Bikepacking 1.0

At the beginning of the year, Jovi and I decided to go on a gravel bikepacking trip. We had the idea to do a bikepacking adventure in mind for a while now, but we hadn't really fixed a date util then then. Since it was difficult to plan trips this year, Jovi and I decided at relatively short notice to just do it. First we had the idea to drive a route through Switzerland, then we thought about the Danube Cycle Path and in the end it became the Inn Cycle Path, our route was slightly modified.

For us, the adventure didn't just begin when we left, but the planning was already very exciting and exciting. Choosing the right bags was already time-consuming, as there are so many different models on the market. I had my eye on the bikepacking bags from Woho, especially because I really liked the look of them. At that point in time I didn't know what was important to me. Then it was a little more intensive research on the different bags, because I absolutely wanted a bag in the frame to stow the heavy things there. Unfortunately, that was a problem with my small frame, because it was not an option for me to do without a bottle for reasons of space.
I then briefly considered moving a bottle holder with a corresponding holding device downwards, which I quickly discarded.
We immediately decided to stay in hotels, which also made the packing list smaller. After looking at many bags, I ended up back at the bags from Woho because, in addition to the aesthetics of there product, the whole system also appealed to me. The bags arrived just a few days before departure. Fortunately, everything went well and I was even able to do 2 test drives and optimize the bags perfectly for myself. We adjusted our packing list from day to day and in the end it was very manageable. We were really satisfied with very little. But since we are both always hungry, in the end we felt we had most of the food in our pockets. 😀 Our routing was also adjusted and optimized a few times until shortly before we left, because we kept coming up with new ideas.

Then the time had finally come, it was Sunday, August the 9th, the route was set, the bags were packed and we started our first bikepacking adventure very excited in the morning. We met in Rüti, took a photo with our mascot and started cycling. Our mascots were two little unicorn stuffed animals named Franzl and Sissi.

We had planned 130 kilometers for this day, past the Walensee, through Bad Ragaz and on a small side street up to Tiefencastel. After we were really fast at the Walensee, we took a coffee break in Bad Ragaz, where we spontaneously came up with the idea to drive over the Lenzerheide, which we probably would have done better. The road was very busy, it was lunchtime and it wasn't really fun with the cars just overtaking. After a nice descent we were also directly in Tiefencastel and also directly in the hotel. After we had washed our clothes, we went to bed relatively early after a good regional dinner (Pizokel, buckwheat spaetzle), we wanted to be well rested for the next day. 

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, we went over the Albula Pass, one of my favorites. I had already driven the pass several times and then I realized how much you notice the additional luggage. The bags really didn't bother us for a moment, neither when we rode while standing out of the saddle , nor on a descent, we only noticed the additional weight on the climb. 😀 
After we refilled our drinking bottles again in Bergün, we went over the Albula quite quickly. Shortly before our destination for the day, there was an adventurous gravel passage to round off the day. Then we arrived in Zernez, where we spent our second night. We enjoyed the evening with a fine dinner, because the next day we had a shorter stage to beautiful South Tyrol. 

So we started the third stage very fresh, a sightseeing tour, we made a stop in Scuol and Nauders before we went over the Norbertshöhe to Reschen. The small pass was really nice to ride and there was hardly any traffic. We enjoyed the nature and had enough energy to fool around with music on the cell phone. On the Norbertshöhe there was a hotspot for bikepackers and we had a nice chat with like-minded people who were traveling with a lot more luggage and wanted to go a lot further. After we arrived at our hotel in Reschen and had taken care of the bikes, we went for a walk on Lake Reschen and thought about what we wanted to do on our rest day.

From her last stay in the region, Jovi knew a small pub by a lake in Prad, so that was our goal for lunch the next day. Luis served us there, who made the stop a highlight, we had a lot to laugh about and had a really good pizza & coffee. Also going up the Reschenpass was not as bad as expected, because it had a bike path completely away from the main road. So the rest day passed quickly and the next day the majority went down the river on the Inn cycle path 130 kilometers to Innsbruck in Austria. After we had really great roads away from the traffic, Innsbruck itself was almost a bit stressful with the traffic and so much life. So we went to the hotel quite purposefully and after dinner we went to bed very quickly. Since we were both still not tired, we turned on the TV and watched Dirty Dancing, I had totally forgotten how entertaining the film is. The music for the film accompanied us again and again over the next few days. 😀 
The next morning we wanted to leave a little earlier because it should rain after noon. Fortunately we had planned a not so long stage, so the plan was to arrive dry. 

But it became clear relatively quickly that the rain would probably come much later and we had a really nice tour along the Inn cycle path to Kufstein, where we met other bike packers with whom we rode a bit together. After we arrived at the hotel dry, we went on a tour of discovery through Kufstein, a really beautiful old town. Our tanlines, which were then very clearly visible, made for a lot of discussion, which was very entertaining. In the evening we finally enjoyed our first Kaiserschmarrn before the rain drove us back to the hotel. 
On the morning before last, we wanted to take our time, as it should rain until around 9 a.m. So we completely repacked our bags, because without the food they suddenly became quite empty 😉 and started a little later. The plan worked, because it stayed dry and it was much sunnier than expected and so our journey continued to Germany, with a detour via Wasserburg am Inn, where we had spent our lunch, to the Chiemsee. I was very surprised, because even in Germany we drove a lot on side streets, away from a lot of traffic, even if the streets were not always in such good condition, we enjoyed the peace and quiet. Our apartment was very central and right on the lake itself, so that we were a bit at the lake in the afternoon before we went to dinner. 

And Sunday was our last and eighth stage, back to Salzburg, Austria. We were already there in the early afternoon and thus still had time to explore Salzburg. Before taking the train back to Zurich the next morning. 
The train ride then became the most stressful “stage” of the whole trip for me, anyone who knows me knows that I handle my bike and gear very carefully. Unfortunately, that didn't matter to other passengers and so my gear lever was damaged on the train. 
The trip left me with unforgettable moments and a great adventure that definitely leaves you wanting more. It was my first bikepacking trip but definitely not the last. And who knows, maybe next time with a tent and sleeping bag. 

I especially liked how free you are and it's a great feeling to arrive at a new place every evening. I was convinced by our packing list, what we had with us was almost everything in use, only I didn't need my long trousers thanks to the weather. I would definitely add ear plugs and a sleeping mask to the packing list next time. I generally sleep very lightly and sometimes it took a little too long to fall asleep. 

You can do our individual stages on mine Strava profile find.