How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Biking Trip by Allen Cherer

How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Biking Trip

Preparingforadayofcyclingoraquickafternoonrideisvastlydifferentfrom planningalongtrip.Yourmindandbodymustbereadyforthestressandexertionofa time-consumingathleticgoal.Preparebygettingyourbodyandmindinshape.

Get Healthy

Cyclingtourscanbephysicallydemanding,soyouneedtobeprepared.Beginby evaluatingyourfitnesslevelonabike.Someindividualshaveneverriddenabicycle. Othershavecompletedthousandsofkilometersofcyclingexperience.Ifyouarean

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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.

Originallypublishedathttps://drallencherer.orgonJanuary27,2023. About Help Terms Privacy Get the Medium app Cycling Hiking Dr Allen Cherer