on publicly-accessible roads and tracks, and the day-to-day quality, safety, difficulty and open/closed status of any part of the routes is totally outside of Gravelmobs control. They are most suited to solo adventurers but there are additional accessories (larger pots, pans) for bigger groups if need be. This list of cheaper gear alternatives will get you rolling, without the eye-watering price tag. For bedding, a down sleeping bag is the best option. Similar to the bike bags, going lightweight is not cheap but, again, the initial investment will see you reap the benefits for many years of bikepacking adventures. The Bikepacking Journal is our biannual printed publication. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Sarah Swallow's One-Hour-A-Day Challenge encourages participants to get out and move for at least 60 minutes daily through May 30th. I chat with Sam Mitchelladventurer and E-bike pioneerwho tackled Australia's toughest ride whilst towing an old trampoline. We have over 300 original and curated bikepacking routes in our global network spanning nearly 50 countries. Tucked away in the Ruffy Highlands, this little-used gravel gem unfolds like a story book. Ive been bikepacking and touring for over a decade. Surface:about 50/50 sealed/unsealed. For MTB-based riders, the two most popular wheel options today are 27.5-inch (also known as 650B) and 29-inch. Where:Ruffy Highlands, Strathbogie Tablelands, Euroacentral Victoria. And theyre offering an exclusive discount to ACV readers. Not only do they provide more warmth per gram than a synthetic bag, but they also pack down smaller always important when loading your bike bags! Moderate gradients. Surface: sealed roads, gravel roads, rail trail. You'll receive an opt-in email before being added. We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. While riding, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow the #leavenotrace guidelines. And by that we mean bikepacking is little about speed and most about efficiency over long distances and distances that include knee-killing ascents. One other night-time camp essential is a head-torch and dont forget to bring spare batteries. Recommended gravel-type bike with 35mm or wider tyres. If you went the rack option, wed recommend a rear rack firstly, and then decide on how you wish to utilise that space in your bike frame, as well as the handlebar area. For that around Australia (or the world) expedition wed go mechanical disc brakes. The Otway Rip is a three-day gravel route designed to take in some of the best bits of beach and bush in South West Victoria. Make sure to set your shared image folder to public! Its name changes along along the way, at different times being called Nolans Road, Tarcombe-Ruffy Road, Ponkeen Creek Road, and finally Hughes Creek Road. The BC Trail traverses eastward across British Columbias southern border. The BC Trail is a 1,200 kilometer traverse of southern British Columbia, starting in the Fraser Valley and ending in Fernie, on the Alberta border. The trouble is, there's also a lot of paved roads so, at the very least, you'll have to cross a lot of paved roads even if you never ride down them. We have a number of large-scale projects in the works, in addition to modifications and action needed on existing routes, so be sure to get on the mailing list to stay up to date. In terms of difficulty this route is a pretty easy 4 out of 10. BIKEPACKING.com LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route. Can be done on a gravel-type bike, though some may prefer a MTB. The route is split into two different sections. Their Women's Slickrock shorts now come in 5", 7", and 9" inseam options. More here. Surface:mostly gravel/dirt. The source for original bikepacking routes, guides, and dirt touring itineraries from off the beaten path. The Cowichan Valley 8 makes for a perfect weekend escape for locals and visitors alike, and its diverse terrain and lush rainforests will have you wishing for more by the time youre done. That said, there are some chunky sections and you might be more comfortable on a hardtail mtb or adventure bike with fatter tyres. It features 25% more pages with extra stories, bonus art and maps, and much more Issue 09 takes readers on trips through timeone to the early days of bicyclesand offers several reminders to be grateful for supportive friends and family, and strangers we meet along the way For Issue 08, we invited several contributors to return and pick up where earlier trips and ideas left off and also feature a handful of first-timers whose perspectives weve long been eager to share Cowichan Valley Trail Closures: There have been reports that sections along the Cowichan Valley Trail are closed due to washouts caused by heavy rainfall. Find details on the three most recent issues below, join the Bikepacking Collective to get it in the mail (anywhere in the world), or click here to find a collection of selected stories in digital format. