Most Common Mistakes Bikepackers Make

The most common mistakes bikepackers make can turn an epic adventure into a frustrating experience or lead to failure. Whether it’s choosing the wrong gear, overpacking, or underestimating a route, these mistakes are easy to make—especially for beginners. I’ve seen it firsthand in both bikepacking and hiking.

We all start as novices, learning through trial and error. As a result, many of us make the same mistakes—not just on the trail but in how we prepare. Too often, riders turn to forums looking for guidance but ask the wrong questions. Instead of debating the best gear or nutrition, a better approach is to ask experienced bikepackers what mistakes they made. Learning from their experiences can help new riders avoid common pitfalls.

Shakedown rides will teach you what gear works for you. As you refine your setup, you’ll build Trail Confidence, making your rides safer and more enjoyable. I can’t stress enough how important it is to test your setup before heading out.

I surveyed fellow bikepackers to confirm my theory, and the results are below. My hope is that new riders can learn from our mistakes and gain confidence. The top five mistakes were: Poor Gear Choices, Overpacking, Poor Planning, Riding Strategy and Physical Conditioning, and Time Management.

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Lack of Research & Unrealistic Expectations

Not researching the route properly, overestimating abilities, or setting unrealistic expectations are among the most common mistakes bikepackers make. Failing to prepare adequately can lead to costly errors that affect your ride’s success. Learn from these experiences to avoid making the same missteps.

Not Enough Research (Craig Fowler – Tour Divide / GDMBR)

Mistake: My mistake wasn’t because of being naive but more based on hubris. I figured with all my thru-hiking knowledge I didn’t need to plan much. The result was I didn’t know all the options available to me along the route.

Tip: Make a point to research the ACA maps or the Tour Divide Guides on this site. The more knowledge you have the more options you have. It also gives you the power to make better, more informed decisions, which could greatly affect the outcome of your ride.

Unrealistic Mileage Goals (Lael Wilcox – Tour Divide / GDMBR)

Mistake: I’d say a common beginner mistake is to have high mileage goals. When setting out for a trip, folks often plan on 100-150KM for gravel or 60-100K on single-track. They don’t account for late departures or last-minute gear changes or mechanicals along the way.

Tip: A tip would be to budget in an extra day—kind of a free day. If everything goes smoothly on the trip, this could just be extra time to rest or spend time in a cool place. I think having extra time takes a little of the pressure off. I always want extra time :).

Misconceptions (Will Scheel – Colorado Trail)

Mistake: I thought the CTR was going to be easier than the Divide because it was shorter. I was wrong.

Tip: You’ll want good hiking shoes for the CTR and expect to hike.

Underestimating the Weather (Craig Fowler – Arizona Trail)

Mistake: I made the mistake of thinking that since it was October when I started, it wouldn’t be both too hot or too cold for me. I was wrong on both accounts. I got heat stroke on Day 1 and was forced to take two days off. Then north of the Mogollon Rim, I froze my ass off (I also didn’t bring a sleeping bag but instead brought puffy pants and a jacket). I didn’t sleep much as a result, and this made the long days on the bike even harder.

Tip: Be sure to research the average temperatures of the area you’re going to. Talk to others who have done the ride/race or that live in the area—they’ll know best. Assume the worst and prepare for that, and you’ll be fine.

PLANNING AIDS

The Project offers the best Planning aids / guides to help you plan and execute your ride. With our Planning Aids, you'll have the most information to assist you with your planning and ride.

Tour Divide Big Bundle, planning aid, guide, bikepacking, Ultimate Bikepacking and Hiking Resource

CTR, Colorado Trail Race, Planning aids, guides, bikepacking, Big Bundle, SOBO Ultimate Bikepacking and Hiking Resource

Checkout all our Planning Aids at our store. (Tour Divide, GDMBR, AZTR, CTR, Kokopelli Trail, TNGA, Coconino 250, and Bay Circuit Trail). SOBO & NOBO, as well as metric versions are available depending on the route.

