Travel in Tips for cycle trips

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Cycling is often considered the ultimate form of travelling, as it is the fastest way to travel by human power, but is slow enough to allow for the type of local immersion that is impossible with mechanized travel. The low cost of cycle tripping (usually just food and accommodation) is also attractive.

Multi-continental trips are relatively common, such as from tip to tip of the Americas, but cycling can also be enjoyed in month-, week-, or even weekend-long trips.

Table of contents

1 Equipping your bicycle 2 Packing 3 Clothing 4 Precautions 5 A basic daily menu 6 Transporting your bicycle

Equipping your bicycle

Cycling for extended periods requires somewhat more than a basic set of wheels, and both comfort and convenience can be improved with a few standard add-ons.

• A kick stand adds weight, but can be handy in places where it's impossible or inconvenient to park your bike against a wall or post (especially if you've got heavy saddlebags).
• For mountain-bikes, horn-style handlebar extensions can reduce fatigue and act as impromptu racks for light items like clothing and helmets.
• An odometer is essential for long tours when you need to gauge distance traveled against maps and road signs. Make sure it can be calibrated in local units (miles in the United States, kilometers everywhere else).

Packing

Every piece of extra weight you pack is going to require extra energy to move around. That said, there are some essentials you want to pack:

• These days a lock is mandatory in most most parts of the world. A small D-lock is prefered by some as it's compact, hard to break, and suitable for locking the bike to a solid object; others prefer cable locks which, although not as strong, allow you to lock up your bike to a wider variety of things.
• A repair kit, pump and spare inner tubes.
• Bottles for storing water in. You can also get backpacks with a large bladder you can fill with water: these have a tube that sits on your shoulder so that you can sip water easily.
• You will also need camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, bedroll) if you're not intending to stay in a town each night, and/or want to minimize costs.
• Cooking equipment (stove, pots, utensils) is used by some to avoid restaurant eating, although it is common to buy ready-to-eat groceries.

Clothing

There is a variety of cycling-specific clothing that can make your trip much more comfortable and/or safe:

• Helmet. Required by law in some jurisdictions. Although some studies question their value, they are widely recommended as an important safety precaution. They also offer additional protection from the sun.
• Jacket. Wind- and water-proof layer for protection from precipitation and cooler temperatures.
• Cycling shorts. Cycling seats are uncomfortable, proper clothes can help.
• Tights. For cooler weather than shorts; more comfortable than pants and less likely to get caught in drivetrain. Usually come with reflective markings on ankle.
• Gloves. Usually padded to minimize pressure on hands during long rides. Use cut-off style for warmer temperatures, full-finger for cooler.
• Glasses. Protection from the sun is better for the long term health of your eyes and makes for a more comfortable ride. Switchable lenses allow you to use the best lens colour for different conditions (such as yellow for cloud cover or clear for nocturnal riding).

Precautions

There are some simple and important precautions you should take when planning a bicycle trip:

• Familiarise yourself with basic repairs, in particular with patching tires and replacing inner tubes.
• Make sure you're carrying enough water: you may consume around 1 liter per hour of cycling.
• Even when cycling under cloud cover, sunscreen is essential to protect your skin in the short term (sunburns) and the long term (skin cancer). If you're not wearing gloves, take particular care to apply suncreen to the hands regularly.
• Have a good map of the region you are cycling in (and a compass, to help you navigate with this map).

A basic daily menu

Breakfast

• Oats flavoured with honey or banana, hot drinks such as coffee, and fruit.

Lunch

• Packet noodles, fruit, bread, biscuits, hot drinks.

Snacks

• Energy foods (such as bars and gels), fruit (bananas and apples are popular choices), muesli bars.

Drinks

• Water or an electrolyte replacement that you can have while you are on the road.

Dinner

• Fresh meat, vegetable dishes, pasta, and rice are sustaining choices.

Transporting your bicycle

Getting your bicycle to the start of your intended cycle route can be an adventure in itself. You will need to do some research in advance about which carriers let you take your bicycle on board.

• Airlines may require any or all of the following: that you fix the pedals in position; that you deflate your tires; or that you pack your bicycle in a special box (Most bikeshops are happy to give you the sturdy cardbord box bicycles are delived to them in). Airlines vary about permitting a bicycle as a free item of checked baggage: some allow this, some require that you pay an extra fee for bicycles as difficult to handle or oversize baggage; or as sporting equipment. Shop around before buying a ticket. In almost all cases you need to inform the airline in advance that you wish to check a bicycle. Read the regulations yourself before checking in, as the airline's staff may attempt to charge you when the bicycle should be carried for free.
• Trains often have strictly limited space for bicycles, usually two or less per carriage. Some services do not carry them at all. If the train requires that you book a seat, you will need to inform them that you are carrying a bicycle at the time of booking. If you're travelling on a service that doesn't require booking avoid peak times; many commuter services either charge extra for bicycles at peak times, or simply do not have room in the carriages for bicycles.
• Buses are less likely to carry bicycles than trains. Usually the bus will need to be a coach with a luggage compartment at the bottom of the bus, and there will often only be room for one or two bicycles. Buses may also require a bike to be dismantled and placed in a case or box. Again, check at the time of booking.