Starting Touring

 

Cycle touring is one of the most satisfying ways to travel: it’s just you, your bike and the space around you. Give it a try and you’ll soon find your bike begging you for more.

Getting involved could be as simple as spending the weekend with your mates camping and riding trails, or as epic as taking off with your treadly for a solo mission through unchartered territory. Credit card touring requires little luggage, but you can only do this where towns are close enough together that you’ve got somewhere to stay overnight. For the more adventurous, self-supported touring is the way to go, where your bike transports yourself and your luggage for as long as you can keep on pedalling.

To start your planning, think about where you want to go, what kind of cycling you want to do, and how long you want to get going for. Purpose-built cycle trails, such as rail trails or off-road trails, are a great starting point, as they usually have towns and accommodation along the way and you can break the cycling up into smaller distances. Check out the Otago Central Rail Trail in NZ, or the Mawson Trail in

South Australia.

Along with yourself, your bike will be your means of travel, so you’ll need to decide how you and your bike carry your gear. Panniers are sturdy bags that mount onto racks over the back and front wheels, and it’s surprising how much gear you can fit into them. Another way to carry your gear is by towing a trailer that mounts onto the rear axel of your bike. This is great if you need to carry more gear, or if you’re travelling over rough terrain. It also means you can unhitch the trailer once you reach camp, if you need to jump on your bike to go into town or explore more trails unhindered.

And if you’re keen to give it a go, but not so sure about going solo, then why not join a fully supported cycle tour? Travel Collective operate tours across New Zealand and Australia, with brands Ecotrek, ROC Tours and The Adventure Collective offering a range of options for great cycling holidays. From supported rail trail tours on the Otago Central Rail Trail, to outback 4WD and MTB tours through Australia’s Red Centre, Kakadu, the Daintree and the Kimberley, to indulgent cycling and wine tours, there’s something to suit all levels of cycling ability, fitness and adventure!

More information can be found here:

www.travelcollectivegroup.com
www.adventurecollective.com.au
www.ecotrek.com.au / www.ecotrek.co.nz
www.cycletours.com.au