1. Perfect
planning
What type of
trip are you planning? Are you a seasoned, independent traveller who’s going to
go it alone? Or will you take advantage of a self -guided or guided cycling
holiday?
On a self-guided or guided tour, your itinerary, route, accommodation and your luggage will be taken care of – leaving you free to enjoy the ride. At europe active we specialise in cycling holidays. Whether you are interested in adventure cycle tours through Tuscan mountains or a more leisurely cycling holiday in France, you can find out more about what’s on offer at cycling.europe-active.co.uk
2. Fitness and
ability
Cycling is
for every stage and ability. However, to truly enjoy the experience, you will
need some level of physical fitness.
It’s best to think about both your
cycling ability and fitness level then match these to the type of bicycle
holiday you want to take. For instance, are you looking for a physical
challenge on your trip or are you after something more leisurely? Do you want to cycle on the flat or attempt
some tougher terrain? How far do you
want to cycle each day? Will it be a long distance cycling trip? Think about
these questions and choose your cycling routes accordingly.
3. Physical preparation
Make sure
you’ve done a little cycling before you set off so you can cycle with some
confidence, and your body is used to a saddle – as saddle sore is a common
complaint, particularly in long distance cycling.
‘cycle legs’
can also be avoided if you’ve done some cycling before you go and you choose an
itinerary which starts at a slower pace and gradually builds up from there.
4. Bike safety
It’s a good
idea to know your way around a bike. You’ll have lots of support on a guided or
self guided tour – but it can be useful to know how to repair a puncture or a
chain and adjust your saddle or brakes. Some bicycle shops offer courses or you
can find a plethora of tutorials online. For cycling tips like this, take a
look at YouTube.
5. Rules,
codes and language
A cycling
holiday will bring you closer to the country you are visiting. You’ll
experience the local people and culture first hand so it’s handy to do a little
reading before you go and be prepared with a few key phrases and have a grasp
of the cycling code / rules for that area.
For
instance, you should always wear a helmet but in some areas – particularly in
Europe, it is a legal requirement. These are the things you need to be prepared
for. Go to the European Commission’s transport pages for some useful road cycling tips.
6. Insurance
Read the
small print on your travel insurance policy to make sure it is appropriate for
cycling holidays. For instance, does it cover your bike in terms of cover
against theft? If there’s a medical emergency and you have your own bike with
you, how will it be transported home?
7. Packing list
For road
cycling trips, make sure you have a helmet, gloves, lycra shorts (you can wear
other items over these), trainers, a breathable or wicking sports top and
waterproof jacket.
If you are booking
your trip through europe active,
you’ll be able to hire a bike suited to your trip. In some cases you will be
able to take your own bike with you – and if that’s your preference, you just
need to organise that as part of your luggage allowance for your flight / train
journey etc. And if you are flying with your bike, you just need to check how
the airline prefers the bike to be packed – for instance sometimes the pedals
need to be removed etc. For more
information you can visit our ‘cycling holiday checklist’.
So if this
sounds good and your ready to book your cycling holiday, check out europe-active’s site for the best selection of road cycling holidays and adventure
cycling tours across Europe. From a road cycling holiday in France to a
mountain biking holiday in Italy or an adventure cycling holiday through the Alps
– europe active have it all.
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