The other day I was contacted by a magazine editor who was seeking some good tips for a beginner bike tourer embarking on an adventure to a foreign country.
I thought I’d share the first things that came to mind…
1. Book a hotel/accommodation (and even transfers) from your home for the first night or two.
It takes me a day or two to get ready before starting my tour, so I find it important that I make sure the transition from my home country to my destination is as easy as possible.
2. Take small gifts.
People will often go well out of their way to accommodate you in many ways, and having 5-cent coins, stickers, local paraphernalia, and lollies will show your appreciation (money is usually not accepted).
3. Bring pictures of people/things from your home.
People are often really interested in your personal life. Having pictures of your family, house, pets, work, and other travel pics is perfect for people who are getting to know you, and a great way to spur more conversation. Just make sure to keep your slideshow short, 20 pictures are usually enough.
4. Do your homework on the weather and pack clothing accordingly.
I’ve been to places like New Zealand in the height of summer, with summer clothes – only to get snowed on. I wished I knew there was the possibility of snow beforehand…
5. Pack everything you think you’ll need, and take out 10% of it.
There will be lots of things you don’t actually need when you think about it, so think twice about what you’re taking.
6. Make sure you have some lights with you, even if you don’t plan to ride at night.
My experience is that you will unintentionally get caught riding at night at least one day of your trip.
7. Research the possibility of riding as many back roads as you can.
Google maps will help you out to an extent, but do not treat these maps like any source of truth. Sometimes roads that are on Google maps are not found in the real world. Avoid riding on highways when possible – it’s fast but just not particularly nice.
What are the best tips you can give a beginner bike tourer?
RELAX 🙂
Agree 100%. I find this is the most important tip no matter what sort of travelling you are doing. You have to accept that things can and will go wrong at some stage to a various degree. Having a relaxed and positive attitude is important with dealing with bad situations. Always have a backup plan.
Less is more… I’d actually say take out more than 10% of the stuff you think you’ll need. Anything that is ‘just in case’, apart from safety related stuff like 1st aid, lights etc, probably should get left behind. I’ve got two riding tops with me but only ever wear one before I wash it. I’ve also got three off the bike tops but only ever use two (layered), so straight away I could save weight and space. Be ruthless! You won’t regret it – less to pack up each day, less bulk, less weight to carry up those hills.
Totally agree about taking lights though. I was going to take the smallest of backup lights but ended up investing in a dynamo set, so I knew I always had them. Needed them (a lot) on my first night, before even leaving the country, after the train to the ferry terminal got diverted!!
Great advice there, Chris!
For me, the #1 tip is the benefits of instant (quick) oatmeal on a bike tour. Easy to cook (or even can be eaten raw), can be flavored in 100s of ways, healthy, provides slow energy with low glycemic index, no refrigeration needed, inexpensive, environmentally friendly (low CO2 emissions), & little if any cleanup needed. From my readings, it’s the most popular touring food.
Oats are so good that I once wrote all about how I eat them! https://www.cyclingabout.com/porridge-breakfast-a-cyclists-best-start-to-the-day/