How to Plan a Route For Bike Touring   by Bike Hermit

in Travel / Travel Tips    (submitted 2010-11-18)

Determining where to go on your bicycle touring adventure and planning the route is an enjoyable part of the experience. Maybe there's a part of the country or world you have always wanted to visit, and doing it on a bike can be a profound pleasure.

But...how does one know what the roads are like?...Is the area safe?.....What about auto traffic?....

There are some good sources for route planning.

The adventure Cycling Association publishes excellent maps outlining almost 41,000 miles of bicycle routes which have been researched and refined over the last four decades. All contain outlines concerning what things to be aware of and ways to plan. Additionally promote supported events, a Cyclist's Yellow pages, and a print magazine that invariably seems to have terrific valuable articles.

Google Maps can be one additional fine reference. Simply mouse click on any area around the world and you can now check out the topography, together with elevations included, and even a satellite view, or the straight up map view. This amazing tool even makes it possible for a person to take a look at an image from virtually any spot along the length of many roads, by merely dragging an icon, locating it along the highlighted road and dropping it. Very, very cool. In google Earth you can "fly" over the route.

The next tip is to try using routes outlined by organizations which are experts in leading supported trips. These kinds of routes will most certainly be researched extensively and an individual might discover more details on camping or alternative venues to lodge, the best places to dine, topography, vehicle traffic, and so forth.

Crazyguyonabike.com can be another tremendous source of information. This is a free, independent website for hosting bike traveling journals, discussion boards and information. This content is contributed by regular people from throughout the world. You will find presently (the year 2010) close to 5000 online journals and more than ½ million photographs contributed by individuals engaging in their personal cycling trips. A number of of these are kept up to date on a daily basis by people during the tour, which means you can follow them on a daily basis!

As you're designing the route, factor in how much time you have, your own level of fitness, the level of fitness of your touring companion(s) if any, and probable factors for instance, local weather and elevation changes. Take into account where you hope to be able to finish up each day. With these things in mind block out your daily distance, keeping in mind that, when you're self supported, you are carrying excess weight. Accordingly, even if you're fit and routinely execute 80 to 90 if not more mile preparation rides, those might not be feasible numbers for touring. Certain days 40 miles can seem like a legendary ride. Other times a hundred miles could be achievable. Allowing sufficient time to finish your route,...more than you might think you need...will award you with enough time to visit neat places to see, or simply just (gasp) relax! Don't forget, this is intended to be enjoyable.

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To find out more about bike touring please visit Bike Touring News at http://www.biketouringnews.com