By Charlene Roth, Taking the Kids contributor
If the idea of seeing the most beautiful landscapes that America has to offer isn’t tantalizing enough, add exhilarating exercise with massive health benefits, and the wind blowing through your hair. A bike tour can be liberating. With a well-planned, safety-conscious bike tour, friends, couples, or solo riders can embark on an adventure that they won’t soon forget.
Learn All About It
Bicycling.com notes that as a beginner giving bike touring a go, you should first consult experts. Find out which type of bike suits you best, where and how far you are willing to travel, which gear is essential, and what you want to achieve through your trip. Your local bike shop can help you find a bike based on the type of terrain you will be riding on, the length of the tour, and your level of experience. When you have addressed these considerations, make sure that you prepare fully before setting off.
Prep Your Body
Begin preparation for your upcoming bike tour by training. Active.com outlines different training regimens that correspond with varying levels of stamina and rigor. When you have a good idea which route you’ll take, train as much as possible to simulate the daily distances and terrains you anticipate. As a general rule of thumb, train for at least two months, and very possibly three or four months, before setting out on an extensive, intense bike tour.
Breathing in clean air at home can improve your performance as an athlete by helping to boost your lung capacity and increase oxygen flow to your muscles. Try to clean with all-natural, chemical-free cleaners whenever you can.
Prep Your Mind
Mentally, learn to embrace the disconnectedness that you will experience on your tour. Wean yourself off of the internet, social media, and other technology as much as possible in the months and weeks prior to your trip. While you are on the bike, the extent of your tech use will likely be limited to a GPS and a cell phone for emergency use only. It’s also important to increase your mental toughness before a long cycling tour.
Prep Your Business
If you’re someone who runs a business, digital disconnectedness can make touring tricky. One option is to appoint and maintain a registered agent. This is someone who can manage critical decisions based on your guidelines, thus avoiding major hiccups while you’re MIA. Luckily, you can get a registered agent in just a few minutes. Once established, you can plan your routes to even the most remote destinations with peace of mind.
Prep Your Home
When preparing for a long bicycle tour, it’s important to take steps to protect your home. One way to do this is to install a security system. A security system can help to deter burglars and protect your home while you’re away. It can also give you peace of mind knowing that your home is being monitored while you’re gone.
In addition to protecting your home, a security system can also add value to your property. If you’re planning on selling your home, having a security system in place can help to increase its selling price. If you’re not planning on selling, a security system can still add value by helping to reduce your insurance premiums.
Prep Your Boss
Let’s face it: not everyone is in a position to decide for themselves if they are taking time off from the daily grind. If you need to approach your supervisor about unpaid leave, think through what you want to say. Be prepared to provide details about what you’ll be doing, how long you’ll be gone, your value to the company, and how they will manage in your absence. With a plan handy, you’re more likely to win approval for your excursion.
Gather Your Gear
There are some essential items that will help a cycler remain safe. A GPS should be supplemented with a physical map to help ensure staying on route. As Travel Insurance Review adds, having your bike inspected, packing emergency medical supplies, and bringing sunburn-proof clothing can all help avoid sticky situations during your tour. It’s also a good idea to bring along a bike repair kit.
Safety is first and foremost when it comes to a long-distance bicycling excursion. If you are traveling solo, this is particularly important. Inform multiple friends and family of your route, and try to check in upon ending your ride daily so that they know you are safe. Chances are you will not experience a serious problem, but it is imperative someone knows to contact the authorities in case you do need assistance at some point.
If you are inclined to try a bike tour for the first time, be warned: they can be addictive. Traveling regions of the country on two foot-powered wheels is the ultimate combination of sight-seeing and exercise, and countless people rely on bicycles to visit their preferred destinations every year. There is so much more sensory input from being on the open road or on a long trail that it becomes a rush. As long as you adhere to proper safety precautions and prepare your mind, body, home, and business adequately, a bike tour could become an annual event, a more frequent part of your life, or even a business venture.
About the Author: Charlene Roth is a stay-at-home mom of four. Her children’s health and happiness are her top priority — which both come down to safety! She started Safety Kid as a way to support other concerned moms and dads and is currently working on her first book, The A – Z Guide for Worried Parents: How to Keep Your Child Safe at Home, School, and Online.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of takingthekids.com or any of the companies mentioned. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. The author is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in the article and has not received any compensation for writing about them. This article is written purely for the author’s personal goal and informational purposes only. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk. Before making any travel or purchasing decisions, we recommend consulting with relevant professionals or conducting your own research. If you have any concerns or questions about the content of this article, please contact the author directly.