Finding Nessie European Tour

OMNIUM cargo bikes are durable, designed to carry heavy loads and have good tyre clearance. These bikes would allow us to carry our kids, their bikes and camping gear for 4 people. They handle well, are pretty responsive and very stable on more technical terrain and downhills. This looked like a bike that would not limit us to champagne gravel or paved roads. A bike that would give us the freedom and flexibility we are looking for when bikepacking. Katrien De Smet & Manu Cattrysse

What is it like to travel through wild places with kids? The simple answer is, it’s great. It feels like they are in their natural habitat, like outdoors, in nature is where they belong. But it’s of course not as simple as it looks. Some kids will probably need some time to adjust, to detox, from their ‘normal’ lives at home. And you might find that, during the first days, they will be asking for things they have at home: screens, certain forms of comfort or family and friends. They might even tell you that a bikepacking trip is boring. But soon the creativity we are all born with will start filling ‘boring’ moments, they’ll discover that there is so much to do and see. They will slow down, open their eyes for small details they would normally miss. They will find play, wherever you decide to stop for a break. And that is the true beauty of taking your kids to wild and remote places. Manu Cattrysse

When there are difficult moments in our daily lives, we can look back at everything we overcame during our adventures and we can see everything in perspective, know that everything passes, that we can make it through and it could be much worse. Aske and Wietse are more flexible, easy going, independent and persevering than other kids their age. For us, taking our kids into the outdoors feels like the most valuable gift we can ever give them. And they, willing to accompany us on these crazy bike rides is the greatest gift they can give us. Katrien De Smet