What are the essential steps to prepare for a cycling trip?

What are the essential steps to prepare for a cycling trip?

cycling tripCrossing a country, a continent or even going around the world… by bike. More and more of them are trying the adventure. Economical, ecological, the bicycle gives the world back its full dimension, invites introspection, encourages encounters... And you don't need to be a seasoned athlete to carve the road on two wheels. In the saddle, everything is a matter of time… and also a little preparation. Here are 10 trails to explore before pedaling towards the horizon and embarking on a cycling trip.

1. Target your itinerary

If there is one constraint to consider, it is certainly your availability. Do you have to make do with three weeks of vacation? You can undertake the crossing of a country for about 1000 kilometers. Do you benefit from unpaid leave or parental leave for one year? A transcontinental journey becomes possible. Are you free of any obligation for 2 or 3 years? The world is Yours ! It remains to precisely define your needs and expectations. What are your relationships with comfort, difficult weather conditions, isolation, relief...? In short, to what degree of commitment are you ready to submit? The requirements of crossing the Pamir in autonomy will be of a completely different order than those of a getaway on the banks of the Loire. It's up to you to place the cursor as accurately as possible by combining the physical challenge with other dimensions that matter to you: openness to another culture, authenticity of encounters, splendor of the landscapes... In short, beyond purely geographical considerations, give a meaning on your way!

Our advice: does the idea of ​​cutting the road to the unknown paralyze you? Why not start with a route already mapped out? There are some for all profiles from a few days to several months. Several Véloroutes criss-cross France and Europe. In Canada, the Great Trail with its 24,000 km is the longest recreational route in the world. In the United States, the Adventure Cycling Association has been mapping the country-continent for cyclists for over 40 years!

bike trip route
2. Choose your travel companions

The bike arouses curiosity, provokes encounters... but not always the ones we imagine! Undeniably, this is an opportunity to discover oneself. In this sense, a long solo getaway will be conducive to introspection, to stepping back, and it can even serve as a spiritual retreat. With several, the deal will be different. The others, faced with unusual conditions, will not fail to reveal themselves in a different light for better or… for worse! Between friends, even long-time friends, as a couple too, make sure you are on the same wavelength. The project should not be that of one in relation to the other, but the fruit of a common reflection. Identify sticking points and discuss them honestly. Whatever ties you have at the start, you will also need to form a team on the ground. At the end of the day, a successful experience will lay the foundations for a lasting friendship, a solid union, a fulfilled family. Because yes, traveling by bike with your children is quite possible. Their adaptability will surprise you and together you will write one of the most extraordinary chapters of your life.

Our advice: communicate! In precarious conditions, the smallest trifle risks being blown up and turning into conflict. Rather than dwell on your resentment, express, with chosen words, what upsets you. Do you have trouble speaking? Formalize regular speaking times every week, for example, during which everyone will be able, not to settle their accounts, but to express their feelings.

family bike trip
3. Find the perfect frame

 

 It's a good time to pretend that the ideal bike is the one you already have. In absolute terms, nothing could be more correct. The history of bicycle travel is dotted with extraordinary journeys carried out on the handlebars of totally inappropriate mounts. However, unless you want to add a challenge to the challenge, it is recommended to pay particular attention to the choice of your bicycle. Three fundamental criteria to keep in mind: robustness, simplicity, comfort! With this in mind, most travelers choose a steel frame. Resistant, with a longer lifespan than aluminum or carbon, it has an excellent ability to absorb shocks and vibrations, essential over long distances. Particular attention will be paid to the wheels which will be subjected to significant stresses with the presence of luggage. We will opt for solid rims and shelving. For tires, a benchmark: the Schwalbe Marathon range, which has a lifespan of more than 10,000 km. The 26” size remains the most easily found standard around the world. On the transmission side, favor developments that will allow you to grind (48/36/26 chainrings, 11/34 cassette or even shorter). Essential, take care of your position, with a saddle adapted to your morphology and well adjusted. Ergonomic handles or even a butterfly hanger will release tension in the neck, shoulders and arms.

