Most people take this question for granted but it’s essential when planning a tour. Choosing the perfect bike could be a tough call even for the pro cyclist. Lightweight or heavyweight, off road or on road experience, short or long rides. When choosing a bike, aside from the budget, you should consider the kind of tour you are about to venture on.

You may decide to buy or rent a budget tour bike, a tricycle for the elderly or an expedition bike. It’s completely individual, however, you should ask yourself various questions before settling for one.

Are you prepared? 

Before you embark on the tour, set your preferred start and end date and time. Cyclists love to cycle. Unless we have a specific goal or end date, the temptation to go on may blind us. However, those who cycle to achieve a goal, need the motivation to keep on going. 

Remember to pack a repair gear to help out in case you need a temporary fix or a quick repair. Enroll for a basic course on how to repair your bike. Check if the saddle is comfortable and the bike is clean. You should be good to go!

If you’re planning to take a route for several days, weeks or even a month, ensure your body is prepared for the challenge. Train daily to ensure you are comfortable with taking on long rides. Pack your necessities for the road – enough snacks, water, as well as a first aid kit. 

Don’t forget the route maps, your ID, other documents and enough money for the trip. 

Have fun 

Don’t forget that the primary reason behind your trip is to have fun. Plan multiple stops for breaks, lunch, to snack or just to rest. The bike gives you all the freedom other means of transport do not.

Allow the ride to excite you. Go at your own pace. Be mindful of the new places and feelings you get to experience. And have fun!

The rules 

Whether you are taking a ride within your comfort zone or visiting a foreign country, make sure you understand the local rules.  Some of the ones to check include:

• Always use the established bike paths, it’s illegal to cycle on secluded pavements.
• Beware of wild animals when riding on off-road terrains.
• Bridleways can be used by bikers and cyclists, however, they should allow hikers and horse riders to pass first. What is more, the bridleways are often not suitable for all bikes.

Make sure you read the cycle code of conduct especially when riding in a new foreign place.

To sum up

Set on your journey. Some things you will have to figure out and learn on the go. Bottom line, when on the road – handle your bike carefully to avoid any unexpected repairs. Also, choose safer routes especially when going for a long-distance ride.

Cycling on bike paths or quiet routes, in parks or open spaces, your options are countless. Choose wisely and start planning!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sophie Elise is a passionate cyclist, author and blogger. Her favourite topics include exciting women biking stories, health, fitness, adventures and more. You can often find her work on sportsly.net

The post The effective guide to planning a safe and enjoyable bike tour – Part 2 appeared first on 203Challenges.

But, when you want to go for a bike tour, proper planning is essential for a smooth ride. Remember, biking isn’t the same as driving a car where the routes are the obvious four-lane roads. You must identify your preferred route and stick to it. 

Where exactly do you want to go?

The world is flooded with biking routes and let’s face it, you can’t conquer all of them at once. The first thing to do is choose your destination. Where exactly do you want to go to? 

Once you have identified the location, use any available hints, resources and recommendations to map out your exact route. Especially when going somewhere you have never been and alone.

When taking a town route

Whether you are familiar with the town or not, bike routes and car routes are different. Moreover, you don’t want to find yourself on a busy road when you can use other available side roads and detours.

Make Google Maps your best friend. The application shows all the possible routes that take you to a particular destination. However, don’t rely fully on it, because it will mostly show you common roads full of traffic. Google usually chooses the familiar bike lanes, but you can benefit from the street view option to get to know your surroundings.

In the bike-friendly countries, you can easily get a bike map from your local bike shop. If you’re into technology more than the old-fashioned way, then make use of the local GPS site and application (most municipalities will have one). The maps will show the exact route and landmarks that you will see on the way. They are quite helpful and easy to understand. What is more, you can create your own map or download available ones onto your bike computer.

Going from town to town

Race map routes are also quite useful when town-hoping or biking from a bigger city to another one. They are detailed for racers and include shortcuts and detours as well. Alternatively, go online and check the racers websites for a map of the route.

What if you are taking on a different country?

Do your research and understand the area, before reaching the border. Figure out if you need to exchange money to the local currency and what are the mobile service provider rates. Don’t forget to use the GPS and to download local guiding maps from the area of interest.

Luckily, you can access any helpful information within a single click or scroll on your mobile.

To be continued…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sophie Elise is a passionate cyclist, author and blogger. Her favourite topics to write about include exciting women’s biking stories, health, fitness, adventures and more. You can often find her work on sportsly.net

The post The effective guide to planning a safe and enjoyable bike tour – Part 1 appeared first on 203Challenges.

