Bikepacking: My First 100 Mile Day

Nerves, apprehension, can I do it? All thoughts running through my mind ahead of my first 100 mile day on a bike.

Truth be told, I was more scared of failure. What If I don’t do it? It didn’t bear thinking about. All the training I’ve done, through wind and rain. It would be so demoralising if I didn’t do it.

I haven’t really shared my big 2019 dream, so I guess now is probably the time.

Bikepacking. That’s my big dream.

Multi days, long distances, epic locations, self-sufficiency, exploration, wilderness, outdoors. Bikepacking offers everything I enjoy in life.

Those of you following my social media channels will have seen I recently treated myself to a new fandangled, all singing, all dancing new steel adventure bike.

What is an adventure bike you ask? It’s a bike, for adventures… duh! There are so many takes on the adventure bike. I wanted speed and comfort, with off-road capability. Step forward, the Shand Stoater. Custom built up in Edinburgh, the bike is a beauty – both to look at and ride.

To some it may look like I’ve just thrown a lot of money at a new bike and kit and am now trying to justify it. Truth be told, I have thrown a lot of money at it. But only because I know from past experience ‘buy cheap buy twice’. Kayaking has taught me the value of high quality kit. Most days you don’t need it, but the day you, it’s a game changer. You can go faster and further, without worrying about the elements catching you out.

I digress. I first had this thought late last summer, when I was cycling a lot in my attempt to recover from a broken back. I was cycling to work and the same thought came into my head… rather than cycle to work for the day, why not just spend the day cycling. This wasn’t a one of thought. Each morning I would gaze longingly through the Ribble Valley, dreaming up routes, wondering which hills and favourite roads I could link up that evening.

Curiosity grew. I began researching new routes, further afield. I was hooked. Hooked on a passion for exploration, driven & enacted by a love of life on two wheels.

I tend to start following these things on social media, seeing more and more of people cycling across continents, around the world. I was fascinated. This was the point I knew I wanted to pursue this.

Yes, you can do it with a cheap bike. But the road bike I was using was one I’ve had since I was at high school. Whilst suitable for commuting, it is showing its age and the small frame causes my knees intermittent problems. I began saving. Saving is easy when you’re obsessed. Obsessed with a new found motive.

The purpose of cycling to work began to change, beginning to feel like the first steps along this new route of adventure. A sense of purpose filled me each morning. I knew I was training and working towards something; a goal.

My commute is only 11 miles. But when 5 o clock hits and its wet & wild out, you have no choice but to brave the elements to get home. I liked this sense of character building training. As Jenny tough says ‘fix your own problems’. It takes me half an hour, so what if I get wet and cold, my kit will dry, as will I and I’ll get a shower and a brew and life will be good and I’ll be content once again.

So from first thought, to now having a superbly capable custom built bike and thoroughly thought out bike packing set up, it has been a long but fun process.

Now I’ve just got a list longer than both my arms of places to ride & adventures to fulfil. The first of which, was my first 100 mile day ride. I needed to get this one ticked off, to prove to myself I can pursue this.

Obviously 100 miles takes you some spectacular places. Setting out from the Ribble Valley, I headed into the Trough of Bowland, following my nose, enjoying the comfort and speed of my new ride. I wanted hills, I wanted scenery, I wanted to enjoy the ride, not just simply tick off my first 100 mile day.

From the Trough, the rolling hills of Lancashire soon lead up into the Yorkshire Dales, where the superb roads take you deep into the heat of the Dales, through Ingleton, Horton & eventually back around to Settle. From Settle, the roads once again begin to weave and wind their way over the undulating landscape of eastern Lancashire, before emerging back into my beloved Ribble Valley.

Full of satisfaction that I knew I was going to accomplish my first 10 mile day, I put my head down and hammered out the last 10 miles back home – grinning ear to ear, delighted with my achievement.

I’ve had the bike coming up on two weeks now. I’ve ridden nearly 500 miles, in Scotland, Trough of Bowland, Yorkshire Dale’s and Lake District.

And this is only the beginning…

Keep an eye out for my email, as there’s plenty more epic bikepacking routes and content coming your way!

Safe riding, Callum