Cycling is a great way to see the world. It can be done solo or with friends, it’s cheap and convenient, and it’s an excellent way to stay healthy. However, if you’re planning a cycling trip — whether for fun or for business — there are some things you need to do ahead of time to make sure that everything goes smoothly once you get on the road. Here are my top tips:
Getting fit.
The most important thing to do before you set off is to get fit. This means exercising regularly so that your body is used to cycling long distances over hilly terrain. It also means eating well and making sure your bike is in good condition so that it doesn’t break down halfway through the trip.
Planning the route.
As with any trip, planning the route is a vital part of your journey. The first thing to do is make sure you know where you’re going and how to get back. You’ll also want to consider the area in which your cycling trip will take place. Is it flat or mountainous? Are there any large bodies of water along the way? What are other cyclists saying about this area–is it safe, or is it known for its dangerous wildlife?
Once these questions have been answered, it’s time to move on to logistics:
Packing your bags.
- Pack light: It’s not worth your time or energy trying to bring everything you own with you on your trip, so pick only the essentials and leave non-essentials behind in the trunk of your car or at home.
- Bring your phone: Even if it has limited bandwidth, having access to email and social media will make dealing with any problems that come up a lot easier.
- Wear comfortable clothes: You aren’t going on this ride because it looks good; dress for comfort and safety instead (and always wear a helmet). Remember that being out in nature means there are insects everywhere—wear long pants and compressa knee sleeves when possible! Also remember that there might be rain so pack some waterproof gear (a poncho is best!). If it gets really cold then wear layers underneath those clothes until they start sweating too much from activity then take them off for a while before putting them back on again later when temperatures warm up again….
- Bring a first aid kit: You can’t go wrong with a first aid kit. If you have any medical conditions or allergies, make sure your first aid kit is equipped to deal with them.
Keep in touch.
You can make sure that you have phone service by bringing a portable charger. If you are camping, this will be especially important because there may not be a place to charge your phone easily.
You should also make sure that your phone is fully charged before you leave home so that you are not stuck with an uncharged cell phone halfway across the country.
If you want to keep in touch with family or friends while on your cycling trip, ask them if they have access to a satellite phone so that when the weather gets bad and there aren’t any other options for communication, they can call someone who can help them find out where you are and how they can get in touch with someone who knows where exactly
All in all, it’s important to remember that your trip should be fun and interesting. Don’t let these preparations stress you out – keep an open mind and try everything!
