Cycling over mountains under your own steam broadens your horizons, introduces you to new landscapes, cultures and people — and to yourself. Whether city, country or river, the impressive lakes of the Alps or uphill, downhill in the mountains: traveling by bike is something very special. However, a cycling vacation differs from a vacation by car or train not only in the way you travel, but also in the way you plan it. How many kilometers and meters of altitude can I cover per day, where can I charge my e‑bike if necessary, what should be on the packing list for your first cycling vacation and what else do you need to bear in mind for trips of this kind???
Hardly anyone knows this better than our Managing Director of Feuer und Eis Touristik, Wolfgang Sareiter. He has been designing, marketing and selling cycle tours for more than 37 years. Our team of experts live and work at the beautiful Tegernsee in Bavaria and are on hand to help cycle travelers choose and implement their individual adventures. In these five tips, Wolfgang Sareiter reveals what you need to consider when planning your first cycle tour:
Tip 1: Tour planning & route selection
“Preparation is crucial and with careful planning, many difficult situations can be avoided in advance,” says the expert. Anyone planning a trip on two wheels for the first time will be surprised by the extensive network of cycle paths throughout Europe. Crucial questions should therefore be clarified at the planning stage: Where do you want to go? Mountainous or flat? City break or nature experience? Alone or in a group? When is a good travel period for the tour? It is also important to find out about the local weather conditions, equipment and everything else relating to the tour and include these aspects in your planning.
Tip 2: First-hand information
In order to plan your cycle tour as well as possible, you need reliable information and details about the tour, such as mileage, altitude and travel times. To do this, it is advisable to use entries on tourism association websites, which offer up-to-date and verified information. However, accommodation for overnight stays should also be checked and booked in advance, as popular routes tend to be fully booked. If you book an offer from Feuer und Eis Touristik, you will receive individual and detailed travel documents (route descriptions, maps, information and important telephone numbers) including GPS data directly from the tour operator and the accommodation and, if required, daily luggage transfer from hotel to hotel are included in the package.
Tip 3: Check-up for your bike
Regardless of whether you are riding an e‑bike or a normal bike, you should definitely have your bike technically checked before setting off. The most important components for road safety are the brakes, gears, lights and chain. The chain in particular is subjected to a lot of wear and tear on a longer tour and should be cleaned and lubricated regularly. For all those who want to be stress-free on the road, it is advisable to hire a bike or book directly through Feuer und Eis.
Tip 4: Experience nature with respect
Nature is a habitat that is shared by many people, but also by animals and plants. That’s why cyclists should show consideration for nature on their tour, says Sareiter: “The measures for this are very simple: don’t leave any garbage lying around, avoid animal resting areas and generally behave respectfully towards others. Then there won’t be any problems.” However, it is always worth being out and about in nature, as there are now enough studies that show that exercise in nature has positive effects on health and the psyche.
Tip 5: The equipment
The right equipment is essential for a multi-day cycle tour. This includes good shoes, several layers of (functional) clothing including rain and sun protection. We also recommend packing safety equipment, such as a first aid kit and a smartphone to make an emergency call in the event of an emergency. All those who have meters of altitude ahead of them should not forget that even in summer it can be quite cool in higher areas. The wind on long descents also cools the body.
Good to know: If you would like to book an all-round carefree package, we have many tours to suit every taste. And best of all: if you want to travel even more comfortably, you can book luggage transfer from hotel to hotel on many tours.
Book your perfect cycle tour for the coming season here:
P.S. the Bodensee-Königsee cycle path has been named one of the most beautiful cycle paths in Germany for spring!