Going for an epic tour on a bike can be very exciting. It gives you a golden opportunity of coming closer to nature and exploring the places you have never had a chance of visiting. The other advantage is that you burn a lot of calories as you pedal. Unlike the boring and costly road trips, a bike tour is very affordable. This is because you don’t have to budget for fuel like when you do when using your SUV. Nonetheless, there are a few things that you have to do in advance to ensure that you enjoy your bike tour. Below is a list of tips that can help you plan for the forthcoming journey.
- Gear and Clothing
A bike adventure is not similar to your everyday ride that doesn’t go further than the pavement. It actually exposes you to extreme conditions because you will have to navigate through forests and mountains. You therefore need to prepare for such unforgiving conditions. For a start, you must ensure that you have the right gear such as helmet, cycling shoes and gloves. Besides that, you should get cycling shorts and vests. These clothing and gear are meant for enhancing your safety in case of an accident. The good thing is that you can buy the best biking gear on the internet.
- Testing the Bike
It’s important to test your bike a few days before the appointed date. This is because it helps in identifying mechanical problems early and fix them. The last thing you want is to encounter such problems when you are far from home. Besides that, diagnosing such faults helps in preventing accidents. You should actually cycle within your home compound so that you can confirm that the brakes are still functioning and the lamp is also good to go. You should also check the pressure of the tires to ensure they don’t have any punctures. In fact, you should examine the entire bike starting with handles, chain, bell and the seat. If there are any loose bolts and nuts, you should fasten them with a multitool.
- Selecting the Route
If you have never gone for a bike tour before, you should opt for the most bike friendly route, probably not very far from home. As a beginner, it’s recommended you start with the short routes because you are still learning the ropes of cycling. Ideally, you should select a route where it would be easy to get help in case you find yourself in trouble. When choosing a route, you should use a map to identify the landmarks that you will follow. If you are going alone, you should inform a few of your friends so that they know where to start looking in case you get stranded.
- Supplies
A typical bike adventure can last for more than 10 hours. You therefore need to be armed with plenty of supplies to help you survive throughout the tour. You should carry at least three liters of clean water. This is because you will need to rehydrate your body regularly especially when the sun is too hot. And that’s not all. You will need to carry packed lunch to counter the hunger. Remember, cycling causes you to use a lot of energy, so you will need to make a stop over to eat something.
- Emergency Kit
You should carry a backpack containing your emergency kit. Remember, things happen without a warning and that’s why you need to be prepared before setting out. Some of the things you should carry in a backpack include:
- Multitool
- Compass
- Tire lever
- 2 spare tubes
- Extra chain
- Brake pads
- Toilet paper
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash
