Tripping Advice - Planning, Getting Fit, Getting There, Navigating, Accomodations & More

Looking for help to make your trip a success? Here are a few suggestions.

1 - Planning (click to expand / hide)

Destination

Why There? - Consider the balance between your objective as a tourist and you capabilities as a cyclist.
Language - Not speaking the local language is a challenge, but it's usually possible to get by. English is often a good intermediary, as are French and Spanish in some parts of the world. It helps to learn a few words of the local language before you go.
Population Density - Towns along the way are good entertainment, and a necessity for food and accommodation. Long, flat, empty roads in the country may be pretty, but not so much after three days.
History & Culture - Study up before you go. Experiencing local culture is a big part of the fun, and also helps set expectations and avoid conflict.
Natural Beauty - Look for variety and change in scenery to keep things more interesting.

When to Go

Weather - Wind, rain and temperature can be the greatest challenge of a trip. Choose your timing accordingly.
Traffic - Safety is always the number one priority, and traffic may vary by time of year.
Accommodations - Availability is often seasonal. If you are not booking ahead, consider the shoulder seasons.
Events - Great to experience local events, but may impact traffic, availability of accommodation and more.

Mapping

Distance and Time - Set realistic objectives for total distance based on your level of fitness and the time you have. Consider taking every third day to recover and enjoy.
Waypoints - Factor in key places to see along the way. It can significantly increase your total distance.
Overnighting - Consider daily distance and map out places to stay. If you are not pre-booked than plan for contigencies.
Alternates - Falling behind in distance? Plan for options that allow you to catch up by taking a train or other transportation. Three days of rain could slow you down.
Tools - Maps, Guidebooks, Internet. Plan your route on MyCycleTour.com, understand the challenge, and get feedback from the community.

How Far Can I Get in a Day

The Weakest Link - If you are travelling in a group remember to set daily objectives based on the weakest person in the group.
Weather - Understand wind and rain trends - cycling into strong headwinds can be far more challenging that cycling through hills.
Terrain - Cycling a 5% grade can slow you to a third of your normal speed. While what goes up comes down, this will still almost double your travel time.
Fitness - While you can probably count on getting more fit as you travel, understand your limits on Day 1.
Equipment - Light weight is good, but reliable is better on long trips. Bike shops may be few and far between and can spoil plans.

2 - Getting Fit (click to expand / hide)

3 - Getting There (click to expand / hide)

Trains, boats and planes.

Booking Transportation - Be sure to let your transportation carrier know you are bringing a bike. Some have limits on the number of bikes allowed.
Packaging - Airlines typically insist that you package your bike in a box or bag. Trains often have requirements as well. Find out the restrictions ahead of time to avoid any surprise.
Booking Transportation - Be sure to let your transportation carrier know you are bringing a bike. Some have limits on the number of bikes allowed on board.
Travel by Air - Expect a longer check-in process, 2 hours is typical but possibly longer. If you take your paniers as carry-on be sure to pack your tools in the bike box as they typically will not be allowed in hand luggage.
Travel by Train - Trains that "allow bikes" will typically take them as-is, without a box. If there are no bicycle services, then check to make sure you can take oversized luggage as large as a bike box. It may need to be stored in the baggage car.

Boxing Your Bike

What kind of box? - If there is storage at your destination, consider buying a hard case. That way you can re-use it for the trip home. The alternative is to use a disposable cardboard bike box.
Where do I get one? - Bike stores will sell hard cases. They also normally give away cardboard boxes they recieve partially assembled bikes in. Find one big enough to pack your bike with the rear wheel still on the bike to help protect the frame and chainring.
How do I get the bike in the box? - Remove the front wheel and either turn the handlebars sideways, or remove them from the frame. Remove the pedals and saddle. Once in the box you can also put in water bottles, helmet and other items. Attach them to the bike frame.
Padding - Use extra cardboard to protect the front forks, wheel hubs and any other part of the bike that's touching the box. Baggage handlers are often careless handling bike boxes.
Taping - Use a heavy duty box tape and use it liberally. Reinforce all the box edges and handle holes. Wrap all the way around the box at least twice vertically and horizontally. More is better.

Re-assemble the Bike

Tools - Allen keys, pedal wrench, screwdriver(s) and a pump. This is part of the normal kit you should have packed.
Where should I do it? - If you are riding straight from the airport, then literally anywhere. It's often easier just outside of an airport building, but inside is sometimes more practical. You are unlikely to be bothered by anyone. If you are connecting by train or bus, then leave it in the box until you are ready to ride.
Disposal of the Cardboard and Packing - It may be difficult to find a recycle bin, so just leave the cardboard near any garbage / refuse container.

4 - Navigating (click to expand / hide)

Maps

Scale - For cycling you need a scale of 1:200,000 (1 cm = 2 km, 1 in = 3.2 mi) or better (like 1:150,000). This will show good enough detail in secondary roads to navigate.
Where to get them? - Larger bookstores sometimes carry maps of this scale, but you may need to look for specialty travel stores or order online.
I have a GPS, do I need maps? - Even with GPS, maps are important. They give you a bigger picture, and help you out of trouble when the GPS leads you astray... which they do.
Can I use my cellphone or tablet maps? - If you have a GPS that might be enough, or if you are using a GPS app on your device mounted on the bike with a local data service then you are OK. Otherwise, get the maps.
How to keep maps visible - Get a handlebar bag with a see-through top map holder. You'll need to fold the map to fit, but then you can see it as you ride. Cutting the map into sections helps. If you also have a GPS this is less important.

