What To Bring
Our list is very extensive, use discretion and heed the wisdom from our previous guests: do not over pack!
These items are suggested to make your ride as safe, comfortable and fun as possible. We have tried to think of everything, but you might have your own additions. Please read carefully, we can't be responsible for providing any items on this list.
Clothing
- 2-4 evening outfits – our style is very casual and comfortable; jacket & tie not necessary, but feel free to bring something dressy if you'd like.
- 1-2 lightweight sweaters
- 2-3 pairs of shorts
- 3-5 pairs of socks
- Sun hat, sunglasses
- Intimate clothing / sleepwear
- Windbreaker or light jacket
- Walking shoes. If your cycling shoes are difficult to walk in, bring an extra pair of slipper type shoes that you can change into on rest stops.
- Comfortable shoes for evenings in town
Personal items
- Passport and photocopies of your passport
- Airline tickets
- Native language phrase book or dictionary
- Camera / Film (film is available in Europe, but is more expensive).
- Reading material / Journal / Field Guides
- Electrical adapter and adapter plug for hair dryers, shavers and travel irons (plugs have prongs that are round, not flat).
- Sketchbook / Notebook / Pens / Pencils / Paintbrushes
Toiletries
- Prescriptions or other medications such as aspirin, etc
- Glasses wearers: Extra pair of glasses and/or prescription
- Ear Plugs
- Tissues
- Travel Iron / Steamer
- Travel Alarm Clock
- Bathing suit, towel and other beach items for trips with lots of swimming
- Laundry Soap / Clothespins / String. The easiest way to clean your clothes on tour.
- Plastic Ziploc bags -- very useful in storing wet clothing that has not yet dried.
- Day Pack – something to put a few small items in, that is easily accessible in the van on riding days
- Sunscreen and hat… the sun can be very hot from May through September
- Mosquito repellent
Bike stuff
- 2-4 pairs of cycling shorts with chamois lining. One pair is definitely not enough.
- 3-5 pairs of athletic or cycling socks
- Sunglasses and spare prescription sunglasses if you wear them.
- Cycling gloves
- Cycling shoes. Try for a hard-soled, comfortable shoe that is stiff for riding yet comfortable for
- walking (you do not need to spend a lot of money). If you are using a clipless pedal system, make sure that your pedals and shoes are compatible and that you have tried out both for at least 50 miles.
- Rain gear, waterproof wind breaker, rain jacket, rain booties, extra shoes (you never know!)
- Bicycle helmet. Please adjust your helmet properly before you go (snug to the head). Have a bike shop help you adjust it before you buy it. Purchasing a helmet abroad is more expensive.
- Day pack / Hip pack
- Sweatband or handkerchief
- 2-5 bicycling jerseys. Please choose bicycling jerseys with bright colors, like our official Ciclismo Classico Jersey, for visibility by cars and your tour guides. Cycling jerseys are also great because of pockets in the back and they also dry fast when hand-washed. They are made to absorb and then whisk away perspiration. While it's fun wearing your favorite T-shirt, cotton retains perspiration, becomes instantly soggy when wet and also takes forever to dry. Wearing a white or dark-colored T-shirt leaves you almost invisible to drivers. VERY UNSAFE!
