A cycling road trip represents a part of many outdoor activities enthusiasts’ bucket list. Yet, somehow many keep postponing their trip because they simply don’t know where to start from.
Yes, planning such an adventure is never an easy task. That’s why I’ve put together this checklist. So you can adventure on.
Taking a Cycling Road Trip
First things first, no money no party
Unfortunately, a cycling road trip usually calls for a high budget. In case you haven’t saved enough money for this particular occasion, don’t give up your dream trip before it even starts.
There is always an option of borrowing money from family and friends. However, you can enjoy your trip and get paid for it at the same time. Instagram, social networks in general, has become a perfect place for little personal blogs.
Make your profile be your travel diary by uploading fascinating photos of sights and scenery you come across. Don’t forget to incorporate a few remarkable tags and hashtags, and sponsors or partners may come to you.
You can also ask companies to provide you with their products in return for being mentioned in post or video. Who knows? This idea may turn into a serious travel blog in the long-run.
Trip planning dos and don’ts
A cycling road trip planning involves long sleepless nights and a number of steps to get everything organized.
First of all, it is an imperative to have previously planned routes. We promise you an unforgettable experience if you plan your route according to the significant sights and natural attractions worth visiting.
Since trips like this often occur once in a lifetime, don’t miss anything that seems worth stopping by. It’s always a good idea to bring a paper map and a compass.
Though all phones have maps you could be going to an area with no service, you could drop your phone and any other possible mishaps.
Let’s get technical. As boring as it sounds, don’t skip this part. If you are planning an international cycling road trip, investigate which of the countries demand visas.
Likewise, get informed on their laws and traffic regulations specifically. It would be convenient to have countries’ SOS numbers written down in your phone and on paper in case of an emergency.
Speaking of emergencies, remember the travel insurance as well.
Regardless how perfect your cycling road trip plan is, the weather is always quite unpredictable. You won’t get much help from weather forecast as it constantly changes. Therefore, be ready to face all possible weather conditions.
Once you gathered all the above mentioned information, make a calendar to help you organize the time on the road. However, you are not supposed to stick to it rigidly. Better to enjoy the trip.
Get (back) in shape
Being out of shape is a ‘mustn’t’ when it comes to a cycling road trip. Start riding a bike at least one to two months prior to the trip. Try riding 5 miles a day at first, then slowly increase the number of miles to 10, later 20, etc.
If you are not a regular cyclist, you might need additional exe