How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Biking Trip
Preparingforadayofcyclingoraquickafternoonrideisvastlydifferentfrom planningalongtrip.Yourmindandbodymustbereadyforthestressandexertionofa time-consumingathleticgoal.Preparebygettingyourbodyandmindinshape.
Get Healthy
Cyclingtourscanbephysicallydemanding,soyouneedtobeprepared.Beginby evaluatingyourfitnesslevelonabike.Someindividualshaveneverriddenabicycle. Othershavecompletedthousandsofkilometersofcyclingexperience.Ifyouarean
experiencedriderinexcellentphysicalcondition,skipthisstep.However,ifyouare newtocyclingorknowyourphysicalconditionmightneedimprovement,startwitha trialrun.
Itwouldbebesttovisitadoctorbeforestartingabikejourneyoratrainingprogram. Afterreceivingpermissiontobegin,getonyourbikeandride.Useyourbikeasmuch aspossibletogetinshapeandfeelateasewhileriding.Long-distancebiketouring preparationincludeseatingwellandpossiblevisitstothegymtoenhanceaerobic stamina.However,thebestpreparationislengthybikerides.Youshouldbeabletoride atleast20to30mileswithoutexperiencinganysignificantpain.
Get Strong
Itisverydifferenttorideabicyclewithnoweightthanonecarrying30–60poundsof extragear,particularlyifyouwanttousefrontpanniers,whichsignificantlyimpact yourbikehandles.Startaddingweighttoyourbikeonceyoufeelconfidentridingit. Upgradeyourbicyclewithafewbackpacks,orstarttowingatrailer.Rideyourbike withmoreweightasyourdeparturedateapproaches.Whileremainingclosetohome, keepridingwithaweightedbiketoincreaseconfidence.
Know Your Gear
Beforeembarkingonajourney,packandunpackyourbicyclegearmultipletimes.You willlearnwhatitemsareessentialafterloadingandunloadingenough.Additionally,it willgiveyouexperiencespreadingtheweightofyourgearequallyacrosstheframe andputtingvaluablesinthesamelocation.
Prepare by Pretending
Startactinglikeyouarealreadyonyourbikejourneyasyourtourdrawsnearer. Completelypackupyourbicycleandbeginlivingonlyonit.Wearthesameclothing you’llbetravelingin,startsleepinginyoursleepingbag,takeshowerswiththesame toiletrypack,andgoondailybikerides,evenifit’sjusttoandfromwork.You’llgeta feelforwhatit’sliketobeontour.Trytosleepoutdoorsforafewnightsbeforeyour trip.Youwillfeelmuchmoreateaseifyoucangetacclimatedtothecamping proceduresbeforeyougo.