If you’re the adventurous type, you probably have no problem going out on camping trips, skiing trips, or even guiding trips. However, you might have missed out on one of the most exciting trips that you could take as an adventurer. Bicycle trips are some of the most overlooked, yet exciting types of adventure trips that people could take when they’re looking to travel on a budget.
Getting out on the Road
If you have never gone on a bicycle trip before, you may want to look into some gear. If you have a cruiser bike, it simply won’t be enough for this particular type of vacation. You will need something a little bit heavier duty if you are looking to really get out on the road and experience the world. The best advice that can be given is to follow your instincts. If you would take a minivan out to do off running, why would you take a cruiser bike out in order to go across country, or even go on a short 10 to 20 mile bike trip? You wouldn’t. You need to get some gear that is a little bit more suited to this particular situation.
Road Bikes for the Road
While you might be an experienced biker, if you’ve never gone on a trip like this before you’re going to need a road bike. Simply put, these types of bikes are best suited for long-distance traveling and adventure trips. You may not be the next Lance Armstrong, but that does not mean that you do not deserve to equip yourself with the tools to get the job done. A quality road bike, preferably one that is lightweight, is going to go a long way in making your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
You’ll also need to pick up some other gear if you’re going to go on a travel trip like this. A helmet is an absolutely mandatory item, unless you feel like putting your life at risk for no particular reason. Even veteran bikers like Lance Armstrong comment that they have been hit multiple times while biking along the road, and if it weren’t for their helmet, they would most certainly be either dead or seriously injured today. Don’t take the risk – just spend the money on a quality helmet that will protect you in the event that you actually get into an unfortunate accident.
Where to Go
Choosing where to go on your biking travel trip is almost as much of a decision as choosing the equipment. You want to pick something that isn’t too challenging for your skill level, so going through the Alps is simply out of the equation for most people. If you’re just starting out, choose a shorter trip – somewhere around the range of 10 to 20 miles per day. Make sure that the area you are choosing has a lot of different rest stops, safety stops, and amenities. You never know when you’re going to need them in a pinch, because anything can happen when you’re traveling by bike.
Along with where to go, you also need to decide who to go with. Family and friends are a good choice, but just make sure that they are at your same skill level when it comes to bicycling. If they’re not, you may find that having them lagg behind or be far too far ahead causes some tension within the group. It is important to have good attitudes as it is to have good fitness when traveling by bike in a group.
The last bit of advice that we can give you is to simply relax and enjoy the trip. If you followed all the instructions above, you have all of the equipment, all of the safety precautions, the destination, and the people all sorted. Relax! You do not need anything else! All you need to do is sit back, hop on the bike, and start pedaling your way to a really great vacation. You might find that this becomes something of a tradition with you and your friends, and it all started from just getting up off the couch and putting the trip together!
By Sonia Meehan on behalf of Cruiserbikes. The source for best cruiser bikes.