Go ride!

Bikepacking is a great way to see the world! Go out on the roads in and outside of KC and explore! You will stay healthy mentally and physically, help the environment and see your community!

Go get lost, head in a general direction, hit back roads and meander your way to a patch of ground for lunch, or camping spot, or just keep going!

If you would like to learn more about bikepacking/ bike touring please let me know as I have traveled on the East and west coasts, up and down the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Banff to New Mexico, and down the length of Baja Mexico.

If you would like to take a class on Bikepacking
Contact me!

$50 for a 3-4 hour class on Bikepacking!

Open to individuals or small group.

https://vimeo.com/382428558

Bill (913) 220 1213

Self Rescue and Bike Travel 101 Month of April

Self Rescue and Bike Travel 101
Online classes and private outside classes!

Have you ever wanted to travel by bicycle, but were unsure; what bike to take, the gear that you need, where to go and how to navigate, maybe what food to eat- store or foraging, how to purify water out of a stream, where and how to camp out, and then what if you were caught in a natural disaster or a pandemic and you needed to leave your home and find safe place to go, and what if you were injured and have to perform self rescue so you recognize the need for risk management.

Hi, my name is Bill Poindexter. I am a Bikepacker.

Whats a Bikepacker? Well think a Backpacker, but on a bicycle. I have both the experience of backpacking and bikepacking.

I have spent weeks backpacking in the Sierra Nevada mountains mountaineering, and the deserts of California traveling with only a map and compass, sleeping on the ground with only a tarp for shelter carrying all my food and gear on my back.

Since 2009 I have shifted to travel primarily by bicycle, living CarFree in a major city, I have learned everything there is to know about commuting on a bicycle traveling 4000-6000 miles a year commuting and traveling through all types of weather, landscapes, road conditions, through rush hour traffic in Mexico to the Grizzly Basin in Montana.

 I have traveled all over Missouri and Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, Baja Mexico, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and even up in to British Columbia and Alberta Canada. And I did it solo and with companions. I did it with multiple injuries and limited resources. I did it with no insurances.

Self Rescue and Bikepacking 101 is a general overview how to travel, anywhere by bicycle. I will simply tell you relevant stories of my expeditions whilst showing you the gear I use and the bike I ride. I will do more detailed classes in future as well as offering my services as a guide if you are wanting to go on overnight or longer expeditions.

Some of topic covered:

Bike selection
Gear selection
Nutrition
Water purification
Navigation
No trace camping principles
Camp site selection and wilderness ethics
Risk management and self rescue techniques
First aid
and more...

Your instructor, Bill Poindexter

These topics will be covered as relevant to my personal experience. Resources will be handed out
to help guide you. As a Brand Ambassador to the Adventure Cycling Association and will be handing out Adventure Cyclist magazines, calendars, free six month memberships, and other swag while supplies last.

You will not only learn the basics of Bikepacking, you will learn how to be completely self sufficient and sustainable traveling on a bicycle as well as hearing some cool stories of my travels in Baja Mexico, Canada, and Bikepacking the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route for 45 days from New Mexico criss crossing the Continental Divide on rough roads to Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Interested?

I will be teaching this class at various locations around the Kansas City area over the next few weeks. Location and times will be announced on this site and on the Bikepacking Kansas City Facebook page.

Class is free but donations for my time are accepted via Venmo or cash. Suggested $25

Fell free to email or txt me at bill@poindexterrecruiting.com or (913) 220-1213

See the promo trailer here: https://vimeo.com/382428558

Get Zoom for Online classes!
https://zoom.us/download

Class is limited to ten people and Social Distancing will be responsibly in force. 

Photo by Sarah Burch

School update

Hi all, forgive my absence over the last 6 months! Trying to start a school is not easy when you are doing it alone, and hopefully, that will change.

Teaching, as most of you know, is a passion of mine. But have not had alot of time lately.

Over the last six months I have been working on some writing projects, teaching yoga, teaching adults career transition, coaching/ advising some fellow adventurers, traveling, researching, training for expeditions and ultra endurance bikepacking racing, and trying to keep a balanced life while playing with my cat, Coyote.

Currently I am working on developing some relationships for training sites for the school, more news later on this development.

