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Bella ✨

@bellabybike

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followers

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🚲 Helping more women ride bikes 💥
💫 Bikepacking lover, road, gravel, MTB ✨
💭 Big rides, honest tips 🌗

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First Ride Series - episode 4:
Thinking about trying your first bikepacking trip? 🚲

It’s easy to look at bikepacking and think you need loads of specialist gear, expensive bags and years of cycling experience before you can give it a go. But this is actually all you need…

For your first overnight bikepacking adventure, focus on the basics: somewhere to carry your kit, a simple sleep system, enough food and water, basic bike repair tools and reliable navigation.

Start small. Pick a manageable route. Learn as you go.

And once you’ve done that first night, you’ll probably realise you’re capable of a lot more than you thought.

Save this for when you’re planning your first bikepacking trip.

#Bikepacking #BikepackingTips #BikepackingBeginners #CycleTouring #CyclingAdventure by @bellabybike

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a month ago

First Ride Series - episode 3
🔧 What tools do you actually need for your first ride?

You don’t need to be an expert mechanic or carry every tool imaginable. Just a few basics to deal with the most likely little problems that can happen out on a ride.

For me, the essentials are:
1. Multitool
2. Tyre levers
3. Inner tube
4. Pump

Where you carry them doesn’t really matter — saddle bag, top tube bag, jersey pocket, backpack… whatever works for you.

The important thing is knowing you’ve got the basics covered so you can head out feeling a little more confident.

First ride series: making cycling feel a little less intimidating. 🚲

Save this for your next ride & send it to someone getting into cycling.

#firstride #grouprides #girlswhoride #womenonbikes #cyclinglife by @bellabybike

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2 months ago

I have finally decided to get a new bike 💫

Thanks to Robin who put the bike together ✨

Here is my Specialized Crux 🚲 with 105 di2, ready for both road and gravel adventures 🌏

#cycling #gravel #bikepacking #specializedcrux #girlsthatride by @bellabybike

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3 months ago

Final days on the Peru Great Divide. It’s been a whirlwind, some really challenging moments where I had to dig deep. I’m glad I’ve finished and can spend some days resting up, ready for what’s coming next.

#perugreatdivide #travel #bike #girlswhoride #mountains taken in Huancavelica by @bellabybike

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3 hours ago

Huaraz to Huancavellica on the Peru Great Divide complete.

That was one of the hardest trips I’ve done. Battling sickness from day 2 until the end was a challenge, physically but also mentally. Each summit above 4000m (30+) takes so much motivation and as I got more poorly, my mindset suffered more.

I’m so grateful to the people I met and rode with who kept me going and made me smile each day.

#perugreatdivide #peru #southamerica #cycling #mtb taken in Huancavelica by @bellabybike

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19 hours ago

Another tough day on the Peru Great Divide due to recovering from illness, which is frustrating as it’s really the home stretch now to Huancavellica.

If I lie down and don’t eat I feel fine but when moving I have stomach cramps and zero energy and it’s really hard to get food down at the moment as I have no appetite/the thought of food makes me nauseous. And as all cyclists know, no fuel means no ride 🥺.

Big push tomorrow getting back up to high altitude, then mostly staying up high for the last couple of days.

Come on body 🙏

#perugreatdivide #bikepacking #cycletouring #travelling #cyclinglife taken in Laraos, Yauyos - Lima by @bellabybike

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7 days ago

The Peru Great Divide week 3 - current thoughts ✨

This has been one hell of an adventure. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You can only go as fast as the circumstances will allow you to go.

I’ve been pretty unlucky with how sick I’ve been, all out of my control. My bike is incredibly heavy (all my own doing!) but durable. The altitude adds another whole level of challenge. We’ve sumitted to nearly 5000m (high point 4961m) over a dozen times, it certainly takes its toll.

Despite the challenge (which is probably what we came for), the weather has been exceptionally good, blue skies the majority of days, very little rain (coming into rainy season now) and warm ish in the sun!

The beauty of this place is like no other, the Andes are (and I keep saying it) BREATHTAKING!

Last push, 210km and 6000m of climbing to go to Huancavellica !!!

#perugreatdivide #peru #southamerica #adventure #bikepacking taken in Huancaya - El Paraíso by @bellabybike

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7 days ago

I’ve never been so sick before, that was the longest 12 hours of my life. What’s more, being in a tent whilst being so poorly is very undignified. My tent needs a good clean, it currently is not particularly homely.

I had just started to feel better, recovering fully from a chest infection, and then this bug came on very suddenly.

I was camping with Martin and Marc (heroes). They helped me get packed up and slowly make the 15km cycle to the nearest town where I am now resting. I can’t really get any food down but I’m lying down in a bed which is heaven. When I woke this morning I really didn’t feel I had the strength to get here, so that’s huge. The generosity and kindness of strangers / new friends continues to overwhelm me.

#perugreatdivide #southamerica #travel #bikepacking #cycletour taken in Huancaya, Lima, Peru by @bellabybike

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8 days ago

I love mountains ⛰️

If you like mountains the Peru Great Divide needs to be on your list.

#peru #theandes #perugreatdivide #southamerica #mountains taken in Chicla, Lima, Peru by @bellabybike

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12 days ago

Feeling very grateful for all the wonderful people I’ve met on this trip so far.

Not only have they put up with my relentless coughing, but they’ve been great company and joy in the Andes.

There is so much to contend with out here, altitude, freezing nights and sickness to name just a few.

I really am having the time of my life, but it comes with determination and hard times too.

Heading into week 3 of the Peru Great Divide, here goes 🌞

#perugreatdivide #mountains #theandes #bikepacking #camping taken in Marcapomacocha, Junin, Peru by @bellabybike

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13 days ago

Week 2 of the Peru Great Divide 💫

#perugreatdivide #peru #southamerica #cycletouring #bikepacking taken in Marcapomacocha, Junin, Peru by @bellabybike

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13 days ago

500km of the Peru Great Divide complete!

It has certainly been an adventure, a series of tough climbs and breathtaking descents.

Peru is a really magical place 🏔️

I’ve been feeling pretty lethargic, still recovering from a chest infection and now not keeping food down has been tough to say the least.

A rest day in Marcapomacocha is very much needed ❤️‍🩹

#perugreatdivide #southamerica #cycling #adventure #bikepacking taken in Marcapomacocha, Junin, Peru by @bellabybike

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14 days ago