Bikepacking Gathering in Wicklow, Ireland

Join us for a weekend filled with stunning cycling routes, two beautiful campsites, skill-building sessions, fireside chats, home-cooked meals, river swims and a forest SAUNA! This is a social event, not a competition. To keep the experience intimate and diverse, we’re limiting registration to 20 riders and ring-fencing 50% of the tickets for people who identify as womxn. This community-focused, solo-friendly event is all about connection—arrive as strangers, leave as friends.

Location: Wicklow, Ireland

Start: 5pm Friday 9th May

Finish: Approx. 3 pm Sunday 11th May

We’ll gather at a campsite in the Wicklow mountains, one hour from Dublin and near some of the country’s best cycling. After sleeping under the stars on Saturday morning we will pack up our tents and cycle to our second campsite. You will have the option of two routes of varying length (50km) or (70km), take these at your own pace and soak up the amazing scenery.

IMPORTANT: Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit as when you arrive at our second campsite you will have the option to enjoy a dip in the river and have the use of a woodland sauna! In the evening, we’ll sit together around a campfire to enjoy a freshly cooked pizza and share some stories. On Sunday we'll have a leisurely morning, pack up our camp for the last time and ride approximately 50km back to the first campsite. Between the activities we’ll be hosting some workshops on bikepacking, skill sharing and story telling opportunities, all aimed at building confidence and connections to do great things in the outdoors.

Whether you’re into getting inspired by some epic tales, want to talk about building communities, or just want to share real life conversations with a bunch of supportive folk, we hope you’ll find a safe space around the campfire to talk it out.

What’s included in the ticket price?
We’ll share more details over the coming weeks, but ticket price will include:

• Two nights basic camping (Friday 9th and Saturday 10th May)
• Breakfast x 2
• A welcome dinner on night 1 (probably a vegan curry).
• Individual pizzas on night 2
• GPX routes for the rides 
• Optional workshop on bikepacking
• Camp fire chats and inspirational talks
• Use of a woodland sauna on Saturday evening (2 hours)

• Lunch and snacks
• Bike hire
• Tools and puncture repair kit
• Transport to and from the meeting point
• Insurance

FURTHER DETAILS

What to expect from the cycling activities

• Cyclists should be self sufficient and carry their own navigation, tools, spares, first aid and snacks
• This is a social event not a competitive one. While we provide suggested routes, you are free to ride as much or as little as you want - shortcuts and additions to the suggested routes are possible. 
• On Saturday choose between shorter (50km) or longer (approx. 70km) bike options. There’ll be one or two more significant climbs per day, with some more rolling terrain in between. On Sunday we will all cycle around 50km.
• The routes have been designed to take allow you to experience the beautiful scenery of Wicklow. Where possible, the cycling routes will take you along quiet country roads which should be suitable for most bikes. Please beware that the conditions of Irish roads are variable and in some sections there may be some loose gravel. While both Saturday and Sundays cycling routes contain some challenging sections, the view is always worth it!
• With this in mind, it’s important that you are comfortable cycling and know your own abilities. We advise that you are comfortable cycling 60km in hilly terrain.
• Expect to be part of a group with a diverse pace of riders of varying confidence and speed levels. While we encourage people to ride together and get to know each other, it is a self-supported not a guided event and we cannot guarantee this. You must be comfortable riding sections solo.
• These routes are subject to change. GPX files of the exact routes will be released nearer the event.

What to bring

We’ll send out a suggested kit list, but key things will include:

• Full camping kit - tent, mat, sleeping bag, etc
• A bike
• Spares and tools
• A navigation device (e.g. garmin, wahoo, or a navigation app on your phone).
• A swimsuit

Bike and bikepacking equipment (Info and hiring)

• The aim of this event is to make bikepacking more accessible. Please get in touch using the email (1going.pottie@gmail.com), if you require any equipment and we will endeavour to find a solution.
• We can provide a limited number of bikepacking bags available to hire at a very small cost that covers P&P. If you need this please let us know ASAP using the email (1going.pottie@gmail.com)
• Unfortunately we're unable to provide camping equipment such as tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags. While we envision riders carrying their own kit between campsites, we will be able to transport a small number of items in a car, if this is not possible.
• Bike hire is not included in this trip.
• You’ll need to bring a bike that you would be comfortable cycling for 4-5 hours and that is in good, safe, working order. A road, gravel or touring bike would be most suitable. Hardtail MTBs and full suspension bikes could work but only if the suspension can be locked out.

Basecamp and Food

• Our campsites are located near the Wicklow National Park, approximately 1 hour from Dublin and will be open from 5pm on Friday. Specific location will be shared closer to the time
• Limited parking is available onsite, prior to the event we will set up a whatsapp group where people can organise lift sharing.
• Small campervans OK, but no large motorhomes please.
• Drinking water and toilets are available in camp. Please note there are limited showers on site.
• On night 1 we will have a family style, vegetarian/vegan curry and on night 2 we will have a freshly cooked woodland pizza.
• We will try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions for meals that we prepare and provide over the weekend. If you have serious allergies, please email us before booking.

Pricing information

• A spot on the weekend costs €130. This event is running at cost value and requires a minimum of 12 participants.
• Refunds are available up to 45 days before the event. Within 45 days, no refund or credit is possible, but you may transfer your ticket to someone else of your finding that this event is suitable for.

Insurance 

• It is mandatory that you get personal travel/health insurance for this trip, that includes cycling on it’s policy. It should also cover you for public liability in case you are involved in an accident that is your fault. 
• We recommend Cycling Ireland Insurance. Which includes personal accident and 3rd Party Liability. It's €65 for 12 months. So 5.40€ a month, half the cost of Spotify.