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Most cyclist before start their travel should learn:
- What bicycle use
- How to choose the right clothing
- The tips for good riding
More and more people have discovered the bicycle as a mean of transport ideal for their vacations. Who has tried it (with no doubts) thinks that a vacation with a bicycle is like returning children and play for an entire day in the open-air.
How do it? Here are the essentials good to know.
credit: amcd
Surely the best bicycle to chose is the one called “Hybrid” or “All Terrain”. A bike that combine its characteristics from the simple road bike and the MTB.
The hybrid bike is the queen of cycle tourism. The handlebar can be flat as the mountain bike, but preferably with extensions that allow you to change the position of hands.
The accessories for the bike
- Useful, often indispensable: Front and rear lamps
- Cycle-computer for partial and total distance, speed and instantaneous clock
- Mudguards: those in plastic without the need for pins or screws
- Extension handlebar to change hands position on the handlebars
- Porter with fixed grants. The best are in aluminum. For long trips, as well as the rear, before the fork mount those type “low rider”. The frame should be prepared with loops and holes.
- Bags: two rear and one on the handlebar for personal effects. Two front and low for long journeys. The objects heavier go placed on the bottom. Better waterproof, otherwise get plastic envelopes.
- Combined shoes and pedals, which provides a pedal round that optimizes performances
- To be ready for emergency repairs. It is essential the first aid bag with: kit for drilling (patches, glue, sandpaper), an inner tube, levers to pull the little tires, pump, English keys by 8, 10 and 15, pliers, screwdriver small cross, cables gear brake.
credit: Velaia (ParisPeking)
The wardrobe of the cycle tourist
If you face long trips, it is essential to know how to dress.
- Helmet: It is better to have it always in “mind”.
- Gloves: against possible irritation and blistering caused by prolonged contact with the handlebar. In case of falls, it will also protect your hands from excoriation.
- Sunglasses: lightweight and unbreakable, protect from sun, wind and insects.
- Shorts: those in synthetic fiber protect the perineum, the most requested area, ensure the just freedom of movement.
- Anti-wind jacket: Windtex or Windstopper are good ones. These membranes allow perspiration outside the steam produced by the body and simultaneously are impervious to wind.
- Waterproof Jacket: Good, but expensive products in Gore-Tex.
Recommendations for a good ride
Leaving for a trip or a vacation requires good physical condition. There is no need to be trained as those who practice cycling racing, but we must have a good background, that is the ability to exercise action but not intense and prolonged standing habit of hours in the saddle.
Being well trained will require planning some extra biking weekends before the vacation.
Another dowry fundamental for cycle tourist is adapt to climatic and environmental conditions. Do not scare before a climb, not attacking so bold (typical error of beginners), but rise gently without claiming to shorten the effort by increasing the pace.
Other enemy, perhaps worst of the climb, is the wind. Against him the muscles are not needed, it should be serenity: put the right gear, which allows a nimble pedal to pedal without haste.
credit: nnnnic
How to not stay Hungry
Cycling is mainly aerobic involving a great consume of energy extended overtime.
In particular during the pedal You must respect a fundamental principle:
When you’re riding you never have to wait thirst and hunger for eating and drinking, when the symptoms arrive it is already too late.
So, to avoid that legs lose strength, we must take liquids regularly, once every 15-20 minutes and solid foods easy to digest in small quantities but continuously, once every 40 or 50 minutes.
The salts should be taken especially after the effort, instead sugars should be easily assimilated.
In concrete terms?
In pockets and close at hand should never miss some fruit (an apple, a banana, energy bars made with dried fruit and cereals).
In borax instead goes much tea enriched with honey.
Like this post? And You, what’s your favorite tip about cycling?
