Bicycle tours although an old concept has lately gained currency. Bicycle Touring offers the riders the pleasure to revel in the scenic beauty of landscapes, historical or architectural marvels of any place, at any time at one's own pace! Cycling Tours can be spiritual voyage for some, self-discovery expedition for few & plain adventure for others. For the fitness freaks cycling can be a lucrative fitness option for vacationing, while for most it's a leisurely experience.
Of late bicycle tours have garnered a lot of organizational force. Being a member of such bicycle organizations can be rewarding for cycling-tour buffs. The National Bicycle Route Network of North America comes out with 9 issues of national adventure cyclist magazine annually. This magazine provides inclusive cycling-related information such as road trails, various cycling organizations, events etc. The UK National Cyclist Organization supports a charitable trust, circulates free magazines among its members & provides free technical support to them.
While cycling touring guides are available in print, online touring journals also prove to be of great help. It helps to be fully geared-up in terms of information regarding the route, kinds of bicycles best suited for those routes, availability of food& water on the way, touring options (short distance or long), medical resources in case of emergency, safety measures, support vehicles etc. Various touring options include bicycle-camping, family bicycle tours; mountain biking & cross-country rides etc.
Safety Measures while bicycle touring:
Be cautious about the traffic & drive carefully.
Travel light, wear a helmet, and carry durable things including self-protection cycling equipments. Things like water bottle, sunscreen, flashlights, radio, pocketknives and maps prove important!
It is advisable to make short trips to local areas.
For a family tour it is advisable to first take a bicycling-tour lesson.
Bicycling is time consuming and one needs to be prepared to devote time to it accordingly. Furnish yourselves exhaustively with related information regarding such tours available both online & offline!
Happy Riding!
