My first bikepacking adventure and my 6 lessons!

Ever thought about dipping your toes into bikepacking? We had a day off for the Quebec National Holiday (St-Jean-Baptiste) on Wednesday, June 24th, so my girlfriend and I decided to go on a 55km overnighter from Terrebonne to Oka! An overnighter is the perfect, low-stakes way to test your gear, figure out your setup, and experience the joy of traveling by bicycle without the stress of a multi-week expedition. In this video, I break down how we prepped, the gear challenges I faced (like finding the right rack for a Trek Checkpoint Gen 3 SL5 that will also fit a future Specialized Crux), and the crucial lessons I learned from my very first night out on the trail. 0:00 - Why we chose a Wednesday for an overnighter 0:42 - The gear challenge: Trek Checkpoint vs. Specialized Crux 1:19 - Ortlieb Quick Rack review & installation 2:20 - System weight & using the Silca tire pressure calculator 2:59 - The route: Terrebonne to Oka (55km) 3:18 - Making connections & holiday fireworks 3:53 - A slow morning on the beach 4:41 - The scenic route home & the universality of bikes 5:37 - Lesson 1: Bring ONLY the essentials 6:08 - Lesson 2: Weight placement & bike handling 6:33 - Lesson 3: You don’t need fancy accessories to start 7:13 - Lesson 4: Food planning & the weight of water 8:23 - Lesson 5: Check the weather (don't choose to suffer!) 8:54 - Lesson 6: Ride with someone experienced 🎒 Gear & Resources Mentioned Bike: Trek Checkpoint Gen 3 SL5 (Future: Specialized Crux) Rack: Ortlieb Quick Rack Large (with Axle Mount setup) Tire Pressure Tool: Silca Tire Pressure Calculator Destination: SEPAQ Parc national d'Oka, Quebec 🇨🇦 💬 Join the Conversation! Are you planning your first bikepacking trip, or are you a seasoned veteran? Let me know in the comments: What is your ultimate dream setup for a two-person bikepacking trip? If you enjoyed this video and want to see more cycling content, please Subscribe! It’s completely free for you and does wonders to help support the channel. Enjoy the thrill of your rides, and I'll see you in the next video! 👋 #Bikepacking #GravelBike #Oka #Ortlieb #TrekCheckpoint #CyclingQuebec #AdventureCycling Terra riders is a Gravel cycling channel that gives real world reviews of bikes, tires and accessories. The goal is to help a gravel cyclist find the perfect gravel bike, gravel tire or accessories for their gravel rides. We showcase entry level gravel bikes all the way to high end gravel bikes.