You must have already considered that you should do something for your health, that maybe you should start doing sports… Health and nature are inseparable, so why not get active outdoors? You just need to set your mind on making the necessary and sometimes not so easy first steps, and if you even find the picked activity that enjoyable, being active will easily become a natural and core part of your everyday life.

In case you’re not sure which sport to pick, just remember: when you were little, you were all excited about hopping on your tiny bicycle and crossing the streets in the sun. So why don’t you start doing the same again, only with a bit more serious goals this time?

Biking is a great way to exercise at any age whether you do it alone or with the company. It makes you fitter and feels younger, mentally and physically as well. It strengthens your immune system, improves your reflexes, your blood pressure, and your mental and physical performance.  If these reasons still haven’t made you feel like dusting your bike, then you should also know that biking is also an excellent way to spend more time with others. Young and old can equally join in the fun, so it’s a great social activity as well. Cycling communities are truly welcoming, and biking also makes distances shorter, so you will be able to discover the world easier this way.

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Before riding away, it is indispensable to consider what to bring on a trip with you, besides planning the route and getting your bike in shape, of course. Since biking is basically a way of hiking with some extra technical additions, first you should read our blog entry about ‘5 things you should take on a hike’ to get some ideas, then complement the pack you prepare with the items listed below:

  • For a good experience: adjust your bike to your needs + bring a light first aid toolkit for your bicycle.
  • For sustainability: take a spare rubber inner tube and a pump
  • The thing you absolutely shouldn’t forget about: get the mandatory equipment – helmet, visibility vest, and lights (to see and to be seen).
  • For your comfort: buy a pair of bicycle (sun)glasses, an ankle strap, a backpack/bicycle bag (that can hold no more and no less than you need) and take enough water to drink with you (your normal water needs x 3)
  • And finally: don’t forget to put your ID documents and your phone in your pockets!

Of course, these are the basics, but you need to consider some specific circumstances too:

  • One such important factor is the type of program you choose to go to that should define the type of bike to pick and the tools and accessories to bring. You can ride on concrete, in the woods, on cement or wooden paths, through built hurdles, fields, or in halfpipes. You can participate at the Olympics, at Tour de France, field contests, time trials, marathons; you can balance on handrails, on stairs, on pallets, or in halls; etc.
  • Family, friends, you, and nature: it matters who you go on the trip with, and it can also define whether you’ll be the one who has to carry everyone’s equipment, or if you can count on sharing the load.
  • Familiar or unknown trails: going on unknown routes may make it necessary to prepare extra equipment as discovering new terrains may bring unexpected adventures.
  • The weather is an important factor too: it’s not only the rainy weather that you need to keep in mind as a possible hurdle, but it’s equally important to get ready for the heat too.