How to tackle your first cycle trip like a pro

Planning your first cycling adventure? Whether you're pootling around southern France or pedalling through South America, here's how to ensure your trip goes without a hitch

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When we travel, we often go either very fast – flying, driving and bullet train-ing – or super slow, exploring at walking pace. But sometimes it’s nice to find that happy medium. Enter cycling: quicker than a hike, more immersive than a car or plane, and tailorable to your own speed.

With more tour operators offering dedicated cycle trips than ever before there’s never been a better time to give it a go. But are you worried you’re not fit enough? Dreading you’ll be saddle-sore after day one? Read on…

Why do it?

“Cycling offers the perfect speed at which to experience a place,” says Richard Fairhurst, from website cycle.travel. “You see so much more than if you were walking and, unlike driving, you’re immersed in the countryside rather than closed in a metal box.”

The real joy of cycling is being able to vary your pace. Whether travelling with a guide or pedalling independently, you’ll find you itineraries are more relaxed so you can easily stop if something interests you.

Biking in Bolivia (Shutterstock)
Biking in Bolivia (Shutterstock)

Wildlife and people are more relaxed and receptive to cyclists too, says adventure cycling guide Tim Barnes: “Out on a bike you’re close to the elements and animals, and it gives you an immediate rapport with the locals. This ability to absorb the landscape makes cycling a wonderfully nomadic experience.” But to many, pedalling everywhere can sound like hard work. Are you up to it?

Am I fit enough?

Yes you are. As long as you choose the right itinerary and pace yourself sensibly, there’s no reason for a cycle trip to be sweaty torture. Start off small to boost your confidence. A city day tour is an ideal icebreaker. From there, move on to a weekend cycling break – aim for around 50km a day on a fairly flat route.

Get on well with that and you can try something longer – a 7- or 10-day trip with some rest days built in. Then if you want to, up the ante with more undulating terrain.

No matter what distance trip you go for, it doesn’t hurt to do a little training before you set off. You don’t need to turn into Chris Hoy, but upping your fitness levels will make your ride much more comfortable. If you’ve booked a sensibly paced trip, a few hours a week should be fine.

“Banish the thought that you need to be super-fit to enjoy cycling,” says Marie Madigan, author of Cycle Touring for Beginners. “That’s simply not the case. I have met large men with enormous bellies cycling impossibly slowly but unstoppably up through Pyrenean mountain passes. It is all about pacing yourself – and you’ll only know your pace if you try it.”

Which bike?

Bikes vary greatly – from road bikes (made for smooth paved roads), to mountain bikes (designed for rough off-road trails) and many others in between. For a cycle trip with a tour operator you’re more likely to be given a hybrid model to use, designed to be ridden on both paved roads and unpaved bike tracks; these also offer a more comfortable riding position.

Mountain biker (Shutterstock)
Mountain biker (Shutterstock)

You might want to consider newer alternatives though: for example, electric bikes give an extra boost and make hills a breeze, allowing even novice cyclists to explore undulating terrain. Go on a pre-booked trip and bike hire should be included – unless you’re an experienced cyclist this is always an easier option than taking your own, which must be pre-booked on flights and trains and will be chargeable.

Pack the right gear

Aside from the bike you’ll need a helmet (wear it, even if it’s not enforced by law) – take your own and get one that meets recognised safety standards (such as British Standard in the UK).

Also: take cycling shorts (padded ones essential), gloves (good in hot countries to help you grip the handles), breathable t-shirts, multi-activity shoes (never sandals), a headtorch and a bag (waterproof panniers are good if travelling independently, or a bumbag for essentials if you have a support vehicle). A puncture repair kit is advised (and know how to use it).

Location, location

So where’s best to go on your first trip? Adventure cycling blogger Friedel Grant says you can’t go wrong in the Netherlands: “In Amsterdam cyclists are treated like royalty. There are thousands of bike paths to follow and when you find yourself in traffic, which is rare, drivers are very respectful.”

Further afield, Tim suggests Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan for lovers of more offbeat locations, while South-East Asia is a proven haven for pedallers: for instance, Vietnam has some dedicated trails and a strong cycling culture. New Zealand has some fantastic routes too.

Cycling in Peru (Dreamstime)
Cycling in Peru (Dreamstime)

On organised tours, something that can help you choose where you go is the grading system that the tour operator uses to rate the trip in terms of difficulty (including distance and terrain) along with any specific experience required. Don’t be afraid to call them to ask for advice and always be honest about your level.

On guided trips, help will usually be on hand should you get a puncture or struggle with the distance – most trips have a back-up van and many self-guided trips usually have options for taking trains, buses or boats if you find you want a day off the saddle.

If you choose to travel by yourself, you’ll need greater bike maintenance skills, but will be completely free to stop where you like and alter your itinerary accordingly.

Go again...

Once you’ve got the cycling bug, you’ll soon find yourself planning your next adventure on two wheels. “Cycling is the slow-cooking of travel,” says Tim. “You’ll realise after your first trip that your journey has a much richer, deeper flavour to it: it’s more boeuf bourguignon than chicken nuggets.”

I did this!

Wanderlust reader Suzy Pope explains how to enjoy travelling on two wheels

Why did you decide to do a cycling trip?
I wanted to persuade my cycling fanatic boyfriend to see Croatia so thought a week-long bike trip would work as bait. I’d only ever used my bike to pop to the shops, and cycling on city roads still intimidates me. I was lured by the orange-roofed towns and clear blue sea – though when I saw the daily mileage I knew I’d have to get training!

How did you find it?
Brilliant. We had coffee in tiny villages and lunch at farms in the middle of nowhere. We cycled the length and breadth of some of the most beautiful Croatian islands and felt like we were fully experiencing them.

Having a guide meant we never got lost; she’d grown up on the islands, so knew all the secret beaches and little places that we would never have found by ourselves. I loved it so much that we plan to do another, longer cycling tour for our honeymoon.

Cycling in Croatia (Dreamstime)
Cycling in Croatia (Dreamstime)

Did you have any fears beforehand?
Loads! I’d never cycled more than two days in a row before, and avoided any inclines. The Croatian coast is not known for being flat so I was worried about embarrassing myself on the hills and slowing everyone down.

However, there was a huge variety of cycling ability in the group; some hadn’t been on a bike since they were 12. Everyone completed each day of ‘compulsory’ cycling; there were optional rides with bigger hills for the more experienced cyclists while the rest of us explored towns or swam in the sea.

What tips would you give to other cycling first-timers?
I picked a tour deemed ‘moderate’, and managed to keep up, but I did have to do some training. If I could choose again I’d start with an ‘easy’ tour and work up to ‘moderate’. Also, do read the detailed descriptions of the daily mileage and biggest ascents before you book, and make sure you can achieve both before your tour.


Main image: Cycling adventure (Shutterstock)

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