A cycling vacation will provide an opportunity to increase your cycling skills, tackle challenging terrains, and experience new sights and sounds. In addition to breathing in a beautiful backdrop while you pedal, you will return home with improved fitness levels and even more passion for cycling and travel.
Before you book a bicycle break alone, with friends, or with your family, you need to pack wisely and choose the best destinations for your needs and passions. Check out these biking trends for a successful trip.
Take a Single Speed Bike
Every passionate cyclist must take a single-speed bike on an upcoming vacation. Modern biking technology makes it easier than ever to enjoy a smooth, lightweight, and low-maintenance bicycle that is perfect for travel.
Unlike fixed-gear bikes, the back wheel independently moves from the pedals on a single-speed bike rather than the pedal moving with the back wheels. Also, you will not need to worry about changing clunky gears for faster acceleration and cruising.
If a single-speed bike sounds ideal for a more carefree travel experience, you can choose from two single-speed models at steed bikes. You can ride it as a single-speed bike or alter it to a fixed-gear bike. The choice is yours.
Visit Eco-Friendly Destinations
Cycling is a great way to sustainably explore a destination. Show further support for the environment by visiting eco-friendly destinations on a bike break. For example, France not only has an extensive cycling heritage and historic, beautiful trails to follow, but it was ranked the fourth most environmentally-friendly country in the world in 2022 by the World Economic Forum.
If you are unsure where to visit, you cannot go wrong with Bordeaux, as it has untouched countryside and sustainable vineyards. Also, the city offers many eco-friendly travel experiences. For instance, it is home to approximately 200km of cycling paths that allow you to pass by some of its most famous landmarks, such as the Ponte de Pierre, Place du Palais, and the Canal des Deux Mer.
Go Bikepacking
If you aren’t familiar with bikepacking, it requires you to embark on a multi-day trip on your bike with backpacking gear strapped to your back. It’s a smart idea to go on a guided bikepacking tour for a hassle-free, safer travel experience in a new country. When you are not riding to your next destination, you will camp under the stars, breathe in the beauty of nature, and connect with your fellow riders.
However, you must have exceptional fitness to keep up with the physical pressure of cycling to a new destination each day. You don’t need the stamina and skills of Mark Cavendish or Eddie Merckx to go bikepacking, but you must have a basic fitness level and feel confident riding a bike for many hours at a time. Otherwise, you might struggle to keep up and slow your group down, which will affect everyone’s travel experience.
Economy Boosting Tours
Support a nation’s local economy by booking a cycling tour that encourages you to stay in locally-owned and run accommodations, dine at local eateries, and visit resident-run vineyards, factories, and stores.
For example, you could stay at a charming boutique hotel in the heart of Italy before sampling some authentic Italian dishes from passionate local chefs. You could even bring home a bottle of wine or balsamic vinegar as a gift for a loved one from your travels. It is a great way to connect with the community while breathing in a beautiful, authentic backdrop as you ride.
