Move Better Healing Therapies

Let’s ride bikes!

This page is for all things cycling. I enjoy many forms of riding, recently spending most of my time and money on bike packing. I am a registered “gear library” through Bikepacking Roots. This means I have a variety of mounts, bags, straps, and the like available for “check out” so that someone can try out different gear with minimal cost or commitment. When one considers all that goes into bike packing; bike gear + camping gear + survival gear + long days in the saddle, it’s easy to see how gear is one of the biggest hurdles to getting into bike packing! I will continue to build up this resource and make the gear library easy to navigate, as well as provide opportunities to get out there! Scroll down to check out my spring 2026 schedule of bikepacking trips in the Tri-state area, and come join me!

Gear Library

Gear can be checked out for a suggested donation of $20 per trip (not per bag or per day). This money goes towards the upkeep of the gear and my sanity in organizing everything. This library is made up of gear I have personally purchased and used. I also accept gear donations from those that have made purchases that just didn’t work for their set up. Sadly, they weren’t as lucky as you to have found this gear library! Shoot me an email if you’d like to unload some things! I am looking to build up my reserve of frame bags, handlebar mounts, and lightweight sleep systems.

Bike packing is dangerous on many levels. Those of us that have done it, that enjoy “type 2 fun” are a special breed of people willing to share the shirt off our backs. Or their wheel, or food, or chamois butter. I’d love to hear about your trip plans and lend my expertise if I can! I frequently plan and ride my own routes as well as organized events throughout the US, particularly the south- central- mid- west. (very specific quadrant of the US) I am happy to lend packing lists, route files, etc for anyone who asks, so please ask!

How to borrow gear:

1. Figure out what gear you will need. Lots of factors go into this, but I have found even with 1 night trips I always use a frame bag, handlebar bag, seat bag and 2, small food bags. Adventuring in colder temperatures or where there are few resupply options is when fork mounts and a rack and panniers set up becomes more necessary. Want more guidance? Read this.
2. Peruse the photos below and decide what gear you want to borrow. Note the number that corresponds to the pieces of gear you are interested in. I highly recommend writing this down with a brief description (fork mount with straps and nalgene bottle). We can always add items as things come together.
3. Send an email to hutch1208@gmail.com with the following details: Your name and phone number, the identifying number of the gear, the exact dates of your trip, and if you would like help figuring out any details. An availability window of 5 days before and 5 days after your trip will be set up to accommodate pick up and drop off the equipment. Be sure to consider if you want to have the gear several days before your trip to experiment with packing set ups. Additionally, consider your flexibility to travel to the Evansville, IN airport. This is an easy landmark that is very close to my actual home. *If gear is not returned within 5 days you may incur a charge to your credit card unless other arrangements have been discussed.
4. A valid credit card or deposit is required for borrowing gear. This is simply to keep the library alive and well- functioning with lots of gear to choose from. Actually donations ($20 suggested) for use of the gear can be made via cash, venmo, or paypal and is not required until date of gear pick up.

One last note on gear selection. Typically the thing that will take up the most space on the bike is your “sleep system.” This could include sleeping pad, sleeping bag/ quilt, tent, hammock, pillow, and fresh clothing. Often a handlebar bag, seat bag, or rack + bag will be required to fit these bulky items. If you were to buy one bag, this is where I would focus my efforts, and you can expect to spend a minimum of $100. (You definitely want this to be fully waterproof!) It is also totally doable to ride your bike all day and plan to sleep in a hotel each night! In my early days of bikepacking I concocted a few cheap, DIY options for packing my sleep system which worked, but often had to be monitored and repacked more than I would like during a trip. Scroll down for the actual library and enjoy shopping!

Here are a few set ups that I have used with different styles of bikes and route demands (terrain, weather, elevation/ weight, resupply opportunities)

More to come; sleep and camping equipment and recently donated gear!

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So… where you gonna go!? Bikepacking.com and Bikepackingroots.com have good databases of what I would call ‘showy’ routes. For me, living in the midwest with limited resources or ambition to travel more than 4 hours away I have learned to tailor my adventure around the roads that are easily accessible to me. Sometimes I check out cool areas, but mostly I just want to get out there!

Below are a few bike packing routes I have created and plan to offer as an self- supported group ride! This is totally free and open to the bike packing curious. Just remember, your fitness is your responsibility and we are all out here as self- supported riders. Make sure to have a contingency plan in place in the event you can’t continue for whatever reason. We’ve all been there, learn from it and then get back out there!

I’d love to hear from you if you have the intention to join in for one of these rides! You can reach me at hutch1208@gmail.com

• Events are free and open to cyclists who are willing to be self- sufficient in rural parts of the tri-state area. Speed of travel is set by each individual and having an emergency pick- up plan is highly recommended. Consider bringing a buddy to stick with if riding away from the group is a concern for you.

• Routes can be accessed on www.ridewithgps.com and can be previewed now, although they may change slightly over the vetting process. The routes are intended to be completed over a weekend: start late Friday, finish by afternoon on Sunday. 50- 85 miles a day with no more than 4k of daily elevation. Rustic camping accommodations and at least 1 food stop per day are included in the routes.

• The bike you have will do. Some of the routes are more off road than others but consideration of gearing + 20-40 lbs of gear on your bike is a more important factor for determining the highest level of enjoyment. Don’t feel pressure to buy the perfect bag set up just yet, it’s a process of figuring out what works best for each situation. That’s how I ended up with enough bags and gear to outfit three bikes at the same time! Benefit from my years of experience and consider using bags from my local gear library!

2026 Schedule of Bikepacking events

April 25, 26 (St. Croix) Tiptokaworth Ridge route, 112 miles, 8k elevation

May 29, 30, 31 (out and back across southern IL) So ILL 3 day route, 240 miles, 7.7k elevation

June 27, 28 (Land between the Lakes, KY) Fruit Loops route, 100 miles, 6.3k elevation

Tiptokaworth Ridge Route     

Camp fri night at Tipsaw Lake Campground

Day One, 61 miles

Mile 3 Food Stop, Branchville

Mile 22 Food Stop, Birdseye

Mile 40 detour 1 mile for food, Patoka Lk

Mile 61 Happy Hollow Campground, Pearsontown

Day Two, 52 miles

Mile 64 Food Stop, Marengo

Mile 84 The Overlook Restaurant, Leavenworth

Mile 103 possible farm stand, Oriole

Mile 112 FINISH Tipsaw Lk Campground

So ILL Lolli Route

240 mile lollipop loop (option to shorten), 7.7k elevation, 75% paved along Tunnel Hill trail

Day One, 80 miles

Mile

Day Two, 80 miles

Mile 141 Trail of Tears dispersed camping + swimming hole

Day Three, 96 miles

Fruit Loops LBL gravel route

The milage has been kept short to account for the greater terrain demand and potential heat of late June. This route is always “water adjacent” with plenty of dispersed camping and lake dips!

100 miles, 6.3k elevation, 95% gravel, and zero food stops

Camp Friday night at Golden Pond camp ground

More information coming soon!