Why Go Riding Abroad?

Deciding to go on a cycling tour is really not that hard of a decision. If you regularly ride road bikes or have caught a stage of a grand tour on tv, it’s impossible to resist the urge to want to ride like the pros. It’s a must do for any keen cyclist, this won’t be a holiday, it will be all about the cycling. Riding a tour will give you that pure experience.

 

A break from reality enabling dreams of climbing like Froome, descending like Pantani, or even putting on a show like Alaphillippe. Or flip the coin and take the chance to drink in the views and culture, to indulge your inquisitive side.

 

Then there’s the memories. You can get your tech on and record every moment, or you could simply just experience them the old fashioned way. If getting those shots is your thing you’ll soon make your friends green with envy updating your insta with those angles that just sing. Record those climbs, set PRs, and put those vertical feet in the bank.

 

So many reasons eh?! And there’s so much more. Having ridden a few I’m vouching from personal experience, but won’t go too far as I don’t want to rob you of any enjoyment. There are, though, a few things where prior knowledge will really benefit your time on the bike. One thing that is important to know is that the tours are fully supported, you don’t need to carry anything other than essentials. This is all about the cycling experience, you ride as freely as possible.

 

Here’s the areas that you might want to look into before you head off.

 

Tour duration

 

First thing to consider is the duration of the tour you are embarking on, your choices for most other areas can hinge on this.

• Day tour – For this you would just need your ride clothes for the day, any tech you need to record your efforts, and your on bike hydration and fuelling.
• Weekend tour – More days, more gear. And more opportunity for changes in the weather. Make sure you research the weather and pack accordingly.
• Week tour – From a couple of days to a week the dynamic can change dramatically. Obviously the requirement for kit goes up, this includes the option to take your own bike, and the need to wash clothing on and off overnight. Unless you are a complete animal then you’ll probably need to factor in some easier effort days. (Tour providers normally have your input to plan these at the beginning of the week, then review on a daily basis depending on how shredded your legs are!). You will need a greater supply of mid ride fuel, and maybe some additional recovery kit. For the time off the bike you will want suitable clothing for exploring the locality and for eating out – there’s something about that recovery beer that really works! There’s nothing like winding down with your fellow teammates going over the day’s activities, then building hype for the next.