Bike Tours

The idea of taking a holiday on a bike is one that intimidates those that haven’t done it before. The route planning, the equipment lists, the hotel bookings and the thought of not being able to get into a car and go somewhere immediately are all bricks in a metaphorical wall of worry that looks daunting at first, and yet is actually paper-thin once you have decided that you will go bike touring.

One of the best things you can learn about bike touring is its flexibilty from before you’ve even pushed a pedal to whether you clean your bike after you get home. I personally enjoy the planning phase of the journey, choosing where in the world to go, poring over maps both electronic and paper, booking hotels, making sure the gear is all ready; these are all things that don’t have to be done before you leave. You can if you want, but it’s flexible.

A great place to start a bike tour is on the long grey tarmac that is right in front of your house as it always leads somewhere, and you might be surprised how far you can get in a day. Get a map out and look at what’s not in your area and see what’s there, allow for your fitness level and for time to spare for sight-seeing and relaxing time at the end of the day. Once you are there and planning for the following day, you can see what’s within a cycling-achievable distance from that place.