Our advice: Are you looking for a bike ready to cut the road? In the simple and efficient category, one model stands out: the VSF Fahrradmanufaktur TX-400. Reliable and versatile, this mule made in Germany has proven itself on the most demanding roads and tracks on the planet. Fitted as standard with luggage rack, stand and lighting, it is without doubt one of the best value for money on the market.

bike trip mount
4. Choose your carrying mode

The most frequently adopted solution is to equip yourself with a complete set of saddlebags. We prefer them waterproof and voluminous. It will be associated with a handlebar bag. The German brands Vaude and Ortlieb are benchmarks on the market.
This device will meet the expectations of travelers looking for a large load capacity on roads or on passable tracks. But there are other solutions, starting with the innovative bikepacking system, which allows you to get rid of luggage racks and go on a tour on the handlebars of a mountain bike or a road bike, for example. The concept: velcro elements that can be fixed to the handlebars, frame or saddle. Ideal for those who want to travel fast and light or venture on narrow or bumpy trails. On the other hand, the trailer will increase its transport capacity or completely dispense with panniers. If it has its followers, it has some weak points: a detrimental inertia on the slope and its bulky tote bag which does not facilitate access to its equipment. A suitable trailer will be essential for families traveling with young children.

Our advice: bring a backpack, but do not carry it on your shoulders when riding, at the risk of developing back or neck pathologies over time. Attach it to your rear panniers or your trailer with a bungee cord. It will allow you to easily transport your valuables once you get off the bike.

bicycle trip
5. Select your equipment

Even if it is quite possible to travel by bike with a few spare clothes and your only credit card to pay the price of a hotel room, betting on complete autonomy will undoubtedly prove more intense. humanly and above all more economical (unless you prefer the hospitality network reserved for cyclists).
This involves carrying all your bivouac equipment starting with the tent. It will preferably be chosen freestanding so that it can be erected on any type of surface including, for example, a terrace or the floor of a garage. It will be large enough or have awnings to be able to store your luggage out of sight. A sleeping bag and a floor mat will complete the sleeping device. On the clothing side, there is no need to multiply the outfits. Two technical sets, worn alternately, will suffice. A basic tool kit (Allen keys, chain tool, knife, pliers, etc.) and a few spare parts (tubes, pads, brake and derailleur cables, chain links, etc.) will also be on the trip. If you want to share your adventure, you will have to think about taking a camera and possibly a computer. Again, think simplicity, lightness and compactness. No need to bother with a high-end DSLR and a wide range of lenses unless you are a keen photographer. If your gear takes too long to deploy, there's a good chance

Our advice: allow yourself a pleasure object! You are a musician, bring your instrument (unless it is a grand piano!), you draw, take your sheets and your pencils! If your luggage really weighs too much on you, it will never be too late to sort it out and send the superfluous back home.

bicycle trip tent
6. Pack your saddlebags

Packing your bags is like moving into a new apartment, you look for your bearings, you grope around. To get your hands on the desired object without having to search from top to bottom each of your bags, you have to organize yourself carefully. Place a separate sticker on each of them and assign it a role: the dressing room, the kitchen, the garage, the bedroom... This way you will always know where to look and avoid untimely openings. This organization should not disturb the overall balance of your load. The mass should be distributed evenly between the right and left panniers, preferably placing heavy equipment at the front. You will gain stability. In general, the essentials (camera, repair kit, first aid kit, etc.) must remain accessible in the handlebar bag or in the upper part of the side bags.

Our advice: avoid overloading your bags! Nothing like premature wear of their closing system. Also keep in mind that you will need space to store your supplies and water supplies when your route takes you away from populated areas.

7. Test yourself in real conditions

In order to avoid unfortunate disappointments once let loose in the deep end, consider organizing a test outing a few weeks before the big departure. A two to three day trek will be enough to test your gear. Ideally, leave home so that you can easily turn back, if necessary. This general rehearsal session will allow you to adjust your saddlebags, your position on the bike as well as possible and to bring to light any malfunctions that you may have missed. For the experience to be effective, play the game to the fullest and strive to use all of your hardware. You will acquire valuable reflexes and start learning your life on the move gently.

