Preparing For a Long-Distance Biking Trip

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If you’re thinking about going off a long-distance biking trip, there are a few things you should know. Unlike short trips, you’ll have to pay extra attention to what gear and supplies you take with you. Failing to pack the proper gear could leave you in a world of trouble in a location you aren’t familiar with. For some useful tips on biking long distances, keep reading.

Train

Before you go off on a long-distance biking trip, you need to physically prepare yourself. If you’ve never biked long distances before, your body will probably require some extra conditioning. Go running and/or jogging around to see what your endurance and stamina levels are like. Are you getting tired after riding for 4 hours? If you are, then you should try to increase your stamina so you’ll be better prepared for a long-distance bike trip. Essentially, you want to know that your body can physically handle the long biking trip you’re about to put it through.

Map, Compass or GPS?

So, which one of these items do you need to bring on your long-distance biking trip? If you’re going somewhere you’ve never been before, I recommend taking all three of them. They don’t take up much room and it’s always better to be over-prepared than under. Just be sure they are stored in a secure area of your backpack so they won’t fall out when you stop to go through your gear.

Pack Your Gear

Depending on how far you’re traveling and where you plan on stopping, you can either pack light or heavy. For the most part, I recommend packing pretty heavy when you’re traveling long distances, as you simply don’t know what’s in store for you. You’ll likely find that your pack gets lighter as you progress through your trip anyway. For shorter distances, light packing usually works better, as you simply don’t require as much gear to get through your trip.

Check Your Bike

Before going off on any long-distance trip, you must check every component and gear on your bike. There’s nothing worse than having your bike completely break down on you in the middle of your trip. Slowly take apart and inspect the gears and chain on your bike to look for potential damage. While you’re taking it apart, oil and lubricate the chain so it will shift gears more smoothly during your trip. This will make a huge difference in the amount of effort it takes you to ride.