“Tips for biking tours”

Physical and Other Preparations for Bicycle Tours

If you like biking, then now may be the right time for you to get involved in real sports yourself. With numerous ball-sports like football, basketball, volleyball, and many more, one of the sports you can get into is biking. This is considered a healthy sport that can strengthen your heart and muscles.

Preparing for a multi-day biking tour is not a joke. You need to be physically fit and mentally ready to make sure that you will finish the tour. Before you embark on your journey, there are a few things that you need to do to complete your cycling tour preparations:

Gear Up for Physical Consequences

Just like with other sports that you may have chosen, preparation is key. You may want to start biking for at least an hour everyday before the big tour.

Then, look for the following signs:

Shortness of breath – This may mean you are not in good shape. In some cases, this can mean that you have asthma or other related condition. You may want to consult your doctor before you proceed with the tour.

Pain, numbness, or tingling of your fingers or wrists – Move your hands while riding. You can get aero bars so that your handlebars will not restrict you to one position. You may also want to use padded gloves and avoid bending your wrists as you maneuver your bike.

Chafing on your bike seat – Wear biking pants or shorts. Make sure you inspect your bike seat as well. Many novice bikers think that if they buy bigger seats, they can avoid chafing. The truth is this will only make things worse. Instead, look for a seat that helps minimize skin abrasion.

Aside from the aforementioned possibilities, you should be prepared with your sunglasses, sunscreen, and helmet, which should have a visor. Also, you should not forget water or an electrolyte sports drink if you sweat too much.

To be well-prepared, you need to tune up your bike. If you intend to take your bike to a shop, make sure that you tell the person who will do the service about your bike tour. This way, he can make suggestions on how your tour can be a successful one.

Essential Things to Have

In order for the biking tour to have great results, you should have the most suitable bicycle for the job. Depending on your route though, you probably need a new bike. There are many destinations in Philippines where you can go on a bike tour. Whichever route you choose, the important thing is that you have a reliable bike that will help you get to the end of the journey. As mentioned, you will need a helmet. Any Snell or ANSI approved helmet will do and should not be too expensive.

You also need a bag that will allow you to carry your stuff. Normally, backups are not recommended, but they are acceptable. You should not bring anything fancy or huge as this will only make your ride more difficult. You may want to ride your bike to work to find out what kind of bag is most appropriate for your situation. You can always try a seat bag or a decent pannier.

Contingency clothing is a must as well. Put a raincoat or a jacket into your bag. You should not forget to bring some tools such as a spare tube, pump, and tire levers. Make sure that you know how to use them. Do not rely on shops that you may happen to pass by while on the road. If needed, you may want to bring a lock in case you want to park your bike.

Although bike tours require physical and mental preparation like other ball-sports they are definitely fun and exciting activities that you can engage in.