This article is a travel topic.

Cycling is often considered the ultimate form of travelling, as it is the fastest way to travel by human power, but is slow enough to allow for the type of local immersion that is impossible with mechanized travel. The low cost of cycle tripping (usually just food and accommodation) is also attractive.

Multi-continental trips are relatively common, such as from tip to tip of the Americas, but cycling can also be enjoyed in month-, week-, or even weekend-long trips. Some routes, such as the Karakoram Highway, are extremely challenging, but safer and easier routes are also available.

Itinerary

How much distance should I cover?

On level terrain and in the absence of headwind, a cyclist of average fitness on a touring bike can comfortably cover 60-100 km a day, depending on the number and length of stops. Distances of up to 200 km a day are feasible, but anything beyond 100 km will require considerable physical strain and not allow many stops to enjoy the things on they way. 80 km a day is the optimal distance to aim for, as it will give you a sense of achievement and also leave enough time to stop for meals and activities.

For a seven day itinerary, aim to cover about 400 km. It is a good idea to take a break on the third or fourth day, to allow sore buttocks and leg muscles to recover, perhaps stopping in a city or engaging in a different outdoor activity, such as kayaking or swimming.

Geography

Avoid hilly terrain if you can help it. If you do choose an itineary through steep hills, bear in mind that this will greatly reduce your range, to as little as 20 km a day. Watch the altitude lines on your map closely, both for gradients and total altitude differences. Gradients of more than about 5% are difficult to overcome on a laden touring bike. A rule of thumb is that for every 100 metres of altitude you climb, you should add an extra 15 min to your journey time. Don't try to climb more than a total of about 1000 m a day, as it will take its toll on your body.

In hilly or mountainous regions, the best routes for cycling are downstream along major rivers, as they are normally fairly level and slightly downhill all the way. It is normally better to choose a long, roundabout route along a river than a short, direct route over a hill or mountain pass.

Try to avoid motor traffic as much as you can. Not only is it dangerous to share the road with large numbers of cars, it will also reduce the quality of your trip. Always choose the minor roads over trunk roads. Don't plan your cycle trip in a densely populated region, unless it is in a country that offers exceptionally good cycling facilities, such as The Netherlands or Denmark. Stay away from larger cities unless they offer good cycle paths.

Equip

Cycling for extended periods requires somewhat more than a basic set of wheels, and both comfort and convenience can be improved with a few standard add-ons.

• A kick stand adds weight, but can be handy in places where it's impossible or inconvenient to park your bike against a wall or post (especially if you've got heavy saddlebags).
• For mountain-bikes, horn-style handlebar extensions can reduce fatigue and act as impromptu racks for light items like clothing and helmets.
• An odometer is essential for long tours when you need to gauge distance traveled against maps and road signs. Make sure it can be calibrated in local units (miles in the United States, kilometers everywhere else).
• Unless you're a very light packer, you'll want a set of panniers to put your gear in. Backpacks raise your center of gravity and will kill your back over time, so a rack with bags mounted on either side of your rear wheel is a much better alternative.
• Take specialist cycling maps of the area you plan to cover, and a compass to navigate them. Cycling maps are often also included in cycling travel guides. If cycling maps aren't available, use maps at a scale of 1:50,000.
• A wifi-, UMTS- and GPS-equipped PDA is a wonderful piece of equipment for longer cycle tours. It will set you back about $600, but offers several advatages: a) You won't need to take large numbers of maps with you, adding to weight and cost. b) As your position is displayed on the map in real time, you don't need to make frequent stops to look for directions, and you're less likely to cycle the wrong way c) It doubles as an altimeter and odometer d) You don't need to take a heavy paper travel guide e) You can browse the internet while you're on the move, even in more remote areas, which allows you to book accommodation in advance, book train tickes, look up phone numbers, check the weather forecast, and write your travel blog. PDAs can be attached to the handlebars using special brackets; make sure you encase it in sealed, water-proof plastic cover.