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. You need to be logged in to use these features. The Cowichan Valley Trail turns back eastward, passing by Cowichan River Provincial Park and great camping opportunities at Stoltz Pool Campground, passing through the town of Duncan before joining the top loop of the routes figure-eight shape. The story of a ride over the Victorian high country on back roads and trails, following ACVs Dargo High Plains route. The only possible addition to this basic set-up would be for those riding a dual-suspension MTB a small backpack. Its an epic ride with superb gravel roads, tough climbs, fast descents and incredible scenery. As we update and refine some of our popular published routes, we'll induct them into the network, along with other distinguished rides. For 2021 the Great Victorian Bike Ride is going through the Grampians in western Victoria. Miles completed the BC Epic 1000 portion of the route in 5 days, 10 hours during the 2017 Grand Depart and invites any questions to be posted below. There are more than 50 different First Nations on Vancouver Island, located in three distinct tribal regions: Coast Salish, Nuu chah nulth, and Kwakwaka'wakw. It is used to pack lightweight, bulky items, such as sleeping bags, down jackets, and spare clothing. New Bikepacking Collective Routes are partially funded and supported by the Bikepacking Collective, our member community. Negatives are a lack of power compared to their hydraulic brethren and theres barely any modulation. Wed also probably add a top-tube bag, for items you want at-hand, such as snacks, phone, tools, camera, etc. 721 Carlsborg Rd. After passing by Bamberton Provincial Park, a potential camping spot along the route, the Mill Bay Ferry provides safe crossing to Brentwood Bay. You'll receive an opt-in email before being added. As an added bonus, a self-supported bikepacking race, known as the BC Epic 1000, follows the BC Trail from Merritt to Fernie every June in true grand depart format. Along the way, she's also seeking to raise $5,000 for the Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and . Since then, jumping on your bike and heading into the great unknown has been popular, world-wide. Lake Sirio on the Via Francigena, Piedmont, Italy, Photograph: Alamy. In the early 90s the BC Trail began as part of the Trans Canada Trail project as an effort to expand the already-popular Kettle Valley Rail Trail across the province, from Victoria to the Alberta border. The seat bag attaches via a strap system to your bikes seat-post and seat rails, ensuring it doesnt wobble while riding and affect your balance. The opening part of the route is called the Heuvelrug Divide. Short section of sealed road. This multi-use trail is 60km long, providing a safe bicycle route from Victoria to Sooke. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. Easily accessible from the big smoke, it's a ripper way to spend a long summer weekend! We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. A guide to some of the best bicycle touring in Victoria, Australia, featuring a wide variety of multi-day bike rides. Farmers dont have time for. A handlebar bag attaches (obviously!) Weekend Routes (2-4) Week-long Routes (5-10) Odyssey Routes (11-30) "Freakouts" (31+) Local Overnighters. Its mild climate and diverse terrain open up endless opportunities for year-round adventures. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. Recommended XC mountain bike or gravel bike with wide tyres. You can store a spare brake cable in one of your bags and the pads used are pretty common. You need to be logged in to use these features. By Length (days) Overnighters & S24O; Weekend Routes (2-4) Week-long Routes (5-10) Odyssey Routes (11-30) "Freakouts" (31+) Local Overnighters. By subscribing you become an AG Society member, helping us to raise funds for conservation and adventure projects. Surface:sealed roads, gravel roads, rail trails, some rougher sections. Scouting missions often include one or more of the following tasks: Some routes require more attention and input than others. The return to Beechworth on day 2 sees you riding the spectacular Rose River Road to Lake Buffalo before lunch in Myrtleford and the final push up Flagstaff Road back into Stanley and Beechworth. The Bikepacking Collective Route Network is our established collection of original and exceptional bikepacking routes designed by our team of experienced Route Architects or skilled contributors from the community. As long as your bike has been well serviced, theres no reason that a dual-suspension MTB of yours cant do double service Its all about compromise in bikepacking. In part one of our reportage from the 2023 event, Evan Christenson digs up a dozen interesting finds, including bikepacking bags from Osprey, Taco Pedals from Simworks, and much more. In this video, we take a look at the top 12 most popular bikepacking routes in our network for 2021. The Levarg FB is the flat-bar version in the range. Cheap (OR FREE) gear substitutes for bikepacking and touringa somewhat comprehensive guide, Five of the best bits of camping equipment for bikepacking and touring, The best touring bikes for sale in Australia in 2023, Why the Victorian train network is great for cyclists, A ride of loss, love and longing among the mountain ash, Cold and Alone: the beauty of winter bikepacking. Published on Cycling Tips. Published in Ride On magazine Autumn 2017. A mountain bike would be easier. 25-year-old Leila Husain from Brevard, NC decided to tackle her first bikepacking trip this year during the incredibly challenging Trail version of the Rockstar Challenge, an annual self-supported event that runs from Harrisonburg to Roanoke, Virginia. The other option is a methylated spirits stove (metho can be found in most places) that also offers a wider, more stable base and is still light in weight. Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed. Click here to login, or start an account if youre not yet a member of the Bikepacking Collective. The Victoria Divide is a 570km off-road bikepacking route, traversing the Great Dividing Range across the state of Victoria, from Melbourne to Albury/Wodonga When Date: February 26, 2022 Time: 11:00 am Details Event Website Organizer: Lewis Ciddor Email: lewisciddor@gmail.com Where Wurundjeri Spur Lookout Yarra Boulevard We respectfully acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners of the land and pay respect to their elders, past, present and future. Hughes Creek Road. They are equally at ease on sealed and unsealed surfaces. Start at our worldwide routes map to dig into our detailed guides with GPS maps and inspiring photography. Day 1 85km | Day 2 95km | Total 1,850 vm | 80% gravel. We started the Route Scouts program back in 2017 to foster community involvement and harness on-the-ground and local expertise for route documentation and planning. As the leading creator and publisher of bikepacking routes, BIKEPACKING.com endeavors to maintain, improve, and advocate for our growing network of bikepacking routes all over the world. Via Francigena: the pilgrim route from Canterbury to Rome. Surface: Sealed road, gravel, hard packed dirt, rail trail. One steep rocky downhill which can be easily avoided. The route, roughly following the shape of a figure-eight, starts and ends in British Columbias capital, the city of Victoria. Riding around an entire mountain range: how cool is that! We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. Wide tyres will help. Sometimes its just as nice to jump on a train and roll down to the beach for a swim. A tubeless tyre allows more control over air pressure you run inside it, which can aid comfort and traction; a tyre with lower pressure will fold over rocks and rough terrain more easily than one that is too firm. After all, if you do run out of gears and legs you can just walk up that hill! A tubeless tyre allows more control over air pressure you run inside it, which can aid comfort and traction; a tyre with lower pressure will fold over rocks and rough terrain more easily than one that is too firm. Share your submission. The special edition 10th issue of The Bikepacking Journal is one you wont want to miss! Here are six of the best bikepacking routes in the UK that make us want to ditch our laptop, grab a bicycle and cycle into the sunset. Regarding cookware, seek out lightweight titanium pots and pans if you can. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. The Cowichan Valley lies within the Coast Salish First Nations territory, extending throughout British Columbia and northern Washington State. Impressively, bikepacking is easily accessible to anyone that can ride, and it isnt that hard to get a set-up sorted that allows you to explore. Where: Dandenong Ranges, just outside of Melbourne. Mountain bike or big-tyred gravel-type bike recommended. The Local Overnighters Project is a unified effort to document and map one-night bikepacking routes all over the worldby locals, in their own backyards. Learn more about each initiative and get involved by signing up below. Terms of Use: As with each bikepacking route guide published on BIKEPACKING.com, should you choose to cycle this route, do so at your own risk. Taking in the High Country towns and villages of Beechworth, Eldorado, Chiltern, Rutherglen, Glenrowan, Milawa, Moyhu, Whitfield, Cheshunt, Porepunkah, Bright, Mount Beauty, Mitta Mitta, Tallangatta, Yackandandah and Stanley along the route, it includes hundreds of kilometres of sensational gravel backroads riding, avoids main roads wherever possible, takes in sections of the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail and the High Country Rail Trail, and conquers three big climbs Goldie Spur, Tawonga Gap and Trappers Gap. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be usedas a point of inspirationin conjunction with your own due-diligence. He fell in love with bike travel while touring the United States in 2014 and it has been a huge part of his life ever since. Run wot ya brung is the pared-down explanation as to which bike is best for bikepacking. The size of your handlebar bag will, to an extent, be governed by what type of handlebars you run; MTB bars allow the bag to be wider, gravel/road drop bars are narrower so you have less width to utilise. While decommissioned rail trails still make up the majority of the terrain, dont be fooled, many of these sections are rough and are hard on gear and riders alike. BIKEPACKING.com LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individual riders cycling or following this route. Route Development: This route was created to capture the best parts of the Shipwreck Coast and Otway Region, an area of South West Victoria that attracts millions visitors a year. Weve curated a range of adventures to suit most riders.Bring your climbing legs and come and experience some true backroads riding in Victorias High Country. The author tackled it on a fat bike. Gravel-type bike recommended. Check out more of where Bens been riding on Instagram @bushdreamer. In terms of bike choice, we designed this to be enjoyable on our personal gravel bikes (an alloy Giant TCX with 700x42mm tyres and a steel Curve Grovel with 6502.0 