I guess when people think of a bicycle tour, the first image that comes to mind is a tight pack of cyclists, all riding at the same speed. And at times, that image is what holds people back from signing up for their first tour with us.

If you’re picturing that kind of group… You can relax. That’s not what TDA is about. In fact, something quite different happens – on any given day, the group spreads out.

Ready to roll

Riders roll out for the day after breakfast, some immediately ticking off the kilometres, others taking their time, enjoying a second coffee and extra pastry perhaps! Some riders stop at every interesting viewpoint, bakery, or roadside café along the way. Others ride steadily, finding their rhythm and sticking to it for most of the day. You might be surprised, but I once met a rider who managed to take a short nap right next to our TDA lunch van.

Riders gather at lunch

By midday, riders are spread out along the route – riding their own pace. Of course, riding at your own pace doesn’t mean you’re on your own. You’ll find that many of your new tour friends will cycle a similar pace and want to join you for the day. As well, the TDA crew is out on the road, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. There is the TDA lunch stop, and a sweep rider that follows behind the last rider in our group. So, whether you’re having a strong day, taking it easy, or somewhere in between, there’s support nearby.

And if a day doesn’t go as planned, that’s okay too. You can ride a ½ day by hopping in the support vehicle till lunch, or from lunch, or take a full day off the bike to rest and recharge.

What often surprises people is how natural it all feels once you’re there. There’s no pressure to keep up, no sense of falling behind. Just the quiet rhythm of moving forward at your own pace.

So, can you ride at your own pace? Yes. That’s exactly how it’s meant to be. If that was the one thing holding you back, maybe it’s time to take a closer look. You might find it’s more within reach than it seemed.

Recently, one of our Tour Leaders, Sam, posted a reel about the most common concerns he hears from riders. The response was immediate. People wrote back saying, “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking!”

As a result, we decided to expand on that conversation and reassure you that your dream trip is not as far away as it may feel. These concerns are incredibly common and almost every rider who joins their first big TDA cycling expedition has them in one form or another.

If we were to say just one thing, it would be this – You’re probably closer to joining us than you think. Sometimes the difference between ‘one day’ and ‘this year’ (or ‘maybe in a decade’) may be a few unanswered questions. Not fitness. Not gear. Not even time. Just those ‘what ifs’ that pop up the moment you start taking the idea seriously:

• What if I’m too slow?
• What if I get sick?
• What if the roads feel unsafe?

If you’ve had thoughts like that, you’re in very good company. Almost everyone does before their first big tour. So, let’s treat this like a little virtual therapy session. Imagine you’re in a cozy armchair, take a breath in… and out… and let’s talk through it.

“What if I’m too slow?”

This is the big one. A lot of people imagine a TDA tour is full of cyclists hammering all day, racing into camp, treating the ride like a competition. That’s not the culture. We care much more about determination than raw performance. Yes, it helps to train beforehand. You’ll enjoy yourself more if you arrive with some base fitness but once you’re out there, nobody’s handing out medals for the fastest rider. Some people roll into camp (or the hotel) early. Others take their time, stop for photos, enjoy the surroundings, and soak up the experience. Both are having exactly the trip they came for.

“What if I get sick?”

It’s a fair question. You’re travelling for weeks or months, your body is working hard, and you’re in unfamiliar places. Things happen. That’s why our tours are built with support, not just logistics. Every Expedition and Adventure tour includes a medic as part of the staff. If you need to rest, you can always ride in the support vehicle until you’re ready to get back on the bike. No one is expected to suffer through something alone just to ‘stay tough.’ Taking care of yourself – and doing it proactively – is part of doing this well.

“Will I get hit by a car?”

Let’s be honest: cycling on any road comes with risk. Pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone but there are also things we can control. We choose routes carefully. We scout them in advance and aim for the safest roads available. We talk a lot about visibility and awareness: flashing rear lights, bright clothing, riding predictably. And we’re realistic about the fact that in many countries, cyclists don’t automatically have priority. Sometimes the safest choice is simply to give space, slow down, and let traffic pass. And if a stretch of road ever feels overwhelming, you always have the option of riding in the support vehicle and skipping that segment.

>>Related Post: Thinking About Joining A TDA Tour But Not Quite Ready Yet?

There are also a few fears people don’t always say out loud. Some worries come up quietly, usually in emails or private conversations.

“What if I get lost?”

You won’t be navigating alone. There’s structure, daily briefings, staff support, and a group moving through each day together. We also use proven tools like Ride with GPS, and our sweep rider stays at the back of the group to make sure everyone is safe and accounted for. Our staff are always in communication, keeping track of where riders are throughout the day.

“What if I don’t fit in?”

Most riders show up not knowing anyone. It doesn’t stay that way for long. Shared effort builds community fast, and we’re proud of how many friendships begin on tour and last long after the ride ends. That said, every participant plays a role in making the group dynamic work – being respectful, supportive, and a good travel companion is part of expedition life.

>>Related Post: How To Be A Fantastic Roommate On A Cycling Tour

“What if I can’t do it?”

Almost everyone has that moment early on. And almost everyone ends up surprising themselves. That’s part of why people come. You don’t always know what you’re capable of until you’re out there doing it – and by the end of the tour, you may look back amazed at how far you’ve come.

The point isn’t to be fearless. The point is simply not to let fear make the decision for you. These concerns are normal. They’re common. And they’re exactly why TDA tours are designed the way they are: experienced staff, comprehensive preparation bulletins, pre-tour info sessions, vehicle backup, and decades of learning how to do this safely and well.

Your dream trip isn’t reserved for the toughest or the fastest riders. Sometimes it’s just waiting on the other side of a few honest questions and we’re always happy to talk them through with you.

If you have questions or concerns about joining one of our exciting tours, reach out anytime – we love helping riders take the first step.

In 2025, we answered the following questions in our monthly Community Newsletter. Now we want to turn the tables and ask you, our readers, what questions you would like us to answer in 2026. Please email us the questions or note them in the comments below and we will do our best to respond to them during the year.

Don’t miss the answers. Sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Why Choose A TDA Supported Cycling Tour Instead Of Riding Solo?

“While planning a bike tour on your own might sound simple, inevitably challenges will emerge. Where will I stay for the night? What are the roads like? With a TDA supported tour these issues, and more, are taken care of, leaving you to simply ride your bike and enjoy the journey.” (Read More)

What Is A Day In The Life On A TDA Tour Like?

“Wondering what a typical day on one of our supported tours is actually like? Read up on what to expect. Depending on your tour type, it may include hearty camp breakfasts, delicious roadside lunches and sleeping under desert skies.” (Read More)

How Do I Join A Section Of A TDA Tour?

“TDA Global Cycling offers 23 tours on 6 continents in over 85 countries and those tours include 95 sections ranging from 1 – 4 weeks long. That opens up a lot of possibilities to choose from! We are here to help you decide which section is right for you and to explain the logistics of joining a tour as a section rider.” (Read More)

What Do I Need To Know About Bicycle Gearing?

“Ever been in the middle of a long, steep climb and muttered to yourself, I wish a had an easier gear? Me too…but what exactly does that mean. How can I go about figuring out how to make my climbs a little bit easier?” (Read More)

How Do E-bikes Work On A TDA Tour?

“While not all our rides allow them for logistical reasons and the main obstacle of flying commercially with an e-bike battery remains, 5 riders on the 2025 Olive Route did manage to arrange to use one on the tour. Check out the different methods they used to electrify their ride.” (Read More)

How Do I Register For My First TDA Tour?

“You have scrolled through our website. Maybe emailed us to ask a few preliminary questions. Perhaps consulted with your friends. You have finally decided on your very first tour with TDA. Now what?” (Read More)

What Can I Expect From A TDA Tour?

“How about a cycling adventure that is fully supported – before, during and after your ride? Pedal your own bike, choose who you ride with, when to stop, and what sights to take in along the route each day. Meet a unique group of fellow adventurers and make life-long friends.” (Read More)

How Do You Box A Bike For Your First Cycling Trip Abroad?

“Worried about packing up your trusty steed for a long flight overseas? Don’t sweat it, it is a common concern for many people, including our own Office manager, Olha. Facing her fears, she shows you how to learn to love boxing up your bike in 6 easy steps.” (Read More)

What Should I Carry On My Bike On A Supported Bike Tour?

“One huge advantage to opting for a supported bike tour is that you are not weighed down with heavy, awkward panniers on your daily ride. Of course, there are still things you will need to take with you on your bike even if your bags are in the support vehicle. Here’s what we suggest…” (Read More)

Remember to email us your questions or note them in the comments below!

I work at TDA’s Toronto office and occasionally get asked to carry equipment to the start of our tours and then help the crew out for the first week. I’ve been on two TDA tours so far, and every time I thought how lucky I was not to have to bring my own bike. I’d watch riders show up with giant boxes, bits of foam sticking out, the smell of chain lube and airport anxiety in the air – and I’d think: thank goodness that’s not me!

But there’s one thing you quickly learn once you start pedalling a bike that isn’t yours: the bike matters. The fit, the small adjustments, the way your saddle knows your sit bones and your hands fall perfectly on the bars – it’s not just a machine. It’s an extension of you. And after a long day in the saddle, those little details make all the difference between ah, what a day and ow, what a day. So, when I learned I’d have to join one of our 2026 expeditions – camping, dust, and all that epic stuff – it hit me: I can’t avoid it anymore. I need to learn how to pack my bike.

And since I know I’m not the only one quietly terrified of this step, here’s my honest, first-timer take on it.

Step One: Accept That You’re Doing This

The hardest part is mental. The idea of taking apart your beloved bike feels like open-heart surgery but once you decide to do it, it suddenly becomes much less mystical. You’ll need a bike box (you can get one from a bike shop or order one online), a set of basic tools, and some packing materials – zip ties, foam tubing, bubble wrap, and a generous roll of tape.

Pro tip: You can never have too much tape. It holds the box together – and your peace of mind too. Personally, I also find bubble wrap surprisingly comforting.

>>Related Post: How To Box Your Bike For Your Next Cycle Touring Adventure

Step Two: Take It Apart (It’s Not That Scary)

Start with the pedals – they’re usually the first thing to come off. Then remove the front wheel, deflate the tires a little, remove the seat post, remove the handlebars from the stem so they fit neatly in the box. It’s all about making your bike as flat and compact as possible without bending or forcing anything. Most riders wrap the frame with foam (you can use pipe insulation from a hardware store), tape everything securely, and zip-tie the loose parts like the chain, derailleurs, and handlebars so they don’t knock around.

If you’re a visual learner like me, there’s a great video on our YouTube channel where my colleague Shanny – still young and handsome back then – demonstrates how to pack a bike. I’ve watched it several times, and honestly, it works like magic. Every time I start doubting myself, I rewatch it and think: Okay, if Shanny can do it, so can I. Take photos as you go. Future-you, tired and jet-lagged somewhere in Nairobi or Lisbon, will thank you deeply for those photos.

Step Three: Protect the Details

The small things matter – and they’re easy to lose. Put pedals, bolts, and small parts in a labeled ziplock bag and tape it inside the box. Add extra cardboard or foam between the wheels and the frame to prevent rubbing. You could also use soft clothing – it doubles as padding and space-saving magic. Label your box clearly, and write your name and contact info on it — airlines can be unpredictable.

Step Four: Breathe (and Double-Check Your Tools)

Bring your multitool, a pump, and a bit of chain lube in your luggage – you’ll need them to reassemble everything. And maybe throw in a sense of humour too. Because no matter how well you prepare, there’s always a moment when something doesn’t fit, or a small screw disappears into the hotel carpet.

Step Five: The Big Exhale – Unboxing and Reassembly

Once your bike box finally arrives at the hotel, you can breathe again – the hardest part is over. Now it’s time for the fun part: unpacking your bike, reassembling it, and seeing it come back to life. Don’t worry if you’re not fully confident – our bike mechanic will be there to help you with the setup and final adjustments. It’s a team effort, and watching everyone bring their bikes back together in the first hotel is part of the pre-tour ritual. There’s excitement, relief, a bit of grease on everyone’s hands – and that first test spin in the parking lot feels amazing.

One more practical tip: you don’t need to worry about finding bike boxes at the end of the trip for your flight home – our crew will have cardboard boxes ready for you when you arrive.

A small heads-up for first-timers: while hard bike cases exist, we do not allow them on the tour: they take up a lot of space in the support van and can be tricky to handle on a long expedition. Cardboard boxes are the ideal choice for the long point-to-point tours that we run.

Step Six: Embrace the Adventure

When you finally close that box and stick the label on, it feels strangely satisfying. You’ve just done something that seemed impossible an hour ago. And when you land and unpack it on the other side, put the wheels back, and see your bike standing proudly again – that’s when it hits you. You didn’t just move a bike across the world. You moved a part of your story. So, if you’re sitting there wondering whether you can do it – you absolutely can. It’s one of those things that looks intimidating from the outside, but once you’ve done it, you’ll wonder why you ever worried. And maybe one day you (and me) will be those people reassuring the next nervous newbie: “Don’t worry, it’s easy-peasy.”

“I wish I had an easier gear” – Many a TDA cyclist

We have previously written on the topic of bicycle gearing in our Choosing A Bike For A Supported Cycle Tour blog as well as in our pre-tour bulletins but this post will provide you with even more detail in order to help you make the right choice in terms of gearing for our cycling adventures.

Read on to learn all about gear ratios, and our recommended gear ranges for cycle touring. If you are shopping for a new bike and find one that doesn’t match our recommendations, ask your bike shop if they can change the gears for you.

Not interested in the detailed calculations and just want to know what gears to look for on your new bike? Please click here to skip to the summary.

Gear Ratio

What is a gear ratio? For bicycle touring, we are mostly interested in the gear ratio of the easiest gear combination on the bike – the one you will use for climbing hills. To calculate the gear ratio, you divide the size of the smallest front chainring (for example 34 on a 34-50 double crankset) by the size of the largest cog on the rear cassette (for example 36t on an 11-36 tooth cassette) so 34 ÷ 36 = 0.94. That would be the gear ratio in this case.

What gear ratio should you have? For tours where you will be riding long stages for multiple days in a row, it is important to make sure that your easiest gear is one that allows you to complete long climbs even when you’re tired. At a minimum, you should look for a gear ratio of 1.00 or lower (a lower number means an easier climbing gear). In our example in the previous paragraph, a gear ratio of 0.94 would be considered just low enough to be suitable. If you know you struggle on steep climbs, you should aim for a gear ratio around 0.7.

Front Chainrings

It is now common for new bikes to have only one front chainring. While your bike shop may tell you that these bikes still have easy climbing gears, that is not always the case. You should still check the gear ratio. The next most typical setup is to have two front chainrings. These, however, still come in a wide range of sizes. Lastly, some touring bikes come with three chainrings, although this is no longer widely available.

The most important thing to know is that a smaller chainring makes for easier climbing.

Rear Cassette

Rear cassettes come in a large variety of options, in terms of both the number of cogs and the difference in size between the smallest and largest cogs.

The most important thing to know is that a bigger largest cog makes for easier climbing.

Downhill Speed

Wondering why this blog post is only talking about climbing hills? In our experience, this is the area where most cyclists wish they had better gears – for climbing steep hills. If you do choose your gearing for climbing, it is true that you may give up some ability to pedal downhill at a high speed. However, even with a gear ratio of 0.7 as mentioned above, you can still pedal up to about 40 km/h. If you are on a steep or long hill, you can stop pedalling and coast up to a higher speed if the terrain allows. It only becomes a limitation if you are trying to ride in a peloton behind faster riders, something we don’t recommend, for safety reasons, on our tours in any case.

Suggested Gear Combinations

For bikes with a single front chainring:

• Look for the largest rear cassette available – these go up to 52 teeth but these larger sizes may require a different shifter and/or derailleur.
• For all but the strongest riders, we suggest a cassette with a 50, 51 or 52 tooth largest cassette cog and, at most, a 42 tooth chainring. The majority of riders will be happier with a smaller chainring size, such as 36.

For bikes with two front chainrings:

• With a 34 tooth small front chainring, we suggest a largest cassette cog of 40 or 42 (or larger).
• With a smaller front chainring (eg: less than 30), you can use a smaller cassette too (like 36).

For bikes with three front chainrings:

• The smallest chainrings on these bikes are usually small enough that the cassette size is already adequate – for example a 28 tooth smallest chainring and a 34 tooth largest rear cog.

Electronic shifting

Many bikes now come with electronic shifting. While these drivetrains do tend to work very well, they have a somewhat higher chance of running into issues that can’t be fixed on the road. In our experience this doesn’t happen often, but it is a risk you should be aware of if choosing to use these components. For simplicity and repairability, we continue to recommend regular mechanical drivetrains.

Summary

For anyone interested in the numbers, I hope this has been helpful but if you just want to know if your bike has easy enough gears for long climbs, this is all you need to know:

• Smaller front chainring = easier climbing
• Larger biggest rear cog = easier climbing
• At a minimum, we recommend a chainring that is the same size as the biggest rear cog, but lower is better (eg: a chainring that is smaller than the rear cog).

That being said, plenty of very strong cyclists over the years have completed our tours on gear ratios harder than those recommended here. Kudos to them! For the rest of us, these recommendations will help you enjoy your tour to the best of your ability.

“I was worried about joining the tour midway and for just 1 section, but the staff and other riders welcomed me and included me as if I had been there the entire time. It was difficult to leave after my section. The food was great and the accommodations were as advertised. It was great to ride at my own pace…very flexible. It was a great trip; I can’t wait to do another section.” – Wayne from USA after riding the Incan Highlands section of the South American Epic

All of our cycling adventures are split up into shorter sections, anywhere from 10 days (like The Three Kingdoms section of the Golden Buddha Ride) to 1 month in length (like the Carretera Austral section of the South American Epic). When you start your section, you will be joining a longer trip that may already be in progress or may continue after you leave.

This opportunity to meet riders cycling the full tour and seeing other sectional riders come and go is something unique to the TDA Global Cycling experience. You will be welcomed into your tour family very quickly as long as you are open to meeting new cycling friends and ready to challenge yourself on your adventure.

A lot of the information on our website is presented from the perspective of a full length tour. This blog is intended to give you a bit more information specifically designed for a cyclist joining for a section or sections of a longer tour. Click on the topics, or scroll down to read it all.

• Finding The Right Section For You
• Packing For Your Section(s)
• Training For Your Section(s)
• Traveling With Your Bike
• Arrival To The Start Location
• Finding Your Rhythm, Coming Prepared
• Talking To Previous Sectional Riders And Other Resources

“Our section of the Hippie Trail was a magical journey…This is a bucket list adventure that rewards all who brave the challenge.” – Brian & Karen McCloskey (USA) after riding the Royal Rajasthan Ride section of the Hippie Trail

Finding the Section That’s Right for You

The best place to start is using our comprehensive Tour Finder where you can filter the results to only show trips within the time period you have available – be it 1 or 2 weeks, or 2 months.

Another method to find the tour that is right for you is from our Destinations tab where you can choose a continent as your starting point and then explore onwards from there.

If you already know the tour that appeals to you the most, you can click through the various sections that make up a longer tour (using the PREVIOUS SECTION and NEXT SECTION left and right arrows).

>>RELATED: Choosing a Tour That’s Right For You

Packing For Your Section(s)

A detailed packing list is sent to registered riders and contains a summary of everything you might need for the whole tour. It is written with the full tour riders in mind but even if you are cycling with us for 2 weeks or 2 months, most of the items on the packing list are still required. You might be able to cut down on extra sets of casual clothes, spare parts and extra medical supplies but if you are at all unsure as a sectional rider what you should or shouldn’t pack, don’t hesitate to contact us.

To give you a general idea of what to pack, please take a look at the sample lists for a hotel tour and a camping tour.

>>RELATED: Packing for a TDA Tour Everything You Need to Know

Training For Your Section(s)

The more you are able to train, the more you can slide right into the group and feel confident to tackle some of the longer, more challenging stages. Often, in our working life, we hope and strive to stay more active and having a bike tour planned is a great way to set a goal and have a training plan that sticks.

Some people show up as fit as they’ve been in years, while others may use the first week of the tour as their training time. We all know that it’s preferable to be fit so you do need to at least do one or two longer rides and start becoming more active in your daily life. Every extra bit of training you do prior to your tour will increase your ability to enjoy the tour and make the most of each day – both on and off the bike.

This blog – 8 Training Tips from our Long Distance Cyclists – is a great example of the variety of approaches our cyclists take to training. There is no one exact way to prepare but everyone agrees that being fit before the start of your section(s) is a big benefit.

Traveling With Your Bike

We put together a helpful blog on everything you need to know about packing your bike, getting to and from the airport, and some general tips for travelling with your bike. Click here to read it.

When you arrive to meet the group at the beginning of your respective section please do not discard the cardboard bike box. Other sectional riders will have finished the previous section and will be heading off and, if needed, may be able to use your bicycle box on their flight. Check with the tour leader on this when you arrive.

“I’ve no real cycling experience but I was fairly fit and I loved the one section I rode. Realized afterwards that I could have done more…and would like to try again in future. Found the organization of the trip excellent and the staff on the ride unfailingly helpful, very competent and with endless good humour whatever the circumstances.” – Maureen (South Africa) after riding the Elephant Highway section of the Tour d’Afrique

Arrival At The Start Location

It is a good idea to arrive 2 to 3 days before the start of your section (s). This will give you time to get over your jet lag, do some sight seeing, and receive a briefing from the staff. They will explain how things work on tour, have the bicycle mechanic help you set up your bike, introduce your fellow riders and generally ease your way into things.

Our office will send you an email about a month before the start date of your section(s) with the details of where and when to meet your group.

You will need to make your own travel arrangements to the reach the hotel or campsite where you will be meeting the group. We recommend arranging an airport shuttle or airport transfer in advance by searching ‘airport transfer’ and the city name to find the options available to you. If you have any difficulties, reach out to us and we’ll help you out. While an airport shuttle is more expensive than simply hailing a taxi at the airport, it is much more convenient, especially when travelling with bags and your bicycle box.

Finding your Rhythm; Coming Prepared

Since you may be joining a tour already in progress, the riders you meet will have had time to get used to the systems and timelines of the tour. This is an extra challenge when joining mid-tour. You will hit the ground running and will benefit from coming well prepared. Read all the Rider Bulletins that were posted in your account as well as the TDA Starter Kit. Our How to Prepare series is another excellent resource and is loaded with information on packing, traveling with your bike and what a typical day is like. Lastly, make sure to join the video info session or watch the recording afterwards. This is one of the most valuable ways to learn directly from the tour organizers and trip leaders and to ask all the questions you might have.

Once you are on the tour, you need to speak up and ask lots of questions of the staff and your fellow riders. Find someone to ride with the first few days – it’s a great way to get to know the other cyclists and to see how they conduct themselves throughout the day.

Talk To A Previous Section Rider

Curious about what your section is like? We can help you connect with someone who has ridden it previously, possibly from your own part of the world. Just let us know what section you are interested in and we can connect you.

“Overall it has everything in it. Excellent routes for cycling with low vehicle traffic except in the cities. Lots of interesting and challenging sections, great vistas, riding through villages and small towns, lots of quiet roads, broken pavement, riding down narrow twisty and windy roads.” – Justin from Canada after riding two sections of the Trans-Europa in France and Spain

More Sources Of Helpful Advice

• Do I Have to Ride the Whole Day?
• Can I Do it?
• A Day in the Life on a Supported Cycling Tour.
• How to be a Fantastic Roommate on a Cycling Tour
• What to Carry While you Ride

Tour d’Afrique bike mechanic Lorenzo Boutall, currently working on tour in Zambia, shares some important tips and tricks for riders who are new to riding on the dirt.

Tip 1: Tire choice

The first consideration when going from the pavement to the dirt is tire choice. Tires are the most basic suspension of a bike and the wider the tire, the more cushioning that it provides. Along with being wider, different tread patterns and knobbier tires will give your better grip and traction than a slick road tire. Lowering your tire pressure is also an important part of gravel riding and will help alleviate the bumps and rumbles that dirt roads will throw at you. This is something that you can chat to your TDA bike mechanic about so you know how much to decrease your pressure by before you change road surface.

Tip 2: Brake modulation

Having a death grip on your brakes on the dirt is an innocent mistake that can leave you skidding on the road. If you simply grip and hold your brakes, you risk both your front and back tires skidding. You also risk overheating your brakes and wearing down your brake pads. All of this can be avoided by modulating your brakes. Pull the brake briefly, let go. Pull the brake briefly, let go. By using your brakes in quick spurts instead of one long hold, you put less pressure and stress on your bike while also riding more safely. Modulating your brakes also allows for you to relax your arms and your grip while riding, which is especially helpful when going over bumps.

>>Related Post: Seven Tips For Cycling On Rough Roads

Tip 3: Weight distribution

Weight distribution on your bike is different depending on if you are going up hill or going down. When you are riding downhill, you want to move your weight towards the front of the bike. Putting weight over your front wheel will give you more control and if your weight is too far backwards you will notice that you loose tire traction. Going uphill, you want to do the opposite. By focusing your weight towards the back wheel of the bike this will help you control overall bike handling, and prevent you from skidding out. You can also tuck in your elbows, and squeeze your glutes together for increased power and control, especially on very steep terrain.

Tip 4: Cadence

As a general rule, you might want to drop a few gears into something that feels a bit harder while on dirt. This will bring you into a lower cadence where you should aim for a full, round pedal stroke. This means always putting power down to aim for a consistent and full feeling pedal stroke, without any empty spots. By putting in constant watts you are less likely to skid or slip on the dirt. Generally speaking, you can aim for roughly one pedal stroke per second as a way to maintain a nice and constant output.

