Bicycle Day Touring Checklist

December 03, 2018

Among the many great benefits that a bike can bring you, with increased activity and the associated boost to your physical and mental health, is the number of ways that it can fit into your life. Alongside commuting, leisure, and exercise, your bike can also be a way to help you see your city in a different light. Traveling by bike is fast enough for you to cover good distances in one day, while at the same time being slow enough for you to see, hear, smell and taste all the great things on offer. Sitting in a car, flying past on the freeway you miss out on all this stuff. It’s a lot easier to pull into that tempting looking deli or onto that deserted beach when you don’t have to worry about where you’ll park the car.

Whether you’re using a hybrid bike, a comfort bike or one of our off-road bikes, you can plan some great day trips. Art galleries, swanky shopping malls, a picnic in the woods – your bike can be a way to help you think outside of the box, to do something you have never done before in your own city. Here we’ve put together a checklist of what you need to think about before going on your touring adventure, and what to take with you to make each trip a success and ensure you come home thinking “right, where next?”.

Starting Out

On average, even rolling along and hardly pushing your pedals, you’ll cover about 10 miles each hour. Any trip of around 30 miles total is really easy to do in a day when you start out. A great way to begin planning your first trip is to use online mapping – for example, Google Maps allows you to select cycling as an option in the route planner, and will show you a number of recommended routes along with an estimate of how long each is likely to take. The clever programming gurus have made it so that the planner sticks to cycle paths, quiet roads, and off-road trails and it even shows you when it’s less busy so you can avoid rush-hour.

It’s easy to tweak your route so that it sticks to your preferred terrain, though remember that most of our hybrid bikes are designed with flexibility in mind meaning that they can conquer just about any kind of road surface. The route can be saved to your phone so it’s easy to refer to when you’re in unfamiliar parts of town. You can mount your phone to the handlebars with a phone holder so it’s easy to check where the next turn is.

Pre-Ride Checks

Once you’ve planned the route, persuaded your buddies to join you and checked that the weather looks good, it’s time to perform a few pre-ride checks on the bike. Don’t worry, it’s nothing too technical and certainly won’t require a mechanic.

Ensure the tires are pumped up to the recommended pressure – you’ll find the suggested range on the sidewall of the tires on your bike. The correct tire pressure lets your bike roll quickly, ride smoothly and will help avoid flats. Narrow tires need more air pressure than wide ones: road tires typically require 80 to 130 psi (pounds per square inch); mountain bike tires 25 to 35 psi; and hybrid tires around 40 to 70 psi. A good floor pump like the Pedros Domestique is a great investment for use at home – it makes pumping the tires real simple, and the built-in gauge accurately displays the pressure. It’s also a good idea to learn how to change an inner tube should you get a flat tire while away from home –it’s an easy enough job but does take a bit of practice to really master. Most local bike shops will happily show you if you’re unsure or if it’s been a while since you last fixed one.

Spending a few minutes checking the tires for thorns and small bits of glass means you’re less likely to get a flat tire when you’re out. Give the brakes a quick check too, just to ensure they’re working as they’re meant to. If they’re not and you’re unsure of what to do, it’s a real quick job for a mechanic to fix.

Finally, ensure the gears and chain are all working as they should. A quick dab of chain lubricant can work wonders.

What to Take

Depending on the trip you’ve got planned, you may find yourself needing to pack quite a few things. If you’re going to the beach, with towels, a change of clothes, food and a book, a basket makes a lot of sense, keeping everything you need within easy reach. If you’d rather keep the front of the bike clear you could use a cargo rack – this places the weight of the luggage over the rear wheel and you’ll barely notice that it’s there. Remember, a lot of our bikes come with cargo racks as standard and if not, there will be attachment points for you to fit one if you decide you need to later on.

A bell is a good idea if you intend on riding anywhere busy. It’s a polite way to get people’s attention as you approach them. If you’re likely to be out after dark, then lights are essential – either a small light like the Beam Bug so that other road users see you, or the fantastic Monkeylectric Monkey Lights so that everyone knows where the party’s at. Remember to take a small pump and spare inner tube should you get a flat while away from home, and a bike lock so you can leave your bike safely once you get where you’re going.

On the Day

This is the best bit. Charge your phone, remember your camera, take a map and go. Be prepared for the unexpected. Part of the fun of day trips by bike is the way you can change plans as you go along. Having such a versatile machine means that the world really is your oyster.

Expand your Horizons

Once you’ve got a few day trips under your belt, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how fast the distance flies by. With increased confidence you could start planning multi-day trips, visits to sporting events or even to friends in different cities – 30 miles to a new town, stay overnight and then return the next day. This is where the fenders and cargo racks we put on our bikes are useful – even if you don’t think you’ll need them when you start out, sixthreezero bikes are designed to grow with you.

Sixthreezero Bikes – Perfect for Any Day Trip

All sixthreezero bikes are suitable for day touring and as easy on your body as they are on the road. We’ve spent years perfecting and styling our bikes to get the look just right while not compromising on comfort. It’s no joke, we take our designs seriously.

In terms of hybrid bikes for men that combine both city and off-road trails, there’s nothing better than the Pave n’ Trail. No matter the terrain, the Pave n’ Trail rolls smoothly on the pavement while also being able to handle off-road rides on hard packed trails and grass. It’s perfect for those looking for exciting rides who would normally spend most of their time on tarmac but aren't afraid to live a little and go off-road. This cruiser with 26-inch wheels is ideal for lazy rides, leisure trips, and the commute. With a cargo rack as standard and attachments for fenders, the Pave n’ Trail is there to take you where you want to go, and then some. It’s without a doubt the best men’s hybrid bike for intrepid, touring adventurers.

Check out all of our men's hybrid bikes for sale – there’s a style for everyone.

The EVRYJourney is the stylish ladies hybrid bike with added comfort. With the looks of a sleek, modern showpiece you might think it only excels at being a showstopper on the street. Look closer though at the plush seat, sturdy tires, fenders and cargo rack, plus the option to choose up to 21 gears, and you’ll find a bike that will help you tackle demanding street, trail, long distance, and uphill riding.

Visit our website to shop hybrid bikes. Day trips are within reach and the sixthreezero range is just itching to get out there with you.