You are two times more likely to die on your bike, at least in the United States. This isn’t the case everywhere in the world, though. Many cities are designed as much around bicycles as they are cars, and it makes traveling abroad much more exciting and exhilarating.
Unfortunately, bicycling abroad isn’t as easy as just booking a flight and cruising down city roads; you need to properly prepare for your trip. Hopefully, the information below will help you do just that.
Get it Ready to Go
While it may seem strange, you likely need to pack up your bike for the trip and be ready to unpack it once you get to your destination. You’ll also need to decide whether you’ll be taking it on the plane with you as extra luggage or shipping it to your destination with the help of a shipping company. Each has its ups and downs.
Shipping your bike can be a great option if you’re not comfortable putting it back together for whatever reason since you could send it to a bike shop and pay for it to do that part for you. You also won’t have to carry your bike through the airport and all of its security checks or risk it being lost for whatever reason, which is definitely nice. However, shipping can take a while and be quite expensive.
If you don’t mind a bit more effort for a cheaper option, then maybe bringing your bike to the airport in a bike case is a better option. You can inform the airline ahead of time of your important luggage and they’ll reserve the space for it and do everything they can to make sure you get it back when you land. This does mean, though, that you have to lug it through the airport and security.
While carrying an assembled bike isn’t much of a problem, the bag itself may be heavy and it’s much more difficult to carry a lot of small pieces, no matter how light they may be. No matter which method you use, make sure to keep all of the tools you’ll need for reassembly with the bike; you may need them for emergencies during your trip.
Prepare for Trouble When Bicycling Abroad
Now, your bike is all packed and ready for its journey. It’s your turn to get ready. You need to be prepared for things to go wrong and your bike to need to be repaired. You’ll need to make sure your main luggage contains some really important stuff, like a bike repair kit and a small toolbox. If you can, also consider bringing a bike pump.
Once you’ve landed and have your bike back, rebuild it if necessary and look it over. Specifically, check the tire pressure, brakes, and chain. Start with the tire by attaching a bike pump to each one, finding the suggested pressure written on each tire’s side, and matching the measured PSI to that number.
Once the wheels are good, make sure the brakes are in good condition. Check the brake pads for wear and tear and that they function correctly. Finally, check the chain. Turn the pedals and make sure that both the chain itself and all of the gears move as intended.
After you’ve completed the pre-ride checks, don’t forget to put a bike repair kit in your backpack and make sure to never ride without it nearby.
Wear Safety Equipment
Some people don’t like wearing safety equipment while cycling. They may not like the way it feels or how it looks. Don’t be one of these people; they are putting themselves in grave danger. Always wear your safety gear when riding, even for short trips.
Start by wearing your helmet. If it’s uncomfortable or doesn’t fit then go to a bike store to get a new one. The employees may be able to help you find the best one for you.
Then, install reflectors onto your bike. These will reflect lights like headlights and make it clear that there’s someone nearby, so they need to be careful.
Finally, always wear reflective clothing. This outfit will do the same as the reflectors and help keep you even more safe. However, you cannot replace bike reflectors with reflective clothing or vice versa; you need to have both.
Pay Attention When Bicycling Abroad
The best thing you can do when riding your bicycle is to pretend that you’re in a car and stay alert. Many road hazards, like sudden road texture changes, potholes, or even roadkill, are much more dangerous to you than to someone in a car.
What may be a simple quick bump in a car could cause you to flip and get hurt. Also, pay close attention to any parked cars you pass; you wouldn’t want to get hit by a car door.
The biggest thing to remember when cycling is that not only are you still riding a vehicle, but you are also more at risk than if you were in a truck, SUV, or other vehicle. This means you have to pay even more attention to the road than they do, so you should keep your phone securely in your pocket or bag.
While this can be annoying sometimes, at least you’ll be able to fully appreciate the beauty of your surroundings.
Learn How to Communicate
Bicycling is not only a great way to get exercise, it can vastly improve any trip, but it has one massive downside: no built-in signaling.
Whether you’re slowing down, stopping, or whatever else, there is no way for the bike itself to communicate this to those around you. You need to learn bike signals in order to compensate for this fact. Luckily, these signs are really easy to learn and understand.
Before turning, you need to fully extend your arm in the direction that you’re turning, so put out your left arm a short while before you turn left and do the same with your right arm for right turns. Sometimes, though, the right signal is done by holding your left arm up and bending your elbow to a ninety-degree angle, making sure your hand is up.
The slowing/stopping signal is very similar to this alternative turning signal, though the hand must be down instead of up. Make sure to practice using these symbols during your rides at home before traveling, or you may find yourself in some rough situations.
