How To Plan A Great Cycling Route

The team at Europe Active – the cycling holiday specialists - spend a lot of time in the saddle, so we really know how to plan a cycling route. Whether it’s one of our holiday routes, or whether it is a weekend bike ride – similar principles apply.

There is a knack to planning a great cycle route, so if you are heading out on two wheels soon, here’s our thoughts on how to plan a cycling route:

The beginning

Choose a location to start from. It doesn’t have to be your house or a car park. Find a good café, delicatessen, even a bar / country pub on your route. It makes sense to start here as you can park the car, perhaps use the toilet, get a snack before you go and be rewarded with a treat at the end.

Circular routes are the best

It is good to plan a circular route. These work best because they can be more enjoyable than cycling to a location, then seeing the same things on the way back. A circular route will give you variety and will keep your momentum up.

Cycle anti-clockwise

If you are planning to do a road route, then cycle in an anti-clockwise direction. You’ll be able to avoid right hand turns into the traffic or crossing at busy junctions.

Schedule a break

It makes sense to try to schedule a break into your route. It gives you something to aim towards and it means you can take on board some fuel. If it’s a place of interest or a well-known place to eat / drink then it will make your route really enjoyable. It can also be a location around which to map your route.

Think about the road conditions

Think about the weather conditions you’re likely to experience. What time of year is it? How will this affect your route? For instance, will the rain make your mountain trail very mucky, boggy and/or slippy? Will the midday sun make the route very warm? Is the route likely to be very busy with traffic at that time? Are there any events on which will make that route very busy with extra traffic?

Have a back up plan

If you are planning a long cycle then it’s best to have a back up plan in mind. If you become very tired, unwell or have an issue with your bike – then you’d want to finish the route quicker than you planned. This is where your back up plan will come in handy.

Inspiration and ideas

For inspiration and ideas on planning your route – take a look at some maps of race routes that may have taken place in the area. Or pop in to your local bike shop, sometimes the staff there are a font of knowledge on the cycling routes in the area. They may even have maps available which show the trails / routes. Speak with members of your local bike club for information too – they may have routes they use on races.

There are also some online tools that may help you plan – ‘ride with GPS’ is one site and another is ‘Strava’ as well as ‘map my ride’.

Maybe this guide has inspired you to plan a new cycling route for the weekend, or head out on your bike for the first time in a while. If so, enjoy! Cycling is a fantastic way to see your surroundings and keep fit at the same time.

Perhaps you are thinking of traveling further afield with your bike on a cycling holiday, then visit Europe Active’s website at europe-active.co.uk for information on cycling holidays and adventure cycling holidays in some fabulous locations across Europe.

You can also visit our blog which is full of information on our best routes for cycling in Europe and cycling tips from our experts on everything from undiscovered cycling locations, through to what to pack, how to choose the best cycling footwear and how to get the best from your body when you’re cycling. We are a font of knowledge of bikes and holidays!