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1 |
Tune your
bike before every trip. |
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2 |
Give
yourself a tune-up before a trip, too. Use day rides to condition yourself
and dry-run your gear. Get used to riding with full panniers, too. A
loaded-up bike handles differently than an unloaded one. |
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3 |
Take a
bicycle repair course. They’re not complicated machines, but you’ll need a
good working knowledge of how everything fits together to make repairs
along the side of the road. |
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4 |
Don’t know
another cyclist, and don’t want to go alone? Check with tour companies
that advertise in the back of bicycling magazines. They often run trips
with ”solo” riders, and you’ll have a great time with new like-minded
friends. |
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5 |
Cycle
touring can be gear-intensive. On your first trip, consider traveling with
a tour company on a vehicle-supported ride. The van will haul your in-camp
gear, leaving you with only snacks, water, and extra clothing layers to
carry. |
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6 |
Invest in
cycling shoes and clipless pedals instead of toe clips and tennis shoes.
The molded sole of the cycling shoe is designed to deliver a stronger,
more efficient stroke. |
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7 |
Store your
gear in pannier packs – saddlebag-style packs that ride on either side of
the wheels. They’ll keep your center of gravity low, which keeps you in
control. |
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8 |
A good pair
of cycling gloves does more than give you good grip; they protect the
nerves in your hands. Without them, you’ll feel your hands grow numb after
a few hours of vibration from riding. Extended exposure can cause
permanent damage. |
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9 |
Consider
wearing light-colored, lightweight Lycra layers on top and on the bottom
on really sunny days. The synthetic material will keep you cool, and the
cloth will protect you from the sun. |
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10 |
Drink plenty
of water – enough that your urine is clear and you need to go frequently.
Otherwise, you risk dehydration. |
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11 |
Don’t wear a
backpack, even on day trips. It will throw off your balance and make you
unsteady. Instead, strap the pack to a luggage rack behind the seat. |
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12 |
Treat all
”naturally occurring” water – that is, the stuff you take out of a body of
water. Boil it, treat it with chemicals, such as iodine, or pump in
through a filter/purifier. |
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13 |
Line your
panniers with heavy-duty garbage bags, and stuff your gear inside the bag.
Gather and roll the top of the bag closed to completely waterproof your
things. |
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14 |
Pack the
heaviest, bulkiest items – your stove, cookwear, tent, and sleeping bag,
for example - in the bottom of the back panniers. Store frequently
accessed items in the side pockets. |
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15 |
When you
load, make sure you weight each side of the bike evenly – you’ll have a
wobbly, unsafe ride if you don’t. |
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16 |
Carry your
fuel bottle in one of the water bottle cages on the frame of the bike. |
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17 |
International bicycle travel is booming. Remember to pack extra parts,
extra tubes, a passport, and extra passport photos for visas. You’ll also
need a carrying case to prevent damage to the bike while traveling. |