Preparing For Your Cycling Trek
Heading on a cycling trek? Make sure too prepare well, and keep these tips in mind:
- Getting to know the route you will take intimately.
- Training right now, long before you jump on your bike
- Investing in the right bike
- Investing in the right security on the road
- Choosing to go on a supported or non-supported trek
- Having a budget
Know the Route
Before you head out on your adventure, you need to know the trail. This doesn’t just mean knowing where you want to go on your cycling trek, but knowing exactly how long the trip will be, how many miles per day you think you can ride, especially as you get into long-term cycling treks where you may not be able to push as hard because you are tired. You should break down your trip based on your daily goals, particularly how long or how far you need to go each day. You also need to consider in advance things like meals, where you will get your meals, whether you will pack them with you, whether you will stop at a sit-down facility or just eat snacks as you go. You also have to consider logic, where you will stay each night especially for longer distances.
Train Ahead of Time
You should start training immediately. As you are preparing for your cycling trip, you want to push yourself by turning a little bit harder each day, harder than you did the day before. You should train for at least as long as you plan to ride, maybe multiple times before you actually set out on your trip. Your training should take place on different types of landscapes, you should train at different times during the day to better mimic the adventure you will be on. Don’t forget to write down information about your training like how much time you spent each day training, where you trained, what type of ride you did, and how you felt after. Knowing whether a certain type of terrain leaves you feeling much more winded after will help you accommodate for the segments of your cycling trip where you have to deal with that type of terrain.
Find the Right Bike
Take some time to find the right bike. You should exercise on different bikes before you set out on your adventure to see which one you are most comfortable with when it comes to trail riding in particular. This type of riding is something that will be long-term so the bike should be comfortable, fit you perfectly not just sort of fit you. It should also be a bike that you are able to repair while on the road because chances are for a longer cycling trip you will need a lot of preparation and you will need a lot of repairs during the course of your adventure.
Security on the Road
While you are on the trip, you need to be secure. If you are by yourself, Safety and Security are very important. You should of course only stay in places where you have some level of security, and you remain aware of your surroundings. You should have personal insurance and especially have active health coverage while you are out and about, coverage that applies to all the areas where you are traveling. If, for example, you are taking a cycling trip across multiple States or multiple countries, you need something that applies no matter where you go so that if you get hurt or you have an accident with property damage, you have insurance to cover it. You also need to make sure that you are secure in terms of your property and the things you packed. Having the best bicycle locks can ensure your bike and your gear remain safe no matter where you camp.
Choose Support
You have to choose the level of support you want. This goes hand-in-hand with the type of trip you are planning. Many people like to do a supported trip especially for longer distances. A supported trip just means you set up specific intervals on specific dates where other people meet you so that they can replenish your supplies, give you some Necessities or new meals, and maybe even ride along with you for a few miles here or there. If you want to do everything on your own, then you can choose a non-supported trip which means you have to plan for everything on your own. The type of support you choose will of course determine in large part the type of bike you choose.
Have a Budget
Finally, don’t forget to have a budget. You’d be surprised how often you stop and want souvenirs or want to attend a certain event or maybe just want a nicer hotel for the night.