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“Craig, I wanted to let you know that your bikepacking guides are incredibly well done and useful.”

Jerry O.

“Thanks again for a great guide. I’m have been using it as I prepare for the AZT750 this year.”

Paul W.

“I’m a cartographer at ACA and really wanted to tell you how great it is that you made this guide for prospective riders on TD.”

Nathan T.

“I’m reaching out to thank you for the work you’ve put into One of Seven Project. It’s been an incredible resource for me as I transition from supported to unsupported tours and bikepacking.”

Cameron C.

Gear-Related Mistakes

Bringing the wrong gear, failing to test equipment, or misjudging what’s truly necessary are some of the most common mistakes bikepackers make. Proper gear selection is critical for a smooth and efficient trip.

Water Bladder Fit (Craig Fowler – Tour Divide / GDMBR)

Mistake: I started the TD with a Platypus Big Zip LP. This bladder has a large plastic clip to make a seal. It didn’t fit well in my frame bag, and as a result, I had to not fill it completely to ensure it fit.

Tip: On the CTR, I switched to the Platypus Hoser, which was the same size but without the plastic clip. It worked better, but both the Big Zip and the Hoser are long and wide. For the AZTR, I finally switched out to an MSR Dromlite 4L, which was not only bigger but, when full, the shape was flatter and more pliable. This meant it fit better in my frame bag.

Poor Gear Choices (Will Scheel – Colorado Trail)

Mistake: I thought a dynamo wheel would be a sufficient form of power generation on the CTR, I was wrong. I thought a 45° bag and an REI SOL bivy would be enough to keep me warm at night on the Divide and CTR, I was wrong. The results was I spent a lot of time shivering instead of sleeping.

Tip: A large battery bank for Garmin and phone is definitely more effective on the CTR and kept me going for 8 days. Doing the CTR or Divide again, I’d go with at least a 30°F bag or maybe even a 20° and a bivy or tent.

Poor Gear Choices (Richard Rothwell – Colorado Trail)

Mistake: I carried a 12,000mAh USB battery for CTR to charge my Garmin 1000. Previously, this had got me through 4-day races with LOADS of power to spare. For some bizarre reason, my pack ran low within two days! So I then had to start being very prudent with its use. Why did it run low so quickly? I am sure I charged it fully. Perhaps it behaved differently in the high temps of Colorado in comparison to the Scottish Borders?!

Tip: Anyways, lesson learned; for the sake of the weight, I would also recommend using an Etrex / having one as spare (I know many use the Etrex as their main GPS, but I personally like the 1000 for the excellent nav features / big screen). As I did not know what to expect in Colorado and as a rookie, I went for the nav features of the 1000, but nav was very simple on CTR. It’s a different ball game on Highland Trail 550, where the nav can be very challenging! I will also carry a spare USB battery from now on—perhaps a 6,000mAh. But you know how it is; power to weight! Both the 1000 and the Etrex have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s horses for courses!

Chain Lube (Toby Gadd – Colorado Trail)

Mistake: Running out of chain lube. I thought that a little bottle of dry lube would be fine. It was a pretty wet year, so that little bottle didn’t last very long—and I ended up needing to use lip balm for lube on the last day.

Tip: Next time, I took a little larger bottle of traditional wet lube—and used only 1/2 of it.

Gear Testing (Craig Fowler – Colorado Trail)

Mistake: I installed a water bottle under my down tube with a strap. It broke less than halfway through Day 1.

Tip: Never add anything to your race/ride setup without thoroughly testing whether or not it’s going to work or fail on you. It’s better to have something fail on a shakedown ride than on your trip.

Navigation & Gear (Jefe Branham – Grand Loop)

Mistake: 2006 Grand Loop, my first bikepacking race. Holy hell, I learned so much. My big mistakes in that ride were navigation and taking a comfy sleeping bag. Navigation was just crude back then, map and compass style—there were no GPS tracks, and I didn’t own a GPS—so I got lost a lot and stopped at every intersection, getting so damn confused. I also overslept that year up in the La Sals because my sleeping system was too good. I ended up crossing the low desert in the heat of the day, which was not the plan!

