I’m not sure if any real bikepackers, the folks who load up with 50kg and head out for years over some of the roughest terrain in the world, would agree with any of this, but this is what I’ve found this far:

Line choice is 50% of the battle

The difference is felt in your ass, joints, and soul, as well as on your speedometer. A good line vs a normal line will save 3-4kph, and a great line vs a bad line is worth 10kph. It’s important not to focus toooo much on your line though, because you’re bound to miss some spectacular scenery if you do.

Prevailing winds prevail

If most people and weather sources say that winds blow hard north to south, they probably do, and you might want to consider not going S-N if you want to avoid headwinds. I get a 0 of 10 on that one.

The longer your day is, the worse the conditions will be at the end of it

Only got 40 kms for the day? The gods will spare you. Wanna do 90? The last 20 will progressively deteriorate as the headwind gets increasingly more violent. It’s true, just like when, back in their day, our parents walked uphill in the snow both directions to and from school.

Venting cuts the anguish in half

This is basically “misery loves company” applied to bikepacking, but it’s true. Suffering alone at the hands of nature is lame. Seeing someone suffer alongside you is a morale boost. I want someone to agree with me that this is the worst. headwind. ever. Otherwise I’m just a sucker wallowing in self-pity. This is dangerous though; if your partner disagrees, then not only are you wallowing in self-pity, but you’re weak to boot. 

Bikepackers are goldfish

You can be in the shit for days on end, but still, the first rays of sunshine wash all the bad juju away. Enough good days in a row and you start to actively disbelieve that it was ever as bad as you thought in the moment. Which is also why I’m trying to write continuously rather than retroactively – captures the emotional rollercoaster much better!

Let’s see if the next two tours reinforce these or change my mind.