Introduction to Cycle Camping

Bicycle camping is an acquired taste. Nobody can be prepared for everything. On a bicycle ‘being prepared’ means extra weight. How do you, the beginner, decide on what to pack and what to leave behind? Consult my equipment check list for a detailed list. Many cycling books have cycle camping equipment list.

I don’t think there is a Bike Camper out there that doesn’t want something, not packed, during a trip. Just make sure you don’t forget to pack something essential to your life.

I’ve met all sorts of bike campers. Some never cook hot meals so they have no need for stoves, pots and fuel. I’ve fixed bike chains for people using their own chain tool. Once a couple asked how to start up their camp stove. Moral of the story? Pack stuff you can handle, learn about what you need. OK, what do you need?

You need a bike in good working order. Bikes get flats, learn how and what you need to fix a flat. Bikes have cables which stretch and break. Learn how to adjust your gears and brakes to take up the slack and learn how to replace broken cables. If you are touring off road, please go through the trouble of learning as much as possible about your bike.

I always carry a tube, tire levers, patch kit, pump, chain pins, Cool Tool ® (bike multi-tool), Leatherman ® (pliers multi-tool) Victorinox ® Outrider, headset wrench, brake & gear cable, boot rubber, duct tape wrapped around pencil, zip ties, replacement bolts for racks, replacement cleat for shoes, AAA flashlight. I add the following for touring: A freewheel remover; spoke wrench; chain lube.

I pack a good little First Aid kit. For the number of times I’ve used mine, you’d wonder why I don’t leave it at home and pack a couple bandages. Still I wouldn’t do that, though the frequency of use is low, the severity of possible injuries is great enough to always include it. Toiletries including insect repellent and sun screen. Camp towel, flashlight, lock, 10 meters of thin nylon rope, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent & patch kits for both. Depending on the nature of the trip, overnight, weekend, a week or more, Maureen and I share the packing of the following. For meals we carry a white gas stove, gas, matches, lighter, tiny sharpening stone, wind screen, a piece of cutting board plastic, a cute little cheese grater, plastic table cover. A pot set consisting of a 3 litre pot, small fry pan, small kettle, 1 cup espresso maker, coffee cone and filters, large plastic thermal coffee mug with lid, tiny container of dish soap and a small piece of pot scrubber, big plastic spoon for stirring, plastic knife, fork and bowl/plate. Spices, coffee, powdered milk, some granola and enough food for 1 day (just in case). For clothing, a hat with visor, nylon walking shorts, sandals, 2 T-shirts, 2 pr. socks & underwear. Tights, cycling jacket, a light fleece top for cool days, an extra cycling jersey and shorts. A book and a magazine. Camera, binoculars, sunglasses, pencils, sketchbook, plastic bags to keep clothing dry and separate. We wash out our clothes at the end of the day and hang them to dry. On longer trips we do laundry every third day or so.

I cringe whenever I look at my check list but it doesn’t weigh that much, shared with another person. The clothing, except the cotton T’s, are lightweight, warm and dry fast. It all packs very small, distributed over 4 panniers. In the small front panniers I keep the stove and pots. I pack the stove low in case it leaks. We NEVER pack food or clothing near the stove. I prefer mid size rear panniers. Pack stuff you may need first close to the top and divide up the rest by weight. Less weight at the front is preferred. Packing the tent, sleeping bag and mattress on the back rack is always a pain. I use two nylon luggage straps. Personally, I avoid bungy cords but I know plenty of experienced people who use them.

Maureen packs her stuff a different way. She packs the tent in her front panniers and her clothes and stuff at the back. Both of us try to keep the stuff piled up on the back rack to a minimum. The less stuff there is back there moving around the better.

Where to go in BC 

Instead of a complete list of everywhere to go I’ll just write where I’ve ridden to from  Port Coquitlam.

• Mostly we tent camp but some trips we hotel it. My favorite of all places is camping at Porpoise Bay on the Sunshine Coast. From Horseshoe Bay it is a rolling 36 km, but it feels like all uphill. Expect to be on the road 2 to 3 hours. The park is 4 km away once you are in downtown Sechelt. There are lots of food opportunities along the way and a few other places to camp in case you don’t feel that ambitious. The great thing about Porpoise Bay is the Cyclist Camping Area. It is away from the crowds, except the group site, it has a covered cooking area, hot showers. Camp fires are restricted so it isn’t smoky. The little beach is nice, there is a little nature trail and great opportunities for birders. There are bike racks by the tent sites, the sun hits the campground in the afternoon so your clothes will dry. It is an easy walk or ride to Sechelt. The restaurants and shopping is pretty good if you like that sort of stuff. There is a great bike and sports store. This trip is great for people who are wondering if they would like bike camping.

