My introduction to the world of bike touring began with Alastair Humphreys’ captivating book, Moods of Future Joy. His account of cycling from his home in England to Cape Town, South Africa, as part of a larger round-the-world journey, ignited a spark of adventure in me. I was immediately drawn to the idea of global exploration by bicycle and started gifting his book, dreaming of my own epic cycling expeditions. However, reality soon set in: my camping experience was minimal, and my longest bike ride was just a few miles.
The romantic allure of setting off on a bicycle straight from my doorstep to distant lands was undeniable. Yet, the logistics of traveling thousands of miles with only bike-carried essentials seemed daunting. Gradually, I learned that not every bike tour needs to be a grand, years-long odyssey. Even a short weekend getaway on two wheels can be a refreshing escape from the mundane. And with each mini-adventure, my ambition to embark on a global bike tour grows stronger.
Through years of bike-centric travels, I’ve discovered that planning a bike tour, especially with the right equipment like a Touring Bike, doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. If you’re starting where I did, you might be closer to your first tour than you think.
There are several essential categories of gear and considerations when planning a bike tour, all interconnected and influencing your journey. Imagine it like this:
Kyle on Wheels: Visualizing the interconnectedness of cycling and gear choices for bike touring.
The Heart of Your Journey: Choosing the Right Touring Bike
While technically, any bicycle can be used for a bike tour, the type of tour you envision greatly dictates the suitability of your bike. Attempting the challenging Great Divide Mountain Bike Route on a delicate road bike, for instance, would be highly inadvisable. However, the resourcefulness of cyclists is remarkable, and there are always exceptions.
Inspirational examples abound of cyclists tackling incredible journeys with unconventional bikes. Consider Ryan van Duzer’s cross-America trip on a three-speed bicycle or Ed Pratt’s global circumnavigation on a fixed-drive unicycle, both wonderfully documented on YouTube (well-documented on YouTube). These adventurers likely adapted their routes to their bikes’ limitations, a principle applicable to any bike tour planning.
How to Use the Bike You Have for Touring
If you are in the market for a new bicycle specifically for touring, or if you’re unsure about committing fully to bike touring as a hobby, prioritize a bike that is in good working order and offers essential features. Look for at least 10 gears for varied terrain, eyelets for mounting a rear rack to carry panniers, and reliable rim or disc brakes for confident stopping power. As you gain experience with a few tours, you’ll develop a clearer understanding of your priorities and budget, making you more confident in choosing your ideal touring bike for larger expeditions.
Shelter on Wheels: Accommodation Options for Touring Cyclists
Where you decide to rest each night significantly influences the gear you’ll need to carry on your touring bike. If you are new to camping, consider planning your initial tours with accommodations already secured, such as staying with friends or family, or booking hostels, hotels, or vacation rentals. What’s Your Touring Style?
One memorable weekend touring bike trip I took was to my grandfather’s house in Los Angeles, approximately 100 miles from my home. Carrying only a backpack with water and basic essentials, the journey was far more enriching than driving and provided a great conversation starter upon arrival.
Starting with a similar approach eliminates the immediate need to choose camping gear like tents, sleeping pads, and sleeping bags, and removes a layer of complexity from your first touring bike adventures. From there, you can gradually explore remote camping, perhaps starting with car camping or even backyard tent nights to build confidence.
Fueling the Ride: Food and Nutrition for Bike Touring
Kyle on Wheels: A bike tourer replenishes energy with a meal during a ride, highlighting the importance of food for long-distance cycling.
I have a friend who started running marathons primarily to indulge in unrestricted eating. I initially found this humorous until I experienced the intense calorie demands of a longer touring bike trip. Post-tour, I realized the sheer volume of food needed to replenish energy. While some of these eating habits lingered even off the bike, nutrition during bike touring involves more than just calorie replacement.
