My Ultimate Guide to Bicycle Touring: How I Plan, Ride & Thrive on Two Wheels

Distilled Wisdom from a Decade of Bicycle Touring Around the World

So you’re thinking about hitting the open road on two wheels? Chapeau. Bicycle touring is, in my humble opinion, the ultimate way to travel slowly, see the world intimately, and reconnect with yourself.

For me, bicycle touring was the perfect way to begin my human-powered solo adventures. Bike travel has become the cornerstone of my nomadic lifestyle and transformed how I choose to live.

I find peace and clarity in the solitude of a long-distance cycle tour

Whether you’re planning your first overnight ride or a cross-continental epic, this guide covers everything you need to get started, stay safe, and enjoy the ride.

What Is Bicycle Touring?

Bicycle touring is long-distance cycling with a twist: You carry everything you need and make the journey the destination. It’s not racing or commuting. It’s about freedom, simplicity, and adventure.

There are different styles of bicycle touring. Here are the main ones:

Credit Card Cycle Touring

Lightweight setup. You stay in hotels or hostels, eat in restaurants, and carry minimal gear. Great for speed and comfort.

I tend to choose credit card touring to do a recce of a new destination or make a short trip where I don’t have all my own kit to hand.

Although it can be more expensive than traditional bicycle touring, it can lead to adventurous rides. Credit card touring is the most convenient way to explore a new region with a shorter time allowance.

Bikepacking

Similar to touring but with a minimalist, off-road focus. Uses frame bags instead of panniers and often rides trails or gravel roads.

Bikepacking didn’t exist when I started bicycle touring. But it has become the mainstay for riders seeking off-road trails and lighter setups to handle deeper backcountry terrain.

I explore the main differences in this article: Bike Touring 101: Cycle Touring Vs Bikepacking

And if you’re curious to learn more about this particular style of riding, here’s a useful introduction: What Is Bikepacking and How to Get Started

Classic Bicycle Touring

Fully self-supported. You carry a tent, stove, food, tools, and everything you need to live on the road for days, weeks, or months.

Over the years, bicycle touring has been my go-to for bike-based adventures around the world. When I started cycling touring in the early 2000s, I was new to bike touring but had a keen interest in cycling.

My progression from bootstrapped enthusiast to fully fledged expedition touring was a slow and steady journey. As I biked through multiple countries, terrains and continents, I gathered deeper insight, collected specialist kit and gained an appetite for adventure.

Expedition Touring

Long-haul, often multi-year journeys across continents. Built around durability, reliability, and self-sufficiency.

A category of bike traveller unto itself, these are the rare beasts that lap the world like it’s a mini roundabout. My bicycle tour of Eurasia certainly qualifies as an expedition on some level.

The key factor here is the longevity of the journey. I’ve presented the styles of bicycle touring as they graduate in the respective luggage allowance.

While it is possible to traverse the globe with a lightweight bikepacking rig, a heavier-duty expedition setup may offer more comfort.

Each has its appeal, and most cycle tourists tend to blend styles based on terrain, budget, and personal preference.

And so it goes.

Essential Gear for a Successful Bicycle Tour

You don’t need top-of-the-line gear to start bicycle touring. I certainly didn’t begin that way. As my bike trips grew in scope, I begged, borrowed, and sponsored my kit.

Tom Allen offers one of the most comprehensive kit lists I’ve seen. It’s a thorough resource for advanced-level riders.

But some items are non-negotiable. Choose what’s right for your route, climate, and budget – we’ll explore those factors in detail shortly.

Bikes for Bicycle Touring

The best touring bikes often have steel frames for comfort and repairability. Other materials are available, such as aluminium and titanium; however, it is well established that steel offers the most practical application in almost all long-distance bicycle touring situations.

For example, I sheared off a braze-on that secured my rear rack to the frame. I was in remote Northeast India. Fortunately, the fault became apparent just outside Guwhati, an industrial town in Assam.

I wheeled the bike half a mile down the road and a gate fabricator repaired my frame for 50 rupee

You can tour on almost anything—I’ve seen riders on fixies, folders, and vintage frames. It’s a broad church, and like many cyclists, collecting bicycles becomes a habit.

Look for rack mounts, wider tyre clearance, and relaxed geometry for long days in the saddle.

Read this: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Steel Touring Bicycle For Any Long Distance Adventure

When I chose my first new bike (I had a couple of second-hand Dawes before I settled on a Galaxy), there were fewer choices than today. Custom builds were still either purpose-built expedition bikes like the Thorn Nomad or niche frame builders crafting classic touring rigs.

