How to Plan a Bicycle Tour

Planning a bicycle tour or bikepacking adventure doesn’t have to be a complicated process. It’s easy to think it needs pages of notes, fancy gear lists, and detailed routes, but the truth is far simpler. A bit of thought and preparation is all you really need. Travelling by bicycle is about freedom and discovery, not ticking boxes and over-thinking everything.

The planning part is there to give you confidence, not to tie you to a strict plan. Once you head off and the wheels are turning, things have a way of working themselves out. The key is to know the basics, be open to a few surprises, and keep an open mind - a few wrong turns can transform a bicycle tour!

Some cyclists enjoy mapping every turn and booking every night’s stop. Others prefer a loose framework – a rough direction, a few ideas, and then letting the journey shape itself. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. What matters is finding a balance that feels comfortable to you.

This guide takes you through the main steps. Nothing fancy. Just the essentials that’ll help you get going and enjoy it once you’re out there.

Getting Started: Length and Destination

Every trip begins with one question: how long do you want to be away for?

A weekend ride close to home is often the best way to start. You’ll quickly learn what works, what doesn’t, and how it feels to live on your bicycle for a few days. Even a short overnighter can give you that sense of adventure that touring brings.

If you’ve done a few of those, then maybe it’s time to go further. A week through the countryside or a journey across a region can be enough to give you a proper taste of life on the road. For longer tours, like I did - riding from Roscoff to Santander, you’ll need a little more preparation, but the same principles apply.

When you think about destinations, simply go somewhere that interests you. A coastal route, a stretch of canal, a quiet corner of countryside. If you can picture yourself enjoying the road and the scenery, or exploring a town/city, it’s probably the right choice.

A few things worth checking before setting off:

• Time to get there and back.

• Terrain – hills can turn a short ride into a big one.

• Weather – it can make or break a day.

• Access to transport if you need to change plans.

That’s it. You don’t need every stop decided. A loose route and a few ideas are enough.

Routes: Roads, Trails, or a Bit of Both

Choosing where to ride is one of the best parts of planning. It’s where you start imagining what the days will look like.

You can go for smooth paved roads, quiet lanes, or off-road tracks through woods and fields. Roads are usually quicker and easier to plan. Trails are slower but give you peace and often more scenery. A mix of the two is often the most rewarding.

When I plan, I’ll often mark a few places I want to pass – a small town, a café, a nice viewpoint – and then connect them using smaller roads. It doesn’t have to be perfect. If something looks interesting while you’re riding, take a turn and go see it.

If you want to use apps, Komoot and RideWithGPS are good for checking terrain and surfaces. Google Maps can help with a rough overview, though it’s not always right about bicycle paths.

Sometimes local cycling groups or small blogs have the best tips. They know which paths are actually rideable and which “cycle routes” are really just muddy tracks.

Don’t worry about getting it all right. A bit of improvisation is part of the adventure. One of my favourite bicycle tours was in Northern France when I got lost and found the Brest/Nantes canal by chance.  I didn't even know it existed, but then found myself cycling for hours and hours along this amazing stretch of water - totally changing my whole plans for the trip.

Budget and Daily Distance

Bicycle Travel can be done on almost any budget. I’ve met people who tour for next to nothing and others who prefer more comfort with comfy hotel beds each night. Both are fine. It depends on what kind of experience you would like.

If you’re camping most nights and cooking your own food, you can get by quite cheaply. If you prefer guesthouses, hotels, or eating out every night, then your budget needs to stretch a bit further. Do some research to see what is available before you set off, so you know how much money is required.

It’s worth setting a rough daily amount for food, accommodation, and the unexpected things that always crop up. Having a small buffer is a good idea – bicycle repairs, or maybe a night indoors after getting caught in a hail storm, is always welcome!  

When it comes to distance, keep it realistic. The numbers you see online can be misleading. Cycling with bags, stopping for photos, meals, and the occasional wrong turn all eat into your day. Don't overdo and find you spend most days rushing to a destination. Take your time.

For most riders, 50 miles a day is plenty. You’ll still get somewhere interesting, and you’ll have time to actually enjoy the day and the destination when you arrive. 

Give yourself room to stop early or go further when you feel like it. You don’t need to stick to strict daily targets. It’s better to end a day thinking you could have done more than to drag yourself into camp completely spent in the complete darkness!

Accommodation: Finding Your Spot Each Night

Where you sleep each night shapes the feel of your tour. Some people love the freedom of a tent. Others want the comfort of a bed and a shower. There’s no rule saying you have to pick one over the other. As with the budget, find what works for you.

Camping gives you the most flexibility. You can stop almost anywhere, enjoy quiet evenings, and keep your costs down. It also brings those small moments – cooking your meal as the sun drops, or making a coffee while the morning mist clears. But you carry more weight, and sometimes the weather has other ideas!  I prefer to mix it up, and often end the last night in a nice hotel as a treat for camping all week - there is nothing quite like a warm shower, a good meal, and watching a film in bed after a great week or two of cycling!

