All bicycle fans can be divided into two groups. The first group consists, as a rule, of young people who prefer speed and virtuoso bicycle control. At the same time, many of them achieve very impressive success—after all, few people will remain indifferent to boys and girls jumping several meters high from steep ramps, descending along an intricate track full of turns and ramps, or riding on meter-high platforms and overcoming randomly created obstacles with extraordinary ease.
The second group is bicycle tourists who prefer to devote their free time to traveling.
Bicycle trips can equally include short one-day routes around the suburbs and very difficult multi-day hikes. The most popular bicycle trips are one-day hikes, which are otherwise called “weekend hikes.” Cyclists go on such trips probably because they are irresistible, and they want to see something new, enjoy nature, and feel the freedom that their favorite bike gives. You could check popular cycling path around Cascais here.
It should be noted that cycling tourism is not new, unlike sports disciplines that emerged with the creation of new bicycle modifications—BMX, trial, parallel slalom, downhill, and cross-country.
Cycling tourism has probably existed since the invention of the bicycle. People have always had a desire to travel, and the bicycle offers significantly more opportunities than hiking, allowing you to develop greater speed and carry heavier loads.
In almost all large cities in Portugal, there are special clubs and informal associations that organize such cycling trips. In particular, several such associations exist in Lisbon.
To join cycling tourism, being a member of any club is not at all necessary. Although, undoubtedly, membership in such a club gives a beginner cyclist a lot – experienced instructors will answer most questions and help choose the right bike and equipment.
In such clubs, future tourists learn everything related to cycling, watch educational films and photos from authentic cycling trips, consult instructors, and communicate with each other. Usually, such training begins long before mid-April, when it is time to start mass cycling trips. With the beginning of the cycling season, students actively begin to take part in trips.
Many clubs conduct special lecture courses on cycling tourism. There is also specialized literature devoted to cycling tourism. The most famous book today is “Cycling Tourism,” published in 1998 under the editorship of Alexey Bulgakov. This is the first book on cycling tourism published in Russia that provided such a complete volume of information.
The book tells about one of the most exciting types of tourism—cycling. The authors, experienced cyclists from different cities, introduce the history of cycling and cycling tourism and its features. Much attention is paid to choosing a bicycle for weekend trips and long trips, preparing equipment, developing a route, selecting a group, conducting weekend trips and multi-day cycling trips, and organizing mass competitions.
Cycling tourism – where to start?
Table of Contents
As already noted, joining cycling tourism is not at all necessary to join a specialized club. Especially if you are not going to engage in serious multi-day cycling trips but just want to try yourself on one-day trips. To begin with, your desire is quite enough.
Nevertheless, these beginners need to be given some advice that will help them overcome the psychological barrier and become full-fledged participants in one-day cycling trips. It is worth starting with a bicycle. Nowadays, buying a bike is not a problem. The problem is choosing the right one from the broadest range of models in the modern market. If you already have a bike, it’s time to take the next important step – properly prepare for the bike trip.
Before setting off on a trip (even with a group of tourists as inexperienced as you), it is highly advisable to first gain some experience in cycling, for example, in the park nearest to you.
What do you take with you?
It is highly recommended to take with you:
- As already mentioned in the previous point, warm clothes and a cape in case of rain;
- Documents (an insurance policy would not hurt) and some money;
- Food and utensils;
- A bicycle repair kit;
- A first aid kit.
Let’s look at the last three points in more detail.
Food and utensils
You shouldn’t forget about food – after all, if you go for the whole day, you will probably want to eat. The hike conditions dictate the need to take a small amount of high-calorie food – glucose, vitamins, etc. As a rule, “fast carbohydrates” are popular – dried fruits (dried apricots, raisins), nuts, and sweets (for example, caramel with fruit filling). But these carbohydrates are only good for quickly satisfying hunger. For lunch, it is best to grab something more substantial or stop at some specialized establishment – a cafe, restaurant, etc.
Do not forget water—during a long ride, your body removes a lot of moisture, and it needs to be constantly replenished.
Since pedaling all day is quite tiring, the group stops from time to time to wait for those who are lagging behind, have a light snack, and rest a little. The longest stop, when food is prepared, is called a halt. There is usually only one halt on one-day hikes, and it lasts about an hour and a half.
Bicycle repair kit
When going on a hike, you should be sure that your equipment will not let you down, and therefore, on the eve of the hike, you should conduct a small technical inspection of your bike. Despite this, unfortunately, sometimes unpleasant moments happen on the road. The most common of them are punctures of the tubes.
To combat punctures, it is recommended to take a spare tube (preferably two), a bike first aid kit with tire irons, and a pump, which will allow you to make repairs yourself without outside help. By the way, professionals strongly recommend that before assembling the wheel, when eliminating a puncture, check whether a piece of glass or a nail remains in the tire, which led to the puncture.
First aid kit
You should not neglect medications. At least one person in the group should have a minimum first aid kit with them, which should include the most essential first aid supplies and medications. These include a sterile bandage, cotton wool, adhesive tape, a rubber tourniquet, iodine or brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, aspirin, medical alcohol, validol, ammonia, and scissors.
When riding a bicycle, the most common injuries are bruises, sprains, concussions, and fractures. If the first two types are relatively safe, then a concussion and fracture cause a lot of trouble, primarily to the victim.
To avoid these troubles, be careful and attentive. Keep your distance (very often, beginner cyclists either poorly or incorrectly keep their distance, which usually results in collisions and falls). Learn from more experienced riders the rules of riding on difficult road sections (especially on descents). When riding, try to calculate the development of the situation; do not be afraid to seem overly cautious. This will save you from severe troubles.
And, of course, do not neglect personal protective equipment, which primarily includes a helmet.
What if I fall far behind the group?
This is a fairly standard question. Of course, you should ask the tour leader about the expected pace of movement and compare it with your pace. In some groups, there is a “closer” – an experienced cyclist who watches those lagging behind and, if necessary, assists them. But this does not happen in all groups, so if you are unsure of your abilities before hiking, check whether the group practices this.
What if I get lost?
If you have correctly assessed your abilities and do not deviate from your group’s planned route, you will not get lost. If it still happens that you have fallen far behind or lost your way and have gone far in another direction, then, of course, you will have to get out on your own.
In this case, a map, compass, mobile phone, GPS, and money will be useful. However, it is important to understand that these items will only be useful if you know how to use them. So, when going on a hike with a group, try not to deviate from the planned route and discuss possible nuances with the hike leader in advance.
