If you want to truly experience freedom when you travel, you should invest in a good bike and start planning a cycling tour of your chosen destination. Cycling allows you to see a whole country more cheaply than you could by other means, and it enables you to see out-of-the-way sights that you might not even realize exist, were it not for the fact you were exploring on a cycle.
Of course, packing for a cycling tour can be a little more involved than packing for a normal trip and apart from the essentials, there are lots of things you might not think about bringing along, which are either essential or good to have for comfort.
Here is a list of the items you should be packing if you want to have the best cycling experience of your life:
Puncture Repair Kit
This should be obvious, but you’d be surprised how many cyclists forget to pack a flat repair kit and then have to rely on the kindness of strangers to get it sorted. You might not have a flat, but you’ll be glad to have this in your kit bag should the worst happen.
Bag Balm
Bag Balm is a lanolin heavy gel, which was originally created to help prevent soreness in cow udders, but it could be your best friend on a long cycling tour because it helps to prevent chaffing and discomfort which is so common in cyclists.
A Camping Cot
A camping cot is nothing more than a foldable bed, which can be used in conjunction with a good quality sleeping bag to give you a great night’s sleep, wherever you set up camp. Camping cots elevate you off the ground, which can be useful if you’re sleeping in a particularly rocky area. If you’re not familiar with camping cots, check out the good guide to cots for more information.
High Energy Snacks
Cycling burns a lot of calories, so if you are going to be cycling across vast distances, you want to ensure that you have enough calories to get you to your destination without crashing. Flapjacks, cliff bars, trail mix, and energy gels can all be packed into your bag without adding too much weight, so be sure to stock up before you start your cycling tour.
Saddle Bag
The last thing you want to be doing is riding with a huge weight on your back, which is why you should invest in a saddle bag to take some of your load. Saddles bags can be attached to your bike, and they’re great for carrying some of the other essentials in this post.
Entertainment
Although you will spend a lot of time cycling and seeing the sights of your chosen country, you should bring along a few portable board games, an iPod or a few books to keep you entertained in your down time.
By ensuring you’re well prepared for a cycle touring trip, you can make the event more relaxing (well as relaxing as a cycling-heavy holiday can be) and ensure that you have the best time with as few hiccups as possible.