Bike Touring 101
Submitted by SharpMan Editorial Team on Thursday 7th October 2010- Biking with a tour group.
- Planning your own support trip.
- What you need to take on any bike trip.
Summer and pleasant weather are fast approaching (in some places, it’s already just plain hot), and many SharpMen have begun thinking "vacation." Ready to escape your laptop, voice mail and cell phone? What better way to get away than on a bike tour? This relatively inexpensive vacation affords you a new look at the world, while getting you in the shape you keep promising to get back into. Check out SharpTravel’s info on planning bike tours for SharpCyclists of all levels.
Planning Your Bike Trip
Experienced and novice bike tours come in three flavors: the guided tour; the self-planned tour with a support vehicle; and the unsupported self-planned trip. Your level of skill and thirst for adventure will help determine the type of tour that best suits your vacation plans:
Guided Tours. Many inexperienced cyclists (or those who haven’t peddled since their Huffy days) may prefer a guided bike tour. The key advantage to this type of trip is ease of planning — you do very little of it; they do a lot. Companies such as Backroads provide bike trips for cyclists of all levels. You can choose from four ranges of trips, from easy routes (10-30 miles per day, with two to four hours of cycling) up to challenging (40-70 miles per day, five to over seven hours of cycling). Accommodation options range from the luxurious to rustic (camping). This company even offers "multi-sport trips," where you can cycle in addition to kayaking, snorkeling, rafting, even golfing. Check out companies like Backroads in your area, or visit them at http://www.backroads.com.
Self-Guided Tours with a Support Vehicle. Can’t find "your" trip out of the 142 trips offered by Backroads and similar companies? If you have the time, consider planning your own trip. When planning a bike tour, bribe someone (your girlfriend? retired grandparent or parent?) to drive a support vehicle, a "partner" truck or van that follows you along your route, carrying gear and transporting you back to civilization (so you don’t have to double back). Support vehicles are particularly useful when the weather changes abruptly, or if you simply don’t care to haul gear on your bike. Most importantly, in the event of injury or other problems, you’ll have immediate mechanized assistance. When planning your itinerary, be realistic about the number of miles you can bike per day. Allow for the unexpected. Bike and map stores are great sources of information regarding requirements and routing. Or, if you’re a member of your local Auto Club (AAA), avail yourself of the club’s mapping and "TripTik" services in planning routing and accommodations (aaa.com).
Unsupported Self-Guided Bike Trips. For extreme SharpMen for whom true adventure necessitates your bike, a water bottle and little else, unsupported bike trips (you, your bike, no car) are another option. This type of tour should only be attempted by experienced cyclists. Despite the romance of that whole solitary Thoreau thing, consider inviting an equally experienced (and insane) buddy along on your adventure, a lightweight cell phone for your pack and, at minimum, a loose itinerary. Make sure someone else has a copy of this proposed itinerary in case you don’t turn up. Pack light, but smart. Bring lightweight snacks for rained-out emergencies and two ample water bottles — one for your pack and a second for your bike frame. See the next section for other recommended gear.
Getting Your Bike Gear
For any bike trip, you’ll want the following:
- Helmet. A no-brainer.
- Sunscreen. Another no-brainer. Get the sweat-proof variety.
- Shades. Rays are bad for eyes, too, and a bug screen for your eyes is always a good idea when you’re cruising.
- Water. "Camelbacks" are best for long trips. The downside to these water-backpacks is that they take the place of another pack and you can’t see when the water level is getting low.
- Repair kit. Get the small, lightweight variety suitable for storing inside your camelback or backpack pocket. Make sure it includes a pump. Check out the new pumps with the air cartridges — they’re cool. For bike ideas, including new-style pumps, visit sites like www.performancebike.com and www.rei.com.
- Energy Snacks, such as PowerBars.
- Shocks. Especially if you’re biking off-road, good shocks are crucial.
- Bike Shorts. Speaking of bumps, get a nice, cushioned pair of bike shorts, preferably the gel variety. Consider a special seat, too.
- Gear Know-How. Bikes have different gears for a reason. Learn how to use them all before you go. Riding uphill can be easier than you think.
- Weather gear. If you think it might rain, prepare. Pack rain ponchos, jackets with hoods and bills and even rain pants. You’ll be happy you packed them when the downpour begins, unless of course you’re warm and dry in your support vehicle.
- Tunes are fun, but if you’re road riding, resist the urge. You may not hear warning sounds or that semi coming up behind you.