My husband and I had our first bikepacking adventure this weekend. It was an overnight credit card bike tour through our cycling club. It’s called a credit card tour because you pay for your food and accommodations with cash or credit cards (rather than camping and cooking your food). Packing light, we brought only what we needed and could carry on our bikes.
While we already had some gear like a saddle bag and a rear bike rack, we also purchased handlebar bags and a large dry bag from Amazon for more storage. Alex brought all our clothes in the dry bag and strapped it to his bike rack with a bungee cord and net while I carried our toiletries, snacks/gels, a lock, and flip-flops in a medium saddle bag. We also brought waterproof socks since there was a chance of rain and thunderstorms.
The Little Miami Scenic Trail
Joining two other cyclists (Tracy, the ride leader, and her friend, Denise), we utilized the Little Miami Scenic Trail from Morrow to Yellow Springs, Ohio. We parked at the Morrow Police Station next to the trail and notified them we would leave our cars overnight.
We got on the trail around 9:30 am, and our first stop (around 15 miles) was in Corwin, where we went to a cute and bike-friendly coffee shop with snacks, free water, and a clean bathroom. Debba, another friend of the ride leader, parked in Xenia and biked down to Corwin to meet us, as she planned to join us just for the day. Being a small group it was easy to get to know everyone as we rode and hung out together.
Xenia, a hub for other trails (around mile 30) was our next stop and another chance to use the bathroom and refill our water bottles, which was necessary on such a hot and humid day. As we continued on the trail towards Yellow Springs it started to rain. Debba went back to her car and drove to meet us in Yellow Springs. The rain was short-lived, yet it helped cool the air for a bit.
An Unexpected SAG Driver
We continued to finish the first day’s ride, passing under a red-covered bridge, but not before taking a photo. To avoid riding through large crowds during a pride festival, we decided to go straight to the motel where we were staying. We checked in, left our bikes, and showered before Debba, who acted as an unexpected but welcome SAG (Support And Gear), drove us into town for a late lunch.
After eating a nice meal at the Sunrise Café, our SAG drove us back to the motel, where we chilled for a little bit, watched TV, and took a cat nap. After waking up, Alex and I decided to get some food, ordering ahead, at the nearby Caribbean restaurant. We then rode bikes to Dollar General to buy water before picking up our food order. The wait took longer than the ride, but it was a fun mini-adventure – between bringing the stuff back by bike, crossing a busy road, and hurrying back to the motel before it rained.
Day 2
We headed back to Morrow around 8:30 am this morning and planned to eat breakfast at a donut shop off the trail (about 10 miles from the motel). Those first ten miles went fast. The weather was nicer, with it being cooler and less humid. The donut shop was a popular place as many people stopped in while we were there.
After breakfast, we rode the trail to Corwin, stopping at the coffee shop again for water and a bathroom break. It rained in the area last night leaving a lot of debris on the trail from Corwin to Morrow. We encountered several fallen trees and branches on the trail that we had to navigate around.
Despite the obstacle course of debris, we made it back in good time, averaging almost 14 mph (in contrast to yesterday’s 12.4 mph). By the time we got to our car in Morrow, we were hungry. After putting our bikes away, we ate a delicious lunch at the Mexican restaurant across the street. The whole experience was so lovely, good company included, that I look forward to doing another credit card bike tour.
