Bicycle Camping with Kids

Many good cyclists love the idea of taking the whole family camping by bike. Certainly you can’t beat the savings that can be achieved this way.

What has to be considered first of all is the cycling abilities of all the participants. The youngest and weakest children have to set the pace for the trip, so the daily mileage may initially be limited to only about 20-25 miles per day.

Every single participant on such an excursion would have to carry his/her own camping supplies including clothes, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and eating utensils (plate, bowl, cup, flatware), towel and water bottles. The strongest of the group (usually mom and dad) would be responsible for carrying a tent, tarp, stove with its fuel, kitchen utensils, first aid kit and toiletries.

Some items on the list would be unique just for the bicycle touring such as:

-bike shorts

-helmets

-bicycle repair kit

-bicycles equipped with front and rear rack

-front and rear panniers (special bags that can be attached to the rear wheel)

-optional: a bike  cargo trailer

The most important thing to remember is that standard camping equipment intended for car camping is too heavy and too bulky to be carried on a bicycle. Therefore, what you would need is ultra-lightweight backpacking equipment. The size of the tent, stove and even cooking utensils has to be minimized. You would have to do with only a few changes of clothes and wash them along the way.

As with every camping trip, preparation is the key. First learn to pack your equipment efficiently. Then start short rides on the bikes to see how everybody is handling the extra weight. Just like with any standard camping, practice setting up camp in your backyard. Then you are ready for some touring. Pick your first destination close to home. Then go on longer, few-day trips and work up your distance slowly from there.

While bicycle camping you are not limited to travelling on highways and major roads, therefore you can pick scenic routes and bicycle paths.

If you are a proficient biker and you feel inspired to travel TransAmerica Bicycle Trail with your kids you may want to read a few books first:

Bicycling With Children: A Complete How-To Guide by Trudy E. Bell

Hey Mom, Can I Ride My Bike Across America?: Five Kids Meet Their Country By John Seigel Boettner: book about a 4-month trip from Washington, DC to LA with his wife and five 12-year old students