Supported Bicycle Tours

The Joy of Taking A Bicycle Tour

Thanks to all the bicycle races and tours available today, cycling has become very popular over the last few years. The sexy gear that comes with cycling also helps to promote the sport.

In South Africa one the biggest cycling races is the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour. This race had humble beginnings but it has always had a special atmosphere. In the beginning, the cycling scene was limited to a small group of competitive and highly dedicated enthusiasts. If there were eighty competitors at the race it was a lot. Now of course there are more than five hundred competitors that take part in this race every year.

There were other popular races in South Africa that also included the Rapport Tour which ended in 1990. Now the Cell C Tour of South Africa takes the limelight. Like the Tour de France, a grand tour of South Africa is a showcase of the country's lovely landscapes and landmarks. You could compare riding in some places in the Cape to a Swiss Mountain Pass and others to a Californian beach. That is the diversity of touring in South Africa. There are hundreds of places to explore on the back of a bicycle and in South Africa cyclists will be spoilt for choice.

Until the year 2000, road bikes were the king of the road, but now mountain bikes have become very popular. It's ever changing and the number of cycling shops has more than tripled in the last twenty years.

This is some essential gear that you will need to get comfortable with your road bike tour, whether it be in South Africa or elsewhere.

1. The frame of your bicycle should be your number one priority when choosing your bicycle. Try the Giant TCR 2 CD20 which not only looks pro, but also rides like a dream.

2. Protect your eyes from UV light and suicidal bugs with D'arcs Meridian Glasses.

3. A Silverback Scandi helmet features good looks and very good protection with a double in-mould process and Detox 2 retention system. This helmet also has multiple air channels to keep you cool.

4. Olympic meteor shoes and ryder pedals are one of your first steps to looking pro. Rigid soled shoes and clip-in pedals mean that you are not only pushing down hard, but are pulling up too.

5. Volotex Red Label Bib Shorts are a good investment and your bottom will thank you later on those long rides. The Bib Straps also keep the Velotex's tope quality pad firmly in place to avoid chafing.

6. And Finally the Schwinn Moab Comp is one of the best mountain bikes on the market at the moment for beginners.

Happy bicycle touring everyone.

For more on cycling, visit: http://hybridbikestore.com

Where in America to take a 6-8 week bike tour?
I would like to take a self-supported bicycle tour with my son, and possibly one of his friends. I did the Transamerica trail about 20 years ago, so am not worried about preparing for such a trip. But where to go? 6 weeks isn't enough to do a quality coast-to-coast. I'm not young, anymore. Besides, a big part of the tour is stopping in small towns and visiting with the locals. Maybe a half of a coast-to-coast trail? Or something in Canada? Or north-south? I've never spent significant time in the south, and that could be different. I've never seen the Black Hills. We've been to Yellowstone before, but my son was a little boy at the time, and it would be different on bike. It would be good to go through a variety of climates and terrains. Any recommendations?

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