What to Bring With You on a Cycling Trip

Got all your gear? Check!

If you’re planning a long cycling trip that tests your endurance, your skills, as well as your navigational abilities, you have to also realize that there are other challenges you might not expect. It will be wise to pack and prepare for these challenges, and from this idea you might consider what to stuff in a fanny pack or other luggage container you can get your hands on.

Here is a brief look at the different items you’ll want to bring on a long-distance cycling trip.

-Sunglasses.

Depending on the weather, and even if it’s a cloudy day outside, it’s a prudent move to bring along sunglasses. You never know when the sun will poke out of the clouds and start sending some of its Vitamin D – and UV rays – down on your personal convoy. So pack just a light pair of sunglasses, and pack them even if you don’t ultimately think you’ll need them. Who knows – down the line you might find that you want them.

-Food and drink.

Many bikes have a bottle holder that you’ll be able to pack water in, no problem, but what about food? After all, a long cycling trip can take hours, and that whole time you’ll be burning calories and stimulating your metabolism. It’s inevitable that you’ll get hungry, and even if you don’t feel like you’re in a “meal” mood, some pretzels or granola in your bag can go a long way to helping you out down the road.

-First-aid supplies.

First-aid supplies are typically light weight, so they won’t add a lot of baggage to your bike, but they can really come in hand. The cuts and scrapes typically associated with cycling injuries can be treated with some basic bandages, gauze, some alcohol, and medical tape.

-A fully-charged cellular phone.

If you run into an unexpected emergency, there’s nothing like a cell phone that will help you retain your connection to civilization. If your bike breaks down in some deserted location and you have no one to turn to, a cell phone can be a last-ditch means of getting a ride home.

-A map or other type of navigation.

If you’ve already got a GPS watch, consider yourself golden, but a map or some other type of navigational device can help you feel like you’re never lost, no matter how far you venture out to explore. You don’t have to be a worrier about what road you’re on, and how far you are from home, but you can simply keep a map in your bag in case you need to do some navigation to bring you to any location you’ve been targeting.

Photo Credits: richardmasoner

Originally posted 2009-04-08 05:19:16.

This post involves: