First Time Bike Camping Ended Before it Began

I have had a desire to attempt bike camping for the past few months. I couldn't tell you what about bike camping interests me so much or why I felt like I needed to do it, but I slowly collected all the gear I needed and convinced a friend of mine to embark on this adventure of unknowns. Backpacking and car camping I am very comfortable with, but adding the bike element changes more than you think.

I chose Santa Catalina Island as the place for our first attempt. The plan was to ride the loop trail around the whole island from Avalon to Two Harbors and back. We set out for a long weekend adventure. I will tell you right now, we failed. We have since laughed off the failure, and are ready to come back stronger and with more information and a better game plan. It ended before it began unfortunately, but the trip was filled with lessons.

Our failure was unfortunate with a bike tire being irreplaceable and in no way of being repaired. We have since joked the 'lucky penny' was our doom as it was picked up moments before the incident. We already have plans to go back as we both still think Catalina Island is a great place to bike camp.

I think it is a great for beginners because the trail is a simple loop to follow. There are campground along the route to stay at and there are also primitive camping options as well. Each campground has water, so it doesn't have to be carried in large quantities. The island is relatively small, as the trail was about 40 miles long in total.

It is a small feat for a first trip, but also comforting to know there are two towns available for assistance if anything were to happen and the entire trip can be done within 3 or 4 days.

For bike packing we went with rear racks and split our food and supplies up needed for the journey.

We both had small front handlebar bags to hold the necessities, wallets, and phones. I went with pannier bags and Katie went with a bungee cord net. Both worked wonders for us.

Tip: Test drive your set up before leaving on your trip to make sure you feel comfortable with the locations of all your items and that it feels balanced. You want to be strong enough to handle your bike with all the added weight. Weight added to the bike whether in the front or back is helpful in distributing weight, but in moments where the bike is being pushed uphill, you will feel all the added weight.

To get to the island you need to purchase ferry tickets for yourself and the bike. The bikes will sit in the back of the ferry where you can also stay with your belongings or go sit inside. The ferry ride is about an hour both ways from Long Beach to Avalon.

Tip:Double check the schedule to see which harbors go to which cities on Catalina. Avalon is the major city and Two Harbors has a singular restaurant, visitor center, and mostly housing. During off season the ferry mostly lands in Avalon. Two Harbors ferry drop off is open during warmer seasons.

We chose to land in Avalon because we were going to ride the loop from Avalon to Two Harbors and then hit the back side of the island by all the beaches where Little Harbor Campground is located before ending in Avalon. The city of Avalon is very touristy and small. It has the usual restaurants, shops, and then the hotels are mixed in with the housing. Boats line the shore of islanders and those who came across the water to escape mainland. The casino and teal pier are the first things you see along the shore when arriving and at night beautiful string lights line the city.

We landed in Avalon on an evening ferry and set out to get water and propane for camping.

Tip: Propane is an item not allowed to be brought on the ferry. The local hardware store, Chet's Hardware, and Vons both carry propane. Plan ahead to get there during open hours of these stores.

We set out to find a camp spot somewhere just at the top of the hill out of Avalon. We ended up camping at an old stage coach turn around because pushing our bikes up hill took longer than expected. The wind on the island definitely slows you down depending how covered you are by the hills as well.

The hill incline was full force the second you leave the main strip by the water. The incline doesn't stop for a few miles and has crazy twists and turns. Every time you think you're close to the top, there is a switchback laughing at you, waiting for you to see all the incline hidden previously.

When I tell you the hill out of Avalon is steep, it is a brutal steep non-stop incline that takes about 2-3 hours to get up. With bikes it took us longer than a fellow couple of backpackers we crossed paths with, but the steep uphill around every switchback can feel defeating.

The plan for this trip in March was no accident. This time of year the weather is cooler and the island is less crowded. We planned it this way so we would not roast under the sun rays during the day and wouldn't worry about the paths being crowded.

Tip: Look at weather and the off season of Catalina Island to travel to. During October to March it is less crowded and the weather is cooler. This gives you the island to yourself essentially. We passed a handful of people but most visitors stayed within the city limits.

