I’ve had three years of bikepacking holidays, so I think it’s time to think about the future. What am I going to keep doing, and what will I stop.

If you haven’t read about these trips before I’ll summerise them.

In 2022 I rode to Cornwall and back over five days. The longest day covered 165 miles; the average being about 70. The weather was very hot and the first two days were tough. I was glad I’d decided to take more time to return home; 265 miles in two days was really too much to allow me to properly enjoy the countryside I was passing through. I overpacked a bit too.

For 2023 I rode to Bristol over two days, completed a loop into Somerset, returned to Bristol and then travelled home as I’d done at the beginning of the week. Less weight and daily miles improved the experience.

Later in the year I went to the Isle of Wight. I spent two nights there and it made me think about possibly changing the format of these trips.

This year saw the first of those changes. I had a couple of weekend rides. To see family near Winchester and then to the coast. Both were long weekends. It meant I could pack less and it wasn’t a succession of new destinations.

The biggest change and one that will form the basis of future holidays was in July. I rode the Dynwich Dynamo, and then stayed for a week in Diss. Riding loops from there most days. Coming back to the cottage after the ride and cooking rather than having to find a restaurant was very relaxing. But having rode there still meant limited luggage.

The final trip of the year was to see Stonehenge and another short stay on the Isle of Wight.

Next year I have two trips organised. The first to Wales, the second Scotland. Both multi-days and centred around a self catering abode. And I won’t be riding to them. I thought about taking the train, but it just seemed to add complexity and would still restrict what I could take with me. So I’m hiring a small van. I will spend less time getting to my destination, I can travel according to my own timetable and can pack more. I might even take both bikes.