The Habit Loop: How Ordinary Discipline Unlocks Extraordinary Adventures
When you see photos from the Silk Road Mountain Race or hear stories from a month-long ride across a continent, what comes to mind? For many, it’s the image of a superhuman athlete—someone young, naturally gifted, and with the time to train like a full-time professional.
I’m going to let you in on a secret. That’s not the reality.
The people who truly succeed in the world of international bikepacking often don’t fit that mould. They tend to be older—in their 40s, 50s, and beyond—and their primary 'talent' isn't something they were born with. It's something they've built. It's the dedication to a goal, the foresight to make a plan, and the consistency to see it through. It’s a victory earned, not given.
The Real Victory is in the Journey
Why is this mindset more critical for a journey across Kyrgyzstan than for a weekend race? Because on a big international trip, you have two goals: to enjoy the journey and to make it to the end. Riding 'flat out' for days on end serves neither purpose.
The real magic happens when you find a sustainable pace. You start to notice the world around you—the smells, the sounds, the conversations with people you meet. Hours and kilometres melt away as you enter a 'flow state', and this is the key to both enjoying the ride and having the resilience to finish it.
For every winner of a race like the Tour Divide, there are dozens who don't make it to the finish line. But there are also hundreds more who do finish, not because they were the fastest, but because they embraced the journey. They took home memories of mountains, rivers, campsites, and conversations. They achieved a life-changing goal, and that is the ultimate victory.
The Foundational Habit: The Fully Loaded Weekend
So, how do you build this capacity? It starts with a foundational habit: consistently riding long distances, fully loaded.
For me, this began years ago, simply exploring local parks on a bike. It evolved into connecting towns by road and eventually led me to gravel and mountain bikes to escape the traffic and explore the deep outdoors. When preparing for a major event like the Hunt 1000, I translate this into a structured plan. I analyse the route to determine a sustainable daily distance and then train specifically for that reality. I start small—maybe just 50km with little climbing—and progressively increase the challenge until I can comfortably handle 100km+ days with 3,000m of elevation on difficult terrain with a fully loaded bike. This slow progression is what makes the goal manageable.
But these difficult rides, the cold and wet ones, are where the real learning happens. The most important lesson I learned was that no matter how tough it got, I always made it home. That knowledge builds a deep, unshakable confidence that if you plan correctly, you can get through anything. Here’s what those tough rides teach you:
Your Gear Gets Real-World Tested. You quickly learn what works and what doesn’t. I learned the hard way that high-quality waterproof bags are non-negotiable, not just for rain, but for the frequent river crossings you might encounter on a true backcountry adventure.
You Understand Your Body as an Engine. You learn the importance of metabolic flexibility—training your body to burn both fat for endurance and carbohydrates for hard efforts. Critically, you learn to pace yourself, keeping your effort in a sustainable 'Zone 1' or 'Zone 2' for days on end, because a multi-day journey is an entirely different beast than a single-day race.
You Master Your Mind. The key is to shift your focus from your own discomfort to your surroundings. Lose yourself in conversations, in the rhythm of your breathing, or in the breathtaking landscape. Bikepacking is a form of active meditation; whatever brings you a sense of peace on the trail is the right tool to keep you moving forward.
The Small Habit with a Big Payoff: The 5-Minute Check
This philosophy extends to small, daily disciplines. For me, one of the most important non-riding habits is a five-minute brake and drivetrain check at the end of every single day on the trail. As a bike mechanic, I know this is time well spent.
After a long ride, I’ll quickly check my brake pads, especially if the day involved rain or long descents. For the drivetrain, I wipe the chain with a dry cloth, apply a wax-based lubricant, and let it soak in overnight. This simple ritual means I can rest easy, knowing my bike is safe and ready for the next day. It’s these small, smart routines that prevent bigger failures and keep you moving forward.
Your Adventure is a Lifestyle
My final message is that bikepacking is a lifestyle. To accomplish your dream journey, you need to integrate it into your everyday life.
Use your bike for daily tasks. Go on fun, local weekend trips as often as you can. Keep your bike ready to ride by maintaining it regularly, turning that practice into a daily habit when you're on the trail. These small actions build the foundation for your big international adventure.
The first step is to make a plan. Take your time with it. If you have a specific journey in mind, break the route down day by day. This will tell you exactly what you need to train for.
