What’s involved in planning your bicycle tour?

How you approach planning your bicycle trip will determine how enjoyable it will be for you.

If you are going with a tour operator it is usual that your trip will be planned from the point where you meet your operator on the ground. They will do their best to allow for different ages, and preferences. They will also usually have years of experience doing this. So, the operator will know what works and what doesn’t.

If you’re going on a cycling trip by yourself, however, you will have to take your own cycling experience and ability into account when planning your trip.  If you’re going with a group then you will need to take everybody’s age, stamina and cycling experience into account.

You could start by checking out your local library or bookshop where you will doubtless find some books on camping and cycling.

But, leaving aside the books, the basic things you need to take into account include:
Do you prefer the company of a group or people, or are you happy to go it alone?
What distance can you comfortably cycle each day?
What kind of bicycle do you usually ride?
How fast can you cycle?
Do you prefer back roads or paved roadways which go through bigger towns/villages and which allow more comfortable accommodation and prepared food?
Do you prefer rougher country roads which are more off the beaten track and will require you to camp out and prepare your own food during your trip?

The type of bike and tyres you use will decide some of these decisions for you! Using a racing bike with suitable tyres will restrict you to main roads, and towns, which will add to your costs – accommodation and food, and restrict your route. Your tyres will also determine what load you can carry – light weight tyres = light weight load.

Heavy weight tyres, which are great for rougher terrain, are not the best for long trips.

A middle ground of middle weight tyres will allow for camping and motel accommodation, and some scenic route travel across country.

What Distance To Travel Each Day?

You are generally better to underestimate the distance you think you can travel earlier on in your trip. Usually about twice the distance of your usual daily trip is doable. As your tour progresses you will build up strength, but you will also feel tired each day from the previous days cycling. A good average distance might be 11 – 15 miles an hour depending on how long your trip is! The distance you can cover in a day will be determined by your fitness. If you can comfortably cover 40-50 miles a day, then settle for a target of 30 miles per day at the beginning of your trip and see how you do.

Some Things You Should Take With You

What equipment you bring will be largely determined by whether you decide to camp or stay in motels.

• Rain gear.
• A number of changes of clothing (outer, inner, socks, underclothes) and make sure it is kept dry!
• Water bottles, 2 or 3, and filled regularly.
• Hat or bandana to protect your head, face and ears and to help you be seen by motorists.
• Remember insect repellent.
• Travel vaccinations are a must for some destinations.
• If you’re going to camp, then get some camping experience first!
• For camping you will need at least a tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, stove, fuel bottle, one large pot, can opener, matches, and knife, fork, spoon.
• Lotion sun screen, chap stick.
• Tools you should carry include – screwdrivers – flathead and Philips, a crescent wrench, Allen wrenches, and tire irons. You can get kits with these at your local bicycle or hardware store.
• Bring a map with you. You can get adventure maps which map out complete cross-country routes for you to cycle.
• Mapping software can also help in planning your route.
• A GPS device could be handy to take with you.

As a final preparation make some smaller trips before you go away. This will allow you to test yourself, your bike, and camping. You should build yourself up physically before attempting any kind of long road trip. Trips of 10–30 miles duration are good for pre-trip preparation.

Finally get your bike completely overhauled and do a complete regrease of your bike.