I will most likely change the name of the school to something with "Outdoor Leadership" in the title, but still have not come up with a good name, here are a few examples:

Outdoor Leadership School of KC
Whole Earth Outdoor Leadership School
The Outdoor Leaders School
Outdoor Leadership and Wilderness Education School (or Academy)


Classes taught so far:

Yin Yoga Outdoor classes
Bikepacking 101 and 102
Overnight bikepacking trips-S24O's

More future classes:

Outdoor Leadership
Outdoor living-campcraft
navigation
no-trace camping principles
outdoor cooking
risk management
gear selection
backpacking
bikepacking
wilderness medicine
wilderness ethics
foraging

and more...


I would love input, donations (time, money, teaching, land, professional services, and practical advice).

I will be scheduling some classes and bikepacking overnights soon.

If you want to be involved please reach out and lets go for a ride or walk, and have a cup of coffee or tea.

A few of the classes, talks and trips...

Bikepacking the Flint Hills

Flint Hills by Bicycle By Bill Poindexter

 The Flint Hills have a a quiet beauty that allows you to catch your breath, to gather your thoughts, to feel the calmness of, the oneness with Nature.

-William Least Heat-Moon

I just returned from five day Bikepacking expedition in the Flint Hills, you might ask what is Bikepacking? Just think Backpacking-now add a bicycle!

My friend Randy Rasa and I met in Spring Hill and headed west. As you can see by the map, we primarily traveled off the beaten paths rolling over rough gravel roads or rails trail like the Flint Hills Nature Trail.

We travel “self contained” meaning we carry all our gear-tent, sleeping bag, tool kit, food and water, stopping in towns along our route for resupply and then heading back out on the roads. This style of travel is very similar to traveling by horseback, a slower pace, allowing one to absorb all the beauty of nature and the environment.

The first two days I had food supplied by Aixios-sandwich’s, energy bars, and some amazing pate’ all high in energy for our 300+ mile trip.

I trust Chef Emmanuel Langlade in making me healthy nutritious food, and as always, was amazed by the deliciousness he created!

Cold Croque Monsieur- cheese, butter, dried meat, or pate’ perfect for a picnic. Hearty with a sensuous mouth teasing explosion of taste, making me wonder as I ate on the side of the road...was I in Kansas or in the south of France!

Being self sufficient, and after I ate the sandwich’s, in the evening of the 2nd day, as we camped by a lake, all that was left was pate’ I had to be creative and add my own creative spirit and forage for green’s and clover flowers to supplement my nutrition with a little flour tortillas-and a dash of hot sauce makes it sublime.

Do not worry, my stash of Aixios Energy Bars was intact, I enjoyed sharing one with Randy who took one bite, smiled and said, “Those are REALLY good!” I felt bad as I wouldn’t share any more:)

Photo by Randy Rasa

We rode for five days on the backroads of the Flint Hills, traveling through history as we meandered on and next to Sante Fe Trail, Oregon Trail and California Trail, on long abandon railroad track, identifying plants, birds and animals along the Route and meeting a wide variety of kind people who restore our faith in the beauty of humanity.Thanks to The Aixios family for your support of our Bikepacking Expeditions, and “Oui!” There are more to come so stay tune!

What our Graduates are saying

The momentum is building...join us for the adventure of building the Bikepacking School!

Graduates of Bikepacking 101 and Gravel Travel class:

“My husband and I got to attend "Bikepacking 101" last weekend. It was great! We are new to biking in general and didn't know much about bikepacking other than "it's like backpacking with a bike." I wanted to learn more but was hesitant because the concept was rather intimidating to me and seemed only for those who were hardcore cyclists. Bill is very personable and knowledgeable (and a great story teller!). We covered a lot of information and got to experience a lot (setting up a campsite, going through what was actually packed on a bike, even the kinds of meals you could eat when out on an expedition). I wasn't intimidated at all. His "helpers" for this session, Greg and Sam, were also great. All three definitely know what they are talking about and were quick to share their knowledge, tips, and sense of humor. The range of topics was incredible and applicable without being overwhelming. I look forward to continued associated with Bikepacking Kansas City. Thank you!” SK

"Went in to this class only knowing about bikepacking from a few YouTube videos

Didn't know anything else.

Bill was very cool dude & had a lot of info from personal experiences, helped me see & learn about some of the thing I never thought about, like water purification, food & what brands to look at for bike bags.   Was very cool to see someone like bill spreading his knowledge &  Getting a scene like this  started here in Kansas. Was really fun & learned alot

I hope the scene grows here.   Totally check Bill & his Bikepacking school out. It's worth it!!"  Nate

“Hello. It was a real treat to share in your experience in bike-packing. To have that glimpse at the peace of combining two things, cycling and camping, I am so passionate about.” Chris