UA bikepacking trip between father and son
On the weekend of June 7, 2021 I went on a bikepacking trip with my son Jules. Nothing huge for the average adventure cyclist... 35 km to SEPAQ OKA for a two night stay. It is however a huge challenge for a 7 year old and his father. Physically, mentally and logistically.
Obviously, the main goal of this kind of trip is to spend time with my son in a natural setting. I also had some underlying motivations: boosting Jules' confidence and self-esteem and... Dad's too. While thinking that these trips will give him great memories that instill notions of sports practice, surpassing oneself and respect for nature at a young age, which will come back at key moments in his life.
But let's face it, it was a bit of a daredevil... I admit it. I was scared and very nervous. With Jules having ADHD, the experience could have become complex and emotional. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a great parenting lesson for me. I learned about my son's abilities and my own abilities as a father and bikepacker. And, fortunately, we were relatively unaffected by the weather, which was not very nice when we left home.
Our training
From the beginning of May Jules and I went out for short hikes (with ice cream as a reward) on weekends: 15km (he had already done it in 2020), followed by 20km, 24, 27. At that time, I was confident as he was able to do 27km. That's about 80% of 35km. There was one thing that was out of my control: comfort. He regularly complained of neck and buttocks pain. I got him mountain bike shorts with shorts. But he hated wearing them. Nothing to do for comfort. I moved his saddle forward, tested the heights, etc... His bike was essentially a mountain bike. So, not a lot of position choices. I crossed my fingers for the next step!
Our list
I made a list several weeks before the departure. I reread it and modified it extensively. It included all the basic items I need to leave as well as my camera and film equipment needed to produce the Alcove videos. I keep it unaltered so I can modify it according to the release. So I adapted it for this father/son outing. Obviously, each child has his own particularities... And, I tried to reduce to the minimum what Jules needed to be comfortable. I suggested that he leave his favorite doggie at home, which he understood and accepted!
Our equipment
This is where it can easily get more complex and expensive. I made the decision to go on this trip last November and proceeded to purchase an ultra light kit that included a new two person tent. This gave me the opportunity to put together a fairly minimalist kit given the context. I also put Jules to work. I installed an attachment on his handlebars that allowed me to hang a small 5L dry bag that included his sleeping bag, pillow and ground mattress. A new bike was in order (we had to change it anyway): Trek Wahoo in 24 inches. It's certainly not the cheapest and I could have chosen a similar model in a supermarket... Instead I chose a local shop where the salesman gave me an excellent selling point: the weight of the bike.
Not to be overlooked in the comfort equation of the young cyclist. Especially if you want him to carry some equipment. As for the bags: I equipped my bike with an extra triangular frame bag in addition to the roller on the handlebars. I also had the two 7-liter bags on the fork and a 10-liter saddle bag. So I had enough room to carry the essentials. Small note: I also added a Woho stabilizer. I don't want to advertise, but... It was fantastic! I was even able to re-locate my bottles directly on it. It will eventually be really handy for a long trip.
The logistics and our road
My primary goal was to keep it as simple as possible for both Jules and myself. This was not only Jules' longest cycling distance but also her first real camping experience. It went without saying that we had to break down the mileage, with easily achievable goals. I knew he could do 10km quite easily. So I opted to do the 10km with a 30 mins to 1h stop and a surprise if needed If Jules was in pain, no matter when, we stopped.
Strangely (or not), the most difficult moments were after lunch. Jules' energy was not up to par and he became irritable. But, no stress! We stop, we wait. When he was ready, we left! Near the arrival in Oka, it started to rain. That's when I learned that Jules was quite resilient. He was positive about the rain, cheerful and energetic. We even rode at over 20 km/h for a few KMs. It was really surprising! Fortunately, the installation of the tent was done in the dry (or, almost). I have to admit that I was a bit stressed at that moment... I felt like I was running against the clock. The sky was dark... it could have "turned sour" pretty quickly. I was having a hard time putting up the tent stakes, I was hot and Jules was hungry. The SEPAQ uses a dense gravel mixture that makes staking difficult, at least for people who are camping more "autonomously" like us... a special mention to our neighbors who had a mallet!
My conclusion
I left nervous and insecure and came back surprised and proud of us. I learned a lot about my son's discomfort tolerance level and his ability to adapt. I have even noticed a good change in the closeness between us since then. I am also convinced that these experiences (we will go back this summer) will leave a strong impression on Jules. Like all family moments, there are some really pleasant ones and others less so. I think of the last KMs on the way home. Jules was tired from sleeping in a tent and I think we had a slight headwind. It was really painful for him and it tested our respective patience. I remember sitting on a park bench in Laval and not saying a word for 10 minutes. But, that's okay. We were "taking a break". Fortunately, his brother and his mother had concocted a little surprise for us on the way back!
I obviously didn't share everything in an effort to keep it as short as possible. But, feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you'd ever like to know more about the more granular details. And, please take the time to go comment on our various content points on YouTube , Instagram and Facebook .
Alcove is an organization whose mission is to lead gravel cyclists to the most beautiful and winding country roads. To develop original and unique journeys. And, to use the collective as a force for social progress.
Are you tempted by a bikepacking experience with your family? S hop our bikes for young and old in our online store , and also browse our selection of bags and panniers .
If you are looking for more inspiration, have a look at our story about a trip from Montral to Boston by bikepacking, also on our blog ;)
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