Tip: I went back to the route in 2009, and it was the best. No sleeping bag, but with a GPS and GPS Track. I didn’t get lost, I slept lightly, and crushed the miles. It’s an often overlooked route, and for good reasons, as it’s hot and snowy, long and crappy in places, but also very remote and gorgeous.

Allergies (Timon Fish – Colorado Trail)

Mistake: I found out on the trail I was really allergic to my sleeping bag. It kinda helped, cause I couldn’t sleep much without waking up in a coughing fit and needing to keep moving.

Tip: I would have done at least a night out with my full gear setup to make sure everything worked right. That was the first time I had ever used that sleeping bag, and everyone knows it’s never a good idea to first-time something on race day.

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If you want more help with gear checkout our “If I Rode the… Again” series. We discuss what worked well and what would be even better if we rode a trail again. Learn from our experience so your’s is better the first time!

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Overpacking & Poor Packing Strategies

Carrying too much gear, overpacking food, or failing to streamline your loadout are some of the most common mistakes bikepackers make. These errors can lead to unnecessary weight, wasted energy, and an overall more difficult ride.

Overpacking Food (Timon Fish – Tour Divide / GDMBR)

Mistake: Probably overpacked food…carried a 1lb jar of peanut butter from Waterton to Buena Vista, unopened.

Tip: In terms of food, I probably could have done a better job breaking down exactly how many calories I needed to consume on each leg. At the time, I was most worried about coming up short and ending up in a huge bonk, and I thought it’d take me more hours than it actually did to go the first ~250 miles. So overall, just better planning of calories/hour and predicting how many hours it’d take.

Overpacking Gear (David Meban – Colorado Trail)

Mistake: I carried way too much stuff on the Colorado Trail. I kind of knew it.

Tip: Doing the Colorado Trail was my first extended bikepacking trip, and I was doing it solo, so I wanted to be prepared for every possible emergency. So for bike problems, I brought an extra chain, two tubes, lots of tools, etc. Looking back, I should have just carried a tube and extra links, etc. I also brought quite a few first aid items—here too, I wouldn’t bring as much. I brought things like cord/rope, which some people do—again, I’d ditch that. I have a pretty lightweight tent, but in the future, I think I would just go with a tarp. I did okay with clothing, but definitely go with wool—socks, shirts, etc. Will be good in cool and warmer temperatures—and even if you wear it days on end, it doesn’t really smell. Only carry the bare minimum of food—I never came close to running out. Hope this helps a bit.

Timing & Decision-Making

Delaying a race, wasting time on the trail, or making rash decisions are some of the most common mistakes bikepackers make. Learning to manage time and mental fatigue is key to a successful ride. I talk more about efficiency in my post, How to Save Time When Bikepacking.

Stopping Too Much (Craig Fowler – Tour Divide / GDMBR)

Mistake: As the TD was my first long-distance bikepacking trip, I stopped a lot in the beginning. This resulted in a lot of wasted time.

Tip: If you’re going to stop, don’t just stop to take a picture. Stop, take the picture, go to the bathroom, oil the chain, eat, or whatever else you might stop for.

Timing (Jefe Branham – Tour Divide / GDMBR)

Mistake: My biggest mistake was waiting so long to do it. I was scared and hesitant to try it for fear of dropping out. I didn’t want to drop. So I did other races and honed my skills, but even still, I waited out of fear. All that time and money built up the pressure on myself, and I wanted to finish very badly.

Tip: I did get to the start in 2011, and it was one of the best 16 days of my life. It was like a huge cathartic release, and it was an amazing trip. Just like the rest of life, you can’t wait to live your dreams. Go get ’em—no one else is gonna make that happen for you. One reason I regret waiting so long to do the TD is that I wish I could have raced it a couple of times more, and starting earlier would have made that more possible.

Time Management (Bob Horn – Arizona Trail)

Mistake: Wasted too much time wandering around stores during resupply stops. I felt rushed prior to the start of the race.

