IT’S EARLY SPRING – LET’S GO BIKEPACKING!

 

Here at Wheelbase we’ve shown how keen we are on adventure cycling and the sub-genre that goes hand in hand, wild camping. Here’s a short story from a recent trip I took with the all-new Mondraker Crafty RR on a Lake District Bikepacking journey, to see how it fairs in what I would deem to be an unconventional form for this EMTB. This bike is most definitely designed to conquer tight, technical single track and suchlike and will very easily take that sort of riding in its stride, but how would it fair as a fully-laden pack-horse?

This trip was the first time that the Mondraker Crafty RR e-mountain bike took on Bikepacking duties.

 

With fuel prices currently rising I’m always thinking about ways I can experience bike-themed adventures straight from my front door; the Lake District National Park is a mere five miles or so from my doorstep, so there are plenty of fantastic mountain bike routes to tackle nearby once my cycling legs have warmed up.

By carrying the minimum amount of equipment required we travelled light and were able to gain elevation quickly.

 

Now, when Bikepacking and wild camping there’s a certain etiquette I like to stick by when heading high up into the hills and I have a few examples. Here in England, there are two rules I stand steadfast to; my first one is to arrive late and leave early. Doing this is just considered good practice when wild camping for no particular reason other than being considerate towards others and keeping a positive outlook on the wild camping community. The second and most important rule adheres to the ‘leave no trace’ movement, packing out all of your rubbish AND any more that you may have found. All that should be left on your departure at dawn is a flat piece of ground where your tent was once pitched.

The Apidura Bikepacking luggage comfortably fitted my Mondraker Crafty RR for a practical but lively ride.

 

On this particular Bikepacking trip we arrived late, about an hour before sundown and found a flat spot on the side of the fell where we pitched the tents and cooked tea. In the north of England your evening meal is always referred to as ‘tea’ rather than dinner but we can debate that another day! When I’m camping out on the hills I generally take dehydrated meals which are super easy to pack, are calorific and cause minimal fuss – just add boiling water for a quick and convenient meal.

Dehydrated meals are quick and convenient when you’re Bikepacking in remote areas.

 

Setup your camp late, depart early and leave nothing but a small patch of flattened grass.

 

The weather settled down early in the evening and made way for crystal clear skies once the sun had set, with minimal wind. Up high on the hills the deafening silence was only broken by the tent flapping in the wind and the resident sheep bleating to each other  in the distance. As I settled in for the night I’m pretty sure I heard some owls hooting as they started their nocturnal night shift.

A beautiful, still night was our reward for risking camping out so early in spring.

 

We woke early doors to frost on the tent and a still, calm, cold morning in the Lake District. A tactical coffee was made in an attempt to defrost the extremities and then we quickly broke camp, packed up and adopted our usual policy of departing early, leaving no trace. As we headed off onto some of our favourite trails the early morning sun lit up Windermere and the surrounding fells; what a crackin’ start to the day.

What a stunning morning, with a light frost and a beautiful sunsrise.

 

A quick coffee to warm us up and bring us back to life ready for our ride off the hills.

 

I often get asked the question – what do you get out of sleeping outside in a simple shelter such as a tent or a bivvy? My response is generally something along the lines of me not having an agenda, having no phone signal, only my camera and a book to keep me occupied. It’s something I do to lift me out of the rat-race of everyday life where we’re constantly connected to everyone and everything at the few touches of a button on the Smartphone. Bikepacking gives me such a sense of adventure because more distance can be covered in a shorter amount of time, enabling access to most places where bikes are permitted in the lakes. Parts of this ride had to be pushed but it’s well worth a short section of hike-a-bike for sunrises and sunsets on fells such as these.

Your feature writer and Bikepacking aficionado – Andrew Barlow.

 

The Mondraker Crafty RR e-mountain bike has quickly proved itself as a reliable power-charged Bikepacking machine.

 

Want to get into Bikepacking and wild camping? Stay tuned as we put together a comprehensive list to help you along your way should you want to strike out on your own mini adventure…

 

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photography by Andrew Barlow

 

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