Cycling allows you to visit a place up close and slowly. It allows you to always look around and experience a place more intimately than taking a bus or a taxi. You can see more street life and experience people's daily experience. It is also a more appropriate and healthier way for people to return after the holidays.
Cycling has become a convenient way to travel through towns or long distances in many Western countries. In Europe, Canada, and the United States, people invest in the renovation of old railways, build bicycle lanes, and draw bicycle lanes on busy roads. In Asia and Africa, the situation is completely different. In China, Vietnam and India, bicycles are a common means of transportation. Cycling in these places has decreased and is considered to be the behavior of the past economic poverty period. Cycling in these countries has rebounded due to traffic congestion and health advantages. Especially in China. Even in India, cycling is beginning to be accepted by a part of the middle class.
In Africa, bicycles have been ostracized for a long time, even though they have become a cheap way to travel locally.
For tourists and explorers, there are some suitable or unsuitable places to ride, but many places are not inaccessible by bicycles.
learn
Travel route
You can travel by yourself or follow a commercial tour guide. These have all the advantages of arranging logistics and accommodation. Usually, the luggage can be stored separately in the delivery van, but the price is expensive.
City sightseeing tour
Mountain bike
Mountain bikeThere are separate entries. Exciting rides are possible in mountainous and inaccessible places, but you need to prepare suitable bicycles.
Maps and routes
Cycling information and routes can usually be found on the Internet, usually from local websites. OpenStreetMap has individually layered cycling routes collected by users in theirMain site, And the cycling map can passDownload to Garmin deviceCome and install it on your bike. Many applications for smartphones can take advantage of OSM.
Google Maps also has a separate layered cycling route and is obtained by Android phones.
Recommendations for cycling
Here are when you plan to travel for a long timeTips and suggestions。
destination
You can ride a bike anywhere, but in some places it is more suitable or convenient to ride a bike. Here are some more popular destinations and routes for reference.
Africa
Bicycles are no longer prosperous in Africa. This seems to be due to the poorly designed infrastructure in most cities, and the perception that bicycles give locals the danger or poverty is closely related. Even in the more developedSouth AfricaThe same is true, onlyCape TownA few bicycle lanes have been built.
Cycling across the African continent is very challenging. Heat waves, diseases, and wildlife threats, road barriers, and bicycle maintenance and replenishment problems all bring uncertainties to experience the vast and extraordinary cultural landscape.
Asia
China
Bicycles still occupies a certain proportion of Chinese roads, but because of the chaotic traffic, it is necessary to pay attention to the road conditions at all times. Some cities such asBeijing、ShanghaiwithSuzhouHave a complete infrastructure for bicycles, justShanghaiandSuzhouThere are 70 kilometers of bicycle lanes in between. As forHongkongBecause bicycles are not considered as a commuting tool, compared with mainland China, there are fewer bicycles, but the local government is currently building a network of bicycle tracks across the New Territories.MacaoBecause bicycles cannot travel between Macau Peninsula and Taipa Colo by land, fewer people use it to travel, but you can still consider using bicycles to roam in Taipa Colo or Macau Peninsula.
Yunnan-Tibet HighwayIn recent years, it has been particularly popular among cyclists and has become a hot spot for bicycle tourism. However, because China stipulates that non-citizens (including Taiwan) must have a "Letter of Entry into Tibet" to enter Tibet, those who do not have a permit may have access restrictions at the end of the route.
Japan
Japan is a place worth traveling with iron horses. Drivers are generally more polite than other countries or regions. They ride bicycles in some cities (such as:Kyoto、OsakaEtc.) very common.
Shimanami KaidoIt is a famous bicycle route connecting Honshu, Japan and Shikoku. It starts from Imabari City to Onomichi City. The whole journey is about 80 kilometers.
Taiwan
TaiwanIt is moving towards a bicycle-friendly environment. With the round-the-island line 1 connecting various bicycle paths, the island’s bicycle road network has exceeded 7,000 kilometers, but it is still necessary to pay attention to poor local traffic habits. CurrentlyTaipei、Xinbei、Peach orchard、Hsinchu、Miaoli、Taichung、Changhua、Tainan、Kaohsiung、Pingtungas well asGolden GateThere are public bicycle rental systems, and you can rent bicycles with e-tickets or credit cards.
Bicycle round the island, Dongjin Wuling (New City-Hehuan Mountain, with a cumulative climb of about 3,500 meters), and the North High Twin Towers (Fuguijiao Lighthouse-Eluanbi Lighthouse, about 520 kilometers) are popular routes for iron horse travel. In addition, various groups organize high-intensity challenge events every year in the local area, such as: "International Free Car Ring-Taiwan Road Race」、「Taiwan KOM Challenge」、「NeverStop-Never Give Up Series"Wait.
Thailand
Shamon LoopIs a selfChiang MaiThe route from the urban area to the west into the mountainous area and then back to the urban area is about 100 kilometers long and is very popular among cyclists and motorcycle enthusiasts.
Equipment
The basic equipment for cycling is divided into three categories: protective equipment, cycling tools, and maintenance tools. They are equipped according to the type of exercise, distance, and cycling environment. The most basic equipment includes pumps, gloves, raincoats, panniers, and water bottles. To carry out long-distance sports, you must fully master the maintenance skills, be equipped with maintenance kits, spare brake shoes and inner tubes, and carry tire repair tools, pumps, and brake cables.
- Protective tools: basic tools include sun hats, raincoats, water bottles, gloves, sunglasses, knee and elbow protectors, and other equipment including rain boot covers, spare rubber shoes, safety helmets, waterproof bags, etc. Auxiliary appliances include carry-on bag, stretch rope, backpack rain cover, and plastic cloth.
- Cycling equipment: basic equipment is backpack and pannier. Others include night traveling tools such as car lights and other lighting equipment. Other equipment includes speedometer. According to actual needs, the rear rack pannier bag, front rack pannier bag and front handle bag are equipped. .
- Maintenance tools: The basic equipment is an air pump. Long-distance sports should also be equipped with tire repair tools, grease, rear and front axles, steel balls, hand pliers, bicycle wrenches, a complete set of Torx and open-ended screwdrivers, and various screws and nuts. , Brake strips, brake pads, inner tubes, transmissions, car chains.
For long-distance bicycle trips, you must also be equipped with medicines, washing utensils, and carry clothes, documents, etc. In addition, according to actual needs, choose to equip camping equipment including tents, sleeping bags, moisture-proof cushions, air pillows, lighting appliances, cooking and dining appliances, communication, video and photographing equipment, maps and other recording supplies.