Glentress Forest
Nestled deep within the breathtaking Tweed Valley is this mountain biking Mecca. Glentress Forest has a challenging uphill start, but after this, you are in for a real treat with an incredible downhill stretch filled with jumps and berms along with amazing views of the area. This is sure to get your blood pumping and it is certainly not a trail for the faint of heart.

Fort William
Found in the wild western Scottish Highlands is the popular town of Fort William which is known as the gateway to Ben Nevis – the highest peak in the UK. Unsurprisingly, this makes it an excellent place for mountain bike enthusiasts and the Nevis Range resort has hosted the Mountain Bike World Cup a staggering 11 times. This proves quick access to the highly popular cross-country Witches Trails where there are trails for all abilities.

Kirroughtree
Kiroughtree is a place with excellent trails for all abilities at the world-class mountain biking center 7Stanes (found throughout Scotland). Here there are award-winning trails which attract mountain bike enthusiasts from around the world and particularly for the extreme downhill sections that are sure to test the nerve of even the most experienced riders. In order to conquer these trails and develop your skills, you need to make sure that you have a bike that you can rely on, so make sure that you are confident on your wheels before setting off.

Comrie Croft
Comoro Croft is somewhat of a hidden gem in the mountain biking world found at the foot of a mountain in the Highlands. It features hand built trails that cover the hillside with a number of brilliant and challenging trails to tackle, plus the idyllic setting and comfortable accommodation ensure that this is a great place for a relaxed stay.

Kinlochleven
Found in the Scottish Highlands in Lochaber, this peaceful village is a popular spot with mountain bike enthusiasts thanks to the legendary Dude’s of Hazzard Enduro – rugged terrain high above Kinlochleven with craggy slopes that will require great skills and concentration to master. It is also part of the longest established trails in The Ciaran Path which tracks the river from Blackwater Dam into Kinlochleven.

Torridon
Torridon in the Northwest Highlands does not feature handmade trails which gives it a wild, natural and rugged feel that any experienced mountain biker will appreciate. It is somewhat isolated which only adds to its charm and also ensures that you can enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding area while you ride.

Scotland is a superb place for a mountain biking holiday because of the wild, rugged and craggy landscape found in the Highlands. There are many fantastic places for an unforgettable mountain biking holiday and you will want to see as many of the above as possible during your trip.

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The Netherlands does have endless bike lanes, picturesque windmills, and beautiful tulip fields. And yes – the attitudes towards certain substances and pleasures are more liberal than in other places around the world.

But the country is so much more than that. Let me admit something: after living there for a while, I fell in love with it. Here`re my top 3 reasons why:

1. Biking as a way of life

Everybody owns a bike in the Netherlands. It`s a pure necessity. You bike to University, to the office, to the supermarket, to the sports center and even the nightclub.

But the mornings are frosty. The wind blows fiercely in your face and it`s constantly raining. More often than not, you arrive soaking at work. Here`s what to do: bring a pair of dry socks. And deal with it. After all, you`re in the Netherlands. Mount your bike and keep riding. It`s a matter of respect.

You might be wondering: why torturing yourself and biking everywhere even if it`s cold? Because it gives you a feeling of absolute freedom. You can go anywhere. Anytime you want. It`s easy and cheap and you rely only on yourself. How cool is that?

Note: Check our beginner’s guide to cycling in the Netherlands. Otherwise, you`ll get damned in Dutch (because in the Netherlands you don’t get sworn at, you get damned).

2. The free spirit

Let me tell you something, even at the risk of repeating myself. The Netherlands is the land of freedom. The vibe is laid-back and open-minded. And we`re not talking about weed and sex here.

Diverse people and cultures are blending together. And everybody is OK with it. Be as you are. Go where you want to go (but on a bike, please). Share your opinions and passions. Be blunt, and even a bit rude. Nobody cares!

Note: At first, the Dutchies can intimidate you with their directness. The food you prepared for your friends lacks in flavors? They`ll tell you straight away. Your presentation has its flaws? Your colleagues will be the first to tell you. But hey: aren`t constructive criticism and debate laying the foundation for a working democratic society?

3. Dancing in the rain

Most of us hate rainy days. Did you know that there`s even a disease called meteoropathy? It`s a condition associated with depression and nervousness when the weather is bad.

But if you`re not meteteoropathic and spend some time in the Netherlands, you`ll no longer care about the bad weather. It doesn`t matter whether it`s rainy, foggy or windy (both literally and figuratively).

Do as the Dutch people do and learn to dance in the rain. Lift your spirits despite the bad weather. Bike in the storm. Drink a cold beer in a windy afternoon. Or go on a picnic on a rainy day (done all of it; can guarantee it`s fun except for biking in a storm).

Fall in love with the Netherlands

Don`t take my word for it. Travel to the Netherlands and experience its vibes. But beware: you might fall in love!

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