Last week we spoke with Jurrian van der Pijl, the founder of the BikeFitBox. The name suggests otherwise, but this is not a ‘do it yourself’ bikefit module. With the BikeFitBox you can learn to ride better every day, even when you’re not on the bike. We immediately thought: that’s quite handy as preparation for your next cycling adventure. Especially if you’re going to cycle in the mountains, that’s not an unnecessary luxury. We asked Jurrian for advice. Here are 5 tips for your next cycling holiday to help you get started on your next adventure.
Set up your bike properly
This sounds very logical, but especially if you are going to cycle for several days, a good setup is important. What you normally get away with with a slight pain or a bit of discomfort is really annoying on vacation. Usually you cycle for several days in a row and then a wrong handlebar length, a wrong saddle height or another wrong setup is very annoying. So make sure you are comfortable on the bike in the Netherlands and get a bike fit.
If you are using a rental bike, make sure you bring the right one. Always send your bike fit results to the rental company and double-check them before you leave the rental location. This way you can adjust it if necessary. A rental company also appreciates it when you are satisfied. All for the reviews, but even more: everything for a great holiday for you!
Condition
In the previous paragraph we already mentioned it. When you go on a cycling holiday, you usually cycle for a longer period and more kilometers than in the Netherlands. That’s why it’s very important to be in good shape and to make sure that you don’t go completely overboard on the first day. But make sure that you are well prepared too. If you haven’t been able to cycle for 3 weeks, don’t expect to be able to do it for 5 days straight. Pyrenees You can drive. So make sure you have good preparation and especially when entering the high mountains, good fitness is essential. So train!
Control and Handling
Sitting properly on your bike isn’t just about taking the right position. Having your bike under control is very nice, especially when you’re on unfamiliar terrain. Often the roads on a foreign destination are slightly less than on our roads. So if you accidentally drive through a pothole on your way there, good bike control is very nice. But even when you go cycling in the mountains, good handling is also important. Descent techniques, but also climbing techniques, are of great importance. Being able to descend well is really very important. Then take a downhill clinic in Zuid Limburg, or at the Posbank.
Mindset
It’s important to consider: what am I going to do on a cycling holiday? Am I just going to enjoy cycling in the sun and exploring the surroundings? Or am I going to seriously train and want to get better? And if I’m going to train seriously: what will that look like? That’s also useful to coordinate with your cycling group. Because if you want to train full steam and the rest of you are thinking more about a route with 5 stops, you could get annoyed. We also have a number of tips with a difference in level, and those apply as well.
Route
Nowadays you won’t get lost very often anymore and enjoying the surroundings without a fixed route is also very nice. If you are with family or if you definitely want to ride a certain climb, planning a route in advance is very handy. Of course, Komoot is the best way to do that, check out our profile For beautiful routes and collections. You can also plan a route for a bikepacking trip, so you can plan multiple stages in a row. If you don’t know the route well, a well-planned route is a great guide!
Investing
BikeFitBox will soon be launched for everyone, but now you can become part of it. It is possible to invest in this wonderful community and have the opportunity to become better. If you want to know more, check the website of BikeFitBox.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.