Looking for a fun, exciting, and affordable holiday? If you already have a quality bike, then a cycling adventure might be just what the doctor ordered. A holiday on two wheels offers the chance to see new areas, boost your mental well-being, and return home with a few stories to tell. In other words, it has virtually everything that someone would want from a trip.
It’s also extremely budget-friendly, or at least it can be. In this post, we’ll look at some handy tips for keeping the cost of your cycling holiday as low as possible.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk:
Travel With a Buddy
There’s something inspiring about the prospect of taking a long cycling adventure by yourself. But in practice, we think that it’s better to have at least one other person join you. After all, while you might be happy to be by yourself for the first few hours, eventually you’ll begin to realise that the trip would be more fun with a friend by your side.
Plus, it can also help to keep costs as low as possible. You’ll be able to divide food, accommodation, and bike repair kit expenses, for instance. Plus, your friend will also simply provide free entertainment!
Stay Domestic
There’s no shortage of awesome international destinations that are perfect for cycling holidays. But the further you go, the more expensive your trip will become. It’s not just the cost of the flights (and the cost of transporting your bike); you’ll also likely have to spend extra on supplies, food, and accommodation. In the end, the further you go, the more difficult it is to have a firm grasp on costs.
Picking a domestic route will help you to keep costs down. And happily, staying within the UK doesn’t mean you have to settle for a less-than-great cycling holiday. The UK is jam-packed with excellent cycle routes, so pick one of them. Just remember that it’s best to plan your trip for the peak summer months to give yourself the best possible chance of avoiding rain.
Stay at Campsites
Accommodation is often the biggest travelling-related expense. You can keep them down to a minimum by staying at campsites as you travel. You’ll save even more money if you’re happy to share a two-person tent with your travelling companion since that’ll mean you only need one pitch. Looking for some inspiration? Check out this collection of the best campsites in the UK.
With that said, it’s recommended to stay at a hotel every few nights. This will give you a chance to relax and unwind without the pressure of having to pitch a tent.
Protect Your Bike
Your bike can’t provide free transport from one place to the next if someone steals it. Investing in one or two excellent locks will help to boost your bike’s security credentials. Remember, however, that even having a quality lock doesn’t guarantee that your bike will be safe. Getting bike insurance from a company like Bikmo will ensure that you’re financially covered should the unthinkable happen. Ultimately, while it’s unlikely that anything will happen to your bike, it’s best to assume that it will — and take the necessary precautions. After all, it’s much easier to prevent a problem than it is to fix it.
Learn Basic Bike Repairs
You can run into bike issues any moment, but it’s even more likely that it’ll happen when you’re on a cycling adventure when you’ll be putting your bike through its paces. If you do encounter an issue, you’ll likely have two options: walk it to a bike repair shop and pay them to fix it, or take out your repair kit and fix it yourself. The latter option will be much friendlier on your wallet, and can also give you peace of mind that whatever happens, you can handle it. With that said, remember that having a bike repair kit will be of no use if you don’t know how to use it. Look at watching some YouTube tutorials before you set off on your adventure — while you might think that you could watch tutorials on the move, there’s always a chance that you break down in a remote area where there’s no internet service.
Carry a Stove
Finally, you can keep the costs of your cycling holiday down by carrying a camping stove and preparing your own meals. Simply visit a shop when you’re finished cycling for the day, pick up a few energy-packed tins of food and some bread, and enjoy a hearty meal that you’ve prepared yourself.
