Planning your first cycling trip? Here's 5 common mistakes to avoid to ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride!
Since Eat Sleep Cycle was founded in 2016 we have taken thousands of guests on cycling trips all over the world and we see the same mistakes by cycling tour guests. Here are the top 5 mistakes I see and which I think you should avoid.
1. Climb like Pogačar, descend like a tortoise
Your tyres hit that smooth road and the sun is beating down. It’s like you’re glued to the road, well you are until you’re not. We always advise our guests to climb hard if you want to but always descend carefully, respecting the white line and the fact that it is your first time on the climb. Safety first and foremost.
2. Don’t overdo it on the first day
Your legs are fresh and you are hungry for the leg burn so it’s easy to go full gas on the first day.
But how often do you ride 5, 6 or more days consecutively? So trust me when I say there will be ample time to “empty the tank” later on in your trip. We have never had a guest request more riding at the end of a cycling tour and plenty jump in the van due to too much effort expended early on.
3. Eat, eat and then eat some more
You are burning a lot of calories when you are riding every day and you need to put those in as quickly as possible. Your cycling trip is not about losing weight but maximising your experience and that means eating as much as you can while being able to comfortably ride. I’m sure you’ve experienced the bonk, this should be avoided at all costs on your cycling tour so you can recover well and ride again the next day.
4. Challenge yourself on some climbs and sit up and enjoy others.
Let’s face it, you and I are not going to make it in the professional cycling world. So whilst we love checking out our Strava times it’s also so much more emjoyable to sit up and take in the views on some climbs. Even converse with other cyclists on the way up. The next one you push on will be an even better time for it.
5. If you bring your own bike get a full service before travelling.
A snapped chain, badly indexed gears and worst of all a dirty bike are common with our tour guests who bring their own bike. Do you have a spare 9 speed cassette?! We advise renting a high quality and new each year rental bike for your cycling tour with us.
But if you can’t part ways with your steed don’t be that person who holds the group up with mechanicals and support your local bike shop in the process.
