My 7 tips for multi-day cycle touring

My first long-distance cycle tour was at age 19 – cycling on rented mountain bikes through the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland with my dad. Despite the torrential rain, and some hefty detours because we lacked navigation devices, that cycling holiday stuck with me. Since then, I’ve cycle toured from Frankfurt to Venice, traversed half of Europe to cycle from the UK to Ibiza and toured the UK. Cycle touring is my favourite way to holiday. Why? Because it’s an incredible way to explore one’s limits, while seeing so much of our world’s nature and culture and have a training-based adventure.  

However, not many female athletes go cycle-touring. Why? Maybe there are barriers of logistics and equipment, maybe it can just seem a little scary and too big of a challenge…But I can assure you cycle touring is for everyone!

So, here are my 7 helpful tips for multi-day cycle touring ...

1.    Where to go?

The destination will very much determine the nature of your cycle tour. You should consider the climate and weather, safety, and culture of your destination, and ask yourself ‘Will this be an enjoyable place to tour?’. You can choose between a point-to-point or a circular route. A circular route usually eases logistics, while a point-to-point route can feel more thrilling as you really sense the progress you make despite the hassle of booking separate travels. Getting to your cycle touring start by train or bus is the more environmentally friendly choice. But you will have to carefully plan your bike transport and ensure you can take your bike on all parts of the journey. By plane, a main consideration is packing your bike – my tip would be to get a bike carton from a local cycle shop, which you can dispose of when at your destination (and to the same for the return trip).

2.    Solo, with friends or family?

Solo cycle touring is a chance to explore your own limits and travel at your own pace. It might seem daunting and lonely but is a great chance to reconnect with yourself.  Why not do a solo-trial by, for instance, cycle-visiting a friend that is 100km away? 

Cycle touring with friends is a wonderful way to share the journey and share your equipment (with a cheeky advantage of lighter travelling…). Have a good think about whether you and your friends would get along in a multi-day cycling setting: will you be patient with one another, supportive and encouraging? If yes, those are the right friends to cycle tour with!

Cycle touring with a young family is an adventure of another kind. If you have young kids, you could take a trailer, for older kids: an attachment bike. But bear in mind: spending a holiday in the saddle might be exciting for the parents but rather boring for younger children. So do plan plenty of fun activity stops and a shorter route.

3.    Where to sleep?

You’ve got the luxurious choice between camping vs indoor sleeping, and a few varieties of indoor sleeping ranging from couch surfing, to hostel, to hotel. Sleeping indoors means you can travel very light – just with your essential clothing and is a good idea in colder climates. It’s also a great chance to get a good night’s sleep, wash all your clothes and re-set. But: it ties you to a certain pre-determined route and requires time booking accommodation. Camping on the other hand is an adventure of its own kind and requires serious planning, equipment, and nerves. You’ll need to consider whether your destination is safe, temperatures are comfortable and whether there are sufficient campsites or the permission to wild camp. If you’re wild camping, look out for a flat, dry, and secluded spot, which should be sheltered from the wind (ideally under some canopy) and away from busy roads.

4.    Planning a route

First decide what bike is suitable for your trip – a road bike, MTB, gravel bike or something hybrid? Second, decide whether you’re going to go ‘techy’ with a cycle computer or old school with some OS Maps. A mapping app such as Komoot will help plot your route and distance. Komoot helps to plot a route along lots of points of interest and to optimize the route by analysing road surfaces and types. It will also estimate how long a route will take based on elevation and fitness level. Importantly, you’ll need to plan your route to allow for food stops in villages and to refill your water bottles and find potential campsites. Finally, base your route on manageable daily distances.

Here is a matrix with km/day (and hours) for different multi-day tours on a hybrid bike on a flat(ish) route.

5.    What to take and how to carry it (see pack list below!)

You’ll need five essential groups of things for cycle touring: clothing, bike repair kit, first aid & toiletries, key electronics and sleeping equipment. A complete pack list can be found below. Purchasing all the cycle touring equipment implies an initial cost, and I recommend some bargain hunting on second-hand platforms such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Gumtree. Before you embark on a long cycle tour, it is worth trying out your equipment during a small pilot trip!

You can choose to ‘bike pack’ by putting your essentials into bags that you can strap on to your bike (such as handlebar bags, frame bags and saddle bags). The benefit of a this set up is the lightness and the dynamic feels and it generally works well on road bikes and mountain bikes if you don’t carry extensive camping equipment.  Or you can choose a ‘touring style’ set-up whereby you clip pannier bags onto your rear luggage racks. The ‘touring style’ set up allows you to carry bulkier gear, such as a tent and a camping cooker, but it will be heavier and less aerodynamic. In both cases, make sure you do have extra space for groceries that you pick up along the way.

6.    Bike mechanics

With lots of km in the saddle, small mechanicals are commonplace. So, you’ll need to be confident and happy to do some basic repairs, such as changing innertubes, replacing brake pads, lubricating your chain, replacing spokes, and adjusting the position of the saddle, handlebar, and cleats. Essential tools you’ll need to carry are described in the pack list below.  Ask a friend from your tri club to show you how to do those basic repairs and make sure to scope out bike shops along your route in case you do need help. Before your trip, get your bike ready by tightening all the parts, pumping the tyres an giving it some TLC: cleaning the drive train and the chain with degreaser and applying bike lube.

7.    Finally on the road

YAY! You made it past the planning and are finally en route! Fuelling and hydration will be key to maintaining high energy levels and good mood! Schedule regular food stops at cafes, bakeries or grocery shops and make sure to plan for the next half day and snacks while riding. When shopping, prioritise denser, high calorie foods and avoid glass jars or cumbersome packaging to travel lightly. Consider taking electrolytes to help your body with hydration.

Keep an open mind and be flexible - you might have to adjust your plans and find joy in the unexpected. Look after your mind and body – have a nice stretch at the end of the day and check in with friends and family to reflect on the challenges, the joy and how far you’ve come!

A cycle touring pack list

(for a 1 week trip)

The essentials:

• cycling bibs and shirts x2,

• warm layers for evening and night

• waterproof jacket

• overshoes

• warm hat, buff, and gloves

• socks x3

• sunglasses

• non cycling shoes (flip flops etc),

  soap bar, insect spray, toothpaste, sunscreen, first aid kit, sunscreen, chamois creme

• power bank, chargers, bike computer

• pump, inner tube, patching kit, multi tool, tyre leavers, cable ties, small pack of lube, spare spoke, bungees to strap things across your bike.

For camping:

• tent

• insulated sleeping mat

• sleeping bag appropriate to temperature

  (Minimalist camping can be done with a bivvy bag if you’re happy to sleep under the open sky or can find barns and shelter)

• pillowcase (to stuff some clothes in)

• camping cooker with topped up gas, crookery, and cutlery.

• washing up kit (one sponge, mini detergent)