Bicycle touring (also referred to as cyclotouring) can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of cycling. There is nothing quite like getting on your bike and simply heading out for a few days. Not only will this heighten your sense of adventure and independence, it opens up a range of new possibilities for vacations and weekend-get-aways. Before going into more detail, it is worth noting that there are basically three types of bicycle touring which can be summarized as follows:
As a result, this article is aimed at people who want to learn more about lightweight touring. It also assumes that you have done a fair amount of local riding, are sufficiently fit, and are capable of cycling reasonably long distances. If this isn't the case, you may want to check out "Getting Started - a Primer for Born-Again Cyclists". Planning your first tour It's a good idea to invest a little extra time in planning and organizing your first few bicycle tours. Unless you are used to cycling really long distances, covering 40 to 60 kilometres a day would seem to be a good proposition for the first few rides. If you do feel up to pedaling a little further, schedule a long mid-day rest period during which you can enjoy a leisurely lunch. As a destination, you'll probably want to pick an interesting town that offers a range of tourist facilities. Avoid getting stuck in a cheap motel in the middle of nowhere. You may want to give some thought to your departure and arrival times. If it is going to be a hot sunny day, consider leaving early in the morning when temperatures will be slightly cooler. Even when leaving later, many cyclists like to get to their destination early enough in the afternoon to take a shower, wash their bicycle clothes, and relax a bit before supper. It is also very nice to have time to savour a glass of wine or a cold beer on an outdoor terrace that happens to overlook a local body of water. It's one of the great ways to celebrate a beautiful summer afternoon after completing a day's ride. Deciding on a good route (route planning) In a perfect world, it would always be possible to map a route out to a destination that would run exclusively on bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, paved shoulders, or quiet country roads. In reality, this is not always possible, and there will be times when your plans may have to include riding short distances on a fairly busy roads that have no bicycle lanes or paved shoulders. The challenge is to keep this to a minimum, and to avoid unexpected situations where you get caught having to ride a long stretch with heavy traffic and no paved shoulder. Needless to say, you'll also want to stay away from gravel roads. So how can you be sure that you are picking the right roads when planning your route? There is no foolproof answer to this question, and it's a matter of doing some research. Web sites like this one and others (see the links below) can give a heads-up on what to expect with certain routes. Be careful when reading people's recommendations. Experienced cyclists who have done a lot of touring on busy roads often suggest routes that may not be suitable for someone used to riding on bicycle trails and lanes. You should also get in the habit of asking around about what might be a good route and destination for bicycle touring. Strike up a conversation at places where cyclists tend to congregate such as rest areas, water fountains, lookouts, snack bars, and so on. Most cyclists are very eager to share their discoveries about good cycling routes. Plan with Google's "street view" The "street view" feature on Goggle Maps can be very handy for planning a tour. Drag the little human symbol that sits at the top of the zoom toolbar onto a road on the map, and you'll get an instant view of what things look like at that spot. You'll be able to scroll around the image to change your perspective, and this makes it easy to see if the road has a bicycle lane or paved shoulder. You should do this at several points on your proposed route to confirm that the bike lane or paved shoulder runs the entire length of the road you are looking at. The only problem with Google's street view feature is that outside of cities and larger towns, it is sometimes available only for major roads and highways (the very ones you want to avoid). In Ontario, the "Waterfront Trail" runs along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, and is supposed to allow cyclists to ride all the way from the Quebec/Ontario border to the Niagara Peninsula on bike paths & lanes, paved shoulders, and quiet residential streets. Although it has gotten off to an impressive start, the "Waterfront Trail" is still a work-in-progress. There are many areas where you'll have to ride on busy roads without the benefit of a bike lane or paved shoulder. (Note that this 900 km trail is being improved every year.) Bikes and equipment for touring Unless you are doing fully-loaded touring, or planning to ride super long distances, most types of bicycles suitable for road use can be used for touring. This includes everything from hybrids to purebred road bikes which are often associated with racing. If you want to get picky, your best choice will be a dedicated touring bike, but performance hybrids and racing-type road bikes built with a relaxed geometry are almost as good for lightweight touring. For more details about the different of types of bikes, see "Choosing the right bike for you".
