Trail Advice from Bikepacking Across North America

Ali BeckerJul 17, 2024

My partner, Mathieu and I are six weeks and 4000 kilometers into our multi-month, transcontinental ride on the Great Northern Bikepacking Route, and, as always, it's been full of ups and downs.

From frosty nights, pushing through waist deep snow and dodging grizzly bears in British Columbia to heavy rain, ping pong sized hail, tornados touching down around us, and gale force winds in the prairies; the spring riding has been a challenge.

Luckily, we've had some mild moments, great vistas, and soul nourishing interactions sprinkled in between the storms – enough to keep us forging forward with our chins (almost always) up.

Along the way, we've received lots of words of encouragement, virtual high fives, and sound advice sent our way that has helped shift my mindset and is worth sharing...

1. When it's good, it won't last. When it's bad, it won't last.

The fellow that spread this gospel was referring to the quality of terrain along a particular section of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail in southwestern British Columbia, but it quickly became a mantra for us for all things.

The terrain, just like everything in life, is impermanent. Everything is ever-changing and there is no way to freeze time or fast forward through it – no reason to cling to what's good or resist what you deem is “bad.”

This has been especially helpful to remember as we brave through the wicked wind of the southern Saskatchewan section of the GNBR.

After hours of getting an “easy pass” on some fast rolling gravel or a stretch of paved road with a tailwind, I found myself suddenly dreading a turn off onto a rough section of the route or a change of direction that would turn the tail wind to a cross or head wind.

I have to remind myself at that moment that we didn't come here for “easy.” Hard things help forge our resilience and the wind, the rain, the rough road, the fatigue – it's part of the adventure, and it's all just temporary.

This too shall pass, so I can try my best to appreciate it and be grateful for getting to experience any of it at all!

2. Ride the Mile You're In

I actually adapted this from an Instagram post about an ultra endurance runner who had a coach who told him to “run the mile you're in,” but it can apply to any activity and to life in general.

Be present. Focus on where you are. Notice what is happening around you. Don't get lost regretting the past or fretting about the future. Enjoy this moment right here, right now, because it's the only one you've truly got.

This one hit me hard because I can often find myself thinking (a.k.a. worrying) about the end of the day. Where will we camp? Will there be water? All the while, my tent is strapped to my bars, there is plenty of land around, my water bottles are full, and the beautiful surroundings of the moment are drifting by unnoticed.

Perhaps the best reflection of this advice in recent memory was while I rode an amazing eastbound tailwind into a tiny little prairie town but spent most the care-free cruise being concerned about how hard the subsequent north and west bound miles were going to be pedaling into the cross and head winds.

At one point, Mat noticed my furrowed brow and asked me what was wrong. When I told him, he replied, “but how are things going right now?”

This shook me out of my funk long enough to notice that I was feeling good physically in the present moment: the sun was shining, the landscape around me was beautiful, and riding the tailwind was incredible.

He gently reminded me to “ride the mile you're in” instead of focusing on what's to come and being consumed with worry about it.

Miles later, we battled the head and cross winds I had anticipated. And guess what? It was hard, it was uncomfortable, but we preserved, we got through it, and I became more capable and resilient in the process.

3. Don't Push the River

While doing the hard things, persevering, and forging forward are oftentimes the right thing to do, forcing things or “pushing the river” are a different thing entirely.

Rooted in Buddhist philosophy, the idea of pushing the river is about trying to control things that you can't influence, which is both a waste of time and waste of precious energy.

The most common river I try to push is trying to change Mat’s mood when he is having a rough day, or is feeling fatigued.

Instead of allowing him the space to feel his feelings, I find myself wishing things were different, or trying to “fix” him, which signifies to him (and me) that it's not okay to not be okay.

What this has revealed to me, is that I struggle to be with my own challenging feelings and emotions (as well as other peoples) and try to push them away.

But as I've come to learn, you gotta feel it to heal it. So, bring it on!

Instead of trying to push the river, my new practice is allowing people and circumstances to be as they are and going with the flow, which seems to lead to more harmonious outcomes than if I try to manipulate or control them.

4. Always Ride the Good Line

We met an amazing 72-year-old bikepacker named Ralph on day one of his third attempt to ride the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Banff, Alberta to Antelope Wells, New Mexico.

We crossed paths along l Elk Pass Road between the border of British Columbia and Alberta, which he had just finished summiting. He was tired, disheveled, sunburned, yet still smiling.

After exchanging stories for a few minutes, we parted ways so he could carry on the 60 more miles he was hoping to ride that evening, and as we said our goodbyes, he gave us this bit of advice:

“Have fun, stay safe and always ride the good line.”

As we rode off, it replayed in my mind. Surely, it's impossible to always ride the good line (see #1), I thought to myself, but over time it landed like this:

Set your aim high, focus on going up, being positive, having faith, and staying optimistic because all you can control is your perspective. We ought to be grateful for the “good” and the “bad” – simply because we are lucky enough to be alive to experience it.

I have no idea if that's what Ralph meant, but it's been powerful for me – a recovering worry wart, fear based thinker, and former pessimist – to remind myself that every line in life is the good line (even when it's seemingly "bad") because I'm here to ride it.

What's the best advice you've ever gotten on the trail?

Ali Becker is a freelance writer and adventure storyteller who spends half the year backpacking and bikepacking and the other half sleeping in strangers' beds as a professional house sitter. She and her partner, Mathieu, share their ups and downs on their IG channel at @trip.longer and hope to inspire others to get outside, adventure in nature and find their own freedom. You can learn more about them here: triplonger.ca.