If you’re planning a long bike tour, then you’ve probably already figured out how to prepare for it. There are definitely some steps that you’ll need to take, some training equipment that you’ll need to buy or rent, some food and drinks to bring with you, etc. All these are important, but how much time do you realistically have to devote to preparing for a long bike ride? In this article, I’ll talk about how I prepared for my cycle tour (and advise others who might be thinking about starting one soon), and what I learned along the way.
A long bike ride requires a whole new set of skills, quite a bit of planning, and a generous amount of dedication to the sport itself. But it’s very rewarding, both for the physical and psychological benefits you get from it, and also in the sense of pride and accomplishment you feel crossing the finish line. If you’ve never ridden a long bike trip before, you’ll find that it’s definitely more of a lifestyle change than a simple road trip; there’s a certain element of excitement and, I’m sure you’ll agree, somewhat of a challenge to keep you on your toes!
If you’re really dedicated to getting fit and staying in shape, then I’d recommend taking a good look at some of the training programs and ebooks available for long bike rides. These can help you get started off right, by giving you some basic knowledge and pointers on what to do and where to begin. You’ll find some useful tips about temperature cycling and other useful training equipment, as well as some information about nutrition and hydration. You’ll find also valuable tips about safety and protection gear, including helmets and pads.
If you don’t have time to dedicate to a long bike trip yourself, or aren’t too keen on starting off so far from home, then you might consider hiring a tour operator to make things happen for you. There are plenty of companies offering this type of service, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one in your area. They can even outfit your group for the whole trip and even help with transport between destinations if needed. In addition to all of that, you’ll get a professional group of people who will help make your experience a fun and inspiring one.
You’ll also find plenty of literature on the internet. A quick search should reveal plenty of options, so take your time to read up on all the various methods available to you, including some great tips for getting started. There are lots of ways to get fit and stay fit, so why not consider setting up your own road trip? How about taking a cross-country tour along the US coast, or taking part in a longer tour in Europe? These are just some ideas, but there are plenty more you’ll find as you research.
Of course, one of the best methods of how to prepare for a long bike trip is to actually go out there and do it. You need to get out there and enjoy the experience, and remember to bring the right equipment. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to ensure your safety as well as the safety of those with you. If something does go wrong, try not to second guess your own ability – after all, no one’s perfect. Be safe, stay fit, and have a great time!
A Wide Bicycle Seat is Good For Your Sit Bones
If you bike regularly or own a wide wheeled bicycle, you’ve probably invested in at least one special wide bicycle seat. Unfortunately, wide wheel bicycles are heavy and can be hard to shift, especially if you have bad legs. Also, wide wheel bikes usually have no handles so getting up and down is much more of a chore than it needs to be. One thing you do need to invest in though if you own a wide wheeled bicycle is a wide bicycle seat. Not only will a wide bicycle seat make shifting easier, it will also improve your posture and relieve some neck and back problems.
The best wide bicycle seat cover should provide softer, more cushioned padding to improve your riding experience. While road racers often find foam padded seat covers more beneficial, gel cushioning is also very soft for comfort bikers. It also has the added bonus of being breathable so that you stay nice and cool during hot days. No mounting necessary. You needn’t stress yourself to install it either.
There are two main types of wide bicycle seat covers; a full body unit and a dual-spring unit. A full body unit provides padding and a waterproof seal on all of the areas of your bike that can be prone to wetness and staining. The dual-spring unit keeps your comfort in mind and features two individually adjustable inner springs in case you need both comfort and support.
You can purchase a wide bicycle seat as part of a packaged deal with your bike, or you can choose to buy it separately and assemble it yourself. Some of the optional accessories you may want to buy include a chest bra, saddle bag, and leather tool kit. If you decide to assemble your own bike saddle bags, make sure that they are made of tough, rugged material such as leather because you’ll be taking them around with you every time you ride. You will definitely want to invest in strong saddle bags that will last you a long time.
If you choose to buy a padded seat then make sure you get a high quality saddle with padding. The padding should be deep enough to protect your shins and have plenty of cushion between your thighs and the saddle itself. Padding is not only comfortable; it’s also great for protecting yourself from scratches and other injuries that occur while riding. If you already have padding on other parts of your bike, such as your handlebars, why not put some of that padding on your saddle as well?
You can find a wide saddle bike seat at any bike specialty store, department store, or from online retailers who carry bicycle equipment. Most of them are quite affordable so you really can’t go wrong if you choose to buy one. As long as you make sure that it’s comfortable and you have plenty of padding for your sit bones, then you’ll have plenty of reasons to ride again.