tyres), so most of the route is good quality gravel. Over nighters. The rides relatively short, but this overnighter is a ripper and we often ride it ourselves with our kids. This ride takes in much of the area of the proposed Great Forest National Park. Although the majority of the route is not technically difficult, there are some loose, sandy, and sections with repetitive washboard that can be hard on riders. Bikes, camping gear, food and a cracking campsite. Its easily accessed from Wangaratta or Albury train stations, less than 30 minutes drive from the Hume Highway and is home to some of Australias best gravel riding. Gravel-type bike recommended. By Length (days) Overnighters & S24O; Weekend Routes (2-4) Week-long Routes (5-10) Odyssey Routes (11-30) "Freakouts" (31+) Local Overnighters. As such, our editorial team, route creators, and Route Stewards serve as mediators for route improvements and opportunities for connectivity, conservation, and community growth around these routes. Shortly after navigating Victorias urban pathways, youre soon immersed in a scenic tour of whats known as the South Island, eventually skirting alongside the Cowichan River before the return journey back to Victoria. What:amazing temperate rainforest, good climbs, fun descents, lookouts,wildlife, giant trees, wet and dry eucalypt forest, comfy campsites with fireplaces, a feeling of total isolation and a couple of logging coupes, Where:Ballarat, Daylesford, Castlemaine, BendigoCentral Victoria. British Columbia Assembly of First Nations. Vancouver Island, located off Canadas Pacific Coast, is a four-season playground for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. Nearly all bike bags use oversized zips and clip systems that are super tough, minimising any chance of damage or need of repairs. The Cowichan Valley Trail, which is primarily a wide gravel path, passes on the west side of Shawnigan Lake, crossing several smaller bridges and the popular Kinsol Trestle along the way. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. . What:attractive pastoral areas, fresh produce, wineries, Yarra River, tall mountain ash forest, rainforest, challenging climbs, fast descents, historical mining settlement, Victoria's tallest tree! Surface:sealed & well-made gravel. A carbon-fibre frame will be lighter than a steel or aluminium equivalent. I talk to the people behind some of Australia's great bike-related social enterprises. A guide to the best bikepacking and bicycle-touring routes in Victoria. As well as better braking power and modulation, they require less user input: well set-up hydraulic disc brakes will require only one finger to use. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. $99+ at Backcountry. Our core group of Route Architects is made up of passionate, skilled individuals who are largely responsible for the Bikepacking Collective Routes network or have larger routes in the works. The BC Trail is arguably the best way to explore and visit the many breathtaking regions of British Columbia. Youll also find a few towns along the way offering up freshly brewed beer and hot chips to keep ya stoked! We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. Were expecting this will become an iconic High Country bikepacking loop. Check out Trail Towns on SBS. There's more than 132,000 km of dirt roads and tracks in Victoria. BIKEPACKING.com is dedicated to exploration by bicycle. We now have over 130,000 km (82,000 miles) worth of routes in nearly 50 countries. Traversing 426km and climbing an overall 6100m, there are quite a few uphill stretches. What: rail trail, rugged remote gravel roads, wilderness, breweries. This gem follows several regional trails, including the Galloping Goose Trail, Sooke Wilderness Trail, and The Great Trail. Its the ultimate just-in-case scenario. However, for gnarlier adventures NZs Paparoa Track and Old Ghost Road are two examples where the terrain is uneven, loose, steep and rocky, the ability of the dual-suspension MTB to deliver a comfortable and safe ride is its main party trick. To access and experience this area by bike is bloody amazing. Perhaps the best known bikepacking route of all, the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route follows unpaved roads and trails for about 90 per cent of its 2,700 miles. And to get there by train allows you to relax and enjoy the simple pleasure of bike travel without the hassle of a car. These vary in size according to the bike style they are designed for and can range from a half-frame volume of between 3L to 6L, through to a full-frame sizing of between 5L and 10L. ACV acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and play. Give us a call if you want information about the route. This compensates somewhat for the smaller frame bag youd have to use and could include a hydration bladder for easy access to water, plus lightweight clothing or, again, some snacks. The route passes through several smaller parcels of First Nation land, including Songhees, Esquimalt, Malahat (MLEXE), and Cowichan, the largest single First Nations Band in British Columbia. Nothing beats getting out of your bike shoes after a day in the saddle. Terrain: mix of flat and hilly terrain. After camping overnight, day 2 includes two solid climbs back up Mount Porepunkah (gravel) and then the Back of Stanley (sealed) before a very welcome descent from Stanley back into Beechworth.