Solo cycling: A complete guide to riding and bikepacking on your own

Whether you're planning your first solo day ride or heading out for a multi-day bikepacking adventure, this guide covers everything you need to know.

The experience of riding alone is vastly different from group cycling. It’s worth noting these distinctions before you commit to your solo adventures.

Solo riding strips away all external pressures and gives you complete autonomy over your journey. You choose the pace. You choose the route. You choose when to stop, eat, rest, or push hard.  

Cycling solo builds self-reliance. When a mechanical happens, you fix it. You develop problem-solving skills, mechanical confidence, and the mental toughness that comes from knowing you can handle challenges alone.

That said, group riding offers loads of advantages. The social motivation of riding with others pushes you harder than you might push yourself alone. Then there’s a case of accountability. If you’ve committed to meeting your cycling mates on Saturday morning, you're more likely to show up than if you're riding solo. The biggest upside of group riding is simply safety in numbers. If something goes seriously wrong, help is nearby.  

The best approach? Blend both. Use group rides to build fitness and skills, then leverage that foundation for solo adventures where you can explore at your own pace, discover new terrain, and develop self-reliance.

You don't need a specialist bike to ride solo. A mountain bike, road bike, or hybrid will work perfectly well.  

To start with, look for a bike with geometry that prioritises comfort over speed. A slightly more upright riding position, longer wheelbase, and relaxed head tube angle absorb vibration and reduce fatigue over long distances. Gravel bikes and adventure-specific designs excel here. 

Then, look for reliability. You need a bike with a solid build quality, components that hold up under load, and a frame robust enough to carry gear.  

Consider your bike's cargo-carrying capacity. For bikepacking specifically, you’ll need enough space for frame bags, handlebar bags, and seatpost bags. 

Finally, think about maintenance accessibility. Can you work on this bike? Are the components standard enough that you can find spares? A bike with common components, straightforward geometry, and predictable handling is more confidence-inspiring when you're riding solo in remote areas. 

There are two types of people in the adventure world- those that turn route planning into an art form and those that are okay with ending up on a different planet should things go wrong. If this is your first solo adventure, get nerdy about route planning. It’s worth it. 

• Start with distance and terrain matching your fitness. Be honest about your abilities and leave headroom for mechanical issues, navigation errors, or simply having an off day. 
• Use cycling/adventure specific mapping tools. Download maps offline if you're heading to areas without signal. Know your waypoints- water sources, potential shelter, towns with bike shops, or safe camping areas. 
• Research the route's history and conditions. Are there any particularly sketchy bits? Are there seasonal closures? Do you need permits? Check out our detailed route planning guide for more information. 

When you're riding alone, what you carry with you can make all the difference. You need to fix mechanical issues, stay warm and dry, eat and hydrate adequately, and navigate confidently.

Your bikepacking checklist should always contain a multi-tool. It should include allen keys, screwdrivers, a chain breaker, and bottle opener. Don’t forget to carry a small pump with you. You can also carry CO2 cartridges but you should always have a backup pump that you attach onto your frame.  

Punctures will happen. Carry at least two spare inner tubes, patches, and tyre levers. A small bottle of chain lube, spare chain links, and electrical tape handle most roadside crises. For longer trips, consider spare spokes (match your wheel size) and a spoke wrench.

If you’re cycling solo in changing conditions, you need adaptable, weather-proof clothing that can pack light.

Base layers keep moisture away from your skin. A merino wool or synthetic long-sleeve top handles everything from brisk mornings to unexpected rain. Throw a lightweight packable insulating jacket for warmth. Take a waterproof shell to keep rain out.

For your lower half, padded shorts or tights handle most conditions. Wool blends are excellent for temperature regulation. Bring extra socks and an additional base layer for overnight trips. Staying dry at night is crucial for recovery and morale.

Take a couple pairs of gloves (liner gloves and proper weatherproof and warm ones), sunglasses, and a neck buff. The layers don't have to be expensive, they just need to do the job.

Check out our detailed packing guide for reference.

How you carry your gear can help improve the efficiency of your ride. Frame bags, seatpost bags, handlebar rolls, and bar bags distribute weight across your bike, keeping it low and centered. This improves handling compared to panniers or backpacks.

Make sure your bikepacking bags are waterproof. If not, use dry bags to keep your clothes and valuables dry. A frame bag holds your heaviest items close to the bike's center. Seatpost bags are good for items that can be packed snug. Handlebar bags hold some of your sleeping gear and frequently needed layers.

Practice packing and riding with a loaded bike before your first overnight trip. By the time you’re done with your bikepacking trip, you’ll be a pro at packing.

Your engine needs enough diesel in the tank to keep going. So eat and drink appropriately. Carry at least two litres of water with you- in water bottles or in hydration packs. You’ll need to carry more water when crossing remote areas or when you’re riding somewhere warm. Know your route's water sources and carry water treatment options. 

For energy, mix simple carbohydrates(energy bar, flapjack, sweet snacks) with more substantial food (nuts, cheese, bread). On multi-day trips in remote areas, you might need to take freeze-dried meals with you. Always carry more food than you think you'll need. 

Eat before you're famished. Small snacks every hour of riding maintain steady energy far better than sporadic large meals. Add some electrolyte tablets in your water to reduce cramping. 

