Some weeks ago I asked you about non-competitive bikepacking events in Europe, as a way of raising visibility about this alternative event format, so far away from what we’re so used to (at least in Spain, hot-blooded country), but with a growing number of participants who no longer feel identified with the concept of «bikepacking race».
AUGH – Umbria Bikepacking. Watercolour based on a photo by @paolopennimartelli for @alventomagazine
I have considered the following factors in compiling this list, based on all the opinions I’ve received:
- Offroad events only.
- Non-competitive, in a broad sense, since not everything that doesn’t look like a race is non-competitive: Tight deadlines, intricate rules or 150+ kilometres per day schedules, that’s not what I mean.
- A coherent registration fee, no figures to mention…
- Nights are for sleeping and enjoying your bivouac, tent, or a charming hostel, not for risking night after night just because a dot on an app is about to catch you.
Here we go!
EVENTS & GROUP RIDES:
Pennine Rally – Watercolour based on a photo by @cadence_images
Festivals & Gathers:
Also Festivals, Gathers, and Weekend Rides? Initially, I was referring to events where I could spend a few days off, like a holiday trip, but the philosophies I felt in these two-day events were in line with my requirements, so I decided to include them…
| Gather Festival |France @thegatherfestival |
| AUGH – Umbria Bikepacking | Italy @umbriabikepacking.it |
| BAM! | Italy @bameurope |
| Lost in Prealps | Italy @lostinprealps |
| Orbit360 Gravity Bike Festival | Germany @Orbit360_ |
| Brother in the Wild | England @brothercycles |
| Sisters in the Wild | England @sistersinthewilduk |
| Dirt Dash | Scotland & England @dirtdash_cc |
| Dirty Boar Bikepacker | Belgium @dirtyboar |
| Smugglers’ Path | Belgium @smugglerspath |
| Servatius Bikepacking Weekend | Netherlands @servatiusbikepacking |
| Graveller | Netherlands @thisisgraveller |
| Gravel Weekend | Latvia |
ON THE map…
I hope this shows that they’re possible, with a growing interest, and encouraging a more inclusive, more social cycling, with greater environmental or cultural sensitivity to the places we visit. More and more of them!
I’ve already made my choice for 2023, and you?
Montañas Vacías 