The words “bike tour” might evoke images of multi-day cross-country trips on heavy steel touring bikes loaded down with panniers. But a bike tour can be anything from a spontaneous single-day adventure right outside your own front door to a carefully planned overnighter. No matter the season, taking off on a bicycle for the day is an inexpensive way to get out and have some fun.
Exploring by bike without getting too far from home not only gives you access to areas you may not see otherwise but also lets you test your gear and boost your comfort level on the road. As your confidence and experience grow, you might start thinking about doing multiple day trips from a base camp at a destination away from home or eventually ramping up to an overnight stay—under a roof or under the stars. (If you’re not familiar with the area, find a local cycling group or bike shop, both of which are good sources to tap into for suggested routes or even places to avoid.)
THE EXPERT
Carolyne Whelan removed her training wheels in 1988 and never stopped pedaling. She has ridden down the West Coast of the U.S. and along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to Mexico. She has canvassed much of the East Coast, taken single- and multiday trips in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and New England, and explored swimming holes and nature preserves all around the country and beyond. Whelan is the editor-in-chief at Adventure Cyclist.
If you’re ready to extend your rides beyond your usual hour-long loop on familiar roads, all you need is a time commitment and your bike. Yes, your bike! The one that’s sitting in your garage right now. While there are dedicated touring and adventure bikes, equipped with racks for panniers and multiple mounting points for bottle cages and bags, as long as your bike is roadworthy and/or trail-worthy and comfortable, you’re all set. That said, no matter how ad-lib you want to be, if your current bike is not in good working order, you’re out of luck. At the very least, take it to your local bike shop for a tune-up so that when you do want to be spontaneous, you won’t be met with poorly shifting gears and dry-rotted tires.
How much planning you put into your day is up to you. You might roll out the door on a Saturday morning with a few bucks and a café in mind as your midpoint break, or you might head out with a packed lunch and a GPS or phone to map out a route on the fly. Either way, always let someone know your general location, and think twice about heading out if there’s a threat of bad weather.
No matter how you choose to approach the day, you’ll need a place to keep essentials like a spare tube or patch kit, a minipump or CO2, a multitool, food and water, and maybe a lock and a set of lights. You likely won’t need more than a small seat bag, top-tube bag, or handlebar bag—or some combination of the three. Unless you want to pack more than you think you’ll need, this is not the time to weigh your bike down with panniers, an extra-large seat pack, or a full-size frame bag.
To get started, plan for your first bike tour to be a daylong trip. Set aside five to six hours and anticipate riding 30 to 40 miles. That’s 10 miles an hour with time left over to stop for lunch, take a detour, dip into a watering hole, and allow for anything unpredictable. Use my packing guide below to make sure you have everything you need for your next single-day adventure.
Must-Have Essentials for a Daylong Bike Tour
Planet Bike Planet Bike Shiner 70 Bike Tail Light
Even if you don’t think you’ll be out at dawn or dusk, it’s better to be prepared than not. The Planet Bike Shiner 70 Bike Tail Light gives you a better chance of being seen from behind.
Adjust bottle cages, brake levers, and more with the Topeak Alien II. Its 31 functions include 8 Allen wrench sizes, spoke and Torx wrenches, two integrated tire levers, and flat and Phillips screwdrivers.
Oveja Negra Oveja Negra ½ Pack Frame Bag
This half-frame bag tucks inside the triangle of any bike’s frame with room leftover on the seat and down tubes for water bottles. It’s U.S.A.-made with a waterproof layer. Six attachment points ensure it stays put.
Patagonia Patagonia Houdini Jacket
For rides lasting longer than two hours, carry at least three 16-ounce bottles of water. For an added electrolyte boost, bring along Nuun Sport: Electrolyte Drink Tablets.
Portland Design Works Portland Design Works Lars Rover Power 850
The Portland Design Works Lars Rover Power 850 headlight helps you see what lies ahead. It offers five modes: steady low, steady medium, steady high, fast flashing, and pulse.
Revelate Designs Revelate Designs Spinelock Seat Bag
The low-profile Spinelock bag resists side-to-side sway so it's ideal for those who spend time off-road. Cam buckles prevent side straps from slipping while a quick-release pin makes bag removal easy.
Castelli Castelli Difesa Thermal Cap
For cooler weather, consider packing a cycling cap. The Castelli Difesa Thermal Cap is made of Windstopper fabric and extends over the ears for added warmth.
combocube Bandanas
A bandana comes in handy for everything from keeping track of bolts on a roadside repair to wiping sweat from your eyes and grease from your hands.
Bontrager Bontrager Flat Pack
Flats happen so you’ll need a kit for emergency repairs. This all-in-one pack includes a minipump, multitool, three tire levers, patch kit, and seat pack for storage.
Swift Industries Swift Industries Paloma Handlebar Bag
A classic design that mounts onto the handlebar with the Klickfix Handlebar Adapter, the Paloma bag requires no support rack.
Carolyne Whelan removed her training wheels in 1988 and never stopped pedaling. She has ridden down the West Coast of the U.S. and along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to Mexico. She has canvassed much of the East Coast, taken single- and multiday trips in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and New England, and explored swimming holes and nature preserves all around the country and beyond. Whelan is the editor-in-chief at Adventure Cyclist.
