Traveling as a couple on a bikepacking trip: from myth to reality
Today, I invite you to dive into the life of a duo. Because traveling as a couple is as hard as it is powerful, we wanted to put the spotlight on some extraordinary adventurers. Come and meet Annie and Nunzio, a couple we were lucky enough to meet. Their strength and their ability to put themselves in other people’s shoes left a deep impression on us, as did their moving stories.
From an unlikely meeting to a shared adventure
Who are Annie and Nunzio?
First, let me introduce Annie: she’s Canadian and works as an intensive care nurse. Like Annie, we’ve met a huge number of nurses on the road. And for good reason: it’s a job that financially allows many practitioners to travel while knowing they’ll find work again after a few months off.
Her partner is called Nunzio, and he’s from Puerto Rico. He loves thrills! Climbing big peaks or long self-supported bike trips, he’ll stop at nothing to get his dose of adrenaline!
What connects these two lovebirds is their passion for travel. That’s actually how they met three years ago in Mexico, in a karaoke bar at 5 a.m. (Sadly, we don’t have a single photo of that legendary moment to share with you… sorry!) Since that famous night, they’ve been inseparable and keep traveling the world as a couple!
Their first road together
We were lucky enough to meet Annie and Nunzio in the United States on the Great Divide. If you know our blog a little, you’re starting to know this route! For everyone else, it’s a route that links Canada to Mexico, crossing the US right through the middle. As a rule, the people we meet on this route are either riding solo or retired. We didn’t come across many people our age, and even fewer couples. So when we stumbled upon this duo, we couldn’t help asking them what they were doing there!
For Annie, bike travel was something she dreamed of doing but had never really committed to… Then, when she met Nunzio, she was deeply inspired by his previous bike adventures and wanted to share that joy!
Nunzio chose this route for their first trip as a couple because, after riding the TransAm from west to east, he realized that an adventure through the heart of the country would be more special. In other words, off the beaten track and far from cars. There’s no better way to spend time with your loved ones than in nature, on a bike and under the stars, right?
We shared the same feeling as Annie: “Traveling as a couple was truly magical! Being able to support each other through the ups and downs of bikepacking was a real asset.” But how do you prepare for a trip as intense as this one?
Setting off without a plan: the art of improvisation
The duo, flying blind
These two epicureans are among those people who don’t prepare for this kind of adventure. Honestly, it’s also the method Julien and I used, and we recommend it 100%! So they set off on this new adventure blind. Nunzio – who has a bit more experience in this area – was in charge of navigation, since he knew the gear and logistics well.
He also insisted that each of them carry what they needed. The only gear they shared was their stove and the tent.
Nunzio’s bike:
- Soma Wolverine 650b, steel;
- 48 mm tires;
- 1×12 drivetrain (because he doesn’t like having a front derailleur – less risk of mechanical failure);
- Dynamo hub to charge the lights;
- Custom pizza-themed frame bag to remind him that he’s always hungry.
Annie’s bike
- Steel Esker Hayduke with front suspension.
- Maxxis Forecaster 2.6″ tires (not a single flat or mechanical problem during the whole trip!)
- 1×12 drivetrain (which felt like enough to tackle the steep climbs)
- Dynamo hub for the lights and to charge her iPhone during the day.
Annie tells us: I really appreciated having a bit more comfort for long days in the saddle thanks to the suspension and the size of my tires
Finding the right pace
Traveling as a couple at the same tempo?
We speak from experience: the Great Divide is quite physical. Far from being a lazy river, it really puts bodies to the test. But how do you manage to keep the same pace when traveling as a pair?
Nunzio shares his view: We did have different rhythms… Annie always wanted to sleep in, and I wanted to get up before sunrise.
After a few adjustments, the duo found a balance so they could keep moving forward with peace of mind. They even ran their days like clockwork. Up around 6 a.m. for a gentle start around 7:30. Before hitting the road, two essentials. First: eat oatmeal with peanut butter and a coffee. Second: find a toilet. Once lightened, they jump on their bikes and hope to reach a town at lunchtime for a beer and a pizza!
Annie and Nunzio both share a love of rivers and lakes, so they always tried to stop for a swim whenever they had the chance. Because traveling as a couple is also about allowing yourselves moments together.
Annie: “We usually meet old friends and new friends throughout the day, and sometimes we even plan to camp together further down the trail. We gave ourselves a lot of flexibility and often rode more than planned so we could camp with our trail companions!”
Once the off-bike rhythm was set, they also had to adjust their days in the saddle. Nunzio rode a bit faster, so he sometimes rode solo, but he always made sure Annie stayed within sight.
A spanner in the works
Long hours in the saddle can lead to all kinds of pain. The one every cyclist dreads: hemorrhoids! Unfortunately, Annie didn’t escape that curse… The upshot: no riding for a whole week. During that time, they seriously considered quitting… But in the end, after a few heated arguments and an improvised trip to Moab, they decided a bit more rest would be enough to carry on.
Annie: “I felt deeply supported by Nunzio during our trip. We had to make difficult decisions, but I was convinced we were making them together.”
Life moments that bring a couple closer! But that wasn’t the only difficulty they had to face. Traveling by bike, as a couple or solo, means accepting the unexpected and the weather. Trusting your instinct to take one road rather than another. That’s how, toward the end of the trip, the monsoon started catching up with the young couple. They had to decide whether to face mud as thick as peanut butter or take the road around the Gila National Forest.
Annie: “We were both really looking forward to riding that section, but after trying to get through and getting stuck, we finally decided to change our route. It was a sad moment for us and a hard decision to make, but it was the right one. We hope to come back and ride through the Gila another time.”
From unusual ordeals to unforgettable moments
Crossing the Great Basin
Luckily, moments of doubt are quickly forgotten or replaced by happy memories. I think especially of the day we met this duo. They were coming out of a gas station with a few treats, ready to take on the Great Basin
After an exhausting day on the bike, we all met up in Atlantic City. An almost-ghost town, but a real gem! In this little village, there’s a steakhouse and a very colorful campground.
A little anecdote: Nunzio was vegetarian for a long time. After an adventure on the Baja Divide, he found himself forced to eat meat (when he was lucky enough to find any) and fish from their famous fish tacos. Leaving the restaurant, he declared that this fresh, local beef was the best steak of his whole life!
The day didn’t end there, because the funny and slightly tipsy campground owner started singing karaoke in his garage until midnight. The next day, we met up again for a pizza night to celebrate a couple’s anniversary! An unforgettable crossing of the Great Basin, so dreaded by bike travelers.
An unusual mountain pass
The most memorable moments are also the most unusual, like the day Nunzio broke the rails of his saddle and had to ride standing up for 25 km. By the end of that day, they had covered 160 km and climbed 2,700 meters! It was a test of physical and mental endurance.
Annie: “We encouraged each other until we got to camp.”
All in all, this trip definitely strengthened their bond and helped them understand each other better and be more patient with each other. Was being a couple an asset, or sometimes an obstacle?
Nunzio jokes: “It was a real obstacle when we had to hitchhike to get emergency medication! Nobody wants to pick up two adults with two big bikes“.
Traveling as a couple: the revelations!
A first big trip, and revelations
This trip was special for Annie, because it was her first big bike trip. She admits, with humor, that she feels very grateful to have taken the plunge into a bikepacking adventure alongside Nunzio.
This trip of more than 4,300 km was a chance for the two lovebirds to strengthen their bond and get to know each other a little better. In the happy moments as well as the hard ones.
Nunzio learned that Annie was tough and always up for a challenge, that she loved Coca-Cola and that she really needed her beauty sleep. Annie truly realized how outgoing Nunzio was and how vast his outdoor knowledge was.
Plans and next challenges
Curious to know a bit more about their new shared passion, we asked them whether traveling by bike as a couple was part of their next travel plans!
Nunzio: “100%. We’re always thinking about the next adventure! Our current list includes the European Divide Trail, the Eastern Divide, Japan and South Korea!”
If you only remember one thing from this article, let it be the freedom and lightness with which this couple travels by bike. Among the advice we took from this duo, here’s probably the one we’ll remember most: “Look for joy in the unknown, let the mystery guide you, don’t let it hold you back! Talk to everyone. Connections are essential. Learn each other’s favorite little pleasures. And don’t give up on your partner.”
A big thank you to them for their kindness and for taking the time to answer our questions! We hope you’ll be lucky enough one day to meet a couple as inspiring as them on one of your trips! In the meantime, if you’d like to discover the story of another traveler we met on the road, check out the story of Joe, Baja Divide finisher, and to support the blog, it’s this way!
Leave a Reply