Bikepackia

What is Bikepackia?

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Bikepackia is a route planner for multi-day bikepacking and cycle-touring trips. You draw a route on the map, or describe the trip to Mec, Bikepackia's AI route partner. Bikepackia routes it over OpenStreetMap roads and tracks, splits it into day stages, helps you pick water, food and sleep stops, and exports GPX for your phone or bike computer.

Who it's for

Cyclists planning trips that last more than a day (single day trips are also supported), on road, gravel or a mix, who want each day worked out (distance, climbing, where to sleep, where to refill water) before they leave.

What it does

  • Builds a route between your start, end and any points in between, computed by a routing engine over OpenStreetMap data.
  • Splits the route into day stages, each with its own distance, climbing and estimated ride time.
  • Finds places along the way (water, food, groceries, bike repair, sights and places to stay) and pins them on the map.
  • Lets you plan by conversation with Mec, which drafts the route, re-plans the days and answers questions like "make day 2 shorter".
  • Exports GPX for the whole trip or for each day.

Where you can use it

  • The web planner at bikepackia.com/planner, in any modern browser on a computer, tablet or iPhone. On an Android phone it opens the app's Google Play listing instead; add ?web=1 to the planner address to use the web planner there. Planning on the map works without an account.
  • The mobile app, which is built around Mec and needs an account — your companion for the trip you're on, while the web planner is the richer place to plan one. The Android app is on Google Play; iOS follows once it's stable.

What it doesn't do (yet)

  • It doesn't avoid busy roads based on traffic data, and it doesn't use ride heatmaps.
  • It doesn't book accommodation yet. It shows places to stay and links to their own websites.
  • It doesn't offer offline map downloads yet (under development).
  • The interface is in English. Mec replies in whatever language you write in.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bikepackia free?

Planning on the map, splitting into stages, finding stops and exporting GPX are free, with no account needed on the web. Mec, the AI route partner, runs on credits, and new accounts get €2 of credit to start.

Where does Bikepackia work?

Routing works anywhere OpenStreetMap has coverage. Bikepackia also publishes guides to the EuroVelo routes in Europe. Mec knows a library of measured signed routes (EuroVelo stretches in eight countries and Germany's D-Routes), and in France, Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, Portugal and South Tyrol the map adds official tourism listings.

Does the AI make up the route?

No. Mec works out what you want and asks for it. The route itself is always computed by the routing engine over real map data.