Women’s Bikepacking Weekend in Bath: Our Trip Report

“Undulating” was the word of the day from our guide, Rickie, and we soon started to realise that in practice that meant “another hill coming up”. However the far-reaching views from the top of said hills were easily worth the climb and we all felt a huge sense of satisfaction on arrival at our wild campsite after a cheeky shandy (or double gin & tonic in Rickie’s case – she’s clearly more nails than the rest of us in every way) at the nearby pub.

Earlier that morning, we’d all met at the bike shop where we started this adventure. Eight solo women, one Gutsy Girls host (me), and one guide (Rickie – a world class endurance mountain biker but the humblest and most cheerful person you’ll ever meet).

Our high-quality mountain bikes were organised with military precision, labelled with our names (the bikes were sized to match our heights), and with the bikepacking bags attached, and our equipment – bivvy bags, tarps and the like – in a bag next to the bike. We soon broke the ice by trying to fit all of our overnight kit into the minimal space we had on the bike, but with Rickie’s expert guidance we ensured we had packed everything we needed and nothing we didn’t.

Our cycle route took us out of Bath along the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath; the sun was shining and the scenery was bucolic. As we left the canal, we headed into tiny rural lanes, climbed through sandstone villages and whizzed downhill towards fields and farmyards. Conversation flowed naturally as we got to know each other – a really lovely group of interesting, funny and engaging women.

A stop for a picnic lunch right next to a little river gave us a rare glimpse of a kingfisher and the opportunity for a short rest and a good chat, before we were off again and riding along farm tracks, beside grassy fields, and up and down tiny lanes. After about 35 kilometres of riding, we happily collapsed in the promised pub garden and enjoyed a well-deserved drink, before helmeting up for the final time that day for the quick spin to our campsite.

Our first job at the campsite was to put up our tarps, so that we had a dry place to put our kit if it rained. Rickie went through all the considerations for choosing a camping spot, and magiced up a load of straight hazel rods that she’d cut and whittled earlier. Using these, and the guy ropes and tent pegs, we set about erecting our tarps, making pillows with our dry bags with some clothes inside for padding, and sorting out our sleeping bag / bivvy bag / sleeping mat combo. Soon we were all set up for a night in the open, but with the knowledge that we’d stay dry if it rained.

Next job was to eat. We had each carried a tiny camping stove which we were shown how to use, and with this we boiled up water to add to the expedition dinner which we’d been provided with, which we ate over a really inspiring and uplifting chat while we all found out more about each other.

The after-dinner chocolate that I’d brought didn’t last long, and after a cup of herbal tea (which Nat had sent along with the chocolate and various other goodies and snacks – thanks Nat), we turned in as the darkness fell.

Sleeping outside is awesome – it feels like such an adventure, and this was the perfect introduction to it. With the help and advice of an experienced guide we all learnt so much about not only bivvying and bushcraft but also bike skills, repair & maintenance, first aid, wild foods and much more.

The campsite was wild, but had a toilet and a tap with running water, so once we’d boiled up again for our expedition breakfast and a brew, we filled up our water bottles, packed everything up, leaving no trace, and set off for day two’s ride.

Day two involved yet more “undulating” terrain, but we dug deep and conquered at our own pace. There is no competitiveness on Gutsy Girls trips which meant that there was no pressure. A good base level of fitness is required for this trip, but you don’t have to be an athlete – good, solid stamina is as valuable as speed.

A stop for great coffee and cake (the sugar level in the cakes almost wiped some of our team out) came right when we needed it most, and the final 10 kilometres of the ride took us along the Bath Two Tunnels disused railway track and through Combe Down Tunnel, which is over one mile long and is the longest cycling and walking tunnel in Britain. We cycled 50 kilometres on day two, but any exhaustion dissipated on arrival back at the bike shop in Bath. The immense feeling of satisfaction, camaraderie, a whole load of belly laughs, so much learning and an amazing sense of achievement was worth all the elevation gain and distance covered by our tired legs. This was the perfect introduction to bikepacking, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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