Catching up with bikepackers Nic and Val
Meet Val and Nic, bikepackers based in Burlington, Vermont. When they’re not contributing to the local cycling community through their roles at Local Motion and Old Spokes Home, they’re out collecting miles and memories together. From Vermont staples like the Super 8, Green Mountain Gravel Growler, and the Cross Vermont Trail to international adventures on Norway’s Mjølkevegen and Rallarvegen, their riding résumé spans both home turf and far-flung terrain.
I had the pleasure of catching up with them on a late-season spin before our conversation at Treehouse.
Let’s chat about your setup. How many bikes do you have and what?
Nic: I have 4! A late 80’s Bridgestone MB-6 as my town cruiser, a 98’ Specialized Stumpjumper for mountain biking, a Salsa Fargo Ti for touring/racing, and a Surly ECR for heavy touring.
Val: 2 – Salsa Fargo Ti, touring/gravel/bikepack racing/everything bike & 90s Trek Singletrack 930, commuter/MTB/winter/everything bike
What’s the highlight of your bike kit?
Nic: Probably my feedbags! I love the convenience of having most of the things I need during a long ride day in two bags right in front of me. I usually put my phone/wallet/keys/charger in my left feedbag, and all my snacks/garbage/toothbrush/spork in the right one.
Val: I love having a dynamo with my Sinewave Beacon light. I’m very bad at remembering to charge things, so I can just charge things on the go!
Favorite place to ride your bike?
Nic: Pretty much anywhere in the Green Mountain National Forest. This year we spent a good amount of time riding in the Mooslamoo/Rochester area.
Val: I think it’s the Trail Around Middlebury. We seem to always ride the TAM in the shoulder season, so it’s either wet or covered in leaves. It’s not too long, it’s very silly, and seemingly designed to be ridden on a 26” mtb. Makes for a fun day, usually followed by Mad Taco.
Favorite place that you’ve ever ridden your bike?
Nic: That’s a tough question, but Iceland might be my favorite place to bike tour for a bunch of reasons. It’s easy to make a really adventurous route, because there aren’t that many roads, and most of them are desolate and beautiful. Resupply is usually no problem, and the gas station hot dogs are amaaaazing. The whole 24 hours of daylight thing in the summer is really cool too.
Val: Norway. We followed a route through so many quiet places, sheep and cows roaming free, and the right to roam means camping is very easy (and free). The last day of our ride started with reaching the high point near a glacier, then slowly descending all day. We stopped for waffles and brown cheese, passed by so many waterfalls, walked over snow, then dipped down 1000 ft in the last mile over a bunch of hairpin turns into a gorgeous fjord. And we found raspberries as we got into town.
One place that you want to ride your bike?
Nic: Newfoundland has been on my list ever since I moved to New England.
Val: I want to go ride in Scotland! We just rewatched Harry Potter and now it's all I can think about.
What’s your go-to food while bikepacking?
Nic: Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut Cashew bars. The maple waffle breakfast sandwich at the Island Pond grocery store. Mike & Ikes.
Val: I am bad at eating on bike. I try to find sandwiches at whatever gas station. And a lot of hot coffee. Bread + meat goes down easy and it’s nutritious! I stand by Stewart’s cheeseburger as the greatest thing I’ve ever eaten on a bike.
Would you rather…
You’re running tubes - fix a flat in the rain or 1 hour hike-a-bike?
Nic: Sometimes a 1 hour hike-a-bike is the best part of the ride or tour, so I’ll go with the hike.
Val: I’ll be cocky and say that I can fix a flat quickly no matter the weather.
Ride in 100 degrees or 34 degrees
Nic: 34 degrees for suuuuuuure
Val: 34! Cold and wet is good
Cook food on the side of the road in the rain or eat an unclaimed Stewarts breakfast sandwich at 7pm
Nic: They keep em on the heater, and I trust Stewart.
Val: I would trust Stewart’s with my life.
What are you most excited by in the bikepacking space?
Nic: Travelling and movement. I love seeing a place in the distance and using a bike to get there. Like, starting a climb and seeing the top of the trail, knowing that I’ll be up there soon. Also, bikepacking forces you to be a little dangerous and uncomfortable, which I think is important for people to experience.
Val: I love the community! Meeting new people at events, and then seeing them again at an event on the other side of the country. I love becoming instant best friends with a random stranger because you’re both lost in the woods together and going the same pace. And I love connecting at a slower pace to the places we’re visiting.
What’s a good “pro tip” that you’d give a bikepacker starting out?
Nic: Try to aim for comfort rather than speed or aerodynamics when it comes to bike fit.
Val: Don’t plan too hard. Things won’t go the way you expect, but you’ll end up on a fun adventure anyway.
Dean: Thanks guys! See you at your Outdoor Voices chat at Treehouse!