Tip 5: Choosing a line

It is always good to be looking ahead. If you can see 50-100 metres in front of you, you should be able to pick the best line. ‘The best line’ is usually an invisible line on the road ahead of you, where you can imagine yourself riding through the least amount of obstacles. The less potholes, bumps, corrosion, the better. Sometime the line doesn’t have to be imaginary in your head, and you can look for tire tracks from vehicles as a guide, or take note of where cyclists or motorbikes are positioned on the road already. It’s also good to remember that you can dodge potholes, but breaks in the road and bumps are less avoidable.

Bonus Tip: Hand Positioning

Changing hand positions while you ride is a great way to keep the vibrations of the road from hitting on the same place on your hands. By switching your grip and where you place your hands on the bars, you’ll also be able to alleviate fatigue in your arms and shoulders. We’d recommend switching every few kilometres to avoid hand numbness and sore spots. If you have a drop bar bike you can especially take advantage of the different positioning that your bike allows for.

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Tour d'Afrique

The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the world’s epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over...

Yes! Ever since the first Tour d’Afrique Cycling Expedition in 2003 we have had vegetarians and vegans participate on our tours. In fact, many of our tour staff over the years have also been vegetarian or vegan.

In the months before the start of a tour, the registered riders receive a health and fitness questionnaire. This includes questions on whether they are vegetarian or vegan as well as if they have any dietary restrictions, such as intolerances or allergies. We make note of these for each of our groups and reach out to riders if we have any further questions regarding their dietary needs.

On our Expedition tours, or select Adventure tours that involve camping, our tour Chef prepares a separate main dish for vegetarians each evening for our camp dinner. Typically, the vegetarian main dish is also vegan, but if dairy is included then a separate vegan main dish would also be prepared.

Breakfasts on our tours with camping are typically vegetarian by nature, and on Expedition tours where we have a post ride soup, this is always vegetarian as well.

Across all our tours we have vegetarian and vegan options for our roadside lunch, including sandwich fixings, as well as side items such as salads.

For our Touring and Adventure tours, where we stay in hotels and eat at the hotel or in nearby restaurants, we request vegetarian or vegan dishes as needed.

>>Related Post: What’s It Like To Be A Vegetarian On A TDA Cycling Tour?

Nutrition and Variety / Availability

We do our best to provide all the nutritional necessities for all participants, including vegetarians and vegans. This means on our camping tours we are often cooking with legumes, pulses, soy products, or using nuts and seeds in our dishes to provide the required protein for non-meat eaters, as well as dairy for vegetarians.

We make these same nutritional menu requests on our hotel tours where we are eating at restaurants.

As we operate tours in over 80 countries, the availability of certain types of products varies. For instance, dairy on our tours in Asia or parts of Africa, is much less common and a smaller part of the food options available there. In addition, on some of our hotel tours in some areas of the world, a vegetarian or vegan diet is very uncommon. Restaurants may only be able to prepare limited options which may not vary greatly during the tour compared to the meat options. In addition, items such as nut-based milks or soy meat alternatives are not available in many parts of the world. We try to set this expectation in advance depending on the region of the world the tour travels to.

We often recommend that vegetarian or vegan participants bring along some extra protein bars and multi-vitamins and to expect they may need to add to their diet at times during the tour, based on their energy levels and general health over the course of the tour.

If you have other dietary restrictions, such as a gluten intolerance, we can accommodate many of these as well.

The length of the tour and how remote and far out the adventure takes you will determine how many spare parts you need. For all the cycling tours, we recommend starting with a brand new drivetrain – meaning the chain, cassette and chainrings are brand new or have had less than 1000km on them. This list is based on that assumption. Registered riders will receive a detailed packing list with the spare parts recommended for that specific tour. The list below is a less detailed sample to give you a general idea.

Sample Spare Parts List

• 2 – 4 sets of brake pads
• 3 – 5 spare tubes
• 1 – 2 patch kit
• 1 – 2 tires
• 1 chain
• 1 replaceable derailleur hanger
• 1 front thru axle skewer
• 1 brake and 1 derailleur cable with appropriate housing and ends
• 2 spokes in each length needed for your bike
• 1 set of cleats with bolts (if using clip-in pedals)

Less is sometimes more – TDA’s approach to spare parts

It’s not possible to bring a spare part for every piece of your bike and so our suggested spares include the items most likely to need replacing during your tour. If another part breaks, we do our best to find a solution. Our mechanics are very resourceful and you will be surprised what they are able to do to repair the parts or invent a solution with the tools and materials available to them. Or if you use up all of your brake pads (for example), there is a good chance that someone else in the group will have one you can buy or borrow. But if a solution isn’t found we can also assist you in having something delivered or brought to you during the tour. There is always a solution one way or another.

TDAs approach to spare parts is to bring with you some of the most likely needed spares, and nothing more so that we keep the overall weight and volume of equipment that we collectively carry throughout the tour to a reasonable level.

What about tubeless?

We wrote this blog all about tubeless systems as it is becoming a very common question we get now. If you are using tubeless tires (and we only suggest this if you have a lot of experience servicing them), you need to read the blog first.

Even if you are running tubeless, you still need to bring 2-3 spare tubes and a patch kit as a backup if the tubeless fails.

If you are currently using tires and tubes and wondering if you should consider changing to a tubeless system before your tour, don’t! While tubeless systems have some advantages, these tours are not the place to try it out your first time. If in doubt, keep things simple and use tubes.

Replaceable derailleur hangers

Replaceable derailleur hangers are a part that connects your derailleur to the bike frame. Because these are different for almost every bike model, you need to bring a spare with you on any of our tours as finding a replacement may not be possible locally. Some bike frames have a non-replaceable derailleur hanger, in which case you don’t need to bring a spare.

Thru Axles

A thru axle, instead of a quick release skewer is becoming a more common way that the wheel is held in place on the bike. Like the derailleur hanger, these are small and hard to replace while on a tour, so we recommend bringing a spare for at least the front wheel in case your thru axle is lost or damaged. If your bike uses quick release skewers and not a thru axle, you do not need to bring spares as they are very standard and common.

Electronic Drivetrains

If your bike has an electronic drivetrain, make sure you have what you need to keep it running. For Shimano Di2, make sure you have packed the charging cable, and have a portable power bank you can use whenever you don’t have access to a conveniently located electrical outlet. For SRAM AXS, make sure you have the charger, and bring one or two spare batteries, as they are small and easy to lose.

What tools to bring

Every TDA tour has a full time bicycle mechanic that travels with the tour. This mechanic has a full tool kit to repair the majority of problems that riders encounter during the tour. But you need to carry a small kit with you on the bike, in the event that you have a minor mechanical problem on the roadside – such as a broken chain or a flat tire. There are also a few other tools to keep in your duffel bag that you will need to maintain your bike.

To carry on your bike

• Multi-tool
• Mini-pump
• Tire levers
• 1 spare tube
• 1 patch kit

To keep in your duffel bag

• Gear brush / tooth brush
• 1 small bottle of degreaser
• 1 small bottle of chain lube
• Rags

Do you have other small items (handy spares or compact tools) you always carry with you on a bike tour? Tell us about those in the comments below.

Maybe our world map of bike tours has caught your attention and maybe you love to ride, but have never joined a group cycling tour, let alone some of the longer, more ambitious routes we offer in far flung destinations. Maybe it’s something you are considering for the near future, or when you retire. Whatever it is, start here. This blog lays out 5 things we find a lot of people ask about when they first hear about our tours and get captivated by the idea but can’t quite imagine this as a real possibility yet.

If you are ready to sign up you can choose a tour here. If you are in the I’m just browsing phase, this blog should be very helpful, but as always please feel free to reach out to us anytime if you have other questions.

1. Can I do it?

The big question with a simple answer – yes. Yes, you can.

Maybe your big concern is your age or your fitness level. There are men and women from many countries across the globe that participate in these tours. They are just regular people like you – we proudly promote and encourage everyone to give these adventures a try. You will surprise yourself at what you are capable of.

We recently shared a series of videos with some motivational messages from our participants as they pedalled on one of our tours. Take a look, and maybe you could imagine yourself in their cycling shoes some day.

While a tour is often long and full of challenges, we provide excellent support to help you achieve more than you thought possible. The key is to come with the right attitude and some determination. Of course it is also important to prepare yourself physically and to take advantage of all the support TDA provides you before the tour begins too. Remember, we carry your bags, arrange the route and accommodations and have world class staff to support your journey.

“You can do this. I didn’t start cycling til I was 42. I didn’t go on my first tour until I was 59!” Hear more inspirations from our riders here.

>>>RELATED: You Are Never too Old to Cycle the World

2. Do I have to ride the whole day?

It’s important to remember that these are supported tours – we are there for you and our support vehicles have space to carry bikes each day.

“This is a common concern for someone who has never done a tour with us before – there is a natural fear of being too slow or being left behind. Rest assured, our staff do regular attendance to ensure everyone is accounted for and are ready and willing to give you a ride in the support vehicles if needed…Of course everyone’s goal is to cycle as much as possible – it is a cycling tour after all. We know that the people who are happiest on tour are usually the ones that don’t try to grind out every last inch, but instead they are more strategic and save some energy and save their body for the days ahead. Sometimes pushing too hard means you end up having to take more time off the bike to recover from fatigue or overuse injuries.” Read more.

>>>RELATED: What to Expect on TDA tours

3. What type of bike do I need?

A durable versatile bike is ideal. Something with wide tires and a wide gear range – typically a touring bike or gravel bike work really well on most of our tours. We have an excellent blog with detailed information on choosing a bike – you can find it here.

We don’t recommend bringing your finest high end racing bike but something that can take its knocks and be a sturdy companion for you throughout the tour. So carbon fibre road bikes are not recommended – neither are full suspension mountain bikes. Having the right equipment means you will get the most out of the experience and give yourself the best chance of success.

>>>RELATED: How to choose a bike for the Tour d’Afrique

4. Is it hard to travel with a bike?

If you have never travelled with your bike before, it might seem like a big hassle. What we have learned over our 20+ years in business is that once you arrive, everyone agrees that it isn’t as bad as people thought and (more importantly) it is well worth it.

“People often wonder if their bicycle will get lost or damaged in transit or how they’ll move two bags and a bike box through the airport. In this blog, we demystify the process and help you feel assured that it is very doable– with the one day of transiting rewarded by weeks or months of cycling adventures on the bicycle you love and know best.” Read more.

And don’t forget, we have a bike mechanic on every tour and they will be there to assist with reassembling the bike once you arrive at the start location.

5. How much time do I need to prepare?

We recommend registering 6 to 8 months in advance to take full advantage of all the pre-tour support we provide. You pay a non-refundable US$250 registration fee. Once you are registered, you will receive a series of email bulletins to help you and your riding colleagues prepare for the tour – we cover everything you might not have considered – entry requirements for each country, items to pack, safety and weather related topics and so much more. Then two months before the tour starts, we host a live video info session (also recorded if you can’t attend live) with TDA’s operations team and previous trip leaders who can provide extremely valuable and specific info about your trip – no question goes unanswered and we do everything we can to arm you with knowledge as you make your final preparations.

In the meantime, we also have this excellent series of blogs on many of the key aspects to consider when preparing for a tour. Check them out here.

>>>RELATED: How to Find the Tour That’s Right for You

So that answers some of the most common questions we get. Do you have others? Post them in the comments below.

“Some days the mileage seems really tough…you just get one pedal stroke in at a time, you just kinda roll with it. It’s all part of the experience. It makes you a better person I think.” – Lloyd Strong on the 2019 North American Epic

We pride ourselves on creating very ambitious and challenging tours that are not meant for professional athletes but, instead, for regular people like you and me. Our cyclists come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are fast, some are slow. Some are older, some are young. Some are world travellers, some are not. Here are some thoughtful and inspiring words of encouragement from past riders to help you consider doing a cycling tour someday. Maybe start with something small in your neighbourhood, building up to something bigger and more ambitious over time. Like one of our many adventures on offer!

“As we cycle through these vast lands in the heat and sun, with our Camelbaks and water bottles full we know that if we run out of water we will have a source at the end of the day.” – from ‘The Water Shuffle‘ on our blog

As a participant on one of our tours, you can feel rest assured that there will always be enough water to drink. This is a relatively easy achievement for the support staff on our Touring and Adventure category tours where we stay mostly (if not entirely) in hotels each evening and where water is either filtered or we treat it using water purification chemicals. On our Expedition level tours, the search for water is more challenging and takes up a significantly larger amount of the staff’s time and energy. This video from the North American Epic is a great behind the scenes look at a ‘water chase day’ in remote northern Canada.

