Trip of a Lifetime: Preparing for Your Bike Trek
Every summer, dozens of riders from all over the world compete for the coveted yellow jersey in
the Tour de France. If you watch it, you’ll see the most incredible views of the French
countryside, and you’ll almost want to tackle those mountains yourself. Almost.
For the rest of us, there are bicycle trips to take all over the globe, where the views are just as
breathtaking to see from the seat of your bike. As Zenbusiness notes, whether you’re a family
looking to enjoy the outdoors or a busy manager looking to find work-life balance, a bike trek
could be just what you need. If you’ve been thinking about how amazing one of these trips could
be, now is the time to get ready. Joyous Vacations has some tips to help you get started.
Get a plan
The first step to taking a bike trek is deciding where you’re going. There are group tours you can
take, or you can plan one yourself. The possibilities are endless. But make sure you check the
weather for whichever time of year you’re thinking about. You should also have a good
understanding of your ability as a cyclist.
If you’re worried about leaving your house empty, there are steps you can take to make it safer.
Make sure you keep your house secure while you’re gone by stopping your mail and
newspapers, putting your lights on timers and checking the batteries in your smoke detectors.
Put your car in the garage and make sure your doors are locked and the thermostat is turned
down.
You should also have a good home security system installed, one with home monitoring. Having
your home protected will ease your mind while you’re embarking on that much-needed vacation
and allow you to focus on blazing the trails.
Get the gear
You wouldn’t start a project without the proper tools, so you don’t want to start a long trek
without the right equipment. Make sure you have the proper bike for your trip. You don’t want to
make a road trip on a mountain bike or vice versa. Take your bike in for a tune-up well in
advance of your trip: During peak riding season, bike shops are booked, so you want to make
sure you get this done early. Just before your trip, take it back in for a safety check. Most bike
shops are happy to do this for you.
If you’re carrying your clothing or camping gear on your bike, make sure you are conscious of
weight. When you’re climbing up a hill, every ounce will count. If you’re choosing between two
items, opt for the lighter one if it meets your needs. You’ll thank yourself later.
Pick out the best water bottle or water bladder system, and make sure you’ll have access to
clean water for refills. Even when the weather is cool, you’ll still need to stay hydrated. Pick out
some good sport sunscreen for your trip, too. The sun’s rays can do serious, long-term damage
to your skin. You should also make sure the camping supplies you select are top-notch and
durable; sites like Adventure Daily can help you pick out the right gear.
Get ready physically
Start a training regimen. You can find many online, but look for one that gradually builds up from
your level to where you need to be for your trip. Many trainers recommend doing one long trek
on the weekend, while you take shorter rides and cross-train during the week. Road Bike Rider
notes that you should lengthen the distance of the long ride by about 10% each week. You
should also find a route with varied terrain, so you’ll be prepared. And don’t forget your muscles
— not only your legs, but your upper body, too. Long hours on the bike will take a toll on your
entire frame, so you want your core muscles to be in good shape.
When you’ve gotten your bike, body and home ready, take the trip of a lifetime — and don’t
forget your camera! And when you’re ready to start planning your next getaway, don’t forget to
use Joyous Vacations to search hundreds of travel sites in one place!