What one piece of advice would you give to a noob off on a first cycle tour.

[SteveThomas]

Hi Guys,

I just thought that I would put this one out there as I thought it would make quite an interesting question to ask - 'What one piece of advice would you give to a noob off on a first cycle tour?'

I am really looking for general answers along the lines of what to look out for solo cycling and camping on the continent that you would never guess would come up, or think to plan for?

...I'm off on my first solo cycle tour 27th July, taking in France, Benelux, Germany, Denmark and lower Sweden, it will amount to 1,000 mile trip over roughly 25-30 days.

Thanks!

 

[iLB]

I would take a read through this thread Steve https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/top-touring-tips.187/

Lots of good stuff.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned

 

[ianrauk]

I would take a read through this thread Steve https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/top-touring-tips.187/

Lots of good stuff.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned

pick up your phone...

 

[raleighnut]

When setting out your kit and being dismayed at the weight of all the stuff.(DAMHIKT ) when you decide to 'pare it down a bit' be aware that the first night you will desperately need at least one of the items that didn't make 'the cut' and so got left at home (probably 2-3 things)

















Mind you I have been known to tour with a trailer.

 

[Brains]

Do a minimum one night dry run first !

Make a kit list
Load up all the kit you will be taking,.
Cycle 30 miles to a camp site, cook a meal, spend the night
Cycle home again via a different route
Mark all the items you did not use, most of them will not be coming on your trip.
Repeat above the following weekend (to a different camp site)

Once you get going, make sure you know where that post office is on day six to send home half your kit.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Forget about weight. You get used to it so quickly you'd wish you brought more stuff.

 

[ufkacbln]

DON'T DO IT!

Well not straight away

Don't start with a massive goal as any disappointments will become demoralising

Spend a few weekends locally to tune the bike, your kit and to make yourself comfortable

Make the silly mistakes (that we all make) when it doesn't really matter


Not only will you benefit by trimming down your gear, but the confidence you gain will be an additional boost

 

[SteveThomas]

I would take a read through this thread Steve https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/top-touring-tips.187/

Lots of good stuff.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned

Thanks for the link to that thread, there is some brilliant advice in there, things I hadn't even considered! ... 7 countries in one month using my own physical and mechanical resources, its going to be an journey of discovery for sure.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Take a card with you that won't charge for transactions abroad.
Take some time to read the routes you'll be doing the following day on a paper map or on Google maps.
If there's a long stretch likely to have no shops, take extra water and food with you.
Do this also if it's going to be very hilly, you might get tired, it might take you more time to get to the next town.
Take some local currency.
Remember climate can change dramatically from area to area: on a recent tour, we left England overheating, 50 miles later, 10 miles into Scotland, we had to stop to put extra clothing on. I could not find spare socks in the dept of my panniers, had to wear arm warmers for socks!
Keep waterproofs always on top for the same reason.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Remember you are touring first world countries and dont pack for a cycling trip to the wilderness.

When you get tired, treat yourself to a bath and a night's sleep in a real bed.

 

[MiK1138]

Don't plan too much in advance. Enjoy the scenery and the sights. It's all too easy to turn it into a race.

Doing the North Coast 500 next week and this is exactly how we are doing it, big long Northern Scotland days with nothing to do but pedal, eat and enjoy the views

 

[SteveThomas]

pick up your phone...

Ha! I think my neurosis

When setting out your kit and being dismayed at the weight of all the stuff.(DAMHIKT ) when you decide to 'pare it down a bit' be aware that the first night you will desperately need at least one of the items that didn't make 'the cut' and so got left at home (probably 2-3 things)

















Mind you I have been known to tour with a trailer.

will serve me well, managing an inventory obsessively!

Remember you are touring first world countries and dont pack for a cycling trip to the wilderness.

When you get tired, treat yourself to a bath and a night's sleep in a real bed.

I think I will be taking that advice!

 

[SteveThomas]

Take a card with you that won't charge for transactions abroad.
Take some time to read the routes you'll be doing the following day on a paper map or on Google maps.
If there's a long stretch likely to have no shops, take extra water and food with you.
Do this also if it's going to be very hilly, you might get tired, it might take you more time to get to the next town.
Take some local currency.
Remember climate can change dramatically from area to area: on a recent tour, we left England overheating, 50 miles later, 10 miles into Scotland, we had to stop to put extra clothing on. I could not find spare socks in the dept of my panniers, had to wear arm warmers for socks!
Keep waterproofs always on top for the same reason.

Great advice, thanks so much!

 

[TheDoctor]

Don't worry about it. IME, Europe is full of shops, bars, and people who will bend over backwards to help you out, given the slightest opportunity to do so.
Learn how to say please, thank you, a few numbers and names of things, and how to say 'Can you help me, please?'. It'll get you out of all sorts of hassles.

 

[slowmotion]

Have a look at this web site.
http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/

Take a Caxton card with lots of credit on it.......freedom!