I opted for a 2011 off-the-peg Dawes Ultra Galaxy from Spa Cycles. Once and perhaps still is revered as the gold standard in British touring bike history.

Panniers or Bikepacking Bags

As with the choice of bikes, so too with luggage systems. In 2011, there were a handful of options, including Ortlieb, Carradice and Topeak. I tried them all and settled on the Ortlieb Roller Plus* in red.

They’re so good that I still have my original set. Amazingly, they’re still waterproof and show only minor signs of wear at the seams where most of the rolling occurs.

Aside from an odd hole where I’ve dragged them across rocks (I used them to pitch my tent—I’ll explain later), my panniers are still handsomely carrying my kit.

Consider this:

• Waterproof panniers are the go-to for traditional touring.
• Bikepacking bags are lighter and better for off-road terrain.
• Organisation is key: group your gear by function and accessibility.

You’ll find a natural inclination towards packing your luggage. On my classic touring set up, I found that camp cookware lived in front left, meds, tools and other essential but low-use items in front right (often emergency food rations).

At the back, on the right side, I rolled my clothes and off the bike barefoot, and on the left rear, I carried spares, books and fresh food. Across the top of the rack, I had an Ortlieb Messenger* bag with a camp sleeping kit.

I found this system to create a well-distributed weight and evenly spread load whilst allowing easy access to the most important things without always having to open each pannier.

My bikepacking setup currently consists of two ancient Ortlieb Dry Bags* and eight bungee cords. It’s a rustic solution for rugged adventures. I’ll upgrade to velcroe and fancy straps when Alpkit send me one of these*

Tent and Sleep System

My tent and sleep system have evolved over the years. When I went on my charity bike ride with Adrian, we were lucky enough to gain sponsorship from many brands – a happy accident.

Consequently, we gathered some of the highest quality kit money can buy for a fraction of the retail price.

Consider this:

• A freestanding tent is ideal for wild camping.
• Use a sleeping mat with a good R-value for comfort and warmth.
• Down sleeping bags pack small but need to be kept dry.
• A hammock is best for hot and humid climates.
• If traveling in a pair, are you happy to share?

Choosing the Right Tent

Our Hilleberg has sheltered Adrian and I for more than a thousand nights. From the Tropics (where it’s better to have a hammock) to Central Asia, Europe, the Caucasus, Morocco – even Burning Man.

I mentioned earlier that I used my panniers to pitch the tent. Well, a Hilleberg is a heavy-duty mountaineering tent. It is really hard-wearing and super insulating, perfect for snowy expeditions in remote places.

It is not, however, freestanding. To pitch the Nallo GT 2 on hardstanding—which I often did—I used my bike at one end and two full panniers at the other. During a cyclone at a ferry port in Vietnam, the bags were dragged mercilessly across the asphalt, hence the tiny holes now in the panniers.

If I were to buy a tent today, I’d choose the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Tent – 2 Person Tent*

Hammocks for Hot Places

Equally, if I were planning a trip to the Tropics, such as Southeast Asia or India, I’d be taking a Hennessy Hammock* because it’s more comfortable, and folks understand hammocks.

A tent makes it look like you’re hiding in the jungle—not a good look for the Farang in a remote village.

Light & Down or Machine Washable?

The most common question about sleeping bags is whether to choose the lightest possible, which is usually a down bag, or to get a synthetic washable one.

Down is ultra light and super compact, often favoured by thru-hikers and bikepackers; however, if down gets wet, it’s useless and potentially ruined.

A synthetic bag on the other hand, is a bit heavier and can withstand most weather conditions.

Again, thanks to a generous discount, I purchased a Rab Neutino 200*. It’s a down bag and could be the lightest and most compact sleeping bag on the market. Combine it with a silk liner* for that five-star feeling.

Sleeping Mat System

As I write this, I’ve come up with at least two puns. I’ll save them for the socials- my jokes age quickly.

There are a million sleeping mats and pads out there these days. My first attempt expired after a dozen nights – more of an air bed than a sleeping mat.

Since then, I’ve used a Thermarest Prolite*. It’s hard-wearing, compact, and comes with a lifetime warranty. You can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep. I love the Z Lite*, but it’s a big thing to wrangle on a long tour.

The Trekker Chair Kit* is a game changer. IYKYK.

Feeling sleepy? Better read this: Why A Thermarest Is The Best Sleeping Pad For Bike Touring

Cooking Gear

Cooking on a tour is entirely optional. In the past, I’ve used a Trangia*, a homemade beer can stove and an MSR Whisperlite* multi-fuel stove.