Pack

Every piece of extra weight you pack is going to require extra energy to move around. That said, there are some essentials you want to pack:

• These days a lock is mandatory in most most parts of the world. A small D-lock is prefered by some as it's compact, hard to break, and suitable for locking the bike to a solid object; others prefer cable locks which, although not as strong, allow you to lock up your bike to a wider variety of things.
• A repair kit, pump and spare inner tubes.
• Bottles for storing water in. You can also get backpacks with a large bladder you can fill with water: these have a tube that sits on your shoulder so that you can sip water easily.
• You will also need camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, bedroll) if you're not intending to stay in a town each night, and/or want to minimize costs.
• Cooking equipment (stove, pots, utensils) is used by some to avoid restaurant eating, although it is common to buy ready-to-eat groceries.

Wear

There is a variety of cycling-specific clothing that can make your trip much more comfortable and/or safe:

• Helmet. Required by law in some jurisdictions. Although some studies question their value, they are widely recommended as an important safety precaution. They also offer additional protection from the sun.
• Jacket. Wind- and water-proof layer for protection from precipitation and cooler temperatures.
• Cycling shorts. These are special shorts with padding around the crotch to increase comfort and reduce chafing.
• Tights. For cooler weather than shorts; more comfortable than pants and less likely to get caught in drivetrain. Usually come with reflective markings on ankle.
• Gloves. Usually padded to minimize pressure on hands during long rides. Use cut-off style for warmer temperatures, full-finger for cooler.
• Glasses. Protection from the sun is better for the long term health of your eyes and makes for a more comfortable ride. Switchable lenses allow you to use the best lens colour for different conditions (such as yellow for cloud cover or clear for nocturnal riding).

Stay safe

There are some simple and important precautions you should take when planning a bicycle trip:

• Familiarise yourself with basic repairs, in particular with patching tires and replacing inner tubes.
• Make sure you're carrying enough water: you may consume around 1 liter per hour of cycling.
• Even when cycling under cloud cover, sunscreen is essential to protect your skin in the short term (sunburns) and the long term (skin cancer). If you're not wearing gloves, take particular care to apply suncreen to the hands regularly.

Eat

Breakfast

• Oats flavoured with honey or banana, hot drinks such as coffee, and fruit.

Lunch

• Packet noodles, fruit, bread, biscuits, hot drinks.

Snacks

• Energy foods (such as bars and gels), fruit (bananas and apples are popular choices), muesli bars.

Drinks

• Water or an electrolyte replacement "sports drink" that you can have while you are on the road.

Dinner

• Fresh meat, vegetable dishes, pasta, and rice are sustaining choices.

Get in

Getting your bicycle to the start of your intended cycle route can be an adventure in itself. You will need to do some research in advance about which carriers let you take your bicycle on board.

• Airlines may require any or all of the following: that you fix the pedals in position; that you deflate your tires; or that you pack your bicycle in a special box (Most bikeshops are happy to give you the sturdy cardbord box bicycles are delivered to them in). Airlines vary about permitting a bicycle as a free item of checked baggage: some allow this, some require that you pay an extra fee for bicycles as difficult to handle or oversize baggage; or as sporting equipment. Shop around before buying a ticket. In almost all cases you need to inform the airline in advance that you wish to check a bicycle. Read the regulations yourself before checking in, as the airline's staff may attempt to charge you when the bicycle should be carried for free.
• Trains often have strictly limited space for bicycles, usually two or less per carriage. Some services do not carry them at all. If the train requires that you book a seat, you will need to inform them that you are carrying a bicycle at the time of booking. If you're travelling on a service that doesn't require booking avoid peak times; many commuter services either charge extra for bicycles at peak times, or simply do not have room in the carriages for bicycles.
• Buses are less likely to carry bicycles than trains. Usually the bus will need to be a coach with a luggage compartment at the bottom of the bus, and there will often only be room for one or two bicycles. Buses may also require a bike to be dismantled and placed in a case or box. Again, check at the time of booking.