'SEND IT!' someone shouted from below, meaning the coast was clear for me to bomb down on the side of the hill, which ended in a massive puddle you could splash through. I let go of the breaks and started rolling down faster and faster until I hit the water, creating what felt like enormous waves on both sides of my third bike of the day. Who would've thought bikepacking in Wales was so much fun?
Clearly, a lot of people do. Bikepacking, an activity that involves you travelling around on a gravel bike (see also: best gravel bikes), exploring the Great Outdoors at a much gentler pace than if you were driving around, gradually rose in popularity in recent years. It's no surprise; pandemic-induced lockdowns around the globe made people appreciate not only physical activity but also time spent outdoors, and bikepacking combines the two into one delightful experience.