In a blog by Ryan Matthews, he explains in detail his efforts to keep our roadside lunch stocked with drinking water day after day as the tour travelled through drought-prone regions of Africa. “A lot of behind-the-scenes logistics goes into allowing cyclists to put their focus and energy on riding throughout the epic expedition-style tours that TDA Global Cycling is famous for. A reliable water supply can easily be taken for granted, whereas in some places it’s a formidable challenge…Wells, hand pumps, donkey carts, tankers, hoses, water stewards, jerrycans… they’re all just a sampling of elements that go into providing riders with a relaxing oasis for their daily lunch break!”

In the video below, Tour Leader Yanez Novoa gives us a tour of the support vehicles for the Tour d’Afrique and their large water storage tanks:

How Much Should I Carry During the Day?

Our advice has always been to carry more water than you think you will need. We recommend to come set up for a water capacity of 3 litres. That could be with water bottles, or a hydration pack, or extra reserve water in a handlebar bag or frame bag.

You will have opportunities to fill your bottles and containers each morning before the ride, and each day at our roadside lunch stop. Our support vehicles always have drinking water too – so don’t be shy to flag them down as they pass you on the route. Once you arrive to the end of the ride you can either source water from the hotel or campsite or local shops or from our water reserves on our camping-based tours in remote regions.

The key is to sip water throughout the day. Don’t wait until you get thirsty. You also need to remember that when you sweat you are losing salts along with the water from your body. So it’s important to replenish both. So electrolyte sports drinks and getting salt through the foods you eat at our roadside lunch help replenish you. On some tours we are able to provide an electrolyte drink that is available at breakfast and lunch, while on other tours participants can bring a small supply for the first days of their tour and buy local equivalents where possible along the way. Our staff also keep a supply of oral rehydration salts for the days that are particularly long and hot with a lot of sun exposure.

World Water Day

It is not lost on us that such easy access to drinking water for our participants is not the case for everyone in the world – far from it. The search for water is much more consequential for people living in the drought-prone regions. Today is World Water Day and so it is also an occasion to reflect on how lucky we are to have water from our taps at home and in our bottles as we ride. As Stephanie rightly pointed out in the The Water Shuffle, water is life. As TDA’s founder Henry Gold recommended previously on World Water Day, as a cyclist “take a minute and drink your clean water slowly, mindfully. Think how fortunate you are and think a bit also about those who are not. It may even make you a better cyclist.”

TDA Global Cycling’s adventures take riders all over the world – through more than 80 countries on 6 continents – and we are proud of the planning and dedication it takes to both create these tours and make sure that they run smoothly and safely. Our team, both in the office and in the field, do much more than that, however. We also support the riders in preparing for their ride and provide them with the information and skills that allow them to complete these long distance cycling journeys.

Our website provides a wealth of information on such topics as What To Expect & How To Prepare. In addition, we have a comprehensive TDA Starter Kit available for download. We have also put together a number of instructive videos covering some common questions about supported cycling adventures in particular and cycling in general. Here are a 6 of our most popular TDA advice videos. Let us know if there are other topics you would like us to cover in the future.

“Do I have to ride the whole day?”

This is a common concern for someone who has never done a tour with us before – there is a natural fear of being too slow or being left behind. Rest assured, our staff do regular attendance to ensure everyone is accounted for and are ready and willing to give you a ride in the support vehicles if needed.

The simple answer to this very common question is “No”. This is a supported tour and while we encourage people to ride as much as they are able to, and the goal is for everyone to be able to ride the full day, we do have space on our vehicles to pick up a limited number of riders who are too tired to continue, or have become sick or injured.

>>RELATED BLOG: How far can I ride in a day

Planning Ahead

With our navigation system, you can review the upcoming stages and decide if you think it will be more than you can handle, or whether it’s a stage where you’ll attempt to ride the whole day and see how far you get. The Ride with GPS app (where we share the route information) will give you distance and climbing information. In addition each evening before dinner, the staff will host a rider meeting. This will cover the following day’s route, including navigation, hazards, interesting sites and accommodations. With this information, you can make a plan for the upcoming stage.

Riding Part of the Day

Our typical riding day is around 100 to 120 km. If you have reviewed the route and listened to the tour leader’s briefing the night before, you may want to ride only part of the day’s route.

Option 1: Start from the lunch stop

Our roadside lunch provides an excellent start or end location to do a half day of riding. If you let the tour leader know the night before (or the morning of the ride at the latest), they can load your bike onto one of the vehicles and drive you to the roadside lunch location. From there, once the crew have set up the lunch table and prepared the food, you can grab a sandwich and hit the road with the whole day to cover half of the day’s scheduled distance.

Option 2: End your ride at the lunch stop

Alternatively, once you arrive by bike to the roadside lunch, you might decide that you will not continue cycling – no problem. Let the lunch crew know, and after all the riders have finished lunch and the vehicle is packed up, they can drive you the rest of the way to our hotel or camp for the night.

Option 3: Pickup along the route

While the lunch stop is the simplest place to start or end your ride, there are also possibilities to get picked along the route if you can’t continue. Sometimes this might mean waiting for a vehicle to return to get you. On our tours, we don’t have a ‘sag wagon’ that follows the group, but we do have a staff person each day riding a bike as the ‘sweep’ – meaning they ride at the very back behind the last rider and can be helpful in the event you are unsure about the directions or if you need them to call for a pick up.

On longer or more challenging days we sometimes have an additional water stop part way thru the ride. Or in other situations a vehicle will drive along the route and stop to check in on each rider as they pass. This is another opportunity to refuel and prepare for the rest of the riding or to determine if you have had enough and need a lift.

Pacing Yourself on Long Distance Cycling Tours

Of course everyone’s goal is to cycle as much as possible – it is a cycling tour after all. We know that the people who are happiest on tour are usually the ones that don’t try to grind out every last inch, but instead they are more strategic and save some energy and save their body for the days ahead. Sometimes pushing too hard means you end up having to take more time off the bike to recover from fatigue or overuse injuries.

This is especially true in the first days and weeks of the tour where you are still getting into shape and your body is adapting to being on a bike so much. If you allow yourself to steadily get stronger and more fit, you will start to get more and more out of each day’s ride.

Settle in and Enjoy

“You feel so confident in the staff that you can let go of worrying and just focus on experiencing the world around you.”

That quote from one of our past riders says it all – let go! Trust the staff and challenge yourself to cycle some of the tough days, but also listen to your body and know when to take a break. Among the real joys of traveling by bicycle is the freedom to determine your own pace and to immerse yourself in new surroundings. Don’t get so caught up in making it to your day’s destination that you miss the pleasures of the journey. Stopping in villages and towns to meet the people or to visit an unexpected local attraction along the route will only add to your overall experience. Often the unexpected surprises turn into the best memories. Adventure travel is all about being spontaneous and relishing the unexpected.

A lot of us may not be used to sharing rooms with strangers.  Having a roommate on a TDA tour is yet another way that our trips can take you out of your comfort zone. As Britney Charme, the leader for the upcoming Morocco: Kingdom of the West tour, says, “Embrace the awkwardness! Use it as an opportunity to find a new friend.” Most riders find it quite enjoyable and get along well with their roomies but it does take effort, compromise and consideration for others. If you follow the advice below, you should have an enjoyable experience sharing your room with a new cycling friend.

This blog will explain how your roommate is chosen and answer the popular question – can I pay for a single room? We also give some practical advice on noise reduction sleep aids and 0ur head office staff give their advice on how to be considerate and a good communicator. Lastly, our tour leaders share their best roommate etiquette tips in a top 10 list.

How Roommates are Chosen (and About Single Supplements)

If you register with a friend or come as a couple, we will put you together in a room, as long as you let us know in advance. If you come solo, as most of our clients do, we will pair you with another rider of the same gender. Sometimes they will be your roommate for the entire tour, while at other times you may rotate between different roommates and occasionally get a single room to yourself (when we have an odd number of people of the same gender on a tour).

You might be asking, can’t I just pay extra and get my own room every night? Usually not. Our tours often take riders ‘off the beaten track’ where many places along the route have very limited capacity. With our tours also becoming very popular (and often selling out), we try to offer as many spaces as possible without overloading the tour. This means that we don’t prioritize single rooms.

Shanny, from TDA’s head office, suggests that a good trick is to treat yourself every so often. “While we do not offer many single supplements, you can still choose to pay for a separate single room every once in a while. If you arrive to a large hotel for one of your rest days, you are welcome to ask the reception if rooms are available. This would be a private booking outside our tour booking and the cost would be entirely yours, but perhaps it is worth it every so often when an opportunity presents itself.” 

Noise Reduction Sleep Aids

Everyone’s biggest fear is being stuck with the tour’s snorer. It can happen, but there are ways to mitigate the issue. The key is to come prepared with sleep aids as snoring is only one of many noises that might interrupt your sleep. Think of these possible scenarios: a noisy wedding in the hotel ballroom runs late into the night, dogs howling to each other outside your window, on a busy street loud traffic continues through the night, an annoying heating/AC unit buzzes intermittently as you doze off. Here are a few things to help reduce the noise.

• Earplugs – you can bring simple foam ones or try some of the more modern options such as the ones made by Loop
• Noise cancelling earbuds – many earbuds such as AirPods or Pixel Earbuds can block out environmental noises but if they are not comfortable to sleep in you could try ones designed specifically for sleeping – like QuietOn. Or try these ‘Sleep Headphones‘ which should be most comfortable while sleeping as nothing is in your ear, but just covering it.
• White noise machine – if your roommate is in agreement, a white noise machine could be a great way to neutralize environmental noises. Just make sure it’s compact enough to fit within your bags
• Sleeping / noise reduction apps – there are many apps that offer white noise or pleasant sleep sounds

Side note – Some people also benefit from eye coverings to block out light as well.

Being Considerate and a Good Communicator

TDA Global Cycling walks the walk. Even company founder Henry Gold shares a room with the other staff when he is on tour. Henry had this to say about how to be a good roommate, “I think generally be thoughtful… don’t do things that you wish others wouldn’t do to you.”

Be tidy

Our Office Manager Olha added, “As for me, it’s keeping a balance of communication (as a starting point), respect, and consideration for each other’s boundaries, needs, and preferences. You know, communication is the key, so, it’s crucial to discuss everything beforehand.”

Continuing along that line of thinking, Operations Manager Miles MacDonald shared that, “openness to cultural differences, as our tours attract people from across the globe, is very important. Knowing that a person from another culture may not have the same understanding of what is acceptable noise-wise or personal space -wise, and that non-judgmental communication is crucial.”

Our long running European tour leader, Gergo Szanyi, added, “a fantastic roommate knows that little gestures make a huge difference! Like if you have the time after arrival and your shower, bring your roommate’s bag to the room, or brew another tea for him/her when they arrive later after a long day.” 

Tour Leader Top 10: Roommate Etiquette

We reached out to our incredibly insightful tour leaders, staff who have the most experience with how roommates can best share their space. Here are their top 10 tips:

1. Temperature – Have a clear discussion on arrival. Ask your roommate if they find it too hot/cold and be willing to compromise. This can be a point of tension if not addressed directly.
2. Bed preference – Some prefer the ‘window-bed’, others prefer to be closer to the washroom. Some rooms have one larger and one smaller bed. Be generous in choosing which bed you take and take turns with the lesser choice.
3. Gear – Keep your gear tidy and on your side of the room. Only use your half of the space for unpacking and organizing. Pick up your clothes and have a good system for organizing your stuff.
4. Talking – Communicate your needs clearly. Adapt to the social preferences of your roommate (talking more/less). Respect the silence as well. There is no need for small talk all the time.
5. Sleep/wake times – Openly discuss sleep/wake schedules and a time for lights on/off. Set alarms accordingly.
6. Bathroom – Close the door fully when using the bathroom. Leave the bathroom clean after every use (don’t be afraid to use the toilet brush). Bathroom smells are normal. Use the fan or a room spray.
7. Keys – Leave keys at the front desk when you go out (many hotels only provide one key per room).
8. Noise – Use headphones when watching movies / listening to music. Leave the room for phone calls. Turn off/mute phones overnight.
9. Use of the space – Allowing your roommate to have time to themselves in the room (especially on rest days). Never assume roommates are comfortable with nudity.
10. Be generous / considerate – Make sure to replace anything you finish (water, towels, toilet paper etc). Carry your roommates bag to the room if they had a hard day. Share your snacks. Remind them of rider meeting / breakfast times.

(A big shout out to Malcolm, Carolina, Andreas, Britney, Sam, Gergo for these excellent tips)

Do you also have some suggestions on how to be a fantastic roommate? Leave them in the comments below.

As a tour gets going and the weeks roll by, the cyclists on our tours become more fit. With stronger legs, minds can be freed to be deep in thought or to not have any thoughts at all. Our inquisitive content creators often pull participants aside and ask them about what cycle touring means to them. Previously, I wrote on how time is perceived while riding – this has always been a popular topic. Another common theme we have seen is the idea that cycle touring is a kind of meditation.

