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
Bike Touring Safety: Bike Checks, Roads, Weather, Help
Stay safe on a bike tour: daily bike checks, riding with traffic, lights and visibility, heat, lightning and cold, roadside repairs and emergencies.
Finding Bike Touring Routes: Maps, USBRS and Navigation
How to find bike touring routes: the U.S. Bicycle Route System, route maps, rail trails and parks, judging traffic and terrain, and navigation.
Bike Touring for Beginners: Styles, Bikes and Training
Start bike touring: touring styles, choosing and setting up a bike, realistic daily distances, a 12-week training plan and planning a first trip.
Bike Touring Gear: Bags, Camping Kit, Clothing, Repairs
Bike touring gear: panniers or bikepacking bags, camping and cooking kit, layered clothing, a touring repair kit, navigation and keeping weight down.
Bike Tour Logistics: Packing, Lodging, Food, Transport
Bike tour logistics: packing lists by tour style, lodging and campgrounds, food and water on the road, getting your bike there and weather planning.