Wheels 101: How To Prepare For A Bike Trip
Ah, the age-old question: how fit do I need to be to do a bike trip? One of our most commonly asked questions, our answer is: you don’t have to be an athlete in any way to complete a B&R bike trip.
We’ve been doing this for over 50 years, and we’re big on everyone marching to the beat of their own drum. We believe that you should go at whatever speed suits you: slow, fast or something in between. No matter what speed you plan to go, it’s a good idea to train prior to your trip to get the most out of it.
Our best bit of advice is this: get out and ride! Spending some dedicated time on your bike before your trip will help avoid overly sore muscles, lessen fatigue and acclimatize to life on two wheels. Below we've shared some important tips to help you prepare for your next B&R biking or e-biking trip:
Bike Safety - Before Your Trip
As mentioned above, the best way to prepare for your trip is to simply get out on your bike! We recommend riding outdoors for a few hours per week for the month leading up to your trip, increasing the time spent riding the closer you get to your departure date, and adding in some cross-training activities such as strength training, yoga or Pilates.
We highly recommend getting outside on your bike as often as possible—spin classes are great for cardio, but don’t give you much practice for handling and braking, which are important skills you’ll need to stay comfortable and safe on your B&R trip. Don’t forget to keep hydrated throughout your activities, stretch afterwards, and leave ample time to recover.
Above all, make sure you enjoy the ride!
Activity Levels
Here are our recommendations for getting ready for your bike trip, based on your trip’s activity level. Regardless of your trip type, be sure to include a few hills on your route to practice your climbing and descending skills.
Level 1 (Occasional)
“I’m in relatively good shape but I haven’t been on a bike since my last B&R trip.”
- 1 month before the trip: 1-2 rides weekly, each at least 25 km (15 mi.) or 2 hours in length.
- 2 weeks before your trip: 2-3 rides, including one longer ride of 40-55 km (25-35 mi.) or 3 hours in length.
- 1 week before your trip: recover and prepare for your adventure!
Level 2 (Recreational)
“I ride my bike once or twice a month and am very comfortable on two wheels.”
- 1 month before the trip: 1-2 rides weekly, each at least 25 km (15 mi.) or 2 hours in length.
- 2 weeks before your trip: 2-3 rides, including at least one longer ride of 40-55 km (25-35 mi.) or 3 hours in length.
- 1 week before your trip: recover and prepare for your adventure!
Level 3 (Enthusiast)
“I bike about once a week at home.”
- 1 month before the trip: 1-2 rides weekly, each at least 25 km (15 mi.) or 2 hours in length.
- 2 weeks before your trip: 2-3 rides, including at least one longer ride of 50-75 km (30-45 mi.) or 4 hours in length.
- 1 week before your trip: recover and prepare for your adventure!
- Include weekly cross-training, such as strength conditioning, yoga or Pilates.
Level 4 (Avid)
“I bike about two to three times a week at home.”
- 1 month before the trip: 2-3 rides weekly, each at least 40 km (25 mi.) or 3 hours in length.
- 2 weeks before your trip: 3-4 rides, including at least one longer ride of 50-75 km (30-45 mi.) or 4 hours in length.
- 1 week before your trip: recover and prepare for your adventure!
- Include weekly cross-training, such as strength conditioning, yoga or Pilates.
Level 5 (Expert)
"I ride my bike almost every day."
- 1 month before the trip: 2-3 rides weekly, each at least 40 km (25 mi.) or 3 hours in length.
- 2 weeks before your trip: 2-3 rides, including one longer ride of 75-100 km (45-60 mi.) or 5 hours in length.
- 1 week before your trip: recover and prepare for your adventure!
- Include weekly cross-training, such as strength conditioning, yoga or Pilates.
E-Bike Safety
B&R offers a portfolio of e-bike-only departures in destinations with more challenging terrain, so everyone can tackle steep inclines and roll along at the same speed. Below we've answered our most commonly-asked e-bike questions to help your prepare for your trip.
An e-bike is a conventional bicycle outfitted with a small motor that provides electrical assistance when riding. As you ride, the motor provides a boost of energy that aids your efforts, allowing you to ride faster and further than you could on a standard bike.
While they create the perfect opportunity for pedalling in hilly areas, it should be noted that e-bikes feel heavier than standard road bikes due to their build with batteries and electric motors. This means it may take some time to get used to the feel of the extra weight as you begin to ride.
If you've never used an e-bike, but have booked a B&R e-biking trip, we recommend renting one before your B&R trip to get a sense of the speed, weight and feel.
"“I’ve only ever ridden a standard bike. How quickly can I pick up riding an e-bike?”"
E-bikes are designed to be easy to use and, as long as you can ride a standard bike, it takes only a couple of minutes to get accustomed to the e-system.
To use an e-bike, simply turn it on using the power button, select your desired power mode on the display computer, and you’re ready to ride!
The gears, brakes and pedals work exactly the same as a standard bike, but be aware of the added torque an e-bike provides when you first start moving.
If you need to increase or decrease the power mode on the e-bike, including turning the bike off, you can toggle the buttons on the display computer without having to stop riding.
""How fast can I go on an e-bike?""
Almost all e-bikes are designed with a set speed limit that caps the power output at a designated speed–in Europe, this is 25km/h. This limit is a safety feature, but it’s important to note that it does not prevent a rider from going faster, it simply dictates that anything past the 25km/h limit must be 100% powered by the rider. This limit is typically designated by local jurisdiction, so it may vary in different parts of the world.
""How long will the battery last?""
An e-bike battery should last you all day on a B&R trip! Most good quality pedelec e-bikes have ratings around 120km (or about 75 mi.) of riding per charge, providing you’re using the lowest power mode. There are many factors that can impact battery charge, including wind, road conditions and elevation, but most riders can get through the day without worrying about it. We’ll always have spare batteries on hand if yours runs low!
""What model of e-bike does B&R offer?""
The type of e-bike you’ll receive on a B&R trip will depend on the region you’re travelling in, as we select bike models to suit regional needs and local terrain. Regardless of the region, we only offer lightweight, pedal-assist models and always pack spare batteries. Give us a call or reach out to your Travel Advisor if you’d like more details.
""Where in the world can I join an e-biking trip with B&R?""
While e-bikes are available on almost all of our trips, regions with specific e-bike itineraries include: Tuscany, Alsace, Northern Greece, Mallorca, Switzerland, Morocco and Japan.
Our Travel Advisors are always happy to answer any questions that may not have been covered here. Get in touch with a member of our time to see how we can help you prepare for your next B&R trip.