The Daily Grind
By Rob Manning

The cycling vacation

There’s something about taking that special someone on a well deserved getaway to spend some quality time together. Long days of being together, sharing the best your destination has to offer, watching the sun set together and refreshing the feeling that you’re made for one another can be an amazing way to spend time together. Of course, I’m talking about you and your bike (spouses are a definite plus if you’re able to bring them along.) A bike vacation is perhaps the holy grail of a cyclist’s life.

The concept of simply throwing your bike on the car and going isn’t quite going to cut it for a proper bike vacation. There’s loads of planning involved that needs to be attended to. A place to stay at the place you’re riding is a good start. When looking for a place to stay, it’s often best to tread off the beaten path. Most chain hotels will frown upon your bringing a mud laden bike into their hallways and rooms. Often times local motels and B&Bs will offer more than a chain hotel will and be enthusiastic that you’re supporting the local economy. In addition to a local perspective on places to visit or things to do in your off-bike time, you may get services like a home cooked breakfast, secure bike storage, personalized maid service, use of laundry facilities and other services like hot tub and garden access.

Once you’re booked, it’s time to plan. You’ll need to ensure you bring enough trail snacks (they can often be expensive at a destination’s LBS), bike specific spare parts such as derailleur hangers, spare spokes for wheel kits, brake pads, camera batteries and chargers, memory cards, clothing and anything else under the sun you can think of. Check to see what brands local bike shops carry and their prices. It may be more cost effective to bring something than to purchase it there.

Of course there’s always the issue of getting there. I find that while the best places to ride may be an airline flight away the greatest times can be had with a couple friends jammed into a car and bikes strapped to the roof. There’s no end to the oddness and hilarity that a couple of mountain biking pals can perpetuate while stuck in a vehicle together. Having a camera on hand to document it makes for even more fun, and embarrassing your buddies later on is priceless.

Once you arrive at your destination, the most important thing to do is have fun. Forget all the rest of life that’s been bringing you down, don’t argue about what routes to take and what to see, and forget about trying to pin down a schedule. Have a leisurely breakfast, sip on a cup of strong coffee while sitting in the morning sun and planning out a rough route to ride for that day.

The thrill of riding someplace new with good friends and great bikes can be an experience better than anything you've ever experienced. The planning can be an awful burden to deal with, but when the execution comes across perfectly and results in a great holiday with loads of memories, it will all be worth every moment used and every cent spent.

Questions? Comments? Love letters? Send 'em to Techeditor@mountainbiketales.com.