We were lucky enough to build two Riese & Muller electric bikes for Megan & Ike from San Diego Fly Rides to take bikepacking across Scotland. After picking up their bikes at our Bruntsfield shop, they took the train to start off in Oban. From there, they biked through the Highlands and finished on the beautiful Northeast coast of Stonehaven.
Megan from San Diego Fly Rides
Ike from San Diego Fly Rides
So what exactly is bikepacking?
Bikepacking is often described as the cooler cousin to bicycle touring. Where with bike touring, you are laden up with plenty of kit and your bike is mainly designed for smooth-ish routes, bikepacking is all about adventure! You take less ‘stuff’ and you go off-road. Bikepacking was described as ‘the ultimate freedom’ by Lee Craigie, director of The Adventure Syndicate, Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland and all time great adventurer.
As you’ll see in the pictures below, bikepacking bikes are designed for off road adventures (wider tyres, suspension) while also made for carrying kit in a way that won’t squeak, wobble or hit the ground like you might find if you went off road during a bike touring ride.
© San Diego Fly Rides
© San Diego Fly Rides
© San Diego Fly Rides
© San Diego Fly Rides
What makes electric bike packing different?
Well, as obvious as it sounds, the bikes are electric. Meaning that while you still need to pedal in order to move, the motor will give you a boost – particularly useful in bikepacking situations where you might be doing a lot of uphill, looking to clock up a fair number of miles or over a longer period of time or even trying to keep up with others who ride at a faster pace.
Where can I go Bike Packing?
Anywhere really. But take a look at this video to give you an idea about bikepacking in Scotland – the terrain you might face, the scenery you might see and the places you can go.
Fancy Trying Electric Bikepacking?
Good news! We have two demo bikes that you can book for one or two days.
Riese & Muller Superdelite GX Vario: 47cm
Riese & Muller Superdelite GS Rohloff: 51cm
Book Now
Want to follow Megan & Ike’s adventures? Head over to their Instagram. Don’t forget to follow us too!