As Mimi Jones said earlier this year while on the Journey to the East “when we enter through these heavenly forests – sun filtering through the trees, birds chirping – it’s really a meditative process.” In another inspiring piece shot on the The Odyssey tour this spring, Anne Thompson shared that “on the one hand you can kind of day dream, but on the other hand, you’re focused, moment by moment.” Please take a moment to watch these insightful riders share more of what they are thinking and meditating on while cycle touring.

I hope you enjoy these videos as much as I did.

“I discovered it was Saturday today. Who knows. Who cares.”

These were David’s words from the first video below. Having just returned from an incredible month of cycling on the Ruta Maya, I can definitely relate. Time can be a tricky thing when you are in the midst of adventure and physical activity. I had excruciating moments where time slowed down as the rainforest heat and humidity made the steep climb I was on seem endless – my legs burning, my shirt soaked with sweat. On the other hand, I had other zen-like moments where my pedal strokes were strong, my mind was clear and I could have stayed like that endlessly, or so it felt.

Time seemed to expand just for me. Or maybe I stopped caring about time or feeling hemmed in by it. I guess this is the kairos time that Randy describes below. It’s one of the great joys of cycle touring – we feel a distortion in how we perceive time. In the videos below, our insightful cyclists share their own take on the subject of time.

Tubeless tires have become increasingly common on all types of bicycles, to the point that these days, the majority of new bikes being sold are equipped with tubeless-ready wheels and tires. While our recommendation is that the simpler maintenance of tubed tires still makes them preferable for touring, we recognize that many riders are now using tubeless tires, including on TDA tours. For that reason, we have written this guide about touring with tubeless tires.

What is tubeless?

A typical bicycle tire is used with a tube inside. When you get a flat, you replace the tube (or patch it). As long as whatever punctured it in the first place is not still lodged in the tire, you do not need to replace or patch the tire itself. In a tubeless tire, there is no tube. Instead, a small amount (30-60mL) of tire sealant is added to the inside of the tire. This sealant closes up any tiny gaps in the rim, between the rim and the tire, and any small leaks within the tire itself. And, when everything goes to plan, if you get a puncture, the sealant may be able to quickly stop the leak with no repairs needed.

Why use tubeless tires?

In my experience, the greatest benefit of tubeless tires applies when they are used on mountain bikes. There, you are able to run much lower tire pressures without getting pinch flats, since there is no tube to pinch when you hit a rock, root, pothole, etc. The lower tire pressure greatly increases traction. On the road, however, this does not really apply, since you will still be running somewhat higher tire pressures.

There is also a small benefit of reduced weight – you save the weight of one tube per tire. This is not a huge difference, but every bit helps!

The remaining benefit, then, is reduced punctures. Well-maintained tubeless tires are very good at avoiding punctures from small items, like tire wire that we often encounter riding on the shoulder of a highway or other busy road. As the puncturing item increases in size, the chance of the tubeless sealant working to seal the hole decreases. So for things like small nails, staples, or thorns, you have a reasonable chance of the tire sealing itself up, but this won’t happen every time. And then for bigger punctures, like very large nails, or a tear in the tire’s sidewall, the sealant is very unlikely to be able to make a seal.

Tubeless problems

Flat fixes

When you get a flat with tubeless tires, there are a few ways to do a repair:

1. Add more sealant, and use a co2 cartridge or pump to continue to add air while the sealant works. This can usually only be done for pretty small punctures.
2. Remove the tire, add a patch over the hole, and then re-add sealant (if necessary – depending how much was lost in the initial puncture, and during the repair) and add air.
3. Remove the tire, remove the sealant, remove the tubeless valve stem, install a tube, and add air.

Most people plan to use the third option in the event of a flat – since doing this repair is pretty much the same process as you may have done many times before with regular tires. It should be noted, though, that your tubeless tire may have sharp objects lodged in it from previous punctures which were sealed by the sealant. So when installing a tube, you should carefully check the tire for any remaining sharp items. This is tricky to do well, since the inside of the tire will now be coated in wet sealant.

Tire mounting

Another issue is that tubeless tires can be difficult to mount onto the rim. With a regular tire, you have the tube gradually inflating, and pushing the tire out into the rim. With tubeless tires, you are relying on the air alone to force the tire into place. This is very difficult to do with a bike pump alone. Since you will not have access to an air compressor while on tour, this can be an issue. Our mechanic will have a tubeless inflation canister. But while you are out on the road, you will want to have co2 cartridges with you.

Tips for touring with tubeless tires

• You should have co2 cartridges. If you cannot fly with these (usually prohibited), you can look for somewhere to buy them at the start of your trip, but this can be challenging depending where you are in the world. If you cannot find co2 cartridges, you will need to do any repairs by installing a tube into your tire.
• Have good tire levers – tubeless tires fit very tightly on to the rim.
• Still bring tubes and patches.
• Bring spare sealant (small bottles).
• TDA tour mechanics are equipped with tubeless inflation canisters, but do not have air compressors. You should be prepared to fix your own flat when out riding.
• Choose strong tires – many tubeless tires are much thinner than the Schwalbe Marathons that we recommend for use with tubes. Look for tires with reinforced casings and puncture protection.
• Check your tire pressure – tubeless tires tend to leak air very gradually, but more quickly than tubes. Check your tire pressure every day. Having said that, you can usually stick close to the lower end of the recommended pressure range for your specific tire.

Our recommendation

• If you are already using tubeless tires at home, and are comfortable with making repairs on them yourself, they are totally fine to use on tour, as long as you bring the items mentioned above and can find co2 cartridges.
• Using tubeless is not recommended if you are not confident that you will be able to fix a flat yourself on the road. Of course we will be there to help, but not at the exact moment you get a flat.
• The best tubeless tire available is the Schwalbe Marathon Almotion. However it is currently only available in 700 x 40, 50, and 55. Make sure you are getting the tubeless-compatible version. This tire is well suited to both paved and dirt roads. Especially since, with a tubeless setup, you can drop the tire pressure to around 30psi for dirt roads without worrying too much about pinch flats.

Judith Gold, who rode the 2022 Bamboo Road, considers ‘How Old Is Too Old’ for women cyclists in response to her brother,TDA Founder Henry Gold’s, recent piece – Am I Too Old To Cycle The World With TDA Global Cycling?

I was out cycling the other day and thinking about my upcoming TDA adventure, the legendary Tour d’Afrique Cycling Expedition. I remembered a recent TDA Global Cycling blog about How Old is Too Old and I wondered, how many more rides like it would there be in my future?  As a 66 year old woman, this is not a theoretical question, not least because of a conversation I had with another woman cyclist on my last TDA ride, the Bamboo Road in 2022. She was a strong cyclist, like nearly all the riders in that group, but confided in me that she thought there were only few more trips in her future because she was already 62 years old.

I was taken by surprise, because there were several men on that ride that were near or over 70, all fantastic riders. When I pushed back, she responded, “women lose muscle mass faster than men.” I don’t know if that is true, and I don’t want to Google it (but feel free to do so if you like). Science is about averages, which means that while her claim may be true for the majority of people (which could mean as little as 51 percent), there are many that beat the odds (perhaps the other 49 percent?). Moreover, in this case, I think ignorance is bliss! If I don’t know this to be true, I will keep going as long as I can despite what science tells me is possible.

Then there are Miriam and Jackie – two amazing women cyclists in their 70’s. They are not the fastest in the group, but who cares! They have now become my role models. On my first trip with TDA, the Great American Road Trip in 2021, there were more than a couple of men in their 70’s. But I only met these two women that are still riding in their 70’s. That is not to say that there are not other women riders of that age riding with TDA. So who are these two amazing women?

Miriam (L) & Jackie (R)

The first is Miriam Gold, a mom and grandma (and my sister-in-law). For most of her life, you could be forgiven if you thought Miriam would barely ride a slow 10 miles, if that. She was not particularly athletic, too busy raising 3 kids and being a corporate lawyer. After she retired, in her late 50’s, she took up cycling in order to spend more time with her husband, my oldest brother Thomas, who was keen to ride with TDA. Their first trip was in 2010, the Amber Route, followed by 8 more rides. At 74, she is still going strong, and while she now does not necessarily ride the full distance every day, she is still biking about 80 percent of the route and having a blast. She told me that, “her last trip, the Journey to the East, was pretty tough – lots and lots of up. They don’t call them the Japanese Alps for nothing.”

Then there is Jackie Silverberg. Jackie is also a mom, a former entrepreneur and a teacher. I met her as a sectional rider on the Great American Road Trip. We overlapped for about two weeks. I was relieved that I was no longer the last rider, just the penultimate one (haha!). Jackie is a tiny thing and I was worried that she could easily be blown off her bike by some of the high winds we experienced on our ride across America. That trip was her second sectional ride with TDA, having completed the Cairo to Khartoum section in 2019 on the Tour d’Afrique. Since our meeting in 2021, when she was already 70 years old, she has completed the full Trans-Oceania and Journey to the East (with Miriam, no less). Her next trip is going to be Magical Madagascar in 2025.

So what is their secret? Miriam does the regular 70+ year old stuff –walks, gym, dance lessons and of course, riding her bike (but only in good weather). She finds that some preparation (which is a challenge for Spring rides because of the climate in the Northeast USA) allows her to start the ride and train up as she goes – “I am really prepared by the end of the ride!” Feeling wonderful and so in shape after the ride makes her want to do it again. And so she does.

Jackie stays in shape by running and hiking. She wants to see the world. By bike! She can do the distances, even if slowly, and can complete most of the riding. She plans to keep going until she can’t, and then switch to an e-bike when she has to. Both women are a great inspiration and, with them in mind, I am planning to do all the TDA rides; well maybe not the Trans-Himalaya, that may be just a tad too hard, but who knows…

To my concerned female friend from the Bamboo Road ride, if you are reading this, I really think you should reconsider your position. I am hoping that we will be riding together when we are both in our 70’s.

How do you fit everything you need for a multi-month tour abroad into one or two duffel bags? It can seem daunting or impossible if you have never done it before. This blog will help you understand our baggage rules, what you do and don’t need to bring, and how to choose the right gear so it all fits nicely into your TDA-approved duffel bag. The rules vary for hotel and camping tours, so start by watching the correct video for your tour, and then read on below for more information.

Choosing a Duffel Bag

Bag Limits

Packing List

Organizing Your Gear

Daily and Rest Day Bag System (Camping Tours)

Travelling with your Bike

Choosing a Duffel Bag

TDA recommends the Patagonia Black Hole 100L duffel bag. This is the ideal bag for all our tours. It is durable, soft-sided and highly water-resistant. It has backpack straps to make it easy to carry and grab handles for easy loading and unloading from our support vehicles.

When a lot of us pack for a trip, we mostly think about what will be convenient and practical for moving through an airport and for getting in and out of taxis on the way to or from our destination. But we have to shift our thinking for a cycling expedition. The bags you choose and the way you pack will be something that has an effect on you (and our staff) every day throughout your cycling journey.

So pack with your cycle tour in mind and not the airport.

That means no hard sided bags. Duffel bags allow us to use that space in our support vehicles in the most efficient way possible.

Wheeled bags

In general, we discourage the use of wheeled duffel bags, as they have built in weight which reduces the amount of gear you can bring, they are awkward to wheel over many surfaces, or stairs, and they are more difficult for our staff to load and unload into the tour vehicles. Fully soft duffel bags allow us to use the space in our support vehicles in the most efficient way possible.

On camping tours, wheeled bags of any kind are not allowed.

On hotel tours, select duffel bags with wheels, extending handles, and a partially rigid bottom are allowed if individually approved by TDA. If you are planning to use a wheeled bag, you must write to us with a photo or link of the specific bag to confirm that it is acceptable.

Bag Limits

On our camping tours you are allowed to bring two duffel bags – one you access each day (the ‘daily bag’) and one that stays on the support vehicles until the rest days (the ‘rest day bag’). We discuss how to organize your gear between these two bags in the section below: Daily and Rest Day Bag System

Our staff will do a brief baggage check for weight and volume at the start of the tour and each section and no bags exceeding the limits will be loaded on the support vehicles. After a day or two on tour you will quickly see the importance of following our strict bag limits. Your tour staff are lugging these bags in and out of the vehicles twice a day. You are hoisting it over your shoulder to take it to your camp spot or up some stairs to your hotel room. Our baggage limits help to maximize the capacity of our support vehicles and ensures that everyone on tour is on an equal footing – and of course to protect our staff from injury.

Packing List

We send out a detailed packing list to registered riders before their tour starts. Here is what those look like:

• Packing List for Camping Tours
• Packing List for Hotel Tours

Note – these are samples and registered riders receive a more customized list.

