Now that winter is finally over, you’re now ready for spring vacation right? You’re probably dreaming of going somewhere warm where you can drink at 11am and read glossy magazines on the beach, unless you’re like most avid cyclists who dream of wearing cyclings shorts, eating copious amounts of carbs, and cycling along the coast.
Anybody can enjoy the benefits of a cycling holiday during the cool months, and it’s something that is becoming increasingly popular. Recently some of my followers on IG ask me for tips on cycling holidays from shipping bikes to packing essentials. There are cycling holidays for all types of cyclists out there so knowing what kind of cycling trip you’re doing is the first step. After that it’s all cruising from there, so to help you get dreaming, planning, and preparing for a cycling holiday on two wheels, I’ve put together these tips to help guide you.
Why go on a cycling holiday?
For me, a cycling holiday is the best way to see and immerse myself in a new destination and I get to escape cold weather! A cycling holiday is also a great way to meet locals and to experience new places and things you just wouldn’t see from a bus tour or car rental. Plus it’s kind of hard to beat the sense of freedom you get from flying down hills while overlooking coastal roads with the wind in your hair and the sun on your back.
Self-guided or guided tour
The next decision when booking a cycling holiday is whether to do a self-guided cycle tour or to join a group holiday. Specialist companies, such as those offering tours on the famous Tour de France routes and mountain passes (the cols), will look after most of the logistics of your holiday for you. This usually includes offer guidelines on flights, airport transfers, accommodation, guided routes, snacks and meals, sometimes even post-ride sport massages. But you can also book self-guided cycling holidays, where you navigate yourself but stay in pre-booked and recommended accommodation.
Alternatively, cyclists might prefer to create their own routes and book accommodation as they travel or even to carry their own camping kit with them for more flexible overnights. There are many on-line guides to cycling in different countries and you can gain further help and advice through cycling holiday sites such as Back Roads which cover self guided and guided tours.
Bike shipping, flying, or rentals
Whether renting, flying with or shipping your bike is the better option depends on the specific details of your holiday and travel, as well as personal preference. Neither option is less expensive under all circumstances – total cost will depend on your destination, the size of your case/box, the airline/carrier you choose, and whether you opt for shipping insurance. If you’re traveling with your bike and flying domestically or international, you’ll need to check specific airline cost options and policies when booking and flying with your bikes. It’s important you pack your bike correctly or you may find yourself being charged extra or the bike being turned away at check in.
One way to override hardcase flight fee’s for your bike is to buy or rent an Orucase Airport Ninja Bike Bag that you can check in on flight as a normal bag (skipping fees).
The best option for shipping domestically is to ship your bike with Bikeflights.com which makes shipping your bike very easy door to door and cheap. Plus you can pack in extra bits of bike tools/computers/gadgets etc in the box without worrying about flying with them and being confiscated. You can read more on packing and shipping your bike with Bike Flights here.
The last option is becoming a Rapha CC member and traveling to destination where there is a club house. You can hire a bike fo $25 a day and have all the essentials of bike gear and care ready for you.
If you’re doing travel with your bike for the first time, I recommend that you book the bike in for a service and packing before you travel – that way it’ll be in tip-top condition enabling you to make the most of assembling and enjoying rides.
Packing
Weather is an important factor when preparing for your holiday. Be sure to check the weather and pack appropriately. You’ll want to have a separate bag for all your cycling gear, kit, and essentials. Here is a list of items to pack.
- Cycling Kit Assortment: jersey, shorts, socks, caps, base layers, gloves, leg and arm warmers, vest, jackets
- Cycling shoes
- Bike bags: to carry essentials.
- GPS
- Pedals
- Helmet
- Water bottles
- Chamois cream
- Snacks/nutrition for each ride
- Drawstring bag for washing cycling kit
- Sun Cream
- Sunglasses
- Camera
- Saddle bag
- Multi-tool set
- Pedal Wrench (pack in bike bag/box)
- Pump (small hand pump, no co2 allowed on flights)
- Tire levers
- Patch kit
- 2 Tubes
There you have it, some tips for preparing for your cycling holiday. On Thursday I will dive further into what and how I prep and pack for long term travel (1-3months). If you have any more questions then please do get in touch with me at citygirlrides@gmail.com. I’d be happy to share any my experiences with you.