What is bikepacking? Why we set off from Canada to Patagonia
What does going bikepacking really mean? How did we get here? Why did we decide to leave everything behind and hit the roads of the American continent, from Canada to Patagonia?
This first article of our adventure journal traces our journey and the careful preparation for this extraordinary adventure. From our initial hesitations to Julien’s unwavering determination, every step led us to that key moment: getting on our bikes, saying goodbye to everyday life and pedaling into the unknown.
Ready to come along? Then let us tell you how it all began.
What is bikepacking?
The urge for a bikepacking adventure is a slightly crazy idea that pops up without you really knowing where it comes from. So, to help you understand how we ended up setting off on the famous Canada-Patagonia route, here’s an article to give you some context.
On Wikipedia, bikepacking is described like this: “Bikepacking is a minimalist form of bicycle touring that differs from traditional touring by not using racks, replaced by bags usually strapped to the handlebars, the frame or the seatpost.”
Let’s be honest, that definition isn’t exactly the stuff of dreams! For Julien and me, this urge for a bikepacking adventure on the American continent meant one thing above all: freedom.
Bikepacking also means diving into total uncertainty. Every morning, we’re sure of one thing: we’re going to pedal. But the rest? Everything is up for grabs. Will we find somewhere to pitch the tent before nightfall? Will we have enough to eat after a day of effort? This constant uncertainty could be stressful, but it’s also exhilarating: it forces us to live in the moment, to adapt and to accept the unknown.
In reality, the definition of bikepacking doesn’t matter much, because every trip is unique. A route, the weather, an encounter, and the experience becomes radically different. On the road, we quickly realized we weren’t the only ones to have had this idea. Around the bend of a trail or sharing an improvised campfire, we met other bike travelers, each with their own route, their own struggles and their own little joys. It’s a big nomadic community, invisible to the settled world, yet very real. And that’s the whole magic of bike travel: you set off alone, and find yourself surrounded.
How our bikepacking trip began: Canada – Patagonia
Every story has a beginning
We both dreamed of this adventure around the globe. In fact, that dream is what brought us together. Without knowing it, we shared the same need to leave everything behind and go far away. Julien wanted to treat himself to a trip around the world for his 30th birthday, and I wanted to explore the landscapes of New Zealand before my master’s degree. Unfortunately, in 2020 (the year we had both planned to leave), COVID-19 had other plans.
Yet not leaving is what allowed us to meet at the office. One coffee led to another, and one fine day we took the plunge and got together. After a few months, Julien left for Colombia to develop his design agency abroad. And that’s when everything changed.
A 360° CHANGE OF COURSE
Well settled into his life in Medellín, Julien juggled work and outdoor training on his bike. He discovered Colombia’s spectacular landscapes and enjoyed the freedom he had been looking for.
One morning, his father called to tell him he had cancer. A heartbreaking father-son call, all the more painful because thousands of kilometers separated them. That moment awakened a thirst for adventure that had been dormant in him for so long.
As every weekend, he got on his bike to escape the bustle of the city. Near a summit, he crossed paths with Oleg, a bike traveler who had set off from Alaska and was heading for Argentina. Intrigued by his impressive load, he started a conversation. After a long chat, he offered to host him for a few nights. That meeting led to a rich and inspiring exchange that pushed Julien to sign up on Warmshowers to host other travelers looking for a roof.
A few days later, he picked up the phone to call his partners. His decision was made: he would step down in the summer of 2024, two years later. A choice that felt natural, both personally and professionally. After ten years successfully co-running Blackballoon, a design agency, it was time for him to explore new horizons.
As for me, after almost four years at a startup specializing in physical and mental well-being at work, I realized it was time to go in search of my own.
Choosing a destination
The next step was choosing our destination. A big question when you’re suddenly struck by the urge for a bikepacking adventure. Yet we managed to agree fairly quickly. We had several ideas and wishes. The easiest to set up: leave from home and ride to Asia. An idea I fully backed, having fallen in love with Asian countries after a month of backpacking in the Philippines and an internship of a few months in Hong Kong. Julien, for his part, wanted to start with the African continent. He had been lucky enough to spend some time there (on foot, and by bike for an ultra-distance race); that continent left its mark on him.
So, to balance things out, we chose neither! We turned to the American continent instead, for several reasons:
- The first is quite practical: languages. We both speak Spanish and English fairly well.
- Second, Julien, who had already lived in Colombia a few times, had always dreamed of crossing the country by bike.
- And finally, I had never set foot on the continent (apart from a 10-day holiday in Colombia to visit Julien).
In short, on this continent, everything was still to be discovered for both of us! So we packed our bags, sold our things and bought two one-way tickets to Canada.
How we prepared for a bikepacking trip
It’s impossible to foresee everything that awaits us over the coming months, or even years! But you can still prepare, both physically and by carefully choosing your gear. And on both counts, Julien and I adopted very different strategies.
Julien, or the very definition of preparation
I often describe Julien by the trait I cherish most in him: his all-or-nothing, limitless vision. Why do something well when you can do it very, very well?
His obsessions can last a few days… like that famous time he got hooked on piano during lockdown. Actual time the piano spent at home? One week. Because, and I quote: “That’s it, I’ve covered the subject.” Sorry, Mozart! Or that time he bought a road bike after working with Hutchinson Cycling on the launch of the Touareg tire, including the art direction of the video “Gravel has no rules”. Well, that particular craze stuck around a bit longer than the others (long may it last!).
So, with the care you now know him for, Julien set out to find the perfect gear and design his ideal trip. He spent hours comparing bike frames, sleeping bags, stoves… Everything was meticulously researched and, believe me, his setup is worth a look.
And physically, the same discipline: three workouts a week, on top of a 30 km bike commute across Paris. His Strava account is pretty impressive, by the way!
In short, after a year in the starting blocks, Julien and his trusty Tumbleweed were finally ready.
Marie-Liesse, a mix of instinct and celebration
For my part, I preferred to trust my instinct and other people’s advice. We were following the adventure of two bikepackers, Sophie and Jérémy. As luck would have it, Sophie had gone to a bike shop near us to build the bike of her dreams. Without a second thought, I went to the same shop and asked for “Sophie’s bike”. Not very original, but one thing was certain: either it was an excellent bike, or Sophie was a talented actress! I chose to trust her, and rightly so.
Right, the bike is sorted! Now for the physical preparation! Knowing myself, what I mostly needed was to strengthen my mind. So I tracked down the best spots in Paris to meet up with all my friends. Every other night, I was either at the theater or in a bar, celebrating our departure a little early. Believe me, it’s a very solid preparation that requires a lot of letting go.
All in all, we were both ready for this incredible adventure. But before casting off completely, we organized a few shorter bikepacking trips. In another article, you’ll discover all the sporting events we took part in before leaving.
And if you’d like to learn even more, I invite you to listen to our podcast episode about our final preparations (in French): “Une préparation déplorable” (A terrible preparation).
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