Tip: Know exactly what you are getting beforehand. Next time, I would try to get there a couple of days early if scheduling permitted.

Starting Cold (Bob Horn – Arizona Trail)

Mistake: Going from the car to the bike with no real transition made for a tough start to what would already be a tough race.

Tip: Working off my first mistake, try getting there early and getting a couple of rides in leading up to race start so transition isn’t as drastic.

Making Decisions When Tired (Bob Horn – Arizona Trail)

Mistake: I decided to scratch too soon while I was on the ropes.

Tip: If possible, sleep on it. If you feel bad in the morning, then make the call, but don’t do it when you aren’t thinking clearly.

Riding Strategy & Physical Conditioning

Wasting time on unnecessary stops, pushing too hard too soon, or failing to pace properly are among the most common mistakes bikepackers make. Learning efficiency and proper conditioning will make a big difference.

Tire Pressure (Chase Medina – Tour Divide / GDMBR)

Mistake: Messing with tire pressure; DON’T. In a fatigued state, late one night, I thought it’d be a really good idea to inflate my tires to 30lbs to help climb a series of passes I was dreading. Forgot to deflate for the descent and crashed pretty hard due to no traction.

Tip: What I do now is: I’ve found my exact tire pressure front/back that works for me and the road surface conditions I expect, and I leave it there. Through trial and error on the 2018 TD, for the last 1,800 miles after the crash, I found my exact front and rear tire pressure that works for me, and I don’t mess with it.

Pacing (Bob Horn – Arizona Trail)

Mistake: I overexerted myself on climbs.

Tip: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t let your pride get in the way. Walk hills you’d otherwise power through on a normal ride. Conserve precious energy.

Speed Training (Jefe Branham – Colorado Trail)

Mistake: I’ve made every mistake in the book, and I learned how to be tough and persistent by not giving up—except once in 2011, post TD. That being said, my biggest mistake was not doing enough speed work leading up and then taking too much time off the bike before the race. I would go out hard and end up with cramps—oh god, those cramps. I’d fight the cramps for the first day and end up feeling okay, but it was ridiculous torture.

Tip: I learned that just doing long slow stuff isn’t enough, and taking three days completely off the bike and drinking lots of beer was not the best taper! If I’m really focused on the CTR, I do more interval-type stuff, do a few easy spin rides in the days leading up to the race start, or I take it easy the first day and let myself warm up and then crush it later in the race. On top of that, I’d also say that I learned that if you don’t give up, keep suffering and moving, you can make it.

Summary

Let’s face it—mistakes happen, but there are things we can do to minimize them. Luckily for you, most of the common mistakes bikepackers make have already been made by others. This post’s goal is to share those lessons so you can avoid them and learn from others’ experiences.

The best thing anyone can do is to truly know themselves. Knowing what you want, how you deal with situations, and how you’re affected by conditions is key to bikepacking. Not knowing oneself can lead to poor decisions based on bad information, often resulting in the most common mistakes bikepackers make. The more you know about the trail you’re riding and yourself, the better your decisions will be.

MORE RESOURCES

Read these next or checkout the main resource page.

PLANNING / GEAR RESOURCES

PLANNING AIDS

1 2 3

Checkout all our Planning Aids at our store. (Tour Divide, GDMBR, AZTR, CTR, Kokopelli Trail, TNGA, Coconino 250, and Bay Circuit Trail). SOBO & NOBO, as well as metric versions are available depending on the route.

TRIPLE CROWN GEAR

1 2 3

Dive into all three gear lists from the Bikepacking Triple Crown, and find pros & cons; things I’d do differently; and tips.

“IF I RODE…” SERIES

1 2 3

In depth look at what I would bring for gear and why, if I rode the Tour Divide, CTR, AZTR, Kokopelli Trail, and Bay Circuit Trail again.

RIDER SURVEYS

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Curios to know what gear other riders used to get to the finish line? Checkout our Rider Surveys to find out what works or to take the survey yourself.