Pannier bags are what you'll need to carry your clothes and other supplies. They are sold as a pair and the bags clip on both side of the rear rack. They are available in a wide range of prices and a variety sizes. For occasional lightweight touring, you'll do fine with medium quality bags. If you are going to be using both panniers exclusively for yourself, look for smallish bags. A couple sharing the use of one pair of panniers should be okay with small to medium size bags with total capacity of about 20 to 25 litres (total volume for the pair). Whatever the case, resist the temptation to buy overly large pannier bags. With large bags, you'll find that your list of so-called essential items will needlessly expand to fill the extra volume available. Tires that are 32mm wide are well suited for touring because they offer reasonably good performance over a variety of surfaces, and are wide enough to dampen out road buzz. 28mm tires are almost as good. Although it is very common to find people touring on narrower tires (23mm & 25mm widths), these will be a touch less comfortable when riding on pavement with a haggard surface, or hard-packed crushed stone trails that might be little more coarse than usual. Tires wider than 32 mm generate rolling resistance that might become noticeable on longer rides. Remember that good quality tires that are puncture resistant can significantly reduce your potential for getting a flat. There is one essential for bicycle touring that is not a tangible piece of equipment. It is good "bike-fit". Handlebars, seat height, and other adjustments have to be right, or you could end up with a sore back or knees after a long ride. Likewise, you'll want to protect yourself from chafing or getting a sore posterior with a good quality bicycle seat (a saddle) that is neither too soft or too hard. Make sure that bike-fit adjustments and equipment requirements are worked out well before the departure date. Never try any new seats, pedals, shoes, or bike adjustments just before leaving, or you could end up with an unpleasant surprise in the middle of your trip. Packing for lightweight bicycle touring The best way to pack for bicycle touring it to concentrate on being an absolute minimalist. For example, you may want to repackage your toiletries into smaller containers. When deciding what to bring, remember that you should keep your cycling clothes fresh by washing them everyday at the end of your ride. This really cuts down on what you have to pack. You will also need some street clothes that you'll change into after you have taken a shower at the end of a day's ride. You may want to bring pants with zip-off legs which can double for both shorts and long pants. Throw in one or two shirts, some socks and underwear, along with a bathing suit, and you're almost packed. If your street clothes are made of synthetic material, they too will be easy to wash and dry (although you will not have to wash them nearly as often as your cycling clothes). Extra footwear will be an indispensable item if you are riding with super rigid cycling shoes that are difficult to walk in. Even if you are riding with regular sports shoes which can be used for walking, your feet will still appreciate getting into fresh footwear after a hot day of pedaling. A pair of lightweight sandals would do the trick, as would amphibious (water) shoes. These look like stylish running shoes, but they are light and easy to collapse for packing. Washing your clothes It's worth emphasizing that the minimalist approach for packing for lightweight touring is dependent on your getting into the habit of washing your clothes everyday. This is especially important with cycling shorts that have an extra layer of padding called a chamois, because they are designed to be worn without underwear (the seams in underwear can cause irritation and chafing). Simply add a bit liquid laundry soap (shampoo if you have nothing else) to a sink full of water, and agitate your clothes in it for a minute or two. Repeat this process with clear water to rinse your clothes. Wring them out, hang to dry, and you're done. Sportswear made of synthetic material dries remarkably fast, so everything should be ready for the next morning. You can also speed up the process by laying out the damp clothes on a towel, rolling them up together, and then applying your weight on the roll by walking on it with your bare feet. The towel will absorb a great deal of moisture from the clothes, and they will probably be completely dry in a couple of hours. Other essentials Needless to say, bring the usual items that you would normally carry when going out for local rides. This includes a portable air pump, a patch repair kit, tire levers, an extra tube, and a small bicycle multi-tool which incorporates folding hex keys and a screw driver. Many cyclists often bring a few extras when touring, including a chain tool, a chain replacement link, a spoke wrench, a few zip ties, some spare braze-on bolts, a small container of chain lubricant and a rag (the last two items in resealable