Preparing for a day of cycling or a quick afternoon ride is vastly different from planning a long trip. Your mind and body must be ready for the stress and exertion of a time-consuming athletic goal. Prepare by getting your body and mind in shape.
Get Healthy
Cycling tours can be physically demanding, so you need to be prepared. Begin by evaluating your fitness level on a bike. Some individuals have never ridden a bicycle. Others have completed thousands of kilometers of cycling experience. If you are an experienced rider in excellent physical condition, skip this step. However, if you are new to cycling or know your physical condition might need improvement, start with a trial run.
It would be best to visit a doctor before starting a bike journey or a training program. After receiving permission to begin, get on your bike and ride. Use your bike as much as possible to get in shape and feel at ease while riding. Long-distance bike touring preparation includes eating well and possible visits to the gym to enhance aerobic stamina. However, the best preparation is lengthy bike rides. You should be able to ride at least 20 to 30 miles without experiencing any significant pain.
Get Strong
It is very different to ride a bicycle with no weight than one carrying 30–60 pounds of extra gear, particularly if you want to use front panniers, which significantly impact your bike handles. Start adding weight to your bike once you feel confident riding it. Upgrade your bicycle with a few backpacks, or start towing a trailer. Ride your bike with more weight as your departure date approaches. While remaining close to home, keep riding with a weighted bike to increase confidence.
Know Your Gear
Before embarking on a journey, pack and unpack your bicycle gear multiple times. You will learn what items are essential after loading and unloading enough. Additionally, it will give you experience spreading the weight of your gear equally across the frame and putting valuables in the same location.
Prepare by Pretending
Start acting like you are already on your bike journey as your tour draws nearer. Completely pack up your bicycle and begin living only on it. Wear the same clothing you’ll be traveling in, start sleeping in your sleeping bag, take showers with the same toiletry pack, and go on daily bike rides, even if it’s just to and from work. You’ll get a feel for what it’s like to be on tour. Try to sleep outdoors for a few nights before your trip. You will feel much more at ease if you can get acclimated to the camping procedures before you go.