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Preparation for your cycling adventure

Tips to pack for an unforgettable tour
Cycle break in the vineyards

A individual cycle tour with Eurobike is an unforgettable adventure, we can say this as real tour professionals! Whether you have decided on a short or longer tour, packing your case and saddlebags takes a little planning and preparation. We tell you which things you should definitely not do without. Also download our practical travel checklist to be sure to think of everything that is important for your Eurobike cycling trip!

Cycle break in the vineyards

Ready for the cycle tour

The holiday has been planned with the help of our Eurobike travel specialists, the hotels are booked and it’s finally time to go! But first the most important question: how will the weather be over the coming days? And which temperatures can I expect? You can pack accordingly and don't have to worry about the weight or number of your suitcases and bags thanks to the practical Eurobike luggage service. Your clothes for the city stroll in the evening, toiletries bag, a good book and whatever else you need can be conveniently stowed in the large luggage, which will reliably be in your hotel room before you every day! But what should you take with you on a cycling trip?

 

Packing your case

To ensure flexibility for all weather conditions, we recommend the ‘onion look’ as well as functional, breathable clothing made of merino wool or synthetic fibres, as these wick moisture away well. Avoid cotton.

  • A well-fitting bike helmet is a must, as safety is a priority on any cycle tour and is even compulsory in some destination countries! Check out our blog post for useful tips!
  • Comfy sports shoes for optimal pedal-power, and gut, quick drying socks.
  • Seamless, temperature-regulating functional base layer made of synthetic fibre or merino wool.
  • Long and short cycling trousers with seat padding, depending on the weather and also to change into
  • Functional shirts, also enough for the duration of your tour
  • Wind- and rain jacket
  • Rain cover/poncho
  • Cycling gloves
  • Casual clothes for the evening
  • Casual shoes
  • Depending on the season, possibly a warm pullover or light jacket
Bicycle travellers dropping off their suitcases in front of the hotel

Must haves for the daily stages

The daily tours on a Eurobike cycle tour are well organised and our Eurobike station managers will take care of the delivery of your luggage. In your quality, water-tight saddle bags and handlebar begs you should pack only the essential items that you can’t do without during the day.

Our tip: On your cycle tour, you not only pedal hard, but also experience the country, the people and the culture of your holiday destination with all your senses. In some churches or monasteries, however, you are not allowed to enter in short clothing. Here it doesn't hurt to have something to cover up with in your daypack.

Eurobike rental bike with yellow saddlebag

These should be packed in your saddle bag

  • Puncture tool or a multitool with spanner, tyre lever and Allen key
  • Repair kit
  • Spare inner tube
  • Cable ties
  • Air pump
  • Bike lock

  • High-visibility waistcoat: makes you more visible at dusk and is compulsory, e.g. in Italy, when passing through a tunnel
  • Rainwear (best at the top!)
  • Insect repellent
  • Small microfibre towel/bathing clothes

What to pack in the handle bar bags?

Your valuables, for example, identification documents, electronic health pass, insurance card (E-Card in Austria), some cash and your mobile phone are best stored within easy reach in the removable handlebar bag. We recommend you also pack a small power bank (for example an extra external battery) with you to ensure that your smartphone battery always has enough power.

Eurobike rental bike PLUS with yellow handlebar bag

You could also find space for sunglasses, to protect your eyes from the wind and sun. Speaking of sun: don’t forget sun cream with high protection, also when it’s cloudy! You should always have a small tube with you to top up the protection during the day's stage and avoid painful sunburn. The right clothing also helps. On particularly sunny days, for example, a long, thin shirt is better than a tight top.

An up-to-date vaccination certificate or health card with blood group or previous illnesses should also always be in your daypack. Particularly practical: many smartphones now have an app in which information on health and medication can be stored. This saves space in your luggage! Last but not least, a few handkerchiefs, a small notebook and a pen should not be missing and you are perfectly equipped for your travel adventure.

Short break

Don’t forget to drink enough during your cycle tour, to avoid concentration problems and muscle cramps. An aluminium flask can keep your drink cool or warm for a long time, depending on personal preference. An electrolyte drink now and then doesn’t hurt when you have cramps and when you need a boost of energy muesli bars, sugar or a but or fruit or sandwich can be packed to enjoy them during a short stopover.

Food and drink break in the vineyards

Protection against ticks

Ticks can be found almost everywhere, from the coast to the mountains, and lurk in meadows, forests and bushes as temperatures rise. A bite is not automatically dangerous, but the annoying bloodsuckers can transmit diseases such as TBE or Lyme disease. The longer a tick sucks, the greater the risk of transmitting pathogens. Therefore, always check yourself for ticks in the evening; particularly popular skin areas are behind the ear, at the back of the knee, on the neck or in the groin area.

If a tick bite does occur, remove the animal quickly with pointed tweezers or, even better, with tick forceps or a tick card. Do not forget to disinfect the bite and observe the affected area very closely in the coming days to be able to better recognise skin changes as a symptom of Lyme disease. Take a photo of the bite site with your smartphone, as this would enable a doctor to assess a possible risk of infection later on. Before travelling, you should also find out whether the holiday region belongs to a tick risk area. In this case, we recommend a TBE vaccination or booster.

Just in case: the first-aid kit for your journey

If you sit in the saddle for a long time, you may have to deal with pressure marks or skin irritations. Creams with a thick consistency prevent skin from rubbing against fabric. Sore spots are best treated with antibacterial zinc ointment. For minor injuries, you should have disinfectant, plasters and wound ointment in your daypack; a small, compact first aid kit is ideal. A light painkiller can't hurt either, but be aware of the impairment of your ability to react and don't take these medicines lightly. Of course, the medicines you need personally also belong in your day luggage; allergy sufferers in particular should have everything quickly to hand in case of emergency. Insect repellent is also a must in your luggage! It is best to spray yourself with a good product in the morning before you set off to keep insects and ticks away. If you have already been bitten, a small cooling stick will quickly relieve the itching.

Our tip: A natural alternative is ribwort plantain, which can be found on almost all roadsides. Pick a few leaves, grind them with your fingers and dab the mixture on the sting. The plant sap has an anti-inflammatory effect.

unpacked first aid kit

After a challenging stage, you may also experience sore muscles that could affect you in the next few days. Unfortunately, there are no miracle cures, but you can prevent it and help your muscles to recover by taking magnesium in powder form dissolved in water or in gel form. Warming pain gels after a hot shower can also help to relax the affected parts of the body and make you fit for the next day. For a tense neck, a little warmth from a scarf often helps.

Another tip: Your water bottle can be used as a fascia roll! Reduce muscle tension in the legs and promote blood circulation by slowly rolling out the front and back thigh muscles with the help of the bottle.

Legs while cycling
You now receive special conditions when you book a trip.