How to Plan an Adventure on Your Bike

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If you like to keep active, then bike riding might be the perfect hobby for you. Cycling is a great form of cardiovascular exercise, but without the downsides of jogging or running which can be hard on your joints. It’s low-impact and easy to get into.

The best thing about cycling, however, is the fact that it’s also a mode of transportation. If you want a cheap way to get to work that doesn’t burn any fossil fuels, then cycling is ideal for you. But you can also enjoy cycling on your vacations, and you can go on some wonderful adventures and explore new places.

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two men riding mountain bikes on a rugged trail vacation on the bikes

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Here are a few tips to help you plan your next cycling adventure.

Plan Your Route and Your Bike

There are a lot of different types of bikes out there, many of which are suitable for different environments and terrains. If you want to really simplify things, you can split this into two groups, which are road bikes and mountain bikes (or all-terrain bikes).

As the names suggest, road bikes are designed to be ridden on the road, while mountain bikes can be ridden on trails and rougher terrain. Mountain bikes can also be used for tricks, where riders might do jumps and even flips, using the extra suspension and wider tires to keep their balance.

Why does this matter for your route?

Simply put, the type of bike you ride determines the type of route you want to use. If you have a road bike, you can’t go on forest trials or off the beaten track, because they aren’t designed to withstand that. On the other hand, if you want to ride along smooth roads and travel quickly from one place to another, a road bike or a more balanced bike might be better.

Think about the route and the experience you want. A wilder camping trip might be much better if you’ve got a mountain bike to take on nearby trails. You can then use your tent or RV as a home base while you explore the area.

Or, if you want to reach different landmarks or explore amazing roads in an area, a road bike allows you to travel much further in less time. You can also go on epic bike rides, traveling hundreds of miles over a week or so and using a car to get you back to your home base each evening.

The right bike and the right route are so important for making sure it goes well.

Getting Your Bike Around

If you’re planning a vacation around your bike, you’re going to need transportation. As well as getting yourself and your bike to your destination, you also need to think about all of your luggage, as well as any others going on the vacation with you.

First, how can you keep your bikes safe? While some bikes can fold up so they can fit in the trunk of a car, this isn’t the best way to get them around. They still take up a lot of room and might get damaged if you end up resting luggage on them.

A much better way to transport bikes is with a bike rack. A hitch bike rack is perfect for multiple bikes, as it’s easy to connect to your car and stores them vertically. These racks are designed to go on the back of your car, so you don’t have to try and drive with the bikes on the roof. They’re then easy to unpack and ride.

Who to Travel With

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to match the adventure with the people going with you. If you’re planning a family trip or you’re traveling with people who aren’t very experienced on a bike or don’t have a lot of gear, this isn’t the time for a challenge run. You need to think about everyone’s abilities and what they’re willing to do.

Make sure you’re all on board with the route as well. On the other hand, you can also travel alone so you don’t have to worry about other people. In this case, make sure that someone knows where you are and where you should be for safety.

The most important thing is that you have fun and that everyone is comfortable as they travel.

What Gear Should You Take?

The right gear for you depends largely on the experience you want.

One thing that is non-negotiable is helmets. While it’s not illegal to ride a bike without a helmet in most places, it’s also not exactly safe. If you fall or crash while on a bike, you can hit your head very hard. This can cause severe and lasting damage if you have a traumatic brain injury.

A full-face helmet can also protect against facial injuries. Generally, road cyclists tend to use cap helmets that are designed to protect their heads while also being as aerodynamic as possible. This creates less drag, making it easier to reach faster speeds while on a bike. Mountain bikers and people who do tricks often prefer full-face helmets, because they don’t need to worry as much about drag and do need to worry more about falling.

The clothing you wear has the same principle. You can wear ordinary clothes while cycling, but many road cyclists prefer tight-fitting, aerodynamically designed clothes to help them reach faster speeds. Mountain bikers again, prefer a more protective option.

Other gear that you might want to take includes a water bottle. You can attach this to your bike or, if you’re taking food as well for a longer trip, you can consider a cycling backpack to carry a few other things.

You might also want to bring a camera, especially if you’re going to scenic and picturesque locations. Most smartphone cameras are perfectly appropriate for this, and if you want to bring a digital camera, bear in mind that it needs to be compact enough to fit safely in your bag.

This is a contributed post.