Best NSV yet; my first bike camping trip.

Hi all,

Last summer I bought a bright, shiny new bike and fell in love with it. It took a few days for the bike shop to get it ready because I wanted fenders and a back rack with basket installed. On the day I went to pick it up, I met a couple who were touring across Canada on tandem bike. They fascinated me and I dreamed of one day being able to go on even a simple overnight bike camping trip. I was 304 Lbs with severe, chronic asthma though, and even riding around the block seemed like a huge task at the time.

This past weekend, I did it! I loaded up my bike with about 50 Lbs of gear and really struggled to ride it, but was able to do it, even up hills. I don't know how I rode it last year when I was 100 Lbs heavier, as the extra 50 Lbs of gear weight just about killed me.

The campground wasn't far, only 20 km there, and 20 back, but with the extra gear and hilly terrain, it was harder than last week's 34 km bike ride (my furthest distance so far...I'm slowly trying to increase that).

I am riding a comfort bike, not a road or touring bike, so it's a heavy, slow bike meant for short city jaunts, but it did just fine.

Here are a few photos of my weekend. The first is me and my pretty bike, about to set out on our little adventure:

My campsite:

My campsite was pretty, and the beach was great! I swam for over an hour in the lake after I set up my tent.

I managed to eat healthy, too.

Here is my late lunch, a little tuna snack pack, consisting of a tiny can of tuna, and 6 crackers. I don't normally eat crackers but need a few carbs when riding (I burned over 2000 calories on Friday and 1000 calories on Saturday).

Supper was a cheese burger sans bun. I precooked the burger, froze it, put it in a cooler bag, and it was almost but not quite fully thawed by about 9 or 10 pm, when I heated it up on my cat food can alcohol stove:

I also brought along beef jerky, and babybel light cheese, and some string cheese for easy snacks. Plus G2 and plenty of water.

I had a great time, but on the way home my mattress pad fell off my bike and I didn't notice. I took my truck and retraced my route, but either someone picked it up or it rolled into the grass and is perfectly camouflaged (it's green, lol).

I want to do a longer bike camping trip to two or three different campgrounds in August, but will have to buy a new mattress pad first. I may get a bigger tent as well; mine was the perfect size for the bike, but it will only work in dry weather, as my head and feet touch both ends, lol. My friend may join me at the campground, which would be nice as she can carry my stuff in her car, which will make my ride a lot more enjoyable.

What a GREAT adventure! I'm so impressed! And 20K on a heavy bike PLUS 50 lbs? That's really something!

I also love that you camped on your own. I'm starting to learn that traveling and staying alone is it's own kinds of wonderful :)

Thank you so much!

I went by myself but met so many nice people, who all stopped to talk to me when they saw the bike and no car or truck, lol.

I was even invited to go back to the same campground and share a spot with a couple; the wife is afraid to stay out there when her husband works night shift.

I went on a cruise by myself several years ago and had a great time, met so many other people who were travelling alone and we hung out together.

This is a thing I never even imagined or thought about... now I am enamored and want to try! Thank you for the inspiration!!

Go for it; you won't regret it!

Thanks, Kathy!

That is so incredibly cool! You are such an inspiration! Congratulations on your successes!

Thank you!

Wow that's great! Good for you! I love bike riding also & had considered the bike campground thing too, but consider myself too much of a city girl to sleep in a tent. I rather ride to a cabin, or really a hotel.

You have a lot of gear! You know they have bags that you can attach to your front forks. That way you can spread out your gear a little more evenly.

Happy cycling & be safe out there!