Dreaming of an adventure without stress and planning chaos? Less effort, more fun – how little do you really need to be happy? Was our microadventure worth it?
Imagine embarking on a bike adventure that clears your mind, guides you through nature without any kind of stress, and spits you out on the other side with a satisfied mind and a massive grin on your face . Often, we take on too much when planning a bike trip. And organising an adventure with your friends? In a nutshell,it’s a pain: WhatsApp groups, no replies, coordinating schedules, and of course, flying halfway around the globe. Detailed route planning on Komoot, endless debates about which hotel to book – an exhausting process that often drains your last bit of energy. But to experience an adventure with your bike, clear your head, and get back home relaxed with a big grin on your face, you don’t need all the hassle.
We need to see and appreciate the small escapes right in front of us. A spontaneous overnighter on the hills behind your house? A little weekend trip to get out and ride. The yearning for freedom, escaping the hardships of everyday life, and returning to simplicity. We think: Just do it! To prove how well it can work, we’re setting off on a microadventure. Just us and our bikes!
What you need for a microadventure
First things first: the perfect bike for such an adventure. But which bike is right for a trip like this? We chose the Canyon Neuron:ONfly. Tipping the scales at just 20.2 kg, this light eMTB is significantly lighter than a full-power monster with big, heavy battery. It can be easily lifted or pushed over a fallen tree trunk. With fast-rolling tires, you can ride on level ground even without assistance. So why not just use a regular bike? With a light eMTB, you can go further and higher than with a regular bike on a short microadventure.. The limits of what’s possible shift, and you have more freedom to ride without pre-planning the easiest climbs. The physical effort is still bigger with a light eMTB compared to a full-power eMTB. Motor assistance is crucial, though, as you need to carry your sleeping bag and basic coffee gear up the hill. For a short, spontaneous tour like a one-night bivouac, you don’t need a full-fat e-mountainbike, especially if you want to suffer a little – like we do – and can use a an optional range extender to increase battery capacity. It’s the ideal mix for trail and tours, and combines the best of both worlds.
The destination. Nature is beautiful in its own unique way – everywhere! Sometimes, it’s worth looking at the surroundings right under your nose from a different perspective. And all you need is a bit of time. Less than 24 hours is enough – we’ll show you how! Good Weather. Rain and bivouacking without a tent? Only recommended if you enjoy waking up soaked, and if you’re really tough. A Bike Buddy? Nope. Not necessarily. If you really want to unwind, take the time and peace to start your little microadventure alone. It’s the perfect way to truly disconnect.
Of course, there are endless things that will increase the comfort of your short adventure. In the end, you have to decide what you really need. We pack our backpacks for a microadventure and take a few essentials we don’t want to do without:
- Mosquito repellent
- Fully charged battery and range extender
- Puncture kit
- Plenty of water
- Good head torch
- Coffee, very important!
- Trash bags, we want to leave nothing but footprints and tire marks
- Compact sleeping bag and sleeping mat
- Warm clothes for the night
- Phone for navigation and emergencies
- Provisions
- Camping stove, pot, and cooking utensils
- A summit beer and spirits as a reward
No need for much preparation and planning. Backpack packed, bike checked? Let’s go!
Microadventure: My bike and I
Friday noon, perfect weather, no appointments, and a craving for adventure. The sun and stars align for a spontaneous microadventure! Quickly throw all essentials in your backpack, oil the chain, and off you go. Good to know: wild camping is not allowed in Germany, but sleeping under the open sky usually is. So, leave your tent at home.
We’ve picked a cool hill right in our backyard, packed our backpack with all essentials, and set off! Without much of a plan, we started riding, and a seemingly harmless turn before a bend turned out to be a steep, nasty climb. This is where light eMTBs really come into play. After the first uphill and a few breaths of fresh air, the stress of the week is already gone. No obligations, just rolling into the sunset without a fixed destination.
We’re travelling light, but on unexpected hike-a-bike sections, you still feel every gram – wouldn’t instant coffee have been better? The walk-mode of the Bosch Performance Line SX motor helps in such situations when unrideable uphill sections threaten to spoil your mood. Normal uphills are easy and fun to tackle with the Bosch SX motor’s support.
The evening sun is already low, bathing everything in golden light. Time to find a spot for the night. Our needs are simple: a flat area to lie down, an epic view, and preferably no ant nests nearby. Once we’ve found the right spot, it’s time to fire up the gas stove and finally satisfy our rumbling tummies with dinner. And let’s not forget the iconic, well-deserved evening beer – which tastes twice as good after tacking chalenging uphills in hot temperatures. Now, the relaxing part begins: enjoy the peace and doze off under the breath-taking sky. A Thousand Star Hotel takes on a whole new meaning!
What was that noise? Your heart starts racing, your hands shake hard while reaching for a torch… nothing to see. Was it a deer, or a wild boar perhaps? Best not to think about it and go back to sleep. Spoiler: we’re still alive 😉
The next morning, we wake up to the sweet birdsong, just in time for an incredible spectacle. The morning sun turns the sky pink. It’s still early – at least it was worth schlepping the Bialetti up the mountain. We watch as the sky changes colour by the minute: pause and savour the moment. Breathtaking colours, a pink more vibrant than ever. And what makes a sunrise on the mountain, all alone in the stillness of nature, even better? Of course, coffee!
If you want to enjoy your coffee at sunrise, you’ll need to wake up before the birds, but no rush. The coffee tastes just as good with the sun up! And what’s better than the smell of coffee mixed with the fresh sent of slightly damp forest ground? We slowly wake up, a deer darts past our bivouac spot. After refuelling with a few small snacks, it’s time to pack up: secure everything on the bike, soak up the views one last time, pause, breathe deeply, and we can roll straight from bed onto the trail.
Golden hour at its finest! Soaking up the sun from 5 a.m. is on the agenda. It’s worth pedalling back up after the first descent to catch another trail run. After an energising morning, we head back home, slowly easing back into everyday life. Once home, a feeling of total relaxation sneaks upon us. A fine blend of exhaustion and satisfaction. We immediately crave another microadventure. But no matter how great it was, the anticipation of a shower and our own comfortable bed is now the biggest thrill.
Pro tip: Take a day to settle in, rest, and process your experience.
Back to simplicity: it doesn’t take much, but it helps a lot!
A microadventure shows us that it doesn’t take much to be happy. What did we learn from our nearly 18-hour bivouac trip? Above all, that you don’t need a master plan. The best moments are the unplanned ones.
Does a microadventure have positive effects? Absolutely. Did it take much to implement and achieve this? Not at all. Little input, but a lot of output! A clear mind and no distractions – finally, silence. Thoughts settle and the mind clears. The focus returns to the important things. Concentration increases, and you enjoy the moment. Being mindful of sounds, smells, and the surroundings is truly refreshing. After the adventure, we know exactly how little we really need: a backpack, a sleeping mat, a sleeping bag – that’s enough. Less is more.
And what if something goes wrong? Save your nerves if, like us, you accidentally take the wrong uphill and get an extra workout. It’s the small, unplanned actions in everyday life that ground us, slow down the carousel, and allow us to breathe. It just takes the courage to go for it. The ease comes naturally when we allow ourselves to be spontaneous and seek adventure.
For a great adventure, you don’t need to travel to the other end of the globe or conquer the highest peaks. All it takes is a healthy serving of boldness and a pinch of spontaneity. We took the plunge: a microadventure with little planning and lots of freedom. The reward? Liberation, satisfaction, and the sweet awareness of having experienced something new. So, pack your backpack and let’s go!
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Words & Photos: Antonia Feder