In general, you will need to pack:

• ID, money, and important documentation
• a few sets of cycling clothes (shorts, shirts, socks)
• clothing for different weather (rain and cold)
• clothing for after the ride
• basic first aid kit (carried on your bike)
• smartphone or tablet, external battery pack, chargers and plug adapters as needed
• helmet, pump, cable lock, spare parts and basic tools
• tent, sleeping bag and mattress (on camping tours)

Some related blogs

• Cold weather gear to consider
• Choosing clothing for a long distance bicycle tour

What NOT to Bring

We have seen it all over the years. Here are a number of items we do not recommend you bring. If there are other items your are unsure of, please reach out to us and we can help.

• laptops
• bulky pillows or blankets
• excess clothing
• bike cases – soft or hard (more on this below)
• plates, cups & cutlery
• camp chairs
• metal hammer (for pegs)
• hair dryers, curling irons
• bike tools (besides those on our list)
• excess spares
• excess toiletries (bring enough for a week, and then re-supply throughout the tour)
• snacks, energy powder, energy bars (beyond a 5-7 day supply)

Bike Cases and Collapsible Bikes

We often get asked about hard and soft bike cases. We cannot accommodate any bike cases (for full sized, or collapsible framed bikes). The reason for this is that our support vehicles have limited space and we try and keep strict baggage limits to be fair to everyone.

These travel cases are ideal for one or two week cycling vacations but they don’t provide the same convenience for our point to point, multi-week adventures where we aren’t returning to the same city to fly home. On cycling expeditions, a disposable cardboard bike box is the first and best option. More on traveling with your bike below.

Some of you may see this as counterintuitive to use cardboard when you have your own case but we can assure you this is a safe way to get your bike to and from the tour and we have been doing it without problem for 20 years now. Our mechanic would of course help you assemble your bike in the start city and repack the bike at the end of the tour as well.

Organizing your gear

Here are some of our top tips for keeping yourself and your gear organized…

• Nothing outside your bags – Everything you bring except the items you are carrying on your bike each day (such as pump, first aid kit, etc) must fit into your duffel bag. That means nothing loose in our support vehicles, or strapped to the outside of your bags (whatever you carry on your bike is not included in our baggage limits).
• Compartmentalize – We recommend that you compartmentalize your personal belongings inside your duffel bags using stuff sacks, packing cubes, compression sacs, plastic bags, or other small lightweight water-resistant bags are a great way to separate your belongings inside your duffel bags.
• Less weight, less volume – While we allow 110L 23kg bags, in our experience a bag of 90-95L weighing not more than 18kg is very much achievable with careful packing. It will mean less weight for you (and our staff) to carry.
• Phone or tablet – We do not recommend bringing a laptop as it’s likely to be damaged. If you feel you need something larger than a phone for reading or emails on off days, than a tablet in a quality hard case is the best bet.
• Compact gear – Always choose high quality, compact gear. This blog is an excellent overview of how this has a huge impact in the space you have available in your bags.
• What to carry on your bike – This blog goes over the basics of what to carry on your bike during a typical day on our tours. A pump and spare tube, for sure. But there a few other items you may not have considered.

Daily and Rest Day Bag System on Camping Tours

The ‘daily bag’ will contain your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, enough cycling and casual clothes to last from one rest day to the next. The bag you only access on the rest days (the ‘rest day bag’) will contain all of your extra equipment including clothes, bike parts, medications, books, maps, repair kits, shoes and electronics that you don’t need each day.

Here is a great video, filmed on our Tour d’Afrique event in 2022, where the tour leader walks us through how and what to pack for an expedition-level tour. It’s important to note that while our support systems and support vehicles will differ from tour to tour, our bag system remains the same on all camping tours.

Traveling with your Bike

Once you have figured out what and how to pack everything into your duffel bag(s), then you may need to shuffle things around temporarily for the flight. You can put some of your bulkier items in your bike box (we have a great video on how to box your bike). Then when the time comes, you can review another in-depth blog we have on the ins and outs and our best tips for getting to the airport, while in transit, and what to do once you arrive. You can read it here: Traveling with your Bike – Everything You Need to Know

The TDA team has many decades of experience in packing and preparing for a cycling expedition and we hope the info we shared here is helpful as you prepare. But we might have missed a few good suggestions, so we encourage you to leave your own packing tips below in the comments.

Tim Millikin is the Assistant Tour Leader on the 2023 Journey to the East and sends this report from Kyoto, Japan.

Hello. My name is Tim Millikin and I am a Vegetarian! It may sound like the opening declaration at a 12 step meeting but it is something of which I am proud and it is a defining characteristic of my life values and a personal identifier. I am writing this blog from the point of view of a TDA staff member, having worked on five tours, been a tour leader and am currently working in Japan on the Journey to the East Cycling Tour!

Firstly, food is very important, not only for energy but also for one’s enjoyment of each tour. Food is such a rich cultural signifier. It is so closely tied to travel that it would be impossible to not link images of a country like Japan to its rich and amazing food. Sushi, ramen and squirming live seafood for sale at markets all creates anticipation as one prepares their packing list and starts to put their bikes in a cardboard bike box. Food is travel. But how easy is it to journey through countries where meat is so prevalent, the local language is difficult and vegetarianism is thought of as someone eating chicken?

Well, TDA Global Cycling makes it easy. On either a camping tour of South America or a hotel tour like this one in Japan, your dietary needs will be met. The support team here liaises with the restaurants each night to confirm this and to ensure that the food is varied. They will make sure that your dietary needs are not an afterthought and your meal is just as high quality as those who are eating meat. You will obviously have different foods, but that is no bad thing. Delicious tofu, noodles, spring vegetables, teriyaki eggplant, salty peas and beautiful salads are all things we have been offered here in Japan. Each plate is prepared like a work of art, so much so that eating our meals often feels like we are spoiling the beauty put before us. The food is different from what we eat at home and that is part of the travelling experience. The tastes ping and startle our taste buds as we are presented with local, fresh and fragrant ingredients.

Lunch, freshly prepared each day by the TDA staff, is western style with salads, bread, cheese, fruits and nuts. This means that riders can choose what they want to eat and there are plenty of nutrients on offer including protein. The availability of protein is a subject that non-vegetarians often worry about on my behalf. Personally, I have cycled across deserts and mountains with TDA and never been lacking in anything. The variety of seeds, nuts and beans mean I am healthy and happy even after cycling one of the big 180 kilometre days!

It can be harder to source vegetarian food on the rest days. Surprisingly, for many, Japan is not very vegetarian friendly. Meat and seafood is found in most of the foods and the language makes it hard to both read the menu or ask for something without meat. It can be a bit of a minefield, but technology has made it much easier. I remember riding through China on a personal trip in 2015 and it was almost impossible to read the menu. I basically had to walk into the kitchen of the restaurant and point at a variety of vegetables, before pointing to the meat with the international sign for no – making a big X with my hands and shaking my head! This charade did work most times but now I am grateful for translation apps which makes it much easier to ensure what I eat is aligned with my values.

We live now in a world where climate change is happening all around us and it is very scary. Your diet is one of the many ways in which you can have a personal effect on the amount of carbon you produce. Beef and lamb create so much more carbon than any other forms of food. “63/65Kg of CO2e per KG of food cooked, compared to 3KG for beans, 5KG for Tofu and for balance 16KG of CO2e per KG cooked for chicken,” noted the BBC in 2020. Industrialization has seen our prices come down along with our food standards. When you travel you have the ability to think and adjust and if this works for you, you can make changes which, although slowly, do have an effect on the world in which we live.

In the town of Matsuyama our local support, Kazu, took the group to enjoy the local specialty, Moray Eel. Over dinner he mentioned that “the price of Eel is going up and up, there are now much less eels in the seas compared to twenty years ago.” “That’s because you are eating them all,” I replied quickly. Everyone laughed but I wanted to include this to see the effect we are having on the earth in which we live. If we can make the changes now, perhaps there will be more eels and a healthier planet for many years to come.

Food comes in so many varied and interesting forms. It is so important to taste your way around the world and, by cycling, it means you can eat as much as it humanly possible! The difficulty is part of the process and the surprise is part of the fun. With TDA, you will be so well looked after that, whatever your preferences, you are going to enjoy each and every meal. From ful medames, a delicious bean soup found in Egypt, goi cuon, fragrant salad rice rolls in Vietnam to the perfect pizza in Italy, being a vegetarian has never been easier. So go forth, cycle and taste your way around the world without the fear that you will ever go hungry!

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Journey to the East

While South Korea and Japan are close neighbors, their lands and cultures are completely unique. Cycling across these countries, one after the other...

Are you looking for a new bike for your next tour, and wondering what type of brakes would be the best choice? Read on to find out. In this post,  we will explain the differences between the different types of brakes, the pros and cons of each type, and share our recommendation of the best brake type for long distance cycle touring.

Rim Brakes

Rim brakes are the oldest style of bicycle brakes. There are not many bikes still being sold today with rim brakes. Rim brakes work by squeezing the brake pads against the wheel’s rim in order to slow you down.

Pros:

• Light weight
• Low cost
• Ease of maintenance

Cons:

• Less braking power
• Poor performance in wet / muddy conditions
• Brake fade on long descents
• Require the most effort at the brake lever

Disc Brakes

While disc brakes were originally used mostly on mountain bikes, these days you will have a hard time finding a bike of any kind that is not using disc brakes. Disc brakes are much like the brakes found on a car – a metal disc is mounted to the hub of the wheel, and the brake pads squeeze against the disc, rather than against the rim of the wheel.

Mechanical Disc Brakes

Mechanical disc brakes use a cable to connect the brake lever to the brake caliper, much like a rim brake or a mechanical shifter.

Pros:

• Reasonable cost
• Easier maintenance than hydraulic discs
• More braking power than rim brakes, especially in bad conditions

Cons

• Can require frequent adjustment
• Tendency to make noise
• Less power than hydraulic discs

Hydraulic disc brakes

Hydraulic disc brakes use a hose filled with hydraulic fluid (either mineral oil or DOT brake fluid) to connect the lever and caliper.

Pros:

• Most powerful
• Least effort required at the lever
• Best performance in poor conditions

Cons:

• Most expensive
• Requires compatible shifters (on drop bar bikes)
• Most complex maintenance

Our Recommendation

If you are looking to buy a new bike, or selecting between multiple bikes that you already own, we strongly recommend choosing a bike with disc brakes. The braking power of disc brakes compared to rim brakes is much higher, especially in rainy or muddy conditions, or on long descents. If, on the other hand, you already have a bike with rim brakes, you can certainly still ride it on a long distance tour – as long as you are willing to put up with the limited performance, especially in bad weather and on long descents.

Choosing between mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes mostly comes down to a personal choice of cost vs. performance – either option would be a good choice.

Suggested Spare Parts & Pre-Tour Maintenance

Rim brakes, and mechanical disc brakes:

• Bring brake pads (one full set (four pads total) for trips less than six weeks, two sets for longer trips)
• Pack one or two brake cables and housing
• Remember to replace cables and housing before your trip
• Be sure to replace brake pads if more than 50% worn

Hydraulic disc brakes:

• Bring brake pads (one full set (four pads total) for trips less than six weeks, two sets for longer trips)
• Pack a small bottle of compatible brake fluid (usually around 100ml)
• Get a full brake bleed service done before your trip, check brake pads
• Be sure to replace brake pads if more than 50% worn

“Don’t take 3 bars of soap…toiletries are heavy. You can buy toothpaste…anywhere in the world.” – Christopher, rider from Canada

“You really do not need to overpack… we already have people sending things back within the first 2 weeks of our tour.” – Colleen, Tour d’Afrique Tour Leader

How do you tell the difference between a seasoned TDA veteran and a newbie? Sometimes it’s by watching them struggle to zip up their duffel bag in the morning with contents spilling out!

To fit all your personal possessions into one or two duffel bags is no easy task. The contents have to sustain you for the duration of one of our multi-month expeditions. They will contain all the supplies, clothes and spare parts that you will need for an expedition that tests both your body and equipment.

We have recorded videos and written blogs on what our baggage limits are and how best to save space with compact equipment but what we haven’t done is hear directly from the participants and staff on our longest running cycling expedition – the annual traverse of the African continent, the Tour d’Afrique. In this informative and fun video, Colleen Gordon – Tour Leader extraordinaire – explains the ins and outs of packing a bag. You will also hear tips from the participants on what works for them. You will see what the duffel bags look like and what equipment will keep you under our strict weight and size limits.

Watch the video and then read on for a few important notes to remember.

Important Notes

• LIMITS – You are allowed 2 x 110 L duffel bags for our camping expeditions and just one on our hotel-based tours – nothing more, no exceptions. Maximum weight is 23 kg so pack smart and ask us if you have questions.
• WE RECOMMEND – An ideal bag is the rugged 95 L Northface Base Camp duffel bag. Highly water-resistant and durable, it also has lots of grab handles and backpack straps to make it easy to lug around camp.
• PRO TIP – There are 3 items in your bag that take up the vast majority of the space. Choose compact and lightweight tents, sleeping mattress and sleeping bags and you are on your way to a well packed expedition duffel.
• ORGANIZE – We recommend that you compartmentalize your personal belongings inside your duffel bags. Stuff sacks, compression sacs, plastic bags or other small lightweight bags are a great way to separate your belongings inside your duffel bags.
• NO HARD SIDED BAGS – The bag should not be hard sided, or have an internal frame, meaning they should be moldable, and shapeable to the space we have in our support vehicles.
• NO BIKE CASES – We cannot allow anyone to have hard or soft bike cases on the tour. There is no space for these on the support vehicles.

