No limits

Not every adventure needs to be that epic, says bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz

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Since completing my self-supported 34,097km circumnavigation of the globe on a single-speed steel mountain bike in 2016, I've worked as a filmmaker, author, route creator and speaker. One of my main goals is to lower the barriers to bikepacking, be they geographical, physical or psychological. Adventures by bike should be open to everyone, straight from their front door.

Adventure cycling is any bike ride that takes you out of your comfort zone. Everyone's comfort zone is different, and flirting with the edges of what's comfortable for you will open up new adventures. Some people love sleeping in a tent and looking at the stars. I also know people who say: "Nah, that's not for me".

My philosophy for adventure cycling is the same as for cycling in general. What counts is riding your bike and having a good time. What a 'good time' looks like is so individual though. You don't even have to ride from A to B to have an adventure. I'm setting up a self-catering cottage in the Cairngorms, where guests will be able to discover new trails while returning to the same place each night.