Do you want to head out for a big or small bicycle tour but don’t know where to start? In this video I share 13 easy and practical tips to make your next adventure a success! I discuss everything from calculating a budget, estimating daily mileage, mindset hacks and much more…
Timestamps
00:00 – intro
00:35 – destination
03:57 – public transportation
05:02 – type of tour
06:34 – setting a date
07:25 – accountability
08:14 – budget
12:24 – mileage
15:09 – bike setup
16:34 – navigation
19:16 – maintenance and repair
21:17 – fitness
22:53 – test tour
24:33 – safety
25:09 – quick tips
25:51 – outro
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS: James & Laura, David & Candace, Robert Pickles, Emiel & Anke, Verena Charmine, Stephen Sheppard, P Walter, Michael Clouten, Dan Kenney, Linda McNeir, Larry Barnhill, Matthew Kremer, Fred Stoll, Roman Miserre, Dan Hall, Laura, Kevin Wheeler, Simon, Brian Lucido, Clive David Shackleton, Sean Keesler, Joe Pickens, Henryk Maron, Stewart Clark, Samuel Hayward, KCSheehan, Arjan, Sarah Gommers, Mike Ball, Xavier Oberlander, Doug Feig, Mikko Koskinen, Deborah Sherwood, David Cornelison, Robb Wagner, Glenn Cooper, Brad Long, Dierk, Craig Sealeaf, Floyd Christofferson, Bernd Brundert, Charlie Schink, Scott Youngren, Anne van Raalte, Sean Murray, Yo Charlie, Aye Pea, Michael Hawkins, Philip Caldwell, Peter Christensen, Susan Barber & Peter Hopkins, Hans Huizinga, Jeremiah Watt, x y, Frank Vos, Nina W, Marco UK, Klaus Baas, Chuck Pruitt, Lars Röst, Paul Tracy, Pierre Thissen, Thomas Nielsen, Marco Selva, Joe Tilman, Viktor Zorichev, Dima Eli, Kajo Wasserhövel, John Aydelotte, Antonio & Marian, Walter Upton, Anson A, Kent Strumpell, Dan Grinstead, Jay Todd, Chris Gibson, Zjappe, Liam Meredith, James Topham, Sue
Mentioned in this video:
Route Creation Apps / Programs:
Strava, Komoot, Google Maps, Bikemap.net, Wikiloc, Ride with GPS, Maps.me, Osmand Maps, Mapy, Eurovelo
Resources for bike repair & maintenance:
@RJTheBikeGuy @gcntech
By the way if you need some inspiration, check out the coffee table book of Tristan and Belen ’50 ways to travel by bike’. Incredible stories of people from all walks of life taking on a bicycle adventure one way or the other. Spoiler Alert: we are also in it 😉 We’re not affiliated, we really think this book is just awesome for inspiration!
https://tristanbogaard.com/50ways
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25 Comments
As someone rightfully pointed out, I come across a bit serious in this video 😅 I hadn't done a tutorial video in a while (this one was shot before the others) so I had to get into it again… The next will be a bit more uplifting, I promise! 😁
This might’ve been asked; do you intend to further continue your travels? And where.
Great video! So many truths!
Thank you very much for sharing your valuable experience!
i'm just inspired by the vastness of nature and have an envy of scenic drone shots. i'm more into shorter trips for sure. I quite like momentary, healthy reminders of being a small grain of sand in much larger expanse.
I love all your videos and have been envious of your adventures. I have always wanted to cycle tour. I toured several countries in Europe about 25 years ago in my early 40s. I am now 66. I have multiple injuries from playing sports and building houses for decades. But despite being in pain, it feels like it's my last hurrah…last chance to live a dream considering my age and physical handicaps. I am single and with no family…so no responsibilities or ties.
Also, I have been financially devastated by the stock market. I put all the money I made building houses into the stock market, since I did not have enough to buy real estate. The last couple of years have been financially crippling here in the US. So I will spend the next 6 months on my bike traveling around the united states. Living as cheaply as possible. And waiting for my stock investments to go back up…fingers crossed.
Another challenge is that I have sleep apnea and need to sleep with a cpap machine. I have a camping battery that is good for two nights, but I will have to recharge it. Fortunately, I am someone who is used to adversity and challenges.
