How to organize your first bike trip on your own

Cycling trips help to escape the noise of a dusty city, see many interesting places and test your strength. Lifehacker will tell you how a beginner can get ready for a trip and go on a cycling trip.

Plan your route and time

When organizing a bike trip on your own, you will have to start by planning the route thread. You can use ready-made routes posted on the Internet, or choose the direction of interest and determine what exactly you want to see.

You can combine both planning methods: take several ready-made routes, combine them and stretch the thread in the direction of the object of interest to you.

Gather all the necessary things

If you are going on a hike for the first time, you will most likely be surprised by how much stuff you need to buy and take with you. In fact, it’s simple: the most expensive things, provided that you already have a bike, are a tent, a sleeping bag, and equipment for making a fire. Ask your friends, acquaintances, and relatives for these things. You might get lucky.

On your trip you will need:

A mobile phone that can determine geolocation, and a charger.

A cup, spoon, fork, plate.

Sunglasses. They perfectly protect from the sun and annoying flies that are just trying to fly into your eyes at high speed.

Cloth

Personal hygiene items and a change of underwear. Pay special attention to microfiber towels – they take up minimal space, dry quickly and instantly absorb water. After the hike, they will serve you well in the gym.

Thermal underwear and warm socks. No matter how hot it is in the summer, you are not immune to rainy days and cold nights.

Comfortable clothes. Pants should be tight or regular. If you are riding in wide pants, be sure to secure the right leg with a reflector or any other tape so that it does not accidentally get caught in the chain.

Waterproof clothing.

Shoes with a hard sole and a large tread so that your foot does not slip on the pedals.

Spare shoes in case of rain.

Decent clothes if you plan to visit cultural places.

A swimsuit.

Bicycle and accessories

A helmet is a must.

A bike backpack “pants” is a special backpack for the bike rack. It is better to take it than a regular backpack.

You can also take a cape made of waterproof fabric.

Cycling shorts with a special insert are an optional item designed to protect the most expensive from chafing.

A bike computer – it is always nice to know how much you have ridden in a day.

A bike cover if you are going to travel by transport to the starting point.

Many companies require passengers to pack dirty luggage.

For example, this rule applies to transporting a bicycle on the subway, by train, by plane and on some intercity and international buses.

Personal camping gear

Sleeping bag.

Compression waterproof bag. The sleeping bag will take up a minimum of space and will definitely not get wet.

Foam.