When electric cargo bikes aren’t making short work of the school run or tackling the weekly shop they’re useful for lugging heavy gear on camping trips. Being able to haul up to 250kg means you can take solar panels, large tents, wood-burning stoves. Even a (small) kitchen sink isn’t out of the question.
Cycle touring is a pursuit as old as the bicycle itself. Now reinvented as ‘bikepacking’ the business of setting off to ride and camp, taking with you only as much as you can carry, is as pure a cycling experience as you can have.
The excellent bikepacking.com describes ‘a synthesis of mountain biking and minimalist camping; it evokes the freedom of multi-day back-country hiking, with the range and thrill of riding a mountain bike. It’s about forging places less travelled, both near and afar, via single-track trails, gravel, and abandoned dirt roads, carrying only essential gear’.
Cargo bikes: The packmules of the cycling world
Some of the bikepacking chronicles describe epic rides through the red deserts of the American west and beyond, but don’t let the lure of far flung destinations stop you starting with a short overnight route near home.
To help get you started, we have a Quechua three-person tent to give away (which you won’t need an electric cargo bike to carry).
The design of this tent uses two-tone dye on the entire outer lining to reduce its CO2 emissions by 20% and the company can repair it if it gets damaged to give it a second life. To be in with a chance of winning the tent, simply leave us a comment at the bottom of the page and let us know where you’d pitch it.
Win a tent
To in with a chance of winning the tent, please comment below to let us know where you’d pitch it and we’ll pick a name next week.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
Jim Woodlingfield
What a great tent to take out into the beautiful Northumberland countryside!
Jonathan Hunt
That is really neat. I think any number of my bikes in my fleet could carry that. I’d take it into the Peak District 🙂
Jon Pennycook
Probably somewhere in Purbeck in Dorset, for last-minute getaways.
Bryn Gwyndaf Jones
How thoughtful of you!
Bryn Gwyndaf Jones
I’m moving to Pembrokeshire in West Wales which is full of places to camp
Peter Chisnall
Wonderful!
Alan
Planning to ride cycle routes along French rivers and canals this summer, would be just the job for camping along the way
Peter Soper
Looks like a great tent – and it would go in a saddlebag.
Richard
We’d use this on our favourite site near St Davids
Sarah
If I was lucky enough to win I would pitch my tent in Northumberland.
Arnold Wilkes
I bought a EBike 14/3 and returned it 21/3because my weight 18 stone and weight of bike meant i couldn’t carry any thing beyond a spare Lock. It was a Trek Verve +1
What is the total weight of a Cargo Bike
Mark B
Being a modest sized person a modest sized tent would be absolutely perfect. Yes please!
Colin
Wyoming 😉
Jon Allen
Sutherland, beautiful wilderness spaces.
Mags
A new tent would be great for my forthcoming ride in France, now the Covid restrictions have been removed. I’ve really missed cycle touring on the European mainland over the last two years.
Baz
New touring season, new tent, new routes in Yorkshire await.
Tim Earl
Dartmoor
Peter
Somewhere along the Jurassic coast where I’m touring this summer
Andy
I’d pitch it on this little flat piece of land right here: 53.19048° N, 3.99075° W
CraigSA
I’ve just started introducing my 12 Yr old to bike camping and a lighter suitable tent would really help since I’m loaded with most of the gear for 2