After defeating the giant hill we were able to bike the dirt road, which is the main road connecting Avalon to Black Jack Campground and Two Harbors. There are some trails that go out towards the sea and dead end to explore, but for the most part you can follow the main road and see the beautiful scenery.

Being in Catalina feels like a different enough terrain and surrounding that it no longer feels like you are in California. It is a great getaway, and the the further into the island you go the more it looks slightly similar to Hawaii and the dramatic cliff inclines that spread like veins.

I will say with bike camping it is a mix getting to ride your bike and enjoy the views, and also pushing your bike up the hills too steep for you and all your supplies.

We definitely moved faster than what backpacking would have been. Getting to bike is a fun experience because it is a different challenge from walking with a giant pack. You get to see more and the plan was to have a few hours each day available to relax by the water or near a panoramic view and paint or read.

Tip: Bring cards, paints, any other kinds of activities you enjoy for the trip. With biking you have more free time than when backpacking if you balance out the day and give yourself a long enough timeline. We planned on doing about 10-12 miles per day, leaving a few hours to enjoy the island however we chose.

The path we started to bike is different from the Trans-Catalina hiking trail that crosses the island. The hiking trail does not allow bikes and the road we were on is also the road for cars to travel around the island. We got to see more overlooks and rolling hills around us, whereas, the hiking trail is more intertwined with the cacti and plants.

About 8 miles in after a rejuvenating break and some lunch we started to head out when Katie was walking her bike and the back wheel inner tube just deflated. Our hearts sank with the inner tube. The tube wasn't fixable and unfortunately for us no shop on the entire island carried a tube for a hybrid bike.

Tip: Always bring items you may not be able to buy on the island. Mountain bikes are the only type of bike on the island that have replacement parts or are available for rent. Renting day of is usually unheard of because most rentals are booked months in advance. We didn't come completely unprepared; we had hopes of repairing the tire, but the location of the tear was impossible to fix. So much for beginner's luck, am I right?

We were able to laugh off the misfortune and change our trip accordingly. Catalina gets booked out far ahead and quickly, especially in the summer months. No rentals were available so we decided to sleep the night in Avalon and do a day hike before heading on the ferry two days early.

Tip: Rangers on the island are outnumbered by the Conservation employees. Call them if in need of non-emergency help first because our encounter with the rangers proved to be useless. In our attempt to find a way to get help while stranded with a busted tire we were shrugged off by the rangers, saying their 4x4 SUVs and pick up trucks didn't accommodate bikes. I know we can't be the first with such misfortune so be prepared to have to pay for help if you are in a bind. There is not a free, welcoming helping hand on the island.

Avalon is small, but has its gems. The beautifully painted tiles cover the city in their vibrant colors. We sat by the water near the casino to enjoy the sun set over the hills of the city and laugh about our misfortune.

The city itself is mostly for eating, souvenir shopping, and has a spa. The outdoor adventure is what attracts people to the island.

We found the one hike out of town which is Hermit Gulch Summit. This connects with the Trans-Catalina trail that can be backpacked from one end of the island to the other.

This hike is a very hilly rough terrain, but once you have ascended all the elevation, the views of the water are gorgeous. We got to see a lot of Avalon and the surroundings on this trip. It wasn't a total loss. We got a ton of advice from locals we met while being rescued off the trail and what to improve upon next time.

Although our trip changed due to misfortune during our first attempt to bike camp we are excited to try again and come back with a better plan. We got advice that it is best to start from Two Harbors and make our way around to Avalon. It avoids the massive incline out of the city and starts us at the top of the island terrain versus the bottom. I think Katie and I would both agree we will not miss having to walk up the hill out of Avalon again when we revisit.

For anyone thinking over the idea of bike camping I say dive right in and go for it. The hard work of biking is love-hate but when isn't it with backpacking or car camping? I love the reward even when I wake up sore from head to toe from pushing my bike uphill as well as riding it for a dozen miles each day. This is the first of many trips!

It's an eye opener when natures decides to humble you. It's a reminder you can only continue to grow and learn on your adventures, but a caution that you can't beat nature. It ended before it began, but it is only the beginning for me and bike camping!