If you’d rather travel lighter, guesthouses and hostels are ideal. They’re still affordable, and you get a proper bed and sometimes breakfast too. Look around - Google Maps is a great tool for doing your homework.

Hotels or B&Bs are the comfortable option, especially after a few days of rough weather or bad sleep. As mentioned before, I often mix them up – camp a few nights, then stay somewhere indoors when I need to dry things out or just want a bit of comfort at the end of the trip.

If you’re riding in peak season, it can help to book ahead a night or two. Otherwise, keep it flexible. Many times I’ve rolled into a small town, found a local hotel, and decided to stop just because it felt right. I personally have never been turned away from a campsite, even in the height of summer - there is always a small spot for a one-man tent and a bicycle!

Food and Water: Keeping Yourself Going

Food on tour isn’t just fuel. It’s part of the enjoyment. Long days on the bicycle make every meal taste better.

Think about how you want to eat before you go. Cooking for yourself keeps costs down and gives you more freedom. A small stove, a lightweight pot, and a few simple ingredients go a long way. I’ve cooked plenty of one-pot meals while camping – pasta with sauce, curries, steak, bacon sandwiches, rice with vegetables, or just coffee and something sweet in the morning. I absolutely love cooking at a campsite - getting creative on a simple stove with a few ingredients is what I do.

If cooking isn’t your thing, plan your days around cafés, bakeries, or small restaurants. You’ll get to try local food and meet people. I like a mix of both. I might stop for a baguette and coffee in the morning, then cook something simple later when I stop for the night.

Always carry snacks. Nuts, fruit, cereal bars, or chocolate work well. Keep them handy for quick breaks. It’s amazing how quickly your energy can dip after a few hours of steady pedalling.

Water is the other essential. Carry enough for a few hours and refill whenever you can. Two bottles are usually fine unless it’s hot or remote. I’ve learned to top up earlier rather than later – running out is never fun.

Eating well and drinking enough makes everything easier. You’ll ride better, recover faster, and stay in a good mood.

Preparing the bicycle and Gear

A reliable bicycle makes all the difference. You don’t need anything fancy – just something comfortable that fits you well and can carry what you need. A mountain bicycle, hybrid, or road bicycle with sturdy tyres can all work fine. Don't overthink this!

Before you leave, check everything properly. Make sure the brakes are sharp, gears shift smoothly, and tyres are in good shape. Replace anything that looks worn. If you’re not confident doing it yourself, have a quick service at your local shop.

Carry a few spares and tools. You don’t need to go overboard, just the basics:

• Inner tubes and a repair kit

• Tyre levers and pump

• Multi-tool

• Spare chain link

• A few small bolts or cable ties (cannot recommend this enough - so many temp fixes use this items)

As for packing, less really is more. Every extra bit of kit makes a hill feel steeper. It takes time to find what works, but you’ll soon learn what you can leave behind.

Clothing should layer easily. A waterproof jacket, a few lightweight tops, and something casual for evenings are enough. Take things that dry quickly and can be worn more than once. If this is your first trip, consider going in spring/summer so you don't get caught out in bad weather - less chance anyway.

If you’re camping, keep the setup light. A small tent, sleeping mat, and bag will do. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just comfortable and reliable.

Pack, unpack, and repack a few times before you leave. It helps you work out where everything fits and what’s unnecessary.

Test Ride and Adjust

Once you’ve packed your bicycle and you think you’re ready, go out for a short trip. A test ride with your full load will teach you a lot. Go for at least an hour.

You’ll feel how the bicycle handles with weight on it, what rattles, what’s awkward to reach, and if your saddle height still feels right. It’s also a good chance to check your fitness and see if your daily mileage makes sense.

Even a day ride or one night away can highlight what needs changing. I’ve done plenty of these quick test runs and always find something to tweak – straps that come loose, a pannier rubbing, or a bit of gear that I really didn't need.

Better to learn that before the big trip than halfway through it.

Mindset and the Road Ahead

Once everything’s sorted, the rest comes down to attitude. Bicycle Travel isn’t about perfection. Things will go wrong at times – weather, punctures, tired legs – but they pass. A calm approach makes the difference. Just roll with whatever comes.

If you find yourself behind schedule or facing something unexpected, don’t worry. Adjust, take a break, or change your plan. The freedom to do that is part of what makes touring special.  There is no shame in getting on a train to speed you up - I have done this many times when I spent too long in one place.

Some days will be hard, others will flow beautifully. You’ll have moments when you wonder why you’re doing it, followed by moments when you can’t imagine being anywhere else.

Try to take it all in. Stop for coffee, talk to people, take the quiet roads even if they’re slower. The small things become the memories that last.

Final Thoughts

Planning a bicycle tour is about giving yourself a starting point, not a set of rules. You only need enough structure to feel prepared. After that, the journey takes care of itself.

The best advice is to keep it simple. Know roughly where you’re heading, pack sensibly, and just start. The rest will unfold day by day.

You don’t need the perfect bicycle or the perfect plan. You just need the will to go. Once you roll out and the world opens up around you, you’ll understand why so many of us keep doing it.

So pick a date, load the bicycle, and set off. The planning ends when the journey begins.