Dr Samuel Covins is a UK-based doctor working in emergency and expedition medicine. He is also a qualified mountain leader and holds the UIAA diploma in mountain medicine. He provides medical cover on international expeditions around the world and is currently working as the Tour Medic on the 2023 Tour d’Afrique. In this article, Sam discusses the role of tour medics, offers advice on how best to prepare for your TDA tour and highlights some of the most common medical issues that arise on tour.

Role of the Tour Medic

Medics play a vital role on a TDA tour. Depending on the type of tour, the medic will either be a doctor, nurse or paramedic with some tours staffed by two medics. Tour medics are responsible for overseeing the general health and safety of both riders and staff. They will also ensure that appropriate hygiene protocols are in place to limit the spread of infectious disease. Before your tour, the medic will review your health information and may contact you to discuss any concerns or make certain recommendations. Whilst on tour, the medic will usually run a daily clinic that you can attend to discuss any medical issues you may be experiencing. Medics will also be ‘on-call’ throughout the tour for any emergencies and can assist you in accessing clinic or hospital care if necessary. Medics will also provide medical documentation to your travel insurance company if required.

Pre-tour Preparation

Before departing on your TDA tour, you should consult with your own doctor for a review of any pre-existing medical conditions to best optimize your health in preparation for the tour. You should also obtain an adequate supply of your regular medications that will last for the duration of the tour, as it can often be difficult to obtain certain medications abroad. In addition to visiting your own doctor, it is advised that you consult with a travel health specialist to discuss your travel plans and obtain all the necessary vaccinations and travel medications (e.g. malaria prophylaxis, antibiotics, etc). Although each TDA tour medic is equipped with a comprehensive expedition medical kit, you should also ensure that you have your own personal first aid kit that will enable you to self-manage minor injuries and illnesses on tour. Your first aid kit should be personalized to you but should also contain general items that you may require during the tour. You should consider including the following items in your kit: gloves, plasters (band aids), dressings, roller bandages, triangular bandage, gauze, tape, scissors, tweezers, cleansing wipes, paracetamol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen, anti-sickness tablets, anti-diarrhoeal tablets, antihistamine, antibiotic cream, anti-fungal cream, personal and travel medications.

Saddle Sores

Saddle sores are one of the most common medical issues that arise during a TDA tour. Prolonged periods of time spent seated on a saddle causes excessive pressure on the buttocks and perineum leading to skin damage and breakdown. Sores can range from minor chafing to full thickness skin wounds, which if not managed appropriately can become infected or develop into boils/abscesses.

Here are my ‘Six C’s of Saddle Sore Prevention and Management:

Conditioning: Before your tour, you should ensure that your bike is fitted correctly with a good quality well-adjusted saddle (e.g. Brooks, Ergon, Specialized BG) that you have worn-in well on your training rides. You should also invest in multiple pairs of high quality padded chamois cycling shorts that you have tried and tested.

Creaming: The use of lubricating creams (e.g. Chamois cream/butter) or petroleum-based jellies (e.g. Vaseline) is also recommended to minimize frictional forces on the skin whilst cycling.

Cleaning: Good personal hygiene is essential to limit skin breakdown and prevent saddle sore infections. After each cycling day, you should wash thoroughly with soapy water (or wet wipes if water is not available) and change into comfortable loose fitting clothing. You should also ensure regular washing of your cycling shorts and wear a clean pair each day.

Caring: If you do develop saddle sores whilst on tour it is important to take good care of them. Application of a zinc-based cream (e.g. sudacrem, bepanthen, nappy cream, etc) at night will aid healing the process.

Covering: In addition to healing creams, blister plasters (e.g. Compeed) or specialized dressings (e.g. Moleskin) can be applied to cover the affected areas whilst cycling to reduce friction and prevent infection.

Curing: Ultimately, the most effective strategy for saddle sore management is time spent off the bike to allow the skin to completely heal.

Hydration

Hydration is key on a TDA tour and failure to maintain adequate hydration can have serious consequences. Long days spent cycling in hot and often humid environments leads to excessive fluid and electrolyte loss through sweating. It is therefore essential to replace these losses by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day supplemented with rehydration/electrolyte powders. As a rough guide you should aim to consume between 6-8 liters of fluid each cycling day, although individual requirements will vary and some people may consume more than this. In preparation for your tour, you should pack suitable water bottles that will enable you to carry 2-3 liters of fluid on your bike. Only bottled or chemically-treated water should be consumed whilst on tour. Monitoring your urine output is also important and can help to guide hydration. In general, you should aim to pass urine every 3-4 hours and your urine should appear either clear or straw-colored. Darker colored urine should prompt you to increase your fluid consumption.

Heat Illness

Intense exercise in hot environments with prolonged sun exposure can lead to heat illness. If dehydration develops and body temperature rises too high, heat exhaustion will occur. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, thirst and excessive sweating. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can rapidly develop into heat stroke, which requires urgent intervention and can be fatal if not managed appropriately.

To prevent heat illness, you should ensure adequate hydration, wear light-colored heat-reflective clothing and regularly reapply sunscreen (SPF 30 or above) to protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses are also recommended to protect your eyes from UV radiation. On days with intense sun exposure, you should also consider wearing arm/leg sleeves and a helmet sun vizor for added protection. It is important to note that there are several common medications (e.g. antibiotics, antihistamines, contraceptives, etc) that can cause sun sensitivity and additional precautions may be required.

Gastrointestinal Illness

Gastrointestinal illness is a very common occurrence that will affect most cyclists at some point during a tour. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and crampy abdominal pains are the most common symptoms. Gastroenteritis is typically caused by either viruses or bacteria that are spread by physical contact with contaminated surfaces or through ingestion of contaminated substances. Good hand hygiene is the mainstay of prevention with regular hand washing and use of hand sanitizers. It is also important to give due consideration to your choice of local cuisine. Generally, foods that have been freshly prepared, cooked thoroughly and served hot are safe. Reheated, undercooked or buffet-style cuisines should be avoided. Seafood should also be avoided. Fruit and vegetables should be washed and freshly prepared.

In any case of gastroenteritis, rest and rehydration are essential in order to replace fluid and electrolytes lost through diarrhoea and vomiting. Oral rehydration sachets are advised. Anti-sickness (e.g. ondansetron, prochlorperazine, etc) and anti-diarrhoeal (e.g. loperamide) medications can also be taken for symptom management. In cases of persistent gastroenteritis, a course of antibiotics may be required and you should consult with the Tour Medic.

Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium that is transmitted by mosquitos. Symptoms of malaria include fever, shivering, headaches, nausea, vomiting and aching muscles. If left untreated, severe cases of malaria can be fatal. There are several TDA tours that travel through high-risk malaria zones and it is strongly advised that you take anti-malarial medication on these routes. You should consult with your travel health specialist about the different anti-malarial medications available. It is important to note however that anti-malarial medication does not provide 100% protection against contracting the disease. You should also take reasonable steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitos by using insect repellant (e.g. DEET) and wearing long-sleeved clothing. The use of mosquito nets is also recommended. If you suspect you may have contracted malaria whilst on tour, you should inform the tour medic immediately.

Sheelagh Daly is the Content Creator on the 2022 Bamboo Road Cycling Tour. She sends this report from Bangkok, Thailand.

The past 3 1/2 weeks have taken the Bamboo Road 2022 riders through the mountain passes, coastal breezes, and limestone karst formations of Vietnam, as well as the markets and houses on stilts along the Mekong River in Cambodia. It’s been a beautiful section of the tour, and riders finish the day with big smiles and experiences to share around the table at dinner. But any bike tour also comes with challenges. Be it heat, rain, long distances, or bumpy roads, there are a variety of circumstances that can make a riding day difficult. However, the right preparation, support, and mindset can make all the difference. The Bamboo Road 2022 riders have been remarkable in their ability to stay positive no matter what the day throws at them. Here, they share some of the strategies that keep them feeling their best.

1. Bring the right gear

Gonzolo, ready for the day’s ride

The gear you choose can make or break your bike tour. It’s difficult to stay positive when you’re constantly getting flats, experiencing mechanical issues, or riding a bike that’s unsuitable for the terrain. That’s why Gonzalo Pastor, one of the riders on Bamboo Road 2022, was careful in selecting a bike that would be the right fit for what he planned to do. He explains, “I’ve noticed that people that do not bring the right bike have problems. So you have to be attentive to the kind of bike you need to bring.” To support this process, TDA sends out bulletins with the recommended bike specifications and a suggested packing list before each tour. Never hesitate to reach out if you have questions about which gear is right for you and your tour!

2. Use your supports

Nicholas Beardow smiling his way up a challenging climb

Training your body and mind before a tour by building up your cycling capacity will help ensure you don’t feel too overwhelmed during the first days of the tour. Another rider, Nicholas Beardow explains, “make sure you’re fit enough to do it, because it can be hard, and when it’s hard, your positivity can drop a little bit when you’re having a bad day.” But he also points out that there are options when needed. “The beauty about TDA is you can jump in the van,” notes Nick. “Either you can go to lunch in the van, or you can jump in the van at lunch time, or you can get them to pick you up if you’re having a bad day, you’re feeling out of sorts, you’re not enjoying it.” This is an important point, because it really is about enjoying the experience. You’ll be challenged on a bike tour no matter what, but if it ever feels like too much, there are supports in place so that you can keep enjoying your day. “That’s the beauty,” says Nick. “It’s not a race. I wouldn’t do it if it were a race. And it’s not an ego thing about proving that you can do the whole thing. It’s about seeing the world on a bicycle, and what better way is there to see a country than on a bicycle.”

3. Fuel yourself adequately

Lunch stop refuel in Vietnam

Adequate food and hydration are absolutely crucial to feeling well and staying positive on a bike tour. This was Gonzalo’s first long-distance bike tour, and he notes how crucial it has been to drink enough water. He also mentions that, “when I put electrolytes in my water, it really helped me.” On TDA tours, a lunch break and water refill station are always provided partway through the day’s ride. Route notes also include ‘coke stops’ where riders can pause to top up on snacks and drinks along the way. Using these tools to fuel your body is key for maintaining your physical strength and optimistic mindset.

>>Related Post: How To Thrive On Group Cycling Adventures

4. Take breaks

Max cycling the hills of Vietnam

Max Davis, a Bamboo Road rider from California, has done several shorter bike tours, but this was his first one for longer than 2 weeks. How did he manage to stay positive on some of the longer and more challenging rides of the tour? “I stop a lot,” says Max. “I enjoy taking photos and looking at things, so that’s a good break.” Another tactic he uses: “I set little milestones for myself. When it’s been a tough day, I’m like, ‘ok, I’ll go one more hour and then I’ll stop and take a break and do something.’ And then I’ll stop and get off the bike and stretch. Stopping and walking around in little shops is a great break.” This is an excellent strategy. After all, we aren’t out on our bikes in a new place just to get from point A to B. We’re there to enjoy and explore. Taking regular breaks helps our minds stay positive and our bodies feel refreshed.

5. Find gratitude even in the harder moments

Riders pitching in to fix a flat

Nicholas has completed 10 Ironman races, so he’s no stranger to powering through tough riding days. But even he has his moments. “The bumpy roads, when my backside is bumping up and down on the saddle, that’s the only time I’m not positive, but it’s only internally not positive.” In those moments though, he finds the gratitude in knowing, “I’d still rather be doing that than anything else.”

Although bike touring has its challenging moments, it truly is one of a kind. As Max notes, “in a car you’re separated and you don’t see things as much. On foot you just can’t go very far, so you have to pick one area. On a bike, you get that nice hybrid of seeing and experiencing everything around you, but you can actually see a bunch of different parts.”

Bicycle travel is unique in what you’re able to see and experience, and it challenges you both physically and mentally. By preparing yourself with the right equipment, listening to and fuelling your body, using available supports, and digging deep for an extra hit of gratitude, you can have a beautiful and positive bike touring experience.

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Many of us have criss-crossed the countries of South-East Asia on a ‘shoestring’ over the years, returning home with fond memories. Now we invite...

Laundon Peacock, founder of LP Visuals and the man behind our Cycling Cairo to Cape Town documentary, sat down to share his best tips for amateur photographers looking to capture great photos while on a cycling tour. This video is aimed at those looking to take pictures with a simple point and shoot camera or using a smartphone. Watch the video or read on for an overview of his tips.

