The Bikepacking Sabbatical: The 3-Month Life Reset Let's talk about stepping away from inboxes, burnout, and that desk chair that's wrecking your spine. If you're mid-career and hitting peak "I can't keep doing this," here's what more professionals are doing: take a sabbatical, get on a bike, and ride until you find clarity. Maybe even joy. No keynote speakers. No silent meditation retreats. Just hills, headwinds, and your breathing. Welcome to the bikepacking sabbatical. Why Bikepacking? Why Now? You're not ti...

Which Bikepacking Bundle Is Right for You? A Guide by Trip Type The first bikepacking trip I put together looked like a gear sale blew through my garage. A handlebar roll from one brand. A saddle bag from another. A frame bag that didn't actually fit the frame I owned. Three different buckle systems. It took me longer to pack the bike than to ride the loop. That's the problem with building a setup piece by piece. Bag brands all claim compatibility, but the reality is messier — materials mount differently, volumes don't scale together, and colo...

The Ultimate Guide to Bike Touring Portugal and South-west Spain Are you looking for where to plan your next bike tour? Look no further than Portugal and Southwest Spain! This part of Europe offers some of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes for bicycle touring. From the rolling hills of the Douro Valley to the rugged coastline of the Algarve, to the culinary hotspot of Seville, the region is a cyclist’s paradise. But it’s not just the picturesque landscapes that make Portugal and Spain a must-see destination for bicycle touring. The region is also h...

Stoicism for Cyclists: Discomfort and Adversity on Long Rides You’re 100 miles into a cross-country bike tour. Your legs are burning, the headwind is trying to push you back, and dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. Your GPS died an hour ago, and you’re sure you took a wrong turn at that last intersection. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever been on a long-distance bike tour, you know that moments like these are par for the course. But what if I told you there’s a 2,000-year-old philosophy that could help you endure these challenges and thrive in them? ...

5 Reasons Cycling Will Improve Your Life: The Benefits of Adventure Bike Travel Because of things like job, chores, and obligations, life might feel like a never-ending treadmill at times. If you feel like you're stuck in a rut and need a change of scenery, a bike ride or a bikepacking trip might be a great way to get out of your routine and into the great outdoors. It's possible that getting out on the open road on your trusty bike is the single best thing you can do to enhance the quality of your life. Here are five reasons why you should agree with me: Lower...

Campfire Gourmet: Tasty Meals to Prepare while Bikepacking There is more to bikepacking than the adrenaline rush of the ride, the peace and quiet of nature, or the difficulty of the trail. It’s also about the culinary adventure! If you're deep in the woods or taking a break at a scenic overlook, treating yourself to a tasty meal can take the experience to the next level. In this piece, we will explore the savoury world of gourmet cooking over an open flame and provide some mouthwatering meals that are perfect for bikepackers. Importance of Nutrit...

Cycle Touring Life and Team 8 Wild Things x WOHO: A Winning Combination for Brain Health Over this past weekend, a marvelous amalgamation of perseverance, commitment, and unyielding dedication painted the cityscape of Toronto. Over 9000 cyclists took to the city streets, each riding with a singular vision – to support brain health. A grand total of $4,295 was raised for this crucial cause in the "Bike For Brain Health" event, as cyclists from far and wide pedaled their hearts out. We at Cycle Touring Life were elated to sponsor this event and are overwhelmed by the incred...

Pedaling the Path to Awesome Once upon a time, in the land of nine-to-five jobs and endless spreadsheets, there lived a man named Bob. Bob was your average guy, with an average job, living an average life. But Bob had a dream. A dream that was far from average. He dreamed of trading his office chair for a bicycle seat, his suit for a helmet, and his spreadsheets for a map. And one day, he did just that. He decided to embark on a bikepacking trip across the country. Bob wasn't exactly what you'd call an athlete. H...

Train, Pack, Ride: Preparing for the Bikepacking Adventure of a Lifetime You have been dreaming for a long time that you would like to hit the road and go on a long-distance bike journey. You want to escape the daily grind, panniers and bike in tow, immersed in the beauty of the backcountry. A bikepacking adventure is on your bucket list, and you have dreamed of it long enough. Now it’s time to get ready for it. The first part of a 3-part Bikepacking Preparation series starts now, and this will get you on your way to becoming fit and ready for a life changing adv...

7 Ways Cycling Will Boost Your Mental Health and Happiness Dramatically lower your stress and anxiety levels through cycling. For many of us, we are glad to see the back of 2022. It's been a stressful year, marked by a lot of events that would make anyone’s anxiety levels spike. Will 2023 be any better? It can if we do something about it by getting our bike out and hitting the road! Our modern life is stressful. With the constant demands of work, family, and social obligations, and of course the daily barrage of bad news, it's no wonder that ...

Riding for Sight: NHL Ref Dan O'Rourke's Cross-Country Fundraiser Dan O'Rourke, an NHL referee, is presently bike touring 70 miles per day over 45 days from Santa Monica, California, to Chicago, Illinois, along Route 66. His objective? for the benefit of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), to raise $250,000. The experience of vision loss in his own family served as O'Rourke's motivation. Retinitis pigmentosa, a rare eye illness that progressively eats away at the retina, was identified in his father Tom. O'Rourke's grandfather, w...

WOHO XTOURING Celebrates Successful Promotion of Innovative Bikepacking Bags at Taipei Cycle The world of adventure cycling and bikepacking is abuzz with excitement following the successful unveiling and promotion of a new line of innovative bags by a leading bike accessories brand at this week's Taipei Cycle Show. WOHO, which has remained at the forefront of cycling gear innovation, has once again made a mark with its ground-breaking designs, garnering praise from industry insiders and cycling enthusiasts alike. The Taipei Cycle Show, a prestigious annual event held in Taiwan, t...

Mental Toughness: Psychological Techniques to Overcome Ride Fatigue When you're grinding up that seemingly endless mountain pass or battling headwinds across a barren desert, it's not just your legs screaming for a break. Long-distance cycling challenges your mind as much as your body, and often, your mental strength makes the difference between triumph and defeat. Let's dive into the world of mental toughness and explore how you can train your brain to push through those moments when your body is begging you to quit. Understanding Mental Fatigue...

Train, Pack, Ride: Preparing for your Epic Bikepacking Adventure – Part 3 This is part 3, the final installment of our series on getting yourself ready for that long-distance bikepacking or bike touring adventure you have always dreamed of doing. If you missed part 1 and part 2, make sure you read those first. A bikepacking adventure is on your bucket list, and you have dreamed long enough. Now it’s time to get ready for it! In this third and final installment, we will explore rest and recovery, proper gear, specific techniques depending on the terrain ahead, and g...

Exploring Nova Scotia on Two Wheels: Your Bikepacking Route Planning Handbook Bikepacking in Nova Scotia – A Dream Destination Nova Scotia, a gem in Canada's eastern coast, offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, making it an ideal destination for bikepackers. As you pedal through this picturesque province, you're greeted with breathtaking coastal views, lush forests, and charming towns, each with its own story to tell. Bikepacking in Nova Scotia is not just a journey but really about immersing yourself in an experience ...

Train, Pack, Ride: Preparing for your Epic Bikepacking Adventure – Part 2 This is part 2 of our series on getting yourself ready for that long-distance bikepacking or bike touring adventure you have always dreamed of doing. If you missed part 1, make sure you read this first. A bikepacking adventure is on your bucket list, and you have dreamed of it long enough. Now it’s time to get ready for it! In this second installment, we will cover nutrition, mental preparation, and a more detailed progressive training regimen. Our third and final section next week will expl...