Our advice: if a trial run will prove very useful for the smooth running of your trip, on the other hand, it is not essential to undergo a demanding sports training before leaving. Regular cycling, for daily trips for example, will be enough to maintain good physical condition and avoid difficult beginnings. Once on the road, you will build up your endurance capabilities as you go.

8. Anticipate risks

Identifying risks already helps to limit them. Without sinking into counter-productive paranoia, it is wise to take stock of the potential dangers that a long-term bike trip can hold. Wanting to eliminate them is utopian, but accepting them and learning to deal with them are essential steps to travel with peace of mind. Traveling by bicycle has its share of perils, the first of which is a traffic accident. In this matter, zero risk does not exist, but by deviating as much as possible from the busy axes, by wearing an outfit visible from afar and if necessary a light signaling device (LED turn signals), by equipping with a rear-view mirror and wearing a helmet, one will effectively arm oneself against the threat.
Other risks will be inherent to the chosen destination. Wildlife, difficulty of access to drinking water, insecurity, diseases, we will scrupulously document ourselves on the subject before leaving. On the spot, we will update our knowledge thanks to the advice of the authorities and the local populations more in tune with the reality on the ground. Experience will make it possible to distinguish between reliable sources of information and fantasies or rumours.

Our advice: in any case, be sure to leave properly insured. The Globe Partner solution, offered by ACS, will be particularly suitable for a long-term journey outside your country of origin. Among other things, it will cover your medical expenses which, in the United States or Canada for example, can quickly soar. On the other side of the world, you can also count on an emergency service that can be reached at all times by telephone. What to put the ends in all serenity.

countryside bike trip
9. Take the plane

Of course, a journey, even of several thousand kilometers, can begin on your doorstep. What could be better ecologically and economically? However, you may be tempted to start your wanderings on the other side of the ocean. The plane will then undoubtedly impose itself as the most suitable means of transport. Here again, obtaining information upstream will be essential to avoid unpleasant surprises at the airport. Some companies systematically charge extra for transporting a bicycle. Others authorize its presence by deducting its weight from your baggage allowance. Similarly, some require the use of a carrying case. But most tolerate more home-made packaging solutions. The least expensive is to obtain a cardboard box adapted to the size of your frame from a bicycle dealer. You will first need to remove the wheels and pedals, deflate the tires, remove the saddle and fix your handlebars against the upper tube of the frame. You will make sure to properly protect your transmission and all protruding parts that could cause damage to the cardboard. Bet on foam and bubble wrap! Then tape everything securely.

Our advice: let the company know that you will be traveling with a bicycle and arrive at the airport several hours in advance so that you can bounce back in the event of a problem. Rather than using the very expensive plastic wrap service available in airport terminals, buy two or three rolls of kitchen wrap. They will be used to package your saddlebags in two separate packages. A solution to respect the clauses of your baggage allowance often limited to two suitcases.

airplane bike trip
10. Imagine his return

The thing may seem premature and yet, it is necessary to think about his return even before leaving his home, especially if you are leaving for a long time. Rather than looking into the question in the emotional and material haste of your landing on national soil, anticipate! It's not about writing down your future point by point before you've even started pedaling – the trip is sure to have changed you and new projects will have sprung up on the road – but about laying the foundations for a landing slowly. Have you terminated your rental contract? Provide accommodation, even temporary, for the first few weeks. Likewise, be sure to provide yourself with a sufficient financial cushion to meet your needs while waiting for the resumption of professional activity, which may not be immediate. Also find out about the administrative formalities to be completed (re-affiliation to social security, etc.). You will thus be armed at the very least to face the whirlwind of the return.

Our advice: do you want to tell your adventure on two wheels through a film, a book or any other medium? Think about it before you have given the first strokes of the cranks. Choose a common thread for your project. Contact potential producers or publishers, who will let you know their technical requirements. A way, in this area too, not to go blind.

bike trip camping
For further

Immerse yourself in the Bicycle Travel Manual, a specialized guide, published by the Cyclo-camping International association which brings together and informs those who travel by bicycle without motorized assistance.

Category: Advice for travelers
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Comments

Volto says
02/21/2018 at 12:51 p.m.

Thank you for this very comprehensive guide. The hardest part is getting started the first time. Once you have tasted the adventure of cycling, you can no longer