Bike Touring Basics
Everything you need to decide before a first tour: which touring style suits you, what kind of bike works, how fit you need to be and how to plan a trip from first idea to departure day.
Bicycle Tours
Bicycle Tours helps you plan a trip by bike, from a first overnight to a multi-week tour. Choose a touring style and a suitable bike, research and navigate routes, pack light with a tested list, plan food, water and places to sleep, and prepare for weather, repairs and emergencies. Route conditions change, so we always link to the official source to check before you go.
Routes and Destinations
How to find and evaluate cycling routes, from day trips to multi-day tours.
Touring Gear
What to bring on a bike tour and how to carry it: bags and racks, camping gear for bikepacking, clothing for changing weather, repair kits and navigation devices.
Travel Logistics
The practical side of a bike tour: packing lists, places to sleep, food and water, getting your bike to the start by car, train or plane, and preparing for heat, cold and rain.
Safety and Maintenance
Stay safe and keep the bike rolling: pre-ride inspections, road safety, common repairs on tour and emergency planning.
Latest Guides
Research-based guides, newest first
Cycling Clothing for Tours: Layers for All Weather
How to choose clothing for a bike tour: lightweight, packable layers, rain and cold protection, staying visible, and avoiding heat and cold illness.
Types of Bike Touring: Credit Card to Bikepacking
The main types of bike touring explained: self-supported camping tours, hotel-based tours, guided and supported trips, bikepacking and overnights.
Weather Preparation for Cyclists: Heat, Cold, Storms
How cyclists can prepare for weather on tour: heat illness signs, hypothermia prevention, lightning safety outdoors, and checking forecasts and alerts.
Training for a Bike Tour: Building Up Gradually
How to train for a bike tour: building mileage gradually, riding with a loaded bike, back-to-back days, and matching training to your route.
Transporting Bikes by Train and Plane
How to transport a bike for a tour: Amtrak bike reservations and carry-on rules, boxed and folding bikes, and what TSA says about flying with a bike.
Touring Repair Kit Essentials for Long Rides
What to pack in a repair kit for a bike tour: tools from Park Tool's essentials, tubes and patches, tubeless plugs, lube, and spare parts to consider.