I Think I Have a Crush on Bikepacking

I rolled out of North Beach around 3 pm on Friday. It was a classic San Francisco March day where it randomly hits 80 degrees. Almost too hot, but still feels nice while meandering through the city shade. I was in no rush and knew I had a long ride ahead. But I was eager to reach the coast and cool off with an ocean breeze. 

I rode through downtown, cut through Golden Gate Park, and hit the coastline. The people thinned out, the nature grew, and from there I just followed the ocean south.

I left with a route in mind, but no real plan. I knew I wanted to get somewhere around halfway on Friday, but I decided to go on this trip pretty spur of the moment. No campsite booked. Just riding and vibing.

I love riding in March. Everything is in full bloom, wildflowers everywhere, hills insanely green. Even though the bloom causes some trail overgrowth and allergies, I think it’s worth it. As I rode through Pacifica and along Old Highway 1, I found paths and trails I never knew existed, cruising above the coast with no cars, little wind, and some of the most picturesque views.

The trail popped me out right along Highway 1 in Montara and conveniently next to my favorite sandwich shop of all time, Gherkin’s. I was about 20 miles in, and a Gherkin’s sandwich and a crisp, cold can of Coke were exactly what I needed to refuel.

Quickly after I gobbled down half my massive sandwich, I hit Moss Beach. There was an entry to a long gravel bike path that hugged the coast all the way down through Half Moon Bay. I rode through at the perfect time, when the light shifted from bright to golden, and the sunset over the water turned vibrant red, orange, and yellow, reflecting pink and purple over the hills.

After passing through, it started to get dark, but I still hadn’t made it halfway. I layered up, turned on my lights, and burned some miles along the road. During this, I started to think about where I should sleep and remembered there being sand dunes along Highway 1, but couldn’t quite pinpoint where.

As night fell, I knew I needed to pick somewhere, dunes or no dunes. I checked my map and saw Pescadero was about five miles away, and I decided that somewhere near the beach would be the place to rest my head. And lucky me, right before the main state beach, I hit the dunes. I pushed the bike into the sand and tucked myself between two small sand banks, so I was out of sight. I blew up my sleeping pad, crawled into my sleeping bag, munched the other half of my sandwich, chugged some water, and fell asleep.

I slept surprisingly well, and when I woke up in daylight, I was pleasantly surprised at how perfect the spot actually was. The only downside was skipping a tent and a change of clothes to save weight. Everything was a little damp, and I had to sleep in my bibs. Trying to pack light kind of backfired there, and next time I would definitely opt for the extra weight of a spare pair of pants. But my complaints are minimal, as these didn’t feel like problems, more so just tweaks for next time.

In the morning, I was greeted by the marine layer, which made the scenery feel majestic. After taking it in for a bit, I packed up and got back on the bike. I had some more Highway 1 miles to burn, so I started chipping away at those while enjoying a gourmet breakfast of a jalapeño meat stick and caffeinated cola-flavored gel. 

With not much else going on besides the road and the ocean, my mind started to wander. 

Living in San Francisco, I feel like I’m constantly bouncing from one thing to the next. And I love it, but there’s something really special about being alone. You get to make every decision. You’re on your own time. No one to check in with, no one to say no, zero compromise. Just you doing exactly what you want, when you want. I think there is great value in human connection, but it’s also just as important to spend time solo. Being alone creates individualism, confidence, and independence. This trip reminded me of the beauty of that.

As the road miles came to an end, I was met with another perfectly timed surprise, Swanton Berry Farm. I was ready for more caffeine and a sweet treat, and it happily delivered. I devoured a strawberry shortcake, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a hot cup of coffee, which made me jazzed for the final stretch. 

From Davenport onward, there’s a new paved path allowing for some fast miles, but you can also stay on the dirt trail, cliffside. Since I was just out there for the ride, with no time frame to meet, I chose the trail, which ended up being my favorite part of the whole trip.

You’re slightly above the cliffs, looking down at the ocean, but also surrounded by green hills, blooming flowers, and birds swirling around you. It was a nice Saturday, but there were very few people. Just me and my bike heading south.

This was my first time bikepacking and my first time riding the Dualist, and it honestly felt like the perfect bike for this kind of adventure. It really lived up to its name, and the duality of the bike was the highlight for me. It felt smooth and fast on pavement, but still handled rocks, roots, and trail super well. Switching between pavement, gravel, and dirt felt easy and made every surface feel breezy and fun to ride.

It was nice that the bike was light enough to lift and maneuver, even with packed bags on it, yet still felt stable on roads and trails. My favorite part about the Dualist, though, was the flat bars. Especially since my ride was long and relaxed, they gave me a lot of comfort and control, no matter the surface. It let me stop thinking about the bike and just enjoy the ride it was taking me on.

As I rolled into Santa Cruz, it felt like a major win. No mechanical issues, no bad weather, just immaculate vibes. Reaching my final destination, my legs stopped spinning, and I was stoked to get out of my bibs and celebrate with some ice cream.

It ended up being the best first bikepacking trip I could have asked for, and I’d recommend it to just about anyone who will listen. I think I have a crush on bikepacking now.

I’ll for sure be doing it again soon!

— Nicole