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 Tone up as you chill out! Cycling holidays are a great way to get in shape as you get to know a country intimately. Here's how to organise your trip:
It was a classic case of The Sound of Music Syndrome. Here we were, two English girls, inspired by the glorious scenery of the world's most fabulous musical, searching for our very own captain with seven children (well, maybe skip the kids, we'd settle for a captain) on our first-ever cycling holiday through the Austrian Alps.
Four days later, numb of bottom, hoarse of voice (from all that yodelling) but incredibly relaxed and happy, we were planning our next trip. A cycling holiday is a wonderful way to really see the countryside - and all that exercise completely justifies pigging out on local specialities in the evenings.
The rewards are great, but a cycling holiday takes a bit more organisation than your average sun, sea and sand getaway. Here's how to make a biking break work:
Where to go
Plotting your route
Where to stay
What to take
WHERE TO GO
So, you fancy a cycling holiday but how do you decide which country to visit? Are there any countries you want to get to know better? By bike you'll get a decent slice of countryside and culture. If nowhere springs immediately to mind, think about:
Language. If you speak another language even a little, it will make a trip a lot easier.
Flight costs. Check out where Ryanair and EasyJet fly to and see if any of those destinations appeal, before looking elsewhere.
Germany, Austria or the Netherlands are good places to start, because there's a cycling infrastructure already in place.
Weather. Even more so than most holidays, the right weather is vital for a successful cycling holiday. Don't be too ambitious - cycling in blazing sunshine will be as miserable and tough as in the rain - so go for somewhere warmish. If you're heading to southern Europe, spring and autumn would be a good time. If you're planning your trip in the summer, maybe stick to northern, cooler climes. If you need to check the weather at your destination, visit www.weather.co.uk
Still stuck? Check out www.bicycletouring.homestead.com. It's American, but has some great ideas as to where to go and some entertaining views on European cycling.
PlOTTING YOUR ROUTE
Once you've picked a country to tour, you need to decide on a route to follow. This is a key step, so take your time.
The easiest place to start is online. Nearly all countries have their own tourism website, and all those I've looked at either have bike routes highlighted online, or links that take you through to suitable sites.
Raid your local library or bookshop. Lonely Planet, for example, does a small range of cycling guides that can be useful. Alternatively, buy a more general travel guide to the country you've chosen, and plot yourself a course around things you want to see.
Mileage. This depends on how fit you are, how much cycling you do and who you're going with. We did about 40 miles per day, which some hardier folk have laughed at, but it allowed us to pootle along, take photos, stop for various attractions and still feel like we'd cycled a long way. If you have a child with you, the most you should work on is 25 miles a day, believe me, that will still feel like a long way.
If you're still uninspired, steal someone else's route. If you type 'cycling holidays in France' into www.google.co.uk you'll get numerous websites of companies who run cycling holidays. Why not see if any of their routes are online, and use those as a source of ideas?
Don't be afraid to use the train to transport your bike from place to place. You need to find out where and when you can take bikes on trains, and if you need to buy bike tickets (we did in Austria). Normally the national rail operator's website or their tourist office can advise.
Where can you hire bikes? Most guidebooks give you this information. I'd phone up or email to check before you set off.
WHERE TO STAY
Once you've sorted out your route, break it up into manageable daily chunks. Now you need to find somewhere comfortable to rest your weary limbs:
Have a couple of ideas of towns or villages you want to stay in, based on your mileage.
Check out your favourite travel guide for recommendations. Or try the community section on www.roughguides.co.uk where people recommend places they stayed.
Most hotels or B&Bs can now be booked online.
Print out confirmation of reservations and the prices you've agreed.
If you're planning to camp, check here to find official campsites on route. If you're going in high season it's a good idea to book ahead.
Staying safe
Safety is of course paramount. Make sure your take the following precautions:
Look at the roads you'll be using. Are they very busy? Can you use quieter roads? Do the busy parts have a cycling lane?
Take a helmet, and a puncture repair kit you know how to use.
Take your mobile phone in case of emergency - and your charger.
Wear reflective clothing. It's ugly, but invaluable.
Organise comprehensive travel insurance.
For general safety, check our ten point check list for female travellers.
WHAT TO TAKE
I was lucky enough to have a cycling veteran to give me this advice:
Wear cycling shorts wherever possible. Even if it's a bit chilly, as long as the rest of you is snug, you'll be fine. They may be unflattering but they dry quicker than long trousers if they get wet.
Take at least one long-sleeved and high-necked top - it'll protect you from both sunburn and wind-chill.
Take sun cream and slap it on regularly, remembering to apply it generously to the back of your neck.
Plastic bags. You can never have too many (well, within reason) and in some countries you can only get the thicker ones you have to pay for.
Layers. Your temperature changes a lot when you cycle, so layer well. One thing I learned was to be sure my top came over my shorts and didn't leave a midriff gap to get chilly.
Waterproofs. It's worth splashing out on these. If you're wet and cold, you'll be miserable.
Panniers. Again, get decent ones - Cannondale is a good brand, although by no means the only one. Be realistic about size. You need to carry enough stuff, but you don't want to be so weighed down you can't pedal.
Helmet. Take one. Wear it.
Maps. I got my map from Stanfords, the travel bookshop. Mine was a booklet specifically for this route, but they also sell more general maps.
Pannier racks and locks were supplied by the bike company I used, but either check that beforehand or take your own.
Lip salve with a high SPF.
Ibuprofen for muscle ache. Lots of plasters (and scissors to cut them with if necessary).
Loo roll. Trust me - you'll need it.
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