Touring: Route-Planning Basics

Touring: Route-Planning Basics fter you've decided what kind of tour you would like, the next step is to select an appropriate route to follow. The route you choose will determine—to a large degree—the challenges you face, the obstacles you encounter and the experiences you enjoy along the way.

Take time to plan your first few tours in detail. Don't plan trips that exceed your physical limits. Loop trips are best. Not every cycling route is suitable for every rider. Try to find out all you can about your route before you leave home. Plan for the following in your research: Avoid route hazards like high-traffic areas, long tunnels or narrow bridges. Stay on track and avoid route mix-ups and delays. Avoid the things that make touring hard, like difficult terrain or poorly maintained roads. Save money by budgeting more effectively and avoiding unplanned expenses. Reduce stress by limiting the number of on-tour decisions you have to make.

Design a Specific Route

It's time to narrow down your search to a general geographic region or two (based on the interests and skills of your touring companions). Once you've done this, you'll be ready to search for a specific route within that area. Touring cyclists disagree on how much route planning should be done prior to the beginning of a tour. Some believe that plans should be as detailed as possible (to cut down on confusion and hassles along the way). Others prefer the freedom of making some decisions as they ride. Neither approach is more "correct" than the other. But if you're just getting started in bike touring, develop relatively detailed route plans for your first several tours. This will reduce problems out on the road and let you develop basic touring skills without much decision-making along the way. Street-by-street, turn-by-turn plans are rarely necessary, especially on short tours in familiar surroundings.

Decide on an Overall Length

If you're a beginner, start out with short, easy trips close to home. This will help you get used to the basic challenges of touring in relative safety. Use such tries to decide if you really enjoy touring before you plan any major excursions or spend too much money. You'll have plenty of time to get more adventurous after you have a few tours under your belt. A number of things can affect how fast you and your riding companions can travel during a tour—the wind, the weather, the terrain and the road conditions are just a few. Cyclists ride at different speeds, too. So coming up with a specific number of miles to cover during a trip can be difficult. To avoid mileage problems, plan conservatively. Base your daily distance estimates on the skills and the physical abilities of the group's least experienced cyclist(s). Include time for rest and relaxation in your plans (both are important for safe, comfortable touring) as well as time for non cycling activities like exploring, sightseeing, eating and so on. Long trips can be great fun, as long as everyone knows their own limitations and stays within them. Just remember: Attempting to cover too much ground can result in sore muscles, bad moods and missed opportunities along the way.

Decide on a Basic Route Shape

Bike touring routes typically fall into one of three different "shape" categories. The shape of a bike touring route can have a significant effect on how long a tour takes, how much it costs and how much logistical effort it requires. Cyclists typically choose between the three options based on the time and the transportation available to them. Point-to-Point These tours start at Point A and end at Point B. Positives: They allow riders to cover new terrain during their entire trip. Negatives: They require return transportation. Cars can either be shuttled into position before the ride, or a driver who's not riding can drop riders off or pick them up. Out-and-Back This type of tour starts at Point A, travels to Point B, then returns along the same route. Positives: No additional transportation is needed, since riders start and finish in the same place. Negatives: Most or all of the route is repeated on the return trip. Don't forget: Downhills and tailwinds in one direction become uphills and headwinds in the other. Loop Loop routes start at Point A and end at Point A, but they do not overlap during the trip. Positives: Loop routes combine the positives of the two types listed above. Negatives: Good loop routes are usually harder to plan than other types.