Resources

Want to know more? Here are some great resources from across the web that will inspire and empower you to, in the words of Queen, “get on your bikes and ride!”

World Travel

When traveling to Europe, it’s helpful to check the following websites for information regarding your destination:

U.S. Department of State
The U.S. Department of State issues travel advisories for a variety of reasons including crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, health, natural disaster/weather, and current events.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC provides travel health notices to inform travelers about current health issues that may impact travelers’ health.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
The ECDC identifies, assesses, and communicates current and emerging threats to human health for the EU.

World Health Organization
The WHO works worldwide to promote health and keep the world safe by providing travel advice and advisories.

How-To

ACA Touring Department
In case you haven’t noticed yet, we’re big fans of the Adventure Cycling Association. They can’t be topped for helpful information and practical guides for every aspect of self-supported and self-contained touring. The touring department is extensive, so here are a few shortcuts:

• Bicycle touring 101
• Bicycle travel etiquette
• Gear
• Routes, maps, logistics
• Touring bicycles: Selection
• Touring bicycles: Maintenance, Technical
• Documenting your tour

Bike Touring Tips
Search more than 2,000 entries submitted by bike travelers. Entries cover everything from tips on routes, food, camping, equipment, and “good ideas” to general articles and tour journals. Submit your own, too!

Travelling Two
This bike touring duo has racked up over 60,000 kms. in more than 30 countries around the world. Their amassed pointers include route planning tips, insurance and visas, packing panniers, managing money and more.

Video: How to prepare for a long-distance bicycle tour
5-minute video from Adventure Cycling Association

BikePacking.net
Focus on off-road touring, primarily using mountain bikes on singletrack trails. Helpful info on routes, gear, and planning.

Books

Bike Touring Survival Guide E-Book
Lessons, tips, and ideas from a couple who spent three years bike touring the globe, plus first-hand accounts from over 50 more touring cyclists. A handbook combining inspirational stories with practical advice.

Bicycle Touring Pro’s 62 book picks
Comprehensive list of books written by bike travelers, with summaries and easy links to purchase.

Bicycles & Equipment

The Essential Guide to Touring Bicycles
The “Bicycle Touring Pro” shares how-to’s plus info on more than 130 different models.

Selecting a touring bike 101
Outlines all the elements you should assess, from components to materials and more.

Types of touring bikes: Horses for courses
Defines your options and their benefits or drawbacks.

How to pick a touring bike
The 5 factors to consider: budget, trip duration, terrain, transport with the bike, and comfort.

Cyclocamping
Veterans of a 5-year, round-the-world bike tour share their experiences and pull together reviews from others to list the most durable and reliable gear and equipment out there. Categories include: bike parts, racks and panniers, sleeping gear, cooking gear, maps, health and hygiene, safety, and more.

Blogs

ACA blog
Covers bicycle-travel news, touring tips and gear, bicycle routes, organizational news, membership highlights, guided tours, and more.

Bicycle Travel Bloggers
This ACA resource aggregates blog feeds from across the web. A good one-stop-shop for a variety of posts.

Bicycle Touring Pro
Experienced traveler Darren Alff shares stories from his years and miles on the road, plus helpful how-to info as well.

Tailwinds (our blog)
We may be biased, but we love both sharing and reading traveler reports, destination spotlights, practical tips, staff travel reports, and more!

Organizations

Adventure Cycling Association
Mission: To inspire and empower people to travel by bicycle. A member-based nonprofit organization that has mapped more than 44,000 miles of cycling routes over the last 40 years. Offering helpful resources, route maps, guided tours, a great 10x/year magazine, and online forums for your Q&A with other travelers.

League of American Cyclists
Represents bicyclists in the movement to create safer roads, stronger communities, and a bicycle-friendly America. Through information, advocacy and promotion, they work to celebrate and preserve the freedom cycling brings to their members everywhere.

International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
Mission: To create, enhance and preserve great mountain biking experiences. They encourage low-impact riding, volunteer trail work participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy and innovative trail management solutions.

Add Your Favorites

Have a resource to suggest? Send it to info@biketours.com.