How To Plan A Cycle Tour or Bikepacking Trip

Need advice on planning a cycle tour or bikepacking trip?

Okay. Here goes:

  1. Pick a date. Start saving money.
  2. Get a bike, tent, sleeping bag, etc.
  3. Choose a direction and start pedalling.

That’s all there is to it. Details such as duration, location and budget may vary, but you’ll always need a starting line, some basic gear, and a route to follow.

I really mean this. Have another look at the picture above. My friend Maria was backpacking in Budapest when she decided to continue on two wheels. Within 24 hours, she’d bought a bike for €10 from a local scrapyard, strapped a backpack to it, and spent the next two months cycling through Eastern Europe to Istanbul. Her life-changing bicycle adventure required less than a day of planning and no specialist equipment whatsoever.

Need more reassurance? Think your trip’s going to be different? Right. Let’s see…

Cycle Touring 101

Detailed Bike Trip Planning Guides

The Basics

Before You Go: Your Concerns Addressed

On The Road: Survival Guides

Lifestyle Design for Ambitious Adventurers

Bikes & Gear

(A quick word. You don’t need any of this stuff. What you really need is the modern world’s most scarce resource: time. After that, a bicycle and a willingness to see where the road takes you are the only other necessities.)

Choosing A Touring Bike

FAQs About Touring Bikes

Equipment Choice For Cycle Touring & Bikepacking

In-Depth Gear Reviews

Getting Cycle Touring Gear On A Shoestring

Surviving Deep Winter On A Bike

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