I tested out bikepacking with an overnight trip. It rained. Here’s what I learned

So you’re dreaming of a bike trip that lasts many days, weeks or even months … perhaps out west, perhaps Europe, or maybe just closer to home. And to keep costs down and flexibility high, you think camping is the way to go.

A word of advice: Test it out with a simple bike overnight.

I am no stranger to bike camping — I hauled tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad on my green 1990s Trek 730 when I biked across the U.S. 26 years ago.

And while I have on occasion camped more recently (this time hauling everything in a car), I’m now a credit-card bicycle tourer. Give me a hotel or AirBnb-type situation, please.

Still, could I change my mind? When I had the opportunity to join the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia‘s annual bike overnight to Green Lane Park and camp, I thought why not try? The group would take the Schuylkill River Trail from Philadelphia to the Perkiomen Trail (which I loved when I finally biked it in 2023) to the campsite in the middle of a large suburban county park… pretty easy and all part of the greater Philadelphia area’s Circuit Trails network!

Oh, I second-guessed myself after I hauled out the camping gear and tested putting it on my new new-to-me touring bike. That’s a lot of stuff to carry! (I know, gear no doubt has gotten lighter and smaller over 26 years. But still.)

And I second-guessed myself again on Saturday, when it rained for two-thirds of the ride.

But despite all my moaning, going with a group was the right thing to do. Someone else knew about the campground and made the reservations — I didn’t have to. That person knew about the Perkiomen Valley Brewery in the town of Green Lane, on the other side of the park (walkable or bikeable from camp). And that person knew about our old-school breakfast spot — Snoozy’s Cafe — 8 miles in on Sunday’s return ride and right on the trail. (Not your thing? There’s a bakery next door, but it is closed on Sundays.)

And if you are new to bike camping, going with a group is your chance to check out their gear, discover their tips on what to bring (or not bring) and where to buy, and get answers to any other questions you have.

If I’ve got to find a bright spot in Saturday’s rain, it was that it was a good test. You are likely to have rain at some point on your bike trip. You might as well practice dealing with that when it’s just an overnight trip.

Of course you can do your own test ride to a nearby campground. But I recommend asking around and trying to find a group ride. FYI: Bicycle Club of Philadelphia does some slightly longer bike camping trips too, and you don’t need to be a member to participate.

And what did I learn? My jacket worked well for keeping me dry, though it probably wouldn’t have worked as well if there had been more rain. I stayed warm, though I did add a fleece when we took a break in a picnic shelter. I didn’t overpack. The inside of my 26-year-old tent stayed dry, though the waterproofing on the seams of the tent fly is starting to flake off.

Thankfully, Sunday was warm and sunny. After that breakfast at Snoozy’s, we were all in shorts and jerseys.

Practical stuff

Green Lane Park is about 40 miles from Center City Philadelphia. Two of us parked at a free parking lot a block from the Septa regional train station in Spring Mill. So my bike ride was only about 30 miles each way.

Bathroom breaks? The first is at Valley Forge National Park (Betzwood trailhead/parking lot), just past the old Betzwood film studios. We saw several restroom facilities along the Perkiomen Trail. You’ll also find some shelters along the Perkiomen Trail, which is great for when you need to escape the rain and add a layer of clothing or change out of whatever’s so wet that you are cold.

Green Lane Park is a Montgomery County park. The camping area has bathrooms (yes, flush toilets) and showers that take a while to heat up. You have to hunt for potable water; the brewery will refill your water bottles too.

There’s no food beyond snacks at the brewery, but you can bring in food. One option is the Italian restaurant across the street. The brewery also had a menu for another Italian place that would deliver. Six of us demolished two 20-inch (“party-size”) pizzas.

The brewery offers some “weird” beers. I went for a gruit (Huh — a what? It’s something that goes back to the Middle Ages. Really.) No hops, but it did use cherry blossom petals and dandelions. Like I said, weird. In the nicest way.

Or do a flight or two, like one in our group did, and try all eight beers on tap.

If you want wood for a campfire, ask the people at the brewery.