Cycling road trips, getting ready for adventure
Wondering what a cycling road trip is like? Where to sleep? What to eat? Or what equipment is best suited to cycling? We explain it all in this article.
How do you equip yourself for a cycling road trip?
Essential equipment for a cycling road trip
At Speck-Sports, we offer a wide range of products. A number of them will come in handy during your cycling trip: storage equipment, bivouacs, freeze-dried food and other gadgets will serve you throughout your journey.
How to optimize the transport of your belongings?
For a cycling trip, it's strongly recommended to travel light. However, on a road trip lasting several days, or even weeks, it can be complicated to optimize the weight of your luggage, as you need to pack clothes, food and drink, as well as things to repair your bike in case of a problem on the road.
More and more people are traveling by bike, and new techniques for traveling light have emerged over the years. Bikepacking, for example, is based on the principle of optimizing your camping and cycling equipment for a serene, totally autonomous trip. Bikepacking focuses on mountain routes and trails, with the bare minimum of equipment and comfort.
At Speck-Sports, we offer a wide range of equipment to optimize storage on your bike. Handlebar panniers , for example, are used to store personal belongings that need to be grabbed quickly. Rack-mounted panniers are used to store clothes, or to load heavier, more cumbersome equipment such as a bivouac (tent, kitchen equipment, sleeping bag, etc.). Fork bags can be used to store your freeze-dried meals or the equipment you'll need to set up your bivouac. And don't forget the panniers and backpacks you'll find on our site to help you prepare for your road trip.
Eating well during your cycling trip
To stay in shape throughout your journey, it's vital to manage your diet properly. There are various ways of doing this.
Whether you prefer to prepare your own meals or have them pre-cooked to suit your tastes, everything is possible. This will depend mainly on the type of accommodation you choose for your trip and your equipment. If you prefer to cook your own meals, scouring the markets for fresh produce along the way, you'll be better off opting for a bungalow/mobile home in a campsite or gîte. This option offers more space and often a fully equipped kitchen.
No need to worry if you prefer adventure and autonomy, you can eat anywhere and at any time thanks to our range of stoves and our range of freeze-dried food sachets. Perfect for eating a good meal in your bivouac with a wide choice of different meals. Whether you're a vegetarian or a meat lover, whether you prefer sweet or savoury, whether you're hungry or not... There's something for everyone, so you're bound to find what you're looking for. For example, cocoa, fruit, muesli, cereal bars etc... for breakfast, dishes ranging from tandoori chicken to tartiflette savoyarde or desserts such as fruit compote, chocolate mousse, lemon cream etc...
There 's plenty to choose from, and you'll easily find something to satisfy your appetite while enjoying a good meal.
During a cycling road trip, it's important to take your diet and hydration seriously. That way you'll have all the energy you need for the day's effort. You can do this by eating an energetic breakfast, a balanced lunch and not forgetting to treat yourself to a good meal in the evening.
Where to sleep on your road trip
A good night's sleep between each stage of a cycling trip is undoubtedly important. That's why you need to prepare for it in advance. It's important to have a minimum of comfort and rest before setting off on the next stage. Sleep will have a decisive influence on your route. It can influence your mood the next day, but above all your endurance and performance.
There are many ways to sleep during your cycling road trip. They will vary according to your wishes, your equipment and your budget. If you're looking for a quiet night's sleep, you're sure to find hotels or bed & breakfasts on your route. However, if you're looking for a more convivial atmosphere, there are plenty of campsites and gîtes that would be delighted to welcome you. If that doesn't suit you and you want a truly immersive and autonomous trip, with a taste of adventure, spending the evening under the stars in quiet places... Then bivouacking is the best option for you. Find a quiet spot as evening approaches and set up camp. But what's the best way to prepare a bivouac to ensure unrivalled comfort and a pleasant night's sleep while sleeping in the great outdoors?
At Speck-Sports we offer a wide range of tents that are compatible with bikepacking and easy to transport, not forgetting sleeping bags that will give you a nice, warm night's sleep. If you fancy a quiet rest in the middle of nature, we also offer a range of hammocks, perfect for resting close to nature and regaining your strength.
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