Anyway, I have always been happiest when I am moving along. Physically moving. Either skiing, or surfing, bike riding, kayaking and I have been kiteboarding for the last 12 years . The physical motion of moving across the earth seems to make me happy.. And seeing new sights. Change is good.
Thank you for all your hard work and inspiration. Good luck on your next adventures. No matter what they may be!
Great video, Maudi, as usual. Our first tour was motivated by loss. My father died in 2015 after a long illness, and afterwards, I just felt the need to do something different—to break out of the rut. My partner had been talking about a bike tour for several years, but it scared me too much. When my father died, it was the kick in the pants I needed. Our first tour was through the Netherlands (and northern Belgium) in the spring, just like yours. It was spectacular, and we've been on a bike tour almost every year since. (Leaving for our next one in just over 3 weeks.) Nowadays, our motivation is simply the addictive feeling that every day is a new adventure. It really is as simple as that. There's a part of human nature that is hard-wired to explore, I think. Bike touring is just such a wonderful way to do that. Thank you, as always, for your amazing videos. All the best to you and Eric, and stay safe! (P.S.: I didn't find you too serious. 🙂
2 years??? I can't persuade my girlfriend to go with me for 2 days.😂 But hey, good advices, thanks 👍
I recognize the lake "Le Salagou" , familiar to me because I was born in a town nearby (Montpellier), a nice region to cycle in the back country 😉
Watching from north east India ❤❤
Jullie zijn mijn voorbeeld, al lange tijd – ik ben 62 jaar en kan redelijk goed touren tot ongeveer 1000 km. – moet nadien dan wel terug aan het werk – dank je wel voor alle mooie tips en see you on the road – Sarah from Estonia
thankyou Maudi, I'm planning my first adventure by bike so this video is just what I needed, love your videos and look forward to many more
Thank you for sharing and I love your enthusiasm and passion for bicycle touring.
Maybe also: Plan the essentials, but don't over-plan. Be ready to just go with the flow and don't turn it into a stressful tourist itinerary (did this, did that, etc.). By going on the tour you're opening yourself up to new experiences, so don't shut these out from the start by trying to tick off all the usual tourist boxes.
06:48 🥸 Absolutely. Thanks again Maudy 😃 A meaningful job and healthy kids are great value too.
Life has different stages. You can't do everything together. But it certainly makes sense to realize as many of your dreams as possible – in order to be able to look back on a meaningful life later one day. 🚴♀🤸♀🤼♂
How do you transport your bikes by plane? A hard case / soft case? Then you would need to collect it – perhaps do a circular tour. If you take a cardboard box, does this sufficiently protect the bike from baggage handlers? A friend had his carbon fibre frame net the rear wheel axle broken travelling to Asia. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
We’re always amazed how good your videos are. This is another home run (or slam dunk 😊). We’ve been on the road for almost two years with our daughters and this is what we always wanted to tell the people (but we don’t have your talent). There is everything you need to know in this video and you keep it interesting and fun during the whole 26 minutes. Bravo 👏
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First, thank you! I enjoy watching every one of your videos and gain knowledge and enthusiasm. I worked on my 2023 calendar for 90 minutes the other day. I have blocked out 3-4 weeks of test travel. I look forward to longer travel days in the neat future. Thank you, Troy in Indiana
What is your daily mileage?
Een geweldige video! Ik was sws al enthousiast, maar nu nog gemotiveerder om eropuit te gaan. Wij willen graag richting de Balkan over een aantal jaren. Zodra we flexibeler zijn: geen boerderij leven meer met alle verantwoordelijkheden.
Hey Maudi. De video was dik in orde, zakelijk en to the point……👌
An absolutely "must watch" video! Whether you are planning to tour within your own country or across many countries and continents, this is GREAT advice! I would insist every cyclist that intends to sleep away from home at least one night would benefit from watching this. Or several years
I'm not planning to go on a long tour. I'll go on doing short tours starting from home, not longer than a few weeks. In this way I 'discover' all parts of the Netherlands (and sometimes a little of a neighbouring country).
Last week I took my bicycle with me in the train, that was the first time after many years. Bad experience kept me from doing that. But this time it went well. Only a few stations away from home … it saves me a whole day riding!