Cycling allows you to see places up close and at a slower pace. It keeps you aware of your surroundings and you can experience a place more intimately than you would as a bus or taxi passenger. You will see more of life on the street and you will meet people who are dedicated to their daily activities. It's also a great way to return from your vacation fitter and healthier than when you left, and it puts less strain on the environment.
Understand
It is by riding a bicycle that you better learn the contours of a country, as you have to climb the hills and descend them
The bicycle can be used as a vehicle for transport, as well as equipment sports.
For tourists and adventurers, there are definitely better and worse places to ride a bike, but there are not many places that cannot be reached by bicycle. The good news is that cycling is becoming easier in many Western countries for both city commuting and long-distance travel. In Europe, Canada and the United States, money is being spent on converting old railways, building dedicated bike lanes, and installing bike lanes on busy roads. In Asia and Africa, the pattern is very different. In China, Vietnam, and India, cycling was often the dominant mode of transportation. Here, cycling is in decline and has been considered a sign of past poverty. There are some signs of a return to cycling in these countries, due to congestion and the health benefits, particularly in China. Even in India, cycling is starting to benefit as it is embraced by the middle classes. Surprisingly, cycling has long been marginalized in Africa, despite being a cheap way to provide local mobility.
Urban cycling
Urban cycling is bicycle transportation in urbanized areas. The accessibility of bicycles varies greatly from city to city.
Some cities have designated bike lanes and even bike-sharing programs for short-term bike rentals, mostly cheaper and more convenient to get around than ordinary bike rentals. See bike rental then.
Tourist cycling
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Cycle tourism is cycling as a means of transport over long distances, for one or several days. Sightseeing is quite a popular type of adventure vacation, and you can find plenty of blogs detailing people's experiences, independently pedaling in places that you really wouldn't expect.
Properly packed bicycles can be carried in most of the trains, ferries and planes, and sometimes even on buses. In some countries, a bicycle can often be carried as is.
You can tour it yourself or you can go with a commercial guided tour. These have the advantage of making all the logistics and accommodation arrangements and usually carrying your luggage in a van, but they can be very expensive.
Sport cycling
Cycling can also be practiced as sport amateur. There are annual events open all over the world, such as Vätternrundan, part of the Swedish Classic Circuit.
Cycling is also practiced as a professional sport, with the pinnacle of this sport being the Three Grand Tours, namely the Tour of Spain, the Giro d'Italia and the most prestigious of all, the Tour de France, all of which are broadcast on TV. Cycling is also disputed in the Olympic Games, where it is divided into four disciplines: road cycling, track cycling, mountain biking and BMX.
To get
In some cases, a traveler can bring a bicycle from home; Generally, it is necessary to turn or remove the handlebars and pedals to place the bicycle in a "bicycle box" for transport on a bus or intercity train. Airlines can accommodate bicycles or not; The exact policies vary and change so much that you should check directly with your airline.
the bike
There are several models of bicycles. Those most frequently used for personal transportation are:
- A utility bike It is a traditional bicycle model suitable for urban cycling. It usually ships with a hood, bracket, luggage rack, and other gear not found on racers and mountain bikes. It has a simple gear system or it has no gears at all.
- A racing bicycle It is made for road cycling, usually with narrow tires inflated under high pressure, which becomes uncomfortable even with small bumps on the road. Often built for light weight above all else.
- A Mountain bike it is made for off-road cycling. If they are equipped with lights, bell and other safety equipment, they are also useful for urban cycling.
- A electric bicycle It has a back-up electric motor. They may or may not be legal on bike trails depending on local laws and the speed at which the power assist is turned off.
- A electric kickbike may be available in some shared bike schemes, and a very casual option for urban cycling.
- A 'personal transporter ' It is an electric personal vehicle, including brands such as Segway and Hoverboard. In many jurisdictions, they are classified as bicycles.
- A beach cruise it has very wide tires and is better suited to loose soils and lower speeds. Some shared use bikes are included in this category.
- A thick bike it has even wider tires, for loose soils.
- A rickshaw It is used to transport one or more passengers, generally as a passenger service. cab.
There is also usually a difference between "men's bicycles" and "women's bicycles". The main difference is in the frame, which is better suited to riding with a skirt in the case of women's bikes. Sometimes they may have slightly different saddles too, but if you plan to spend a lot of time in the saddle, you should get one that will individually fit you.
Bike rental
Instead of bringing your own bike, you can rent one in most cities, for a few hours, a day, or more. The hourly rate tends to drop rapidly as the rental time increases. Places to ask include bike shops, tourist businesses, and tourist information points. Think in advance what type of bicycle and what equipment you need. Some companies charge extra for racks, headlights and locks even when they are more or less necessary. Some equipment you think is necessary may not be readily available.
There are two fundamentally different brake systems: hand brakes and foot brakes. The former are used on almost all sports bikes, while the latter are those used on robust gearless bikes. Three-speed bikes (for everyday use) also have foot brakes, often supplemented with a handbrake for the front wheel. If you are only used to one system, be careful if you rent one with the other, at least until your reflexes work.
Similarly, there are internal gears (on three-speed bikes) and external gears. Shifting gears requires slightly different techniques (stopping your feet for a moment or moving them gently while changing gears).
Sometimes it is cheaper to buy a used bike locally than to bring your own or rent one. These may be available, e.g. Eg at thrift stores, pawn shops, and yard sales. Many cities also have semi-regular auctions for abandoned bicycles on the street, which can be good bargains, but are often frequented by professional resellers who drive prices. Check the condition, as fixing any faults can be inconvenient and time-consuming when you don't have the necessary tools, and new parts can easily cost as much as the bike itself.
In some cases, buying a new bicycle may be an option, if you know that you will find what you are looking for and are going to take a longer journey. Bikes drastically use value from "new" to "used" even after just a couple hundred kilometers or a few months of use, so trying to sell a used bike will almost always pay you a significant loss on price. initial purchase; don't base your budget on getting the majority of your investment back on a new bike.
Routes and maps
Information and cycling routes are often found online, often on the websites of local authorities. OpenStreetMap has available user-compiled cycling routes rendered as a layer on your main website, and cycling route maps available for download on Garmin devices that you can ride on your bike. There are many applications that can be downloaded to smartphones that take advantage of OSM data.
Google Maps also has bike route layers for many places and Android phones already include it.
Cycling organizations
Similar to motorcyclists, cyclists have formed associations for mutual assistance and political lobbying shortly after the invention of modern cycling. In fact, some organizations date back to before the first motorist associations. In addition to advocacy, they often offer roadside assistance, maps for cycling trips, lists of "bike-friendly" accommodations, discounts with their partners, and a newsletter. Other minor benefits may also be included. The most important associations usually exist in countries with a healthy cycling tradition and most European cycling clubs cooperate in the European Cycling Federation. In the United States, League of American Bicyclists which was founded (under a different name) in 1880 is the leading cycling organization nationwide.
Many cycling organizations assess the "bike fitness" of cities at regular intervals. Cities are judged based on criteria such as public policies, availability of facilities, general attitude towards cycling, and other factors. As these reports are intended to shape public policy, they are generally available free of charge in their entirety. They are a good resource for determining where cycling is easy and where it is challenging.