zip lock sandwich bags). The list of essential items doesn't stop here. Don't forget a to bring a good U-lock, and make sure your bike is equipped with a minimum of two water bottle cages (with bottles). Even if you plan to do your riding during daylight hours, pack LED lights in case you get caught out after dark. You also need plenty of sunscreen and a small first aid kit. You should never go touring without carrying a good supply of granola bars or other high carbohydrate snacks to replenish your energy levels. In addition to the liquid laundry soap (not detergent), bring a nylon cord that can be rigged as a clothesline for drying clothes in your room. Plastic bags in various sizes (including small zip-lock ones) are always handy to organize your packing and help keep things dry. Electronics In terms of electronics, most people will want to bring a compact digital camera and cell phone, along with the necessary battery chargers. The same can't be said for most GPS units. The ones made to be mounted on bicycles tend to be designed as training and fitness tools. One electronic item that seems to be custom-made for bicycle touring are so-called smartphones. These are really small palm size computers that can run a multitude of apps, and can be used for email and to surf the web. This last function is especially useful because it allows cyclists to check weather forecasts, online maps, bike touring web sites, and information about what hotels, B&Bs, and other facilities might be available in particular area. If smartphones and their expensive data plans are not to your liking, consider something like the Ipod Touch. It connects to Internet via local Wi-Fi networks, and this is often free at hotels, B&Bs, and coffee shops. (Note - you'll need a small USB power adapter to charge some of these devices.) Cycling in the rain You'll obviously want to schedule your bicycle touring for a period when the forecast calls for nice weather, but there will be times when you will have to ride in the rain. If it's warm enough, you can accept to get wet, and simply continue cycling in your regular cycling clothes. In very hot weather, you may find that cycling in light rain provides a nice break from all the heat. Otherwise, you'll have to wear some sort of waterproof jacket. Inexpensive ones that are not breathable often have large vent across the back and openings under the arms. More expensive models will be made of breathable waterproof material (such as Gore-Tex). In reality you are probably going to sweat in both types of jackets (most of these breathable jackets don't allow water vapour to escape fast enough when cycling). You may arrive at your destination wet from the rain (or sweat), but everything will soon be okay once you take a shower and get into some dry clothes. This means that keeping the contents of the panniers dry becomes all important when it is raining. If your panniers do not come with a rain cover, you will have to use plastic bags to keep everything dry. Bicycle fenders is another rain related item that is popular with some cyclists. Plastic fenders are inexpensive and lightweight, but they do affect a bike's performance by adding to its wind resistance. Fenders will keep your tires from spraying dirty road water onto you, your bike, and its components. They will also help keep you dry if, after having waited for the rain to stop, you go cycling on wet roads. Affordable Accommodations Finding a suitable place to stay is an important aspect of lightweight bicycle touring. Fancy B&Bs, country inns, and major hotels that are located in the middle of popular tourist spots will be the most expensive. Standard B&Bs and motels that are slightly removed from high-demand areas will be more affordable. If you really want to keep costs low, consider using the network of hostel which exist across Canada. When checking for overnight accommodations, be sure to ask where you can leave your bicycle securely locked up. Many establishments that operate in areas where biking is popular will be able to offer some sort of acceptable arrangement, and this even applies to some of the larger hotels. When staying at a motel it's relatively easy to bring bike into your room (with or without permission), but be careful not dirty anything with the oily chain. In the Province of Quebec, hotels, inns, and B&Bs displaying the official "Bienvenue cyclistes!" sign are obliged to provide enclosed location where you can safely store your bike for the night. Epilogue As you can see from reading this article, there is not much standing in the way of the average cyclist from making the jump from going out for local rides to doing some lightweight touring. Pack up your panniers, reserve a room at a B&B in a nearby destination, and start off with a weekend get away. From here, it shouldn't take long before you are seeking out new adventures with multi-day tours. What are you waiting for? Michael McGoldrick, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March, 2010
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