In India and Southeast Asia, I cooked so few meals that I wondered why I was lugging around the fuel, stove, and camp kitchen kit.

There are times when you will want to have a stove; a hot meal in deep wilderness is a beautiful madness. You’ll establish your preferences as you go.

Consider this:

• A compact stove (gas, alcohol, or multi-fuel) and lightweight cookware.
• Titanium or aluminium pots, a spork, and a small knife.
• Refillable fuel bottle or canisters depending on region.
• No stove, just high-calorie snacks and street food.

Clothing

I wouldn’t say I was a fair-weather cyclist, but I deliberately followed the seasons on my multi-month/year bicycle tours.

I packed super light and picked up bits as stuff wore out. On the bike, I tend to wear a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved cotton shirt, Hummvee shorts*, and SPD sandals in hot climates.

My waterproof kit includes, a lightweight shell style Rab*, Endura shorts* and overshoes* also from Endura.

Pack light; thank me later.

Consider this:

• Padded shorts and Merino base layers* are worth the investment.
• Layering is essential—think lightweight, moisture-wicking, and windproof.
• Rain gear: jacket, trousers, and shoe covers.

Tools & Spares

I’m an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” kind of bike traveler. This attitude has served me well, if not the machines I’ve ridden. That said, my Dawes is still going strong, and most of my kit is in good working order after regular use.

You’ll want to pack:

1. Multitool, tyre levers, patch kit, spare tubes.
2. Spare bolts, zip ties, chain links, spoke key, and duct tape.
3. A small bottle of chain lube, especially for wet conditions.
4. Chain whip, splitter and cassette bolt.
5. Cassette, chain, brake pads, cables.
6. A foldable tyre is handy, as is a decent pump.

Read my guide to the best multi tool.

Tech for Bike Travel

When I first began bicycle touring, tech wasn’t really a thing. iPhones didn’t exist, and it was considered fancy to have an odometer to count your mileage and record your top speed.

I did most of my bike tours in analogue. Taking the bare minimum of electronic kit.

I chose to travel that way for a couple of reasons: electronic equipment requires charging regularly to be useful, which isn’t always possible; it tends to be expensive, which makes it a bummer if it gets lost or broken; but most importantly, it’s a distraction from the journey.

Consider this:

• Power bank, dynamo hub or foldable solar panel*.
• Bike lights, odometer, and a Bluetooth speaker*.
• Smartphone with navigation app (offline maps are a must).

Planning Your First Bicycle Tour

Start with a short tour close to home to get the feel of your setup and routine. You’ll quickly learn what works and what doesn’t.

I did weekends in the Peak District, a multi-week bicycle tour in Morocco, and a multi-month cycle challenge around Europe, and finally, a multi-year bicycle tour of Eurasia.

For a detailed and beginner-friendly resource, I’ve created this post: How To Prepare For Your First Bike Trip

Choosing a Route

• Follow rivers, coastlines, or rail trails for flatter, scenic routes.
• Loop routes are easy to plan and offer logistical flexibility.
• Check road conditions, traffic volume, and shoulder width.

Daily Distance

• Beginners should aim for 50–80 km per day, depending on terrain.
• Factor in rest days and time to explore.

Budgeting

• You can tour for £5 a day with wild camping and cooking.
• Mid-range touring with guesthouses and restaurants can run £30–50/day.
• Track expenses with a notebook or app like Trail Wallet.

Safety & Paperwork

• Carry copies of your passport, insurance, visas, and emergency contact info.
• Wear a helmet and reflective clothing.
• Let someone know your route and check in regularly.

Sustenance for Bicycle Touring

Food is your fuel on a bicycle tour. It may be your main expense, aside from visas. Choose things you enjoy and take time to find beautiful places to dine. Picnic often, picnic big.

• You’ll burn thousands of calories daily, so don’t skimp on food.
• Eat before you get hungry, drink before you get thirsty
• Snack often, eat fresh, eat local

Food

• Oats, pasta, rice, lentils, peanut butter, tinned fish, instant soups.
• Local bakeries and markets are goldmines for budget snacks.
• Keep a stash of energy bars or trail mix for long climbs.

Water

• Always carry more than you think you need.
• Use bottles or a hydration bladder.
• Bring purification tablets or a filter for remote areas.

I recommend the Sawyer hand pump water filter*

Cooking Tips

Over the years, I’ve come to prefer the freedom of fresh, raw, or ready-to-eat cold foods such as fruits, nuts, berries, bread, honey, and all manner of spreadable things.

I say freedom because without the need to cook dried foods such as pasta or rice, there is little need to carry a stove and fuel. Hence, a lighter set-up means less time to set up camp and more miles in the tank, so to speak.