While you can’t know everything in advance, you should do your research as much as possible.  

• Tell someone your plans. Share your planned route, expected distance, terrain type, and estimated return time. Establish a check-in protocol: "I'll text you by 6 PM" or "I'll call you when I'm back." If something goes genuinely wrong and you can't communicate, someone knows roughly where you are and when to alert authorities. 
• Carry identification. Include your name, emergency contact, and any medical information (allergies, medications, medical conditions). Don’t forget to ensure that your phone is fully charged and that you’re carrying a battery bank along. 
• Make yourself visible. Wear bright clothing. Carry a rear flashing light and at least two lights with you- one mounted on your bike and a headlamp. The latter works well when you’re camping too. Take some spare batteries with you just in case. If you’re planning longer bikepacking adventures, it’s also worth considering bikes designed to support reliable lighting and power on the go. The Grizl range, for example, offers bikepacking-friendly builds with lights and charging powered by a dynamo hub. 
• Know basic first aid. A small first aid kit (antiseptic wipes, plasters, blister treatment, electrolyte cream for the inevitable irritation) handles minor injuries.  
• If your adventure involves any complex logistics, then create a specific risk assessment for it including the level of risk, ways to mitigate it and an emergency response plan.

Going solo requires you to trust your body and your mind. This means that you need to prepare accordingly.

Build endurance gradually. Upping your mileage drastically without due preparation can cause fatigue without gains. Whatever distance you’ve ridden in one go before, up it by a little bit every time you go out on your weekly long ride. The shorter rides during the week will help you maintain your fitness. 

Strength matters too. Climbing fitness comes from consistent riding, but targeted strength work (weights, resistance training, or bodyweight exercises) builds power and reduces injury risk. The stronger you are, the more confident you’ll feel on your solo ride and the faster you’ll recover after big efforts. If you want to dive deeper into this topic, check out our strength training guide, where Canyon athletes share how they train off the bike to build power, stability, and endurance for big rides. 

Train on terrain similar to your planned routes. If you're planning gravel bikepacking, ride gravel. If you're climbing mountains, train on hilly routes. Your body adapts to specific demands so match your training to your ambitions. Do a few long rides with a fully packed bikepacking setup so that you can get used to it and can gauge the speed/efficiency differences between a lightweight bike and a proper multi-day setup. 

Read our detailed guide on training for endurance cycling. 

Cycling is great for your mental health and resilience. But when you’re out there by yourself, you’ll experience moments of doubt, fatigue, or discomfort. This is when trusting yourself matters the most.

Divide long rides into segments. For example, say your casual coffee ride loop at home is 30 km (around 20 miles) long and your long ride day is usually 80 km (around 50 miles). If your 160 km (100 mile) day on your solo trip feels intimidating, just think of it as five laps of your casual coffee ride loop or two laps of your usual long ride.

Embrace discomfort as data. Fatigue is information- you might need a rest, food, water. Pain is different. Learn to distinguish them. A sore backside is discomfort. Sharp knee pain might indicate a mechanical issue.

Have a mantra in your head for difficult moments and develop a positive self-talk practice. For example, “As long as I’m riding, I’m safe”. Especially when you’re feeling anxious about coming across some sort of danger, it is important to keep calm and remind yourself that you’re more than capable of handling anything that comes your way.

Before a long bikepacking trip, do a short overnight closer to home. This is about systems testing. Does your sleep setup actually work? Is your gear organized logically? Do your meals taste acceptable? Are you comfortable with solo camping? You'll identify gear issues, packing problems, or mental barriers in a low-stakes environment. This is invaluable.

Beginner-friendly, essentially, means manageable. Routes with lower technical difficulty, shorter distances, and abundant resupply options build confidence and make solo cycling fun rather than stressful. 

The best beginner routes are the ones with good country roads, mostly packed gravel or hard-packed trails, reasonable daily distances, towns or facilities along the way, and established community support. Check out websites like bikepacking.com or other people’s adventure collections on Komoot for inspiration on beginner friendly routes. 

Beginner friendly routes help you learn pacing, gear management, and solo navigation without the stress of technical terrain or mountain weather.  

So, what’s the appeal of cycling and bikepacking on your own? 

Freedom is the honest answer. Freedom to go wherever you choose, at your pace, without compromise. Freedom to change your mind mid-route. Freedom from explaining yourself or accommodating someone else's preferences. This freedom is genuinely addictive. 

You really learn to trust yourself. Self-reliance builds self-belief. You discover you're more capable than you expected. That belief extends beyond cycling into the rest of your life. 

You encounter genuine kindness and generosity from strangers that you meet along the way and come away from the experience feeling better about the state of the world.  

If you’ve read this far, then it’s safe to say that you’re really keen to get going on your solo adventure. Experience the freedom, solitude, and satisfaction of riding entirely on your own terms. 

So, whether you are bikepacking on a budget or currently deep into packing mode for your next adventure, now is the time to explore your limits with solo cycling. If you’re on the lookout for a new bike for your big ride, check out our guide to the best bikes for bikepacking. 

Make sure you’ve read our full bikepacking 101 before you leave and the buyers guides for road, gravel, touring, and mountain bikes to find your bike fix. Our bike finder tool and bike comparison tool can help you find the best fit.

Time to go find your freedom in the wild.