Family bikepacking plan 2025

[Ridgeway]

OK nothing too adventurous in the sense that the plan is:

1) from home and back to home
2) 4 days, 3 nights
3) 60-70km a day

But this will the whole family and 2 dogs😂 and 2 of us on a tandem, what can go wrong 🤔

I posed the question just out of interest at Sunday dinner and got a very enthusiastic yes. So have now given the task to the youngest to start looking for a destination and then make a first route plan. Most likely we’ll head into the Jura, across a but then coast home…..

Won’t be until August so plenty of time to work it all out.

 

[Debade]

A friend did this ride. Sharing to build confidence and support. I love what you are doing. "What we did on our summer break.... 4 grandkids, ages 5, 6, 8 and 10, biked across Wisconsin with their dad and grandpa (me). Dubuque, Iowa to Shorewood. Daughter, daughter-in-law and son-in-law also tag-teamed. Sometime it takes a village....". That's Shorewood, WI.

 

[Emanresu]

Lausanne to Martigny is about that distance. If you feel up to it, over to Aosta and get the bus back over the pass (bikes on the rear rack). Stop off at the Barry Foundation in Martigny to see the dogs,

 

[Sixmile]

We did a two tandem family tour to Holland last year, flying and building both bikes on arrival. We've previously did a week's tour via isle of man to England and back home to NI via Birkenhead which was really good too. We've yet to take our dog on an overnight trip but that's on bucket list for next year. I've already been throwing the odd "whoooo's gonna be a gooooood big boyyyy in the tenty wenty next year big man?" into casual conversation with him so he can get used to the idea.

 

[Cathryn]

LOVE this!! Already excited for you.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Sounds fantastic.

Although it's not my definition of "nothing too adventurous". I'd describe it as "alarmingly adventurous"

 

[Ridgeway]

Sounds fantastic.

Although it's not my definition of "nothing too adventurous". I'd describe it as "alarmingly adventurous"

Shhhh don’t tell them😂 any reason given to a teenager to cop out and they’ll take it😁

 

[Ridgeway]

We did a two tandem family tour to Holland last year, flying and building both bikes on arrival. We've previously did a week's tour via isle of man to England and back home to NI via Birkenhead which was really good too. We've yet to take our dog on an overnight trip but that's on bucket list for next year. I've already been throwing the odd "whoooo's gonna be a gooooood big boyyyy in the tenty wenty next year big man?" into casual conversation with him so he can get used to the idea.

Love it.

Both ours are getting on a bit now (12 and 13yrs) but go every day dog biking although only 5-8km so they will need some trailer time on a longer ride or we’ll wear their legs off…

 

[roubaixtuesday]

We did a two tandem family tour to Holland last year, flying and building both bikes on arrival. We've previously did a week's tour via isle of man to England and back home to NI via Birkenhead which was really good too. We've yet to take our dog on an overnight trip but that's on bucket list for next year. I've already been throwing the odd "whoooo's gonna be a gooooood big boyyyy in the tenty wenty next year big man?" into casual conversation with him so he can get used to the idea.

Interested to hear experiences of flying with a tandem. Do you have S&S couplings? If not, how did you manage it?

 

[Oldhippy]

I met a couple in Japan years ago with a toddler and they were cycling the world. Oh, and had also recently had another child on route so they bought a trailer!

 

[T4tomo]

But this will the whole family and 2 dogs😂 and 2 of us on a tandem, what can go wrong 🤔

I suggest don't let dogs have a go at piloting the tandem...

 

[Sixmile]

Interested to hear experiences of flying with a tandem. Do you have S&S couplings? If not, how did you manage it?

No couplings but both were Circe Helios Tandems which with the front wheel of measure around 170cm in length from memory. Then with the bars and seats off, they aren't tall at all. I've flown with them a number of times, all Easyjet as as long as each package is <32kg they'll pretty much take anything. Both big boxes were bought from buybigboxes and stored in the luggage room of a nearby hotel who I'd stayed a few nights in to sweeten the deal. I have also flown the tandem in a paper thin scicon bag which I then carried with me on the bike to then use on the flight home from a totally different airport. A bit of a logistical challenge every time but one that I enjoy working out.

 

[Ridgeway]

I suggest don't let dogs have a go at piloting the tandem...

Might be better if one of them is the stoker though😂