GPS

Special Purpose Bike GPS - Recommended as they combine GPS and Bike Computer functions into one device. Advantages - Waterproof, battery life, small, mounts easily to the bike, rugged. Disadvantages - Expensive, small display, rare to get audio turn-by-turn instructions.
Regular GPS Device - Advantages - Larger display, turn-by-turn audio instructions so you can keep your eyes on the road, reasonably priced. Disadvantages - Need a waterproof enclosure, likely need spare battery pack, needs a custom bike mount (often available online), not bike hardened.
App on Cell Phone - Advantages - You may have a device already, good display, turn-by-turn instructions, use free apps or buy inexpensive GPS app. Disadvantages - Need a waterproof enclosure, need spare battery pack, needs a custom bike mount (often available online), not bike hardened, data charges (unless you use an app with offline maps).
Battert Life - Regular GPS devices and cell phones typically don't last more than two hours without being charged, likely not long enough. You can buy USB battery packs to extend the life.
Do I still need maps - Highly recommended to have maps for backup, and to get a view of the big-picture. GPS devices can make mistakes, and they can run out of power leaving you stranded.

5 - Accommodations (click to expand / hide)

Hotels

How to Find - There are lots of hotels online, however many of the smaller hotels are not listed and may provide greater value (especially in Europe).
Booking Ahead - The security of having a place booked is reassuring and saves time in finding a hotel when you ride into a town. Booking too far has it's own risks - like being rained out for a day, or being delayed to fix a bike.
I didn't book, now what? - Many towns in Europe and tourist destinations have a tourist office. Mark it on your map or GPS before you go. In shoulder seasons this is a reasonable way to go, but there is some risk.
Is there a balance? - Everybody has their own. Book your first night or two, and larger tourist centers. Balance the flexibility you want with the risk for other stops.
What about my bike? - Most hotels can accommodate bikes - but it's worth checking. Indoors or in a garage is preferred. Ask if there is a charge.

Hostels

How to Find - You can find listings on line, or from a tourist office. If you have not booked or called ahead, then look for a tourist office.
Memberships - Some hostels require that you have a membership card.
Why a hostel? - Many are inexpensive (although you may be sharing a room), and well located. They may also be a good place to meet people along the way. Note - most hostels still cater to youth, but have dropped or relaxed any age restrictions. Some hostels also have curfew rules and more.

Camping

How to Find - Campsites may not be as pletiful but can be found on the internet or guide book.
Advantages - Likely the least expensive way to travel, and in some ways the most flexible.
Disadvanteages - You need to carry more weight on your bike - tent, sleeping bag, etc. Bike security is also something to watch out for.
Do I need to book? - You are less likely to need a booking, but check out the busy seasons and have a backup.

House / Villa Rentals

Daily Loops - This can be a great option if your trip involves daily loops from a single point.
How to Find - Relatively easy to find on the internet - start with VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner).
Booking - Booked in advance.

6 - The Unexpected (click to expand / hide)

If you want to participate in the conversation you must login first.

19 Oct 2018

voschix

(My first try with this site) It looks as kf you are still using Gmaps for routing, even if I select OSM as map display, at least in my area of Italy. This means that the routing feature is effectively not working here for bicycles here as Gmaps does not provide bicycle routes in Italy. I hope I am wrong and missed something. Please switch to OSM here - the map data is good around here (disclosure: I am an active contributor to OSM and a regular user of it for short and long bicycle tours).

25 Jan 2015

DaveRenfrow

Persuant to previous question, there is no "end" field, only start. Not a loop route. thxs again..

25 Jan 2015

DaveRenfrow

Hate to have an issue, having been a registered user for but 29 minutes, but, in creating my route, Vic, Spain to Pau, France, my clicker seems to be stuck in Fist mode and will not release for clicks. Is there a field which I've activated incorrectly? Also, while I have your cyber-ear, is there an android app from which I can download maps onto a phone or tablet to manipulate offline while touring, that will be compatiable with the route I create? Thanks . Dave.

24 Jan 2015

Adrian

The 3D flyover is OK, but is there a way to slow it down and fly much lower?.

30 Aug 2014

mark

I answered this a while ago, but didn't update the post here. You can now delete routes. When the owner is logged-in there's a delete button on the route displayed. Deleted routes stay in the database but they are removed from the user's profile and are no longer searchable. If another user marks a route as a favorite it can still be viewed, but will be marked as deleted..

26 Jun 2014

mark

Thanks Ray. I had avoided allowing deleting a route in case people mark them as favorites and then suddenly they are gone. I can think of a few alternatives that might solve this. On the naming routes, l could augment the current naming structure with a name. I don't want to eliminate the start/end point in the name entirely since that is really the best way for people to shop routes..

25 Jun 2014

raybo

Two things. 1) I'd like to be able to delete routes that I am no longer interested in. 2) I'd like to be able to name the routes myself..

25 Mar 2014

mark

There were some difficulties after making some updates to the site last week, particularly with editing routes. I believe the problems have been resolved, but if you see any issues please email concerns @mycycletour.com..

21 Jan 2014

mark

I link routes together (from MyRoutes menu item) when my route is either very long, or in more than one contiguous piece (I took a train in the middle of a trip to skip some area). Now when you display linked routes it doesn't just give you a summary link to each of the linked routes - but gives the map of the whole route, and any pictures stored for the linked (sub) routes..

28 Jan 2013

mark

The resource section provides general help information for the site, and also information for less experienced trippers. If you have comments to add, or questions you'd like to see answered put them here..