When most people think of a holiday, they picture going to Spain or somewhere similar and relaxing next to a pool. While these are great for many people, they’re not interesting enough for many others. It’s always worth looking for something else, and a cycling holiday is an option.
It gets you active and you can take in more than a few sights while you’re at it. To properly see these, though, you’ll need to know how to plan a cycling holiday.
While this takes a bit of time and effort, it doesn’t need to be as complicated as you could think. Focusing on being practical and using a few tips is more than enough to help with this. Some of these help more than others, and it’s worth using seven of the more effective of these.
1. Pick the Right Route
One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is the route you’ll take on your cycling holiday. It’s worth putting a decent bit of thought into this. It’ll help you make sure you actually enjoy your trip.
Consider the places you’d like to see when you’re on the trip and plan for them.
By keeping these in mind, you can figure out the best route to take when you’re on the trip. That way, you’ll see everything you want to see while you’re on the road. Make sure to keep the amount of time it takes in mind, too.
2. Check Your Bike
You’ll put your bike through a lot of wear and tear when you’re on the road. It’s worth making sure it’s up to the task. Unless you’re buying a brand new bike specifically for the trip, you could need to give it a little work.
A lot of this focuses on getting any repairs and upgrades done. Even if it’s relatively minor, get it out of the way.
Focus on the chains, gears, brakes, and tires with this. If you’re not sure about what you should do, it could be worth taking it to a professional. That way, your bike will be in perfect shape for the trip.
3. Don’t Overlook Insurance
It’s easy to overlook a few practicalities when you’re planning any kind of trip or holiday. One of the more notable parts of these is insurance. Countless people think they wouldn’t need it, so they don’t take the time to actually get it. You’ve no reason not to, though.
Cycling holiday insurance can help you more than you’d expect. If you get into any accidents or get sick, it’ll be more than worth it.
While you wouldn’t want or expect anything to happen, it’s always worth being prepared for it. It could end up ruining your trip if you don’t. With the right insurance, you’ll make sure it doesn’t ruin it as much as it could.
4. Keep Hydration in Mind
When you’re on the trip, you’ll naturally be working up a sweat. Even if you’re taking your time, you’re still likely to get a little sweaty. That isn’t a bad thing, but it’s something you’ll need to think about.
That’s especially true when it comes to hydration. You’ll be losing a lot of water when you’re on the road.
You’ll need to replace that quickly and make sure you don’t get dehydrated. Having a litre of water on you at all times is recommended. Keep drinking it, even when you’re not feeling too thirsty. It’ll help quite a bit.
5. Plan Out Great Stops
You’ll have plenty of stops when you’re on your cycling holiday. Many of these will be for breaks so you can catch your breath, but they’re far from the only ones you’ll need to think of.
You’ll also need to think of where you’ll eat every day, as well as your accommodation. Take the time to plan these out.
Researching and booking these ahead of time helps you plan a cycling holiday properly, and you wouldn’t need to worry about stopping anywhere. Keep them as part of your route, and you wouldn’t waste any time on the road.
6. Think About the Weather
Depending on the time of year you’re going, you could have to put up with a decent bit of bad weather. Even if you plan your trip for the summer months, there can still be a bit of rain to deal with.
Make sure you’re prepared for that. Bring clothing that keeps you warm and dry when you’re on the road.
Even during the warmer months, you’ll have to think about the clothes you’re wearing. You wouldn’t want to end up overheating on the road, for example. Make sure you don’t overlook the weather when you’re planning everything out.
7. Prepare Yourself Physically
Cycling is an inherently physical activity, making it great for when you want to get fit. When you’re going on a cycling holiday, you’ll be putting your body through a lot. You’ll have to be prepared for this.
This goes beyond just making sure you have the energy for it and stay hydrated. You’ll need to be fit enough for it.
Taking the time to do some training is recommended. The more of it you can do before going on a cycling holiday, the better. It’ll help you make sure you’re up to the task, especially if you’re going on a longer trip.
A cycling holiday can be great for more than a few reasons. It helps with your fitness, and you’ll get to see more of the country while you’re at it. The sights alone can be more than enough to go for it.
To actually enjoy it, you’ll have to plan a cycling holiday the right way. This doesn’t have to be as complicated as you could think.
With the right tips, it’ll be easier than you’d expect. You’ll get the practicalities and essentials out of the way, so you’re free to actually enjoy your trip. Once you’re on your bike and on the road, you’ll have nothing to worry about. What’s stopping you from giving it a try?
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