Consigli per il bikepacking con Sofiane Sehili

What would be some of the basics you would recommend people look for when buying a bikepacking bike?

Look for something that is versatile and has clearance for wider tires. Bikes are so well made today, you can own just one that’s really nice to ride on tarmac with 32-35C tires, then you can put on some 42 or 44mm tires and enjoy some nice gravel roads. Personally, I like 1X drivetrains. It’s just one less thing to think about, which is nice when you’re out riding all day. Don’t be afraid to have a really big cassette. Maybe something like 40 or 42 teeth in the front, depending on how powerful your legs are. Then you can have a 10-45 or 10-51 in the back, and you’ll be able to do pretty much anything. And lastly, if you’re thinking of going really far, for like several months on the other side of the world, maybe something with a steel frame. It’s easy to repair if anything breaks.   

What’s your basic packing list for things you always bring on an overnighter?

A mattress is very important for me. It’s much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground and it’s also much warmer. Then, depending on the weather, I’ll bring a sleeping bag for warmth. Personally, I don’t usually carry a tarp or tent. I’ll just stop when I find some shelter, or if I see that it’s not going to rain, I’ll sleep under the stars. Even in the middle of nowhere, you can usually find a shack or some sort of shelter. I’ve never really found myself riding through the night in the rain—it doesn’t really happen. 

I also want to talk about pillows. Because they don’t weigh anything. They’re really small, and they’re really important, actually. It took me years to buy a proper inflatable pillow, and it’s a game changer.

Besides a pillow, are there any “luxury” items you bring with you on bikepacking trips?    

I can’t really travel without my nail clippers. And then an e-reader. I don’t know that I’d really consider it a luxury because you’re going to have so much time out there. I had it with me in Morocco—not during the race—but I had it before and after the AMR. I ride my bike, and when that’s over, I need to do something during the evening. It’s something I’ve always bikepacked with—I remember reading Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness while riding in Myanmar, and somehow it seemed perfectly aligned—and it’s something that would really suck to ride without. 

What bags do you use? 

I use Miss Grape bags. The minimum I’ll bring is a saddle bag, a half-frame bag, and a top-tube bag. Usually the way I’ll organize things is to use the saddle bag for clothes, the top-tube bag for electronics, and the half-frame bag for things I’ll need during the ride, like tools, toiletries, and my passport. If I am going to bring some camping gear, I’ll use a harness and dry-bag combo on the handlebars, too. 

Do you have any packing tips to stay organized while bikepacking? 

It takes some knowledge to pack really well. If you’re going to pack a saddle bag, for example, you’ll need to know which items you want to put at the back—which things you can pack smaller or tighter. The way that I’ll organize my saddle bag is to put the things that I hope I won’t need at the very back of the saddle bag, like spare tubes or my jacket if it’s warm. The front is for things you know you might need to use. And when you pack, don’t mix everything. If you open a bag and have a little bit of clothing and a little bit of camping gear, it’s not good. Find one packing system that works and stick with it. Then you never have to think about where stuff is.

Welche grundlegenden Werkzeuge und Reparaturteile hast du immer dabei? 

Ein Multitool mit einem Kettennieter—sehr wichtig. Und dann natürlich eine Pumpe. Ich fahre tubeless, also nehme ich ein Tubeless-Reparaturset. Einige Kettenglieder oder ein Schnellverschluss. Je nachdem, wie lange deine Tour ist, ist es gut, auch Bremsbeläge. Ein kleines Tuch und etwas Öl. Die Dinge, an die man vielleicht nicht denkt, können einem tatsächlich das Leben retten. 

Wie ich Ersatzteile und Werkzeuge einpacke, hängt von drei Dingen ab: Wie viel wiegt es, wie viel Platz braucht es und kann es mein Leben retten? Zum Beispiel ein Tubeless-Ventil wiegt praktisch nichts, aber wenn man eines kaputtmacht, steht man ziemlich blöd da. Deshalb habe ich immer eines dabei. Speichen sind ähnlich. Sie wiegen fast nichts, können aber entscheidend sein—und ein Schaltzug. 

Wie sieht es mit Kleidung aus? Sommer vs. Winter? Gibt es Must-haves? 

Eigentlich ist es gar nicht so unterschiedlich zwischen Sommer und Winter. Mein Basisset besteht aus Bib-Shorts, einem Langarm-Unterhemd, und einem Trikot. Es sei denn, die Wettervorhersage ist wirklich warm, dann nehme ich Beinlinge. Ich finde es immer sehr angenehm, ein Paar Handschuhe. Die wiegen fast nichts, und kalte Hände sind wirklich unangenehm. 

Ein Regenjacke, natürlich. Ohne Regenjacke kann man eigentlich nicht reisen—und sie dient auch als normale Jacke, wenn man mal essen geht. Ich habe gerne mehrere Paar Sockendabei—am liebsten aus Wolle, weil sie nicht riechen. Eine Daunenjacke ist auch immer gut. Am Ende eines langen Tages, wenn man noch nichts Richtiges gegessen hat, friert man schnell. Aber das ist das Schöne am Radfahren: Man braucht eigentlich gar nicht so viel.

Are there any particular PEdALED items you’d recommend?
 

I tested the Odyssey Alpha® Vest with Polartec® fabric. The fact that it’s a vest means it doesn’t take up a lot of space, but it can still keep you really warm. I ended up needing it when I toured Northern Morocco before this year’s Atlas Mountain Race; it actually got really cold. So, it was nice to have something like that. 

Then I had the Odyssey Cargo Bibs, and that’s something I’m really starting to like—having extra pockets in addition to those on your jersey. It’s a nice way to stay organized. I love pockets. The more pockets, the happier I am. 

And then, the Merino Long Sleeve Base Layer, that’s a really nice item. When it gets a little bit chilly, you have that as soon as you’re off the bike—it’s pretty classy, it’s pretty neat. 

Do you have a playlist or favorite podcasts you’d like to recommend for a bikepacking trip? 

I’m a big fan of True Crime. I really like the Serial podcast about Adnan Syed, but my favorite one is Hondelatte raconte.

And in terms of music, it’s mostly rock, ranging from pop-rock and folk all the way to black metal and death metal…a wide spectrum. This is my go to playlist.