Beyond the obvious need for fuel for physical exertion, there’s a significant mental aspect to food on a bike tour. On a recent trip, I underestimated the energy required to cycle back over mountains separating me from home. During the ascent, negativity crept in, and I even considered giving up and hitchhiking. However, reaching a small mountain town, having lunch, and refueling completely transformed my mood and restored the joy of the journey.
Experiencing hunger on a touring bike can impair judgment and decision-making, and exacerbate any pre-existing health conditions related to blood sugar levels. Proper nutrition is as crucial as your touring bike itself.
The Beauty of Cold, Fast Touring Meals
The Essence of Life: Water on Your Touring Bike Adventure
Running water is a modern luxury often taken for granted, a realization that hits hard when water miscalculation occurs on a touring bike trip, and the fear of a leaking bottle arises. Having faced a few close calls, I now prioritize carrying excess water, despite the added weight on my touring bike.
Dehydration is a serious concern, potentially leading to severe health issues. Running out of water in remote areas can quickly become a critical situation.
Most guidelines recommend consuming one liter (approximately 32 ounces) of water per 1-2 hours of cycling in moderate climates. Increase intake in hotter weather, at higher altitudes, or during strenuous activity. In populated areas with readily available potable water, refilling bottles is straightforward. However, touring bike adventures in arid regions require careful planning to carry sufficient water for extended periods.
The Unseen Essentials: Miscellaneous Gear for Touring Bikes
Kyle on Wheels: A collection of essential miscellaneous gear for bike touring, emphasizing preparedness for various situations on the road.
Beyond the major categories, numerous other items are essential for any trip, including clothing, toiletries, basic medications, and perhaps reading material or a journal. For touring bike trips, specific bicycle-related items become indispensable. I never leave for a ride without a multi-tool with a chain breaker, spare inner tube and patch kit, and a pump. Flat tires, chain issues, loose bolts, and brake problems are common mechanical failures that can strand you, but are often easily fixed roadside with basic tools and knowledge. Learning basic bike maintenance is a valuable skill for any touring bike enthusiast.
Carrying Your Load: Baggage Solutions for Touring Bikes
Once you’ve compiled your essential gear for your touring bike adventure, the next challenge is transporting it all. A backpack is the simplest and most economical starting point. However, as backpackers and hikers know, carrying weight on your back can become uncomfortable, especially with significant gear, water, and food.
Whenever feasible, transferring weight from my back to the touring bike is my preference. Investing in a rear rack and waterproof panniers is a significant upgrade for baggage capacity. Beyond this, a wide array of bags and attachment methods exist, offering exciting research and customization options for your touring bike setup.
Charting Your Course: Route Planning for Touring Bikes
Kyle on Wheels: A touring bike fully loaded with gear, ready for an adventure, highlighting the culmination of gear and planning.
Planning a simple overnight touring bike trip to a nearby town differs greatly from planning a multi-day expedition through remote landscapes like the Sonoran Desert. Route planning impacts all other preparation categories, including gear, water, and food needs, as well as accessibility to assistance in case of emergencies.
For many trips, I’ve utilized standard smartphone mapping applications, selecting the bicycle option. While generally functional, these apps sometimes prioritize busy roads lacking adequate cycling infrastructure. Alternatively, numerous pre-planned routes are available online, meticulously scouted by experienced touring bike cyclists.
How to Create Your Own Touring Route
Among my favorite resources are Adventure Cycling’s epic routes across the country, which are exceptionally well-designed, researched, and consistently updated. If you are in the US, it’s highly likely an Adventure Cycling route passes near you, allowing for a one or two-day segment adventure. Adventure Cycling also offers a growing collection of Short Routes specifically tailored for weekend touring bike trips.
Putting It All Together: Your Touring Bike Adventure Awaits
My hope is that this guide inspires you to plan your first touring bike adventure, utilizing the gear you have and aligning with your comfort level. The most important step is to begin with a tour you are confident in completing and gradually progress to more ambitious and self-supported expeditions. After a few trips, you’ll likely find yourself increasingly comfortable with the idea of cycling from your home towards the horizon, and perhaps even around the world, all powered by your trusty touring bike.
