Why it’s totally ok that I quit my bikepacking trip

As I wrote, I had planned a bikepacking trip covering a total of 224 km. Well, things didn’t quite go as planned.

Shortly after my post, I changed the route due to a lack of good camping options along the way. I read some bad reviews about the campsite I originally planned to stay at. Instead of a round trip, I planned an equally long tour from Nordstemmen to Kassel (my former home), following various national and international cycling routes. I also found several campsites along the river Weser around the halfway point, and one even confirmed over the phone that they had space for a tent.

I started in the morning, having gathered everything the evening before and quickly strapped it all onto my bike. Then I took the train to my starting point.

While cycling, I was constantly snacking and drinking. After about 60 km, I took a break at an Italian restaurant and had a pizza. This was in Einbeck.

After that, I continued towards Holzminden, though that’s where the real climbing through the Solling mountains began. I had to take many breaks and hit a few low points, both mentally and power-wise, along the way, but somehow I just kept going.

With what felt like my last bit of energy, I arrived at the first campsite in Holzminden after about 110 km. Unfortunately, it was just after the reception had closed 10 minutes before, and the place was completely packed. That somehow overwhelmed me.

Moreover, there was the heat. It was just under 30 °C, and I’d been sweating like crazy in the sun all day, feeling completely sticky. The wind also seemed to always be against me. When I changed direction, the wind also did. And with all the camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad) plus the massive amount of food I brought (maybe I really went a bit overboard with my fear of an energy crash?), my bike was extremely heavy.

I could have pushed on another 15 km to the next campsite in Höxter (or taken the train there), but at that moment I was so exhausted that I just didn’t feel like camping anymore. I probably wouldn’t have slept well anyway. And then the next day I’d have to ride another 100 km to Kassel? Somehow, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

In the end, I spontaneously booked a hotel in Göttingen, since there were no available hotels or vacation rentals nearby. To Göttingen I took the train, to later decide how to continue. But I didn’t continue; instead, after a good breakfast, I took the train home the next morning.

I had set myself a big goal. Maybe a bit too ambitious. After all, I had only recently ridden 136 km and arrived home completely exhausted. So why jump straight to a tour of over 200 km and with even more gear?

Turns out I’d overestimated myself a bit after watching all those bikepacking YouTube videos. After all, distances like mine are nothing to them. They regularly cover over 200 km in a single day. They’d probably finish my route before lunch.

Looking back, I still had a great ride from Nordstemmen to Holzminden. It was tough, but I also experienced amazing nature. And at least when it comes to eating and drinking, I made some progress. I’ve also learned to better listen to my experiences and set more realistic goals for myself.

I am taking a break from bike YouTube for a while. Furthermore, I shouldn’t let people doing nothing else than biking all day influence my own goals as someone who still has plenty of other things to do.