• Another good beginner trip is to go to Rathtrevor Park in Parksville. From Nanaimo it is an easy trip on secondary roads to Lantzville then a short highway ride to the park. There is a separate huge grassy lawn for cyclists and a couple cook shelters where you can seek shelter in the rain. If you are camping on mountain bike, go to the Englishman River Falls Prov. Park. On your way in, just before the park gate, look to the right to see where the good mountain biking is.

• The most memorable bike trip I was ever on began by riding to Porpoise Bay with Maureen. We were on our tandem, pulling our trailer of camping gear. We spent the weekend in and around Sechelt camping with friends. We continued up the Sunshine Coast to Powell River, crossed over to Comox and rode to Victoria, then home. 10 days of sunshine, it was great. We didn’t prearrange anything along the way. Using the BC Accommodations Guide we found excellent campsites. We were traveling off season too (late May) so a lot of campsites, like the municipal one in Powell River which is usually full in the summer, were empty. The Island Hwy. is pretty good. There isn’t always a shoulder but that doesn’t bug me. Around Parksville there is no problem with Hwy. shoulder and scenic alternate routes become available too.

Where else?

• I like riding to Hope (136 km) on Hwy. 7 and camping there on Kawkawa Lake Road. Vancouverites may wish break up the trip by stopping in at Golden Ears Park. Or make their trip end at Sasquatch Park near Harrison. (100km from PoCo) With the exception of the killer hill at Agassiz, it is a pretty flat trip with a fair amount of stores and gas stations for cool drinks. Camping at LakeErroch too. Have you got out your map yet?

• At Hope four paved opportunities await you. Going west, return on Hwy. 7 or take Hwy. 1 to Chilliwack or Abbotsford. From there you have to get off Hwy. 1 to go west. Going east, Hwy. 3 to Princeton or Hwy. 5 to Merritt. I’ve gone both ways a few times. The Coquihalla is a more gradual climb but there are fewer private places to ummm, you know. Camp grounds are near the toll booth or Merritt. That doesn’t stop some people though. It is very scenic. So is Hwy. 3. The road is narrower, cars feel closer because they are. The grade varies and the 20 km before you reach the summit at Alison Pass may make you wish you had an other gear or two. However, it is a beautiful ride and only 60 km to the Manning Park Lodge. Food, camping or accommodation. Both highways are prone to bad weather. I’ve ridden in snow in July in the mountains and was glad I had my rain gear and long finger gloves. Riding out on Hwy. 5 to the OK and returning on Hwy. 3 is a very nice way to see the world we live in. Oh yeah, between Merritt and Summerland there is only one place to get supplies so leave prepared. The Pennask Summit is a long way away. Riding through the Okanagan is very nice. Lots of place to stop for fruit and drink.

• Another great round trip is Vancouver to Whistler, Pemberton. Lillooet, Fraser Canyon to Hope and back to Vancouver. Cycling is the only reasonable way to see the Sea to Sky Hwy. There are a few places to stop on the way to Squamish. Whistler is not much further. Fill up with water in Pemberton because there are no guarantees until Lillooet. Plus there is a bit of a level gravel and then quite the uphill. A casual cyclist would not enjoy this trip.

• Riding from Victoria to Port Hardy is quite interesting. About 550 kilometers with nothing too steep. Lots of camp grounds from Victoria to Campbell River. After that there isn’t really much but road and trees, hardly any views. Better get the forestry map for this area. Woss Lake has a nice little store on the highway and forestry campsite not far away.

• The much acclaimed Galloping Goose trail is excellent. If you start in Victoria, Sooke is a nice easy day ride destination where camping is available. Maureen and I followed the rail bed to the Shawnigan Lake area, made our way to Koksilah Prov. Park, cut through there to Cowichan Lake along abandoned rail bed. Along logging roads we went to Nitnat Lake then Bamfield before taking a boat to Port Alberni. Good camping along the way. From Port Alberni we headed east the Parksville area, then home. It was a two week, 600km round trip on mountain bikes. Instead of one day of food, we carried two days worth, and a little. Maureen carried the food and her clothes, I pulled a trailer with all the rest. It was awesome.

Touring Article that appeared in the Cycling BC Handbook in 2000 © Bruce Mol

Bike touring is a healthy and rewarding way to explore and vacation. With some forethought and planning, you'll be ready to join in the fun. Check the calendar for touring dates or call the Cycling BC office (604) 737-3034 to get contact information for recreational and touring clubs near you.