Cycling Holiday Info: What to take to make it all enjoyable!

When travelling it is wise to use the Buddhist refrain 'Less is more'. Less luggage is definitely much easier to handle when overseas. One suitcase (small-ish) plus your bike should be all you need.

Travel insurance: COMPULSORY! don’t leave without it.

On bike necessities:

• Helmet, Australian design approved (or equivalent)
• Lightweight rain jacket (Layers are better than one thick item)
• Cycling knicks
• Cycling shoes (& socks), or a good pair of sport shoes in good condition (Take a pair of sandles along if you are taking your road-cycling shoes)
• Drink bottle, one at least.
• Comfortable finger-less gloves.
• Suitable bike lock-U bolt & mount
• Puncture kit, tubes & pump (mounted to bike)
• Taking your own bike? Low gearing is recommended, a bike with triple front chain rings is ideal. The most suitable tyre choice is semi-slicks or equivalent Make sure it is recently serviced and packed in a cardboard bike box (collapsible & disposable if necessary)

Off bike:

• Light-weight clothes, (requiring no ironing) make life easier while travelling, you can get by on 3 changes of clothes in total, only!
• Sun cream, sunglasses, floppy hat. Small toiletry bag
• A clock with an alarm, your phone or watch may have this, don’t double up!
• Lightweight daypack. A small towel & swimming costume. Camera.
• A small amount of washing powder concentrate.
• Money: Credit cards, Travellers Cheques & always hard currency of the countries you are visiting. A good money belt. (don’t forget your passport & toothbrush!)
• Phone cards: there are many international phone cards available now, some reloadable from your credit card. You may wish to take your own mobile phone-make sure that your server connects you to ‘Global Roaming’. Ditto for your laptop computer, if you can’t be separated from it. Don’t forget your chargers & power adaptors for other countries!
• Personal medications are also best taken with you from home.