What Type of Bike Trip Is Right for You?
Cyclotourism is a great way to make the most of the journey. Our guide offers tips on planning your route, handling logistics, and choosing the right bike.
Cover photo by Ekilib
Why Travel by Bike?
You’re breezing through country lanes, and a charming village passes by in a blur. That gripping feeling of mystery tugs, and you wish the train would stop so you could discover this unknown town. Now imagine you're going past that same charming village, except this time you’re on a bike. A little cafe catches your eye. You stop for an espresso and a croissant, a quick refill of water, take in the local pulse, and then you’re back on your bike—next stop Arles.
Cyclotourism has benefited greatly from the cycling industry’s commitment to developing bikes for all terrains and rider types. Electric and Hybrid bikes have made it easier for leisure cyclists to get around and discover the roads and trails less travelled. Travelling by bike lets you ride where you like, at your own pace, without the rigid itinerary imposed by planes, buses, and trains. It’s a way to slow down, explore, and escape traffic and overcrowded compartments.
However, organizing a week-long trip isn’t as simple as getting together for a quick, leisurely ride with friends. Planning involves finding bike-friendly roads, places to stay along the way, transporting clothing and equipment, and, depending on the trip, booking ferries. If you don’t know where to start, Ekilib is a cycling travel agency that offers self-guided, bike & boat and tailor-made tours across the globe.
What Type of Bike Trip Suits You?
Once you’ve thrown your dart at the map and chosen your destination, the next thing on your to-do list should be figuring out how to get the most out of your trip. Do you travel better alone, or do you prefer the social aspect? Are you doing it purely for the sport, or do you enjoy the convenience of pulling over at any moment to absorb the view?
Self-guided: your pace, your itinerary
If you prefer to pedal to the beat of your own drum, but want to keep things simple, a self-guided tour is the way to go. It lets you ride at your own pace and stop for a snack, a nap, or a quick picture of Niagara Falls. With Ekilib, you can have all the freedom you want with the convenience of a traditional tour, including accommodations and pre-planned routes. All you have to do is ride.
Tailor-made trips: build the trip around your interests
For those travelling with a list of must-see places, or a particular goal in mind, a tailor-made trip is the perfect way to ensure you get to check all the sights on your list without dealing with the logistics. For example, travelling with kids requires a completely different kind of planning. If you and your friends want to finally take the trip you’ve been planning for years but are limited by your vacation days, a tailor-made itinerary makes it easier to fit in all your planned destinations without the constraints of a pre-organized tour.
Group trips: ride together
If you’re a social butterfly who loves meeting new people and sharing new experiences, a group trip is the best option. From the moment the trip starts, you’ll be sharing the road, meals, and laughs with the members of your group. Guided tours ensure you ride with someone who knows the landscape and local points of interest. They ride with you from start to finish, keeping you motivated, hydrated, and entertained. This is also a great option for those who just like to go with the flow and don’t want the hassle of reading a map.
Bike & boat: ride without repacking every night
This unique experience, offered by Ekilib, lets you explore destinations by land and sea. Their trips include voyages through Holland and Belgium, along the Danube and through the Provencal landscapes that inspired the likes of Van Gogh. The main advantage of this option, beyond sleeping on a cozy ship, is that you don’t have to pack and unpack every night. The boat follows your route, so you can make yourself at home throughout the trip. You can also stay aboard and skip a day of riding without losing progress if your legs are feeling heavy from the previous day’s ride.
Which Bike Is Right for Your Trip?
The days of choosing between road and mountain bikes are long gone. Now you have a full range of commuter, hybrid, electric, touring, and gravel bikes to choose from. Once you’ve selected your itinerary, the next step is choosing a bike that suits the terrain and your riding style.
Road bikes: for long distances and pavement
For the riders looking to pump their numbers on Strava while staying on clean paved roads, a reliable road bike is the way to go. If you want to ride through the mountains of Austria's Salzkammergut over 8 days, you’ll want a bike that can keep up with the peloton. A good road bike will help you tackle climbs and long flat sections while keeping you aerodynamic, without weighing you down on 60 km rides.
Gravel bikes: get off the beaten path
Gravel bikes are very similar to road bikes but with one noticeable difference: tires. On closer inspection, the geometry, gears, and handlebars differ slightly, but for those new to cycling, it will look like a road bike with fat tires. And that’s more or less what it is. The gravel bike is for those who want to retain an aerodynamic position while riding through gravel and dirt roads. It also rides well on paved roads, but it really shines on routes with varied terrain. Say you want to explore the white villages and coastline of Puglia over 9 days: a gravel bike is your best option.
Hybrid/touring bikes: versatility and comfort
For those looking to put in a day's workout while sitting in a more comfortable, upright position, Hybrid/Touring bikes are the way to go. These aren't for the hunched-over riders racing against time, but for those who want to enjoy the views and have less experience riding long distances. Touring bikes are a bit heavier and less ‘nervous’ than road bikes, which makes them easier to handle. If you want to pack light, Ekilib rents bikes adapted for each itinerary.
E-bikes: manage the effort your way
This is the best way to enjoy the scenery without breaking a sweat. For those who want to emphasize ‘trip’ in ‘cycling trip,’ an e-bike is the ideal choice. They’re not fully autonomous in the sense that you will have to pedal, but they provide assistance so that you don’t feel a big difference between a flat road and a slight incline. A long trip can be a big ask for amateur cyclists. An e-bike lets you ride at a leisurely pace and save your energy for the views, and Ekilib offers it as an option on most of its tours.
Let's Recap...
If you’re an experienced rider who wants to take your passion abroad, Ekilib offers several itineraries for avid cyclists who want to ride with others of a similar calibre. If you’re a history buff with a passion for medieval architecture, a trip from Mantua to Venice on an e-bike lets you visit centuries-old towns at a manageable 25 to 50 km per day. For those who want premium treatment and cozy accommodations, a bike & boat trip from Amsterdam to Bruges lets you discover the canals of Holland and Flanders over 8 days.
Still have questions about cyclotourism?
Ready to ride?
The team at Ekilib is made up of experienced cyclists well-acquainted with the regions they plan their trips around. They go beyond selling you a ‘bike trip.’ Even when you choose a self-guided tour, you still get a curated approach. They will help you find an itinerary adapted to your level, and a destination and format that match your interests and aspirations. Once you’ve chosen your itinerary, whether self-guided, in a group, or tailor-made, they take care of all the logistics and planning. All you need to do is show up ready to ride.
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