With the long weekend fast approaching, it’s time to get outside and explore! We all know how easy it is to lose track of essential gear before any ride, whether it be a single-bike outing or an epic road trip.
To make sure you don’t forget anything important, here are some preparation steps to take before embarking on your journey. A list is a simple and surefire way to ensure that you don’t miss any essential items before your tires meet the dirt.
Bike Check
Make sure to clean and oil your bikes before packing them for a trip. You don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road with a broken chain!
It is essential to perform a bike check before packing up your bike for a road trip. Brake pads and discs should be examined for any grooving or wear and tear, and replaced if necessary. Perform a tire air pressure check and adjust accordingly. Additionally, it is recommended to clean and oil your bike’s drivetrain components – like chain and sprockets – which will ensure smooth running on your ride.
Mountain bike enthusiasts, don’t forget about your suspension – make sure that all adjustable components are properly tuned to the terrain type you will encounter on the trip!
Make sure you get everything right before embarking on your cycling adventure – after all, you wouldn’t want to end up stuck on the side of the road with a broken chain, or a broken anything for that matter!
How to pack your Kit?
The next thing on that list is what we’re wearing, which is extremely important.
Picking out the right cycling kit/outfit is just as important a part of road trip prep as making sure you double-check your packing list!
Items you definitely don’t want to forget are a helmet, bib or chamois shorts, jerseys, socks, and eye protection and body armor for mountain bikers. It may seem fussy, but trust us when we say it’s not hard to forget one or pieces of your main kit, which leaves you pretty much high and dry on a cycling road trip.
Don’t be stuck trying to squeeze all your gear into one bag – get a designated duffel bag just for riding kit that’ll keep each item neat and organized. That way, you can easily access them whenever you need during your journey.
Packing your Fuel / Nutrition
You would never let your car’s gas tank go empty, right? Don’t starve your body either.
First off, we want to mention something that may be a hack to some and a standard part of their pre-ride routine for others, in any case, it’s effective. We’re talking about coffee.
The beauty of coffee is that you can make your own if you’re going full-adventure mode and sleeping in tents, or if you’re bunking up in towns during your trip, you’ll very likely have a cafe or two to choose from.
Coffee is a favorite for even pro-level cyclists, and if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us. Slurp down some coffee before a ride and you’ll enjoy a nice lengthy energy spike. Our personal favorite is Corsapro.com coffee. It’s fresh, tastes great and is ready to ship with just a few clicks on their website.
When it comes to fuelling the rides during a road trip, energy gels and meal bars are essential! Not only do they provide energy and replenish energy stores, but they also top you up on vital nutrients that help keep your body functioning optimally throughout the ride.
It’s important not to forget about hydration either – energy gels are excellent for this job as they need to be consumed with water, killing two birds with one stone.
How to pack your Tech?
The tools you need to measure and navigate your rides.
Whether you’re an experienced rider or new to cycling, having the right tech tools can make a huge difference in your ride and help you hit those desired goals.
Bike computers are key to accurately measuring your performance. Want to know how fast you’re going, how far and what the temperature is? Bike computers can tell you all that and more.
GPS watches are ideal for those looking to survey route overviews, track their fitness levels or have some added safety precautions like fall detection alerts.
On your bike, you can also opt for electronic shifting which will save energy when pedaling and come with charging cables for a long-range power boost.
With all this data collection, map navigation and tracking technology at our fingertips, you’ll not only be able to take yourself to your own limits, you’ll be bringing back parts of the ride(s) to study as well!
How to pack your Spare Parts
Spares you should always bring!
The excitement from planning a bicycle road trip and experiencing new places is exceeded only by the need to be fully prepared for whatever your adventure decides to throw your way – unpredictability is the essence of adventure after all.
The amount of gear we bring makes a huge difference, and going above and beyond on packing all the necessary spare parts will help you avoid disaster. You will also need a Camelbak or hip-bag to carry these vital tools and parts with you on the ride.
The vital backup parts we need on hand include:
- Spare tire
- Tubes
- Tire plugs
- Chain links
- Derailleur hanger specific to your bike
Having these can save you a bunch of time should anything unexpected happen while you’re out riding — they could be just enough to get you back home or take you the rest of the way to your next destination.
So, rather than waiting until something goes wrong, it’s best to make sure these backups are always packed away — it could mean the difference between meeting your goal or having to turn back early.
Bike storage and racks
The last thing to consider is where you’re going to store your bike and how you’ll get it to the destination. There are several options for transporting your bike including bike bags, cases and racks.
Bike bags are perfect for air travel but can also be used on trains if space is limited. For longer journeys, consider getting a bike case — these provide great protection from shocks and bumps during transit.
Once at the destination, make sure you have a secure place to store your bike which should include locks that offer good levels of theft protection.
Also, remember to mark your seatpost, stem and handlebar positions with a white marker so that your bike will fit you just as before.
Finally – once everything’s all set up, double-check everything one last time.
- If you are driving with your bike on a bike rack, ensure the rack is in working order and fixed to your vehicle correctly and that the mounting points are functional. Also, refer to the bike rack manual as most racks need to be checked every 200 miles or so.
- Check that the components on your bicycle are correctly assembled and in good working order.
With all that’s done, it’s time to hit the road! All that’s left to do is enjoy the ride and make some memories. Have fun! The memories and experiences you gain from bike trips will last a lifetime. Just be sure to take some pictures along the way to capture everything.
And, of course, if you need any help with getting your bicycle ready for the journey, Promountain Bike has got you covered.