Understanding the Differences Between Photo and Video

“Photos stand alone and videos don’t.”

Each image has to tell the whole story and with video you are composing multiple shots to piece together the storyline. You want each photo be able to stand alone and the viewer to be able to understand the scene.

The Rule of Thirds

“You just wanna put [the subject] a little bit on the left, or a little bit on the right. As long as you put your point of interest in the frame.. on that grid… you generally end up with a really awesome composition.”

If you divide your frame into thirds horizontally and vertically, there are four points where these lines cross just off center – a little to the left or right and higher or lower than the center line horizontally. Placing your subject on these points creates a very interesting composition and is a technique that the experts use.

Working with Natural Light

“Put light on the part I’m interested in.”

There isn’t that much control you will have on the lighting when shooting outdoors. On a cycling trip the vast majority of your photos will be done using the light from the sun, the moon, a campfire or a streetlight. Your best bet is to just deal with what you’ve got and make the best of it and take some time to think about where the light source is and how it’s affecting your shot.

The Key to a Better Photo

“Putting the effort into the image is what’s gonna make a good image. Is my lighting good? Is my composition OK? Do I like how this image is looking? Just taking those two or three seconds can change an average photo into something that is really good.” 

There are lots of techniques you could learn, but truly the most important factor for taking good photos is time. Take an extra moment to compose and reposition your camera. Ask yourself if you have the best angle and lighting available to you, the best framing and use of the rule of thirds. Those extra moments where you take a serious look at what you are shooting can make the difference between an average tourist snap and a well composed and memorable photo.

Sharing Your Photos on Instagram

“I think what people are looking to see…those authentic, those real ones, the tough ones, those harsh ones. The raw stuff.”

Show people what your experience is like. Don’t try too hard to give them only the pretty and iconic shots. Show them the reality of the trip too. Using a local SIM card in each country is usually the best way to get connected and be able to post directly to Instagram from the road. The coverage in developing countries can be surprisingly good and you should have no problem posting pictures every few days, if not every day.

Keeping your Device Charged, and Photos Backed Up

“Some people brought a solar pack… others brought an external battery, charged it on rest days and then used that to charge [their devices] when there was no power.”

“You really don’t want to get to the end of a tour and loose a 1000 photos because you didn’t back them up. So having those two independent copies in different bags… that’s your best way to go about it.”

So make sure to pack a rechargeable battery pack and a compact external drive for your next cycling tour.

I recently read the book, Atomic Habits by James Clear. I’ve heard tips and tricks for learning good habits in the past but I wanted to dive a little deeper into the topic. Atomic Habits goes into detail about the science and proven ideas behind building new habits and stopping old negative ones. I thought I would write this blog to share a few things I’ve learned that will be especially useful for getting healthy and fit for a cycle tour.

“One percent more effort everyday for one year, you’ll end up 37 times better by the time you’re done.”

#1 – Start by choosing a few small habits.

A common road block when it comes to getting fit or starting a training routine can be feeling overwhelmed by the very idea of it. Waking up early before work to ride or running ten kilometres in the evenings are not the only way to train and it’s definitely not where you need to start. It’s been proven that small improvements, even the simplest steps, if repeated can have incredible outcomes over time. In the book, the author gives an example of a real life situation where 1% improvements over time made an Olympic cycling team climb to winning success.

One percent more effort everyday for one year and you’ll end up 37 times better by the time you’re done. These changes can start as simple as drinking a glass of water every morning before you do anything else, or going for a 10 minute run once a week, or putting one less scoop of sugar in your morning coffee. These small changes will be even easier to stick with if you stack them with something else you are already doing daily. This is called Habit Stacking. A simple example would be doing a 2-3 minute stretch before you get dressed everyday. Or doing 10 jumping jacks before you brush your teeth. When you stack a new habit along with something you are already doing everyday it makes it much easier to stick to.

#2 – Find your own unique way to make it enjoyable.

The facts are that if something is not enjoyable, you are far less likely to stick with it. That’s why so often people get a gym membership and only go for the first few months. They soon stop going because walking on a treadmill isn’t all that exciting. In order to create new habits and make positive changes it’s important to make them enjoyable.  Of course, riding your bike is fun but often we don’t feel motivated to go for a ride when we’re tired or had a busy week.

An easy way to make it more appealing is by picking a fun destination. You can create a list of places you would like to visit and a schedule, even start with once a week. Having it written out somewhere obvious like your bathroom mirror will help you remember and feel more accountable. If you are having a hard time deciding where to go, some examples could include a café you have never been to, a lunch spot in a nearby town,  a record store or whatever else your heart desires. You can do this for running, walking or whatever activity you choose. Keep your bike or running shoes in a spot that makes it easy to grab and go. Having everything in sight makes it much more likely you will reach for them and get to it.

#3 – Change how you talk about it.

The key to this next step is to reprogram your mind. If you find yourself saying, ‘I have to train’ you should change how you talk about it by saying things like, ‘I’m getting up early so I can be strong for an incredible adventure!’ No more, ‘I have to go to the gym.’ Instead say, ‘I’m heading to the gym so I can enjoy the tour to the fullest!’ If you tell yourself that something is positive and actually change the way you talk about it, you will notice, over time, how you start to think differently about it. Going on a cycle tour adventure is an amazing and exciting opportunity, and you are fortunate enough to get to do it. So getting fit is all part of this exciting process.

If you want to make positive improvements then it will require some changes to what you are currently doing. The key to success is sticking to it. Getting to a place where you feel fit enough to do a long distance cycle tour may seem far off but with some new habits in place you will be blown away by what you can accomplish. The author, James Clear, puts it nicely, “With the same habits, you’ll end up with the same results. But with better habits, anything is possible.” Try it out. What do you have to lose? Or I should ask, what could you gain?

I recently interviewed Sheelagh Daly – a Holistic Nutritionist who also happens to be an avid cyclist and who has pedalled around Europe. Sheelagh runs a YouTube channel where she provides advice on both nutrition and cycle touring. Check out this video where she discusses the best nutrition tips for all of us cyclists out there. Watch the video and then keep reading as we expand a bit on her advice.

1. Eat Enough Food

On a bike tour you are gonna get hungry. Very hungry! You will be surprised at how much more food you need to replenish your body’s energy stores.

As Sheelagh says in the video “The biggest thing is just to eat enough. When we’re exercising our digestion slows down… it’s diverting that energy to our muscles… so we might not get the same hunger cues but our body is burning through fuel.”

So check in with yourself throughout your ride (a couple times every hour) to make sure you are snacking enough. On our fully supported tours we supply your roadside lunches so take the time to stop and fuel up. Even if your riding buddy is eager to get back on the road, grab a banana or an extra sandwich so you have a snack for the afternoon ride. At the end of the day on our tours, we gather together for a big nutritious meal.

2. Drink Lots Of Water

“Your body is using up so much water keeping you moving, and it needs hydration!.. A good rule of thumb is to take a couple big sips… every 15 minutes… and increase that if you’re still getting thirsty.”

On our tours we supply drinking water in our camps (and at our hotels if it’s a hotel tour) and at our roadside lunch stops. There is always enough water for everyone so be sure to fill your bottles when you can and keep sipping water before and after your ride.

A good way to monitor yourself to know if you are becoming dehydrated is to see what colour your urine is. It should be a pale yellow and never too dark. Darker (or brighter) yellow could indicate you haven’t had enough water. This would be a good reason to increase your intake and to speak to the tour medic (on Expedition level tours) if this persists.

>>Related Video: Eva’s 2 minute Tips – Hydration & Snacks

3. Replenish Your Salts

“Salt is crucial for the activity of our muscles as well as the circulation of our blood. Ever felt that saltiness on your skin after an intense ride? That’s your body burning through electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.”

Many people like electrolyte drink mixes or salt pills or other sports products to help replenish their salts. We supply energy drink mixes on our Expedition level tours but some people forget that you are also replenishing your salts through the foods you eat – so add some salt to your dinner! It might sound strange but simply adding some salt to your Coca-Cola or water or juice also works.

It’s a good idea on a bike tour to carry with you some salty snacks. Pick them up along your ride, or on an off day, so you always have something to snack on to help replenish your salts.

4. Eat A Lot Of Whole Foods

“Try to consume as wide a variety of whole foods as you can, especially fruits and vegetables, .. it’s just gonna help you feel and ride your best.”

Getting your macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) and micronutrients (minerals and vitamins) by eating lots of whole foods is ideal. Whole foods have not been processed at all. Eating a banana or an avocado (for example) is a great way to get these nutrients into your body when you have burned through a lot of them while cycling and exerting yourself.

On our tours, we always have fruit (and often fresh vegetables) at our lunch stops and we shop in markets and stores for fresh ingredients for our camp meals as much as possible.

Sheelagh has an excellent downloadable guide to nutrition that summarizes the keys to good nutrition and gives examples of foods you can eat to make sure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs. You can find it here.

Planning a tour might seem simple and easy at first thought. You get some gear, your bike, a map or Garmin computer and figure it out along the way. This can definitely work in some cases, depending on where you are going and what sort of adventure you are looking for. Many of our participants have done both types of touring and they often say sometimes it’s nice to do it on your own but sometimes you want and need to do it with support.

I recently sat down to chat with Sheelagh, a Holistic Nutritionist and bicycle traveller to discuss the differences between solo cycle touring and fully supported. Check out the video and then read below for more details about what’s included in a fully supported tour with TDA Global Cycling.

Here at TDA every tour begins with an idea and then our office staff get busy planning everything to make it happen. It requires a lot of time, effort and expertise to make a long tour successful. We are more often than not busy scouting, analyzing and researching routes. We try to go over every little detail needed to create a memorable, fun, challenging and safe tour.

When you decide to join us on a tour this is everything included in your entry fee:

• All accommodations during the tour (plus the night before the tour begins)
• Most dinners and breakfasts (not on rest days and evenings before rest days)
• All roadside lunches on riding days (plus afternoon soup on Expedition-level tours)
• Experienced chef (on camping tours)
• A vehicle to carry your bags (and you if you need a break!)
• GPS tracks & route notes
• Experienced tour leader (the best of the best)
• Bike mechanic
• Medic (as needed)
• Sweep rider and other support staff
• Additional local support staff such as guides, drivers and translators as needed
• Tour jersey (most tours)
• Commemorative tour medal (most tours)
• Celebratory final dinner (full tour participants)
• Pre-tour information bulletins (everything you need to prepare for the tour)
• Pre-tour rider discussion forum
• Assistance at the start and end with unpacking/packing your bike

We also have a dedicated customer support team to assist every registered rider before the tour with any questions, concerns or advice to get ready for the tour.

You can definitely plan a tour yourself and go solo, but you can also decide to join us and have everything taken care of for you. Best of all, you can do both. But when you do choose to take the fully supported option, we hope you consider doing it with us.

At TDA Global Cycling we organize bicycle tours through more than 80 countries and have participants from around the world. From our experience, we know there isn’t one travel insurance product that fits every tour, every nationality, or every participant; especially during a pandemic.

To learn more about the process of buying travel insurance, you can read our detailed travel insurance advice here but in this blog post we are focusing on what you need to know about insurance during COVID-19.

COVID-19 Travel Insurance

The good news is that compared to the early days of the pandemic, finding travel insurance that includes coverage for possible COVID-19 medical or quarantine costs has become easier. For most nationalities, though not all, there are multiple travel insurance options to choose from.

While the current marketplace for travel insurance in relation to COVID-19 remains fluid, it is becoming clear that many insurance companies have realized selling travel insurance covering COVID-19 is a profitable venture. For this reason, travel insurance covering COVID-19 medical and quarantine costs is likely here to stay, but as the saying goes, ‘it’s all in the details’, the policy details in this case.

A few key details to check when purchasing travel insurance are…

• Does the insurance cover COVID-19 medical costs?
• Does the insurance apply to your age group and your nationality?
• Do you need to be fully vaccinated to be covered?
• Does the insurance cover COVID-19 medical costs in the countries that you are travelling to? Depending on the policy, this may be affected by your respective government’s travel advice for those countries.

Travel Interruption and Cancellation Insurance for COVID-19

It is always important to read the policy to be sure it fits your needs before purchasing. In addition to the travel insurance covering COVID-19 medical and quarantine costs, does the policy include trip cancellation and/or trip interruption insurance? (You can read more about what these are in our general travel insurance blog – Travel Insurance for Cyclists – Everything You Need to Know.)

At this time, we have not seen cancellation insurance that covers you if you decide not to travel, or if it becomes impossible to travel due to a worsening COVID-19 situation at your destination. However, cancellation coverage does now exist in the event that you were to contract COVID-19 before your departure and not be able to travel for that reason. There are also some plans that appear to have trip interruption coverage – this is insurance covering the non-medical costs of ending your trip prematurely due to COVID-19 – but there are caveats and exceptions, so we can’t stress enough the importance of reading your policy carefully.