Sticking to a training routine is challenging enough for the regular individual. Throw in airport delays, tempting local cuisines and unfamiliar hotel gyms, and suddenly, you are a week behind your fitness goals. What if I told you that you don’t need to put your training goals on hold every time you travel?
If you are a regular traveller, it must feel very frustrating to watch your hard-earned progress stall. That is where bike tours come in. This form of active tourism offers you an opportunity to combine exploration and sightseeing while staying committed to your fitness goals. Need to tour the local town in your destination? No problem. Just hop on a bike and ride around.
The Benefits of Bike Tours for Active Tourists
Fitness on the Road
The primary benefit of a Paris bike tour is that it enables you to stay on top of your fitness goals during your travels. Instead of downing your exercise tools for the length of your trip, you can combine both fitness and exploration objectives, keeping you on track.
That is especially beneficial for individuals who are starting their fitness journey. It helps prevent the common dip in performance that will likely happen when you skip training for days or weeks. So, when you get back home, you can pick up exactly where you left off.
Active Sightseeing
Bike riding is a fun activity – adding sightseeing to it takes the fun aspect to a whole new level. Imagine exploring the countryside in your favourite destination while riding a bike.
You can make the same argument for hiking while sightseeing. But bike rides are way faster and allow you to cover more ground. Essentially, you can explore more locations while still gaining ground on your fitness goals.
Mental Boost
After an overnight flight with minimal stretching and a real meal nowhere in sight, you will be excused for feeling drained – that’s travel fatigue for you. Bike tours can offer you a perfect way to fight both physical and mental strain that inadvertently comes with travelling.
It is a light physical activity that improves circulation and clears your mind, basically stabilising your body’s rhythm without needing too much rest or a visit to the gym. But it doesn’t replace rest – you still need that!
How to Choose the Right Bike Tours for Your Travels
The right bike tour for you is one that ensures you stay consistent in your training and enjoy your travels. So, it only makes sense to take a few minutes to compare your options and choose one that offers both of these benefits. Here are the factors to consider:
Understand Your Training Goals
Before choosing a bike tour, it is essential to understand your training goals. These objectives will guide you toward picking an option that supports your goals rather than disrupts them.
For example, if you are training to improve your endurance, you pick long-distance bike tours. And, if your goal is to improve your climbing strength, opt for bike tours that incorporate hills and high-altitude terrains in their biking itinerary. For people travelling on their recovery week, leisure bike tours along scenic routes would work best.
Consider the Type of Tour
Another important thing that can guide your choice is the type of tour offered. There are two main types: guided and self-guided tours. Your choice between them will often depend on the experience and level of freedom you want. Let’s dig a little deeper:
- Guided tours – this is perfect for riders who want more structure, fewer logistic headaches and group pacing. Should you choose this option, you will have a tour guide and probably ride in groups (it can be fun if you aren’t very keen on pushing your limits).
- Self-guided tours – as the name suggests, these offer you the freedom to choose your itinerary, time and pace. It is perfect for experienced riders who want to adjust the difficulty (routes, elevation and time) based on their travel goals.
There is another option that cuts across these categories: e-bikes. This option is perfect for riders in recovery – it allows you to maintain the mileage and explore your desired locations without exerting yourself too much.
Consider Support and Logistics
Lastly, it is essential to ensure the support and logistics provided match the levels you need. Under self-guided tours, the support is virtually non-existent, meaning everything will be on you. So, before making a decision, it is essential to answer the following questions:
- Will my gear be transported between destinations (from hotel to starting point and back)?
- Does the tours offer nutrition breaks and mechanical support (in case of breakdown)
- Can you modify or skip a day if the need arises? If yes, will they refund the fee or will it be carried forward?
If the answers to these questions don’t align with what you need, then it is probably best to move on to the next option on the list.
Conclusion
Bike tours are not just a travel experience – they are a powerful, enjoyable addition to your training regimen. They help you stay on track toward your fitness goals while also adding an activity to your travel bucket list. However, before you go on a bike tour, ensure you have picked the right one that aligns with your goals. Ideally, you want one that offers a balance between fitness and fun. That way, you will train without feeling like you are working out.
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