Even on the most extended, remote expedition, there are visits to civilisation to replenish stocks, so I take these opportunities to eat well of local meals and top up on essential snacks such as cured meats, cheese and chocolate bars.

Consider this:

• One-pot meals save time and fuel.
• Carry some spices, olive oil, and hot sauce to improve morale.
• Practice cooking on your stove before your first tour.
• Do you even want to cook?

Sleeping Outdoors (Wild Camping 101)

Wild camping gives you ultimate freedom and can save you thousands over a long tour. I’ve written two extensive guides to both rough sleeping and wild camping, and yes, there is a subtle difference.

Where to Camp

• Forest edges, public lands, riverbanks, or fields (with permission).
• Avoid visibility from roads and proximity to homes or livestock.
• Use Google Satellite View to scout in advance.

Etiquette

• Pitch late, leave early.
• Leave no trace: pack out all rubbish and bury waste properly.
• Be respectful of the land and locals.

Training and Mental Preparation

You don’t need to be a marathon cyclist, but some physical and mental prep goes a long way. I commuted for several years before I left for my RTW bicycle tour, and I still got fit on the bike.

The only thing that can prepare you for bicycle touring with a heavy bike is bicycle touring with a heavy bike, so better just to begin.

If you start with short bike tours, you’ll have all the experience you need by the time you’re ready to leave for a long trip.

Physical Preparation

• Ride regularly in the months before your tour.
• Do back-to-back rides on weekends to simulate fatigue.
• Practice riding fully loaded to get used to handling and braking.

Mental Preparation

• Touring can be emotionally intense. You’ll hit walls—physical, mental, and sometimes emotional.
• Keep your goals flexible. If you’re not having fun, change it up.
• Embrace the unexpected. Flat tyres, wrong turns, and stormy weather are part of the journey.

During my RTW bicycle tour, I wrote about mindful cycling for TomsBikeTrip.

Where to Go: Classic Bicycle Touring Routes

There’s a route for every rider and every season. These are some of my favourites that I’ve personally cycled and a few that I’m yet to enjoy.

India

• Manali to Leh: High altitude, dramatic scenery, big climbs.
• Kerala: Coastal beauty, backwaters, and delicious food.
• Goan backroads: Adventure cycling in Goa

Europe

• The Danube Cycle Path: Easy gradients, well-marked paths, castles and wine.
• EuroVelo routes: Cross-continent touring made simple.
• Lap of the Baltic Sea

UK

• The Hebrides, Devon, or the NC500 in Scotland.
• Wild Atlantic Way, Wales
• LeJog, Coast to Coast and The Lakes

Asia

• Pamir Highway: Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan. One of the world’s wildest rides.
• End to end in Japan
• Trans Siberian Cycle Expedition
• The Transcontinental

Americas

• PanAm Highway
• Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
• Peru Great Divide

Choose a region that excites you—and matches your comfort level.

Bicycle Touring Resources and Inspiration

Books

I’ve read a lot of bicycle touring books over the years, and there are good, bad and ugly. Here’s three of my favourites:

Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle

Full Tilt* by Dervla Murphy is the OG of solo female bike travel. I loved this book, and Dervla shares her story with an easy-to-read lilt. I also loved Wheels within Wheels*, which offers a deeper insight into what makes a traveller.

Signs of Life: To the Ends of the Earth with a Doctor

I loved Stephen Fabes’ book, Signs of Life*. Stephen and I overlapped our journeys across Asia, and his early stories helped inspire me to begin my own adventure. I feel a strong affinity to this book as it connects me to my trip in a powerful way.

Life Cycles – A London bike courier decided to cycle around the world. 169 days later, he came back with a world record

I’ve admired Julian’s writing for many years. He’s out on the road, reporting about important stuff from the roadside – a decisive perspective. His book Life Cycles* is a great introduction to his work.

Blogs and YouTube

• Check out my post on top bicycle touring blogs
• YouTube channels like Cycling About
• Emily Chappell, Next Challenge and CGOAB – and the wonderful RacPat

Communities

• Warmshowers for hosting
• r/bicycletouring for gear chat and trip reports
• Facebook groups and forums to ask questions and find local riders – Bicycle Travellers is a good place to start

Final Thoughts

Bicycle touring changed my life. It gave me perspective, grit, and a deep love for simple living. If you’re still on the fence-take the leap. Start with a weekend ride. Pack light. Ride slow. Smile often.

The open road is waiting.

Want help planning your trip? Read my cycle touring kit list or read about how I got began my journey

Got questions? Leave a comment – I read every message.