How to Prepare for a Long Distance Bicycle Tour

Don't put off that long-distance bike tour! You can do it! To get you started, Adventure Cycling teamed up with America ByCycle to produce this fun quick overview of how to prepare for your long-distance cycling adventure. Strap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of a lifetime!

Need advice or more how-to information? Check out Adventure Cycling's forums: http://www.adventurecycling.org/forum... and its How To Department: http://www.adventurecycling.org/featu....

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  Howto & Style

[ohcytratiug]

Hi guys, I'm 16 years old, and me and a friend are planning to make a tour from Amsterdam to the south of France. This is around 1200 km, not that much, but we both have zero experience with cycling long distances. My friend is trying to convince me to buy a racing bike, but I really think it'd be better to buy a trekking bike. Can anyone with some experience give me advise/information about what is the best thing to do? I think racing bikes wouldn't be able to hold the weight of my luggage.

[AdvCyclingAssoc]

Check out our Touring Bike Buyer's Guides for some info on touring bicycles. You can find it on our website, under the Adventure Cyclist section. Good luck!

[PrideTico]

So I'm 18 old guy and trying to plan to ride a bike across Canada around June. I would like to have more info about it and planning to go alone or with one or two companions if I can. So excited!

[AdvCyclingAssoc]

Awesome! Best of luck, let us know how it goes! There's lots more info on our website.

[theeightsin]

I did my first trip when I was 19. Just take a tent, sleeping bag, clothes and cooking gear and go and don't give up untill you get there.

[AdvCyclingAssoc]

Great advice!

[John Hunt]

Step 0. Do some training. You can't expect to get very far with unprepared legs.

[Paolo Tighe]

This was a really well put together and thought out video guys, great to watch and truly inspiring!!!

[Serkan Yalın No]

you gurkan view view

[AmericaByCycle]

Michelle has a Bern helmet, and I have a Red helmet (first tour was a black Bell helmet). We chose these models because we wanted to use them for multiple things. They can be worn while caving, while climbing wind turbines, while snowboarding/skiing, and while biking!

Cheers!

[Juan David Corredor]

Hey guys, thanks for those tips. I do want to know the helmet´s brand you use, it looks great and safe!

[AmericaByCycle]

Hello Anton, thanks for the kind words! We're glad you liked the video!

One of these days we're going to come to Holland and live the dream of cycling where bikes are #1! Until then, we'll just live vicariously through the other incredible photos and videos that people post! ;)

[Anton Prins]

I really like your joy about cycling, Michelle & Rian!

You have so many roads to cycle in this big country of yours.

I just finished a week of cycling and camping in holland. I visited small eco-campings and tested my wow new travelbike (Santos). Come to Holland and cycle away. It's a mekka for cyclists.

[ohcytratiug]

Well that's some really useful information!

[Reg Doyle]

Very good info. We have done some cycling in Quebec on the "Green Route". Great bike paths

[ohcytratiug]

And btw, thank you for the video, I'm sure it will help me to prepare for my adventure! :)