Minimalism – A Bikepackers state of mind. Taking only what you really need. Travel light and Feel liberated not overwhelmed by your possessions.
Clunker – Usually a retired bicycle that’s seen better days, but beauty lies within the eye of the beholder so its one that a bikepacker might adopt and ride around the world.
Spanker – A brand new shiny bikepacking bike, owned by that one mate who loves cleaning it but avoids the dirt roads with it.
Rider’s Rig – Usually referring to the bike and bag set up a rider has adopted.
Gravel Rig – A style of bike packing or touring bike that adopts the geometry and style of a road bike. Usually equipped with all-terrain tyres and appropriate gearing for overland adventures.
Rigid – Referring to a bike style that has a rigid frame design (No suspension). Larger tyres are often fitted to be able to cope with off-road terrain.
Hardtail – Referring to a bike style that is semi rigid. Front suspension allows the adventure rider to explore rougher terrain and trails with the added comfort and ease over a fully rigid rig.
Biker Brain – A state of mind often experienced post endurance wilderness excursion. One descends to society from the wilds after multiple days/nights riding solo in the hills to find he/she has forgotten how to communicate effectively with fellow beings.
Fatty – A style of bikepacking bike that traditionally has fat tyres to be able to cope with soft gravel, sand and snow.
Flatty – When you suffer a puncture and you get to chill and not ride for a bit. Easily fixed with a spare tube and hand pump.
Golden Nugs – Those crispy, charred nuggets of oatmeal stuck to the bottom of the camping stove.
Pistons – Referring to our legs, our pistons, the power houses that take us to remote corners of anywhere. As Homo-sapiens we are twin cylinder machines firing on two pistons. ‘How are the pistons today mate?’ ‘Are you firing on all cylinders or what?’
Lid – Your helmet, Your cranium cover. The protector of the goods.
Cockpit bag – Bags or accessories that attach to the handlebar area for ease of access. Ideal for snacks.
Handle bar bag – Traditional Bikepacking bag that attaches to the handlebar, usually a double or single ended dry bag strapped around the bars.
Frame bag – Traditional Bikepacking bag that slots into the void of the frame, usually simple and easy to access whilst riding. They can be bespoke made to fit your bicycle.
Saddle Bag – Traditional bikepacking bag that attaches to the underside of the saddle and seat post. A pannier rack is not needed.
Pannier Rack – A lightweight steel or aluminium rack that attaches over a bikes front or rear wheel allowing the cyclist to attach cargo.
Pannier – A basket, bag, box, or container attached to your bicycle to carry cargo.
Fixe – A bicycle with a single gear. Either because its designed that way or you’ve had to butcher your chain because the derailleur has snapped and you need to get home.
Plus Tyre – A larger, wider tyre than standard. The plus tyre is not quite a fat tyre its somewhere in the middle. They have more air volume than standard and can be advantageous on sand, loose gravel or wet bog.
Pinch Flat – A flat tyre that occurs not because of a piercing object but because the tube gets pinched on the rim due to low PSI. Often when the rider lets too much air out of their plus tyre before a descent.
PSI – Pounds per square inch, or the amount of air pressure in the tire. How much air you fill your tires with depends on your weight, tire size, and the type of terrain.
Bivvi – A bivouac shelter. A small lightweight waterproof tent or bag providing temporary shelter for and overnight stay.
Bothy – A small hut or cottage, often found in the remote wilderness they are usually open and available to use as a mountain refuge as long as ‘Bothy Etiquette’ is demonstrated.
Spork – Half spoon, half fork (sometimes serrated edge knife) in one. The minimalist approach to cutlery.
Bong – Also known as hitting the wall, it means you’ve run out of energy due to glycogen depletion (glycogen is the fuel that’s stored in your muscles).Trusted Source Endurance athletes who skimp on food or hydration often bonk and need rest, H2O, and high-carb foods to recover. Side effects vary but can be anything from muscle cramping to mental fogginess
Granny gear – If Grandma were a cyclist, this would be her go-to gear. This term describes the lowest gear ratio possible, which means the bike is on the smallest chainring in the front and the largest chainring in the back. On flat roads, a granny gear feels like effortless spinning. On steep climbs, sometimes the granny gear is necessary for survival.
