Everything But Your Bike | The Essentials To Pack For Your Next Cycling Holiday

When heading off for a cycling holiday, the items to pack at the top of most people’s lists would be their bikes. However, it’s worth noting that for many bike-based vacations they supply you with a cycle. Of course, that is great news because it means there is much more room in your luggage for all the essentials you will need. The most important of which you can read about, below. 

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Safety gear 

First of all, safety is a must when riding, vacation or not, and that means you will need a cycling helmet. Your tour operator may have these included in the price or to hire once you arrive, but there are some very good reasons to make space in your suitcase and pack your own. The first is that taking your own personal helmet means you know its history, something that is vital as even minor accidents can compromise the integrity and safety of a helmet. 

Secondly, with your own helmet, you can guarantee that you will be far more comfortable, especially when you are spending most of your days riding. Indeed, it is for these reasons that taking your own helmet on a cycling vacation is recommended. 

Additional safety items that you will need for your cycling holiday include a good pair of sunglasses. After all, it’s very likely that you will be heading to a location where the weather is sunnier and clearer than at home. However, riding in bright sunlight isn’t only terrible for your eyes, but can lead to crow’s feet from squirting too. 

With that in mind, choosing a pair of high-performance wrap-around shades can be very useful. Making sure they are attached to a string around your neck is a smart idea too, as then you can remove them fairly easily without having to make a long stop as you are riding. 

Lastly, when it comes to safety items, packing a small first aid kit to take out with you on rides is a must as well. Of course, the hope is that you will never have to use it, but having it there may just make the difference between some quick on-site first aid, carrying on with your ride, and having to go back to base for some treatment. 

The right clothes 

Once you have your safety essentials packed you can move on to the largest category of items – clothing for your rides. Indeed, having functional, comfortable, and stylish clothing items for your break will enhance your experience. 

That is why many people combine specialist cycle wear with workout clothes to create the perfect outfit for their rides. For example, specialist cycling tops that are fitted to the body are a great idea because they won’t catch the wind and slow you down, or make your ride unstable. 

Similarly, if you are going to be spending all day in the saddle packing a few pairs of padded shorts designed for riders is a must for preventing or at least limiting saddle sores! However, when it comes to what to wear over the top of these, leggings or shorts from workout collections will work fine. Just be sure to choose the length depending on the amount of coverage and how hot you expect the weather to be at your destination. 

Another item that you will definitely want to pack on your cycle tour is a waterproof jacket to protect you and keep you dry in case of any showers. 

Shoes can be something of an issue on a cycling holiday too as you will want something comfortable enough to bike long distances in, but also suitable for walking around the villages and towns you stop at along the way. Usually, trainers bridge this gap quite well. 

Digital or paper journal 

Finally, when heading off a cycling holiday, you will also want to pack a way to document your experience. Usually, this takes the form of either a paper journal or digital device on which to journal. 

Of course, there are distinct advantages to each. With a paper journal you get to write about and draw the destinations you visit. You can also use it as a type of smash book to keep small ephemera and souvenirs from your trip, like tickets, napkins, and the like. 

However, because most cyclists are looking to keep the weight of what they are carrying down, a digital device on which you journal your experience may be a better option. Indeed, with a mobile device such as a phone or tablet, you can use an app to document your experiences as well as take pictures and videos on the camera that’s built-in. You can even use some devices that come with a stylus like the iPad pro to create illustrations of your trip too. Just don’t forget to take an extra power bank and your charger so you don’t run out of juice.