Bikepacking The Transcaucasian Trail: Your Input Kindly Requested

Filed under , .

Today I’m departing the UK on a brand new adventure.

This one’s rather different to my previous trips, in a couple of ways. Firstly, it’s vehicle supported, which means I’ll be carting my bike around on top of a Land Rover. Second, it’s got a broader social & environmental goal attached to it, which is to pioneer a brand new backcountry route through the Caucasus mountains.

If that sounds like fun, check out the Transcaucasian Expedition website here. By the time you read this, Day One will be well underway!

A prototype trail of around 1,500km in length is the objective of this year’s work, crossing the two Caucasian nations of Georgia and Armenia. While I’ve been speaking about this project mainly in hiking terms until now, my ultimate wish is that the route will be also suitable for bikepacking adventures.

Indeed, I’m making no secret of the fact that next year – when the prototype route should be ready for testing – the first thing I want to do is ride the length of it.

After all, I’ve been mountain biking in these mountains pretty regularly ever since I first found myself in the region, way back in 2008. My friend Andy, with whom I was cycling through Georgia and Armenia back then, set up a mountain bike guiding company in Georgia, which continues to go from strength to strength. And intrepid riders are making deeper forays into the backcountry of the Caucasus. You don’t have to spend much time on gpsies.com to hunt down their tracklogs.

20151001-202025-Lightweight-Bike-Tour-UK-02014

So here’s my question to the bikepackers (lightweight off-road cycle tourers) among you:

What essential qualities do you look for in an adventurous new bikepacking route?

I will happily admit to not being particularly experienced in the discipline of bikepacking. Yes, I’ve done a bunch of mountain biking, and yes, I’ve pedalled thousands of miles around the globe, including in places like Mongolia where roads are a foreign curiosity. But lightweight multi-day off-road trips with lots of technical riding? That’s where my expertise runs out.

I’ll be spending the next 6 months mapping and exploring trails with a critical eye, by 4x4, on foot, and on my bike. So what I’m looking for here are your thoughts on what makes a well-designed long-distance bikepacking route. Some of it will likely be obvious (possible to ride it, regular water sources, bloody spectacular scenery); some likely not so obvious. I know you’re an opinionated bunch, so now’s the time to let me know!

Because this is an utterly stunning part of the world. And what’s driving me to work on this project is a desire to share it with you. That doesn’t just mean a jam-packed Instagram stream – it means mapping and building trails and publishing the resources to travel them. So let’s have your thoughts on how the Transcaucasian Trail could eventually serve the needs of the bikepacking community.

The Transcaucasian Expedition departs the UK today (big announcement here), so do connect on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook if you’d like to stay in the loop about this brand new trail! More news as it comes…

Comments (skip to respond)

5 responses to “Bikepacking The Transcaucasian Trail: Your Input Kindly Requested”

  1. Hi Tom,

    It’s a while since you posted this article, but do you know if there is an established route now?

    I was hoping to try and bikepack across Georgia and Azerbaijan, eg the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, but with as much of the route off road.

    Thanks

    1. Have you had a look at Cass and Logan’s efforts? Parts of both these routes are based on bits of the Transcaucasian Trail. I’m also taking a few riders across Armenia in September if you’re keen to join…

  2. Wow this adventure is really fantastic. I see some pics on Instagram, they’re very beautiful. You’re great with your passion, living a free life. Keep going on, we’re watching you everyday. Wish you all the best.

  3. nigel amies avatar
    nigel amies

    First off what,s the difference between bikepacking and biketouring — for example. Seems either way you end up hauling a bunch of stuff, although I guess the distinction is in the nature of the route — rough terain versus somewhat smoother stuff . In that case it sounds more like mountain biking with baggage which seems to be the cool thing these days and would, or should determine what kind of bike you use. From your picture it looks pretty rough.
    Another issue is where you want to end up — back where you started or in some unkown destination, something I would like to know before I start. Maybe I,m being too fussy. Getting lost can be fun if you.re up for it.

  4. Hi Tom,

    I’m definitely a beginner when it comes to long-distance cycling, but the biggest annoyance when cycling across the EuroVelo network was the lack of signposting. It was fantastic when the route was clearly signposted and the stress of navigation was removed. At other times it was a constant worry that we were heading in the wrong direction or spent every turn re-checking the map. My input is large, clear, visible signposting. 

    Regards,
    Ollie

Something to add?