Cycling

The world of cycling is one that is constantly evolving and changing, with recent years seeing the arrival of a range of new riding styles and types of bikes.  This is why it's important to give some serious thought to the kind of cycling that best suits you based on your interests and what you want to experience.  

For example, while some bikes are fine for everyday use, short distances, and day trips that cover anything up to 100 km, longer bike rides call for something that offers greater versatility. 

You also have the increasingly popular e-bike that requires far less in the way of raw muscle to power it, whereas the motor on a pedelec (pedal electric cycle) only kicks in when pedaling is done at the same time.

Touring bikes, as the name suggests,  are designed for long-distance cycling. They place high demands on stability and load-bearing capacity because you have to be able to both ride and brake safely with a load of 50 kg or more.

Mountain bikes are best suited for use in demanding terrain. While hardtail mountain bikes only have a suspended front fork, full-suspension supports both the back and front of the bike.

Road bikes feature a lightweight frame and thin tires for less friction. They are only suitable for use on asphalt roads.

Gravel bikes combine the advantages of road and mountain bikes: a good grip on gravel thanks to their wider tires while still being a fast ride on the road.

Once you have established what sort of bike trip you want to do, the next step is to settle on a route. Outdooractive's Route Finder lets you filter for routes all over the world based on your personal requirements and wishes.

You can also use the Outdooractive Route Planner to create your own routes, which you can then go on to share with other members of the Community. 

No matter what route you choose and which type of cycling you're into, thorough preparation is the key to a fun, enjoyable, and safe experience. With Outdooractive, you have everything you need to familiarize yourself with the conditions along the route and the weather before setting off. 

Once you have settled on your route and know about the conditions, you'll need to start thinking about what you need to bring, as well as the bike itself.  This is especially important when it comes to long-distance cycling or bikepacking, as a lack of essentials can quickly spell disaster. 

In addition to fantastic maps from our partners such as SwissTopo, IGN, Ordnance Survey, and others, Outdooractive also offers a range of other helpful features such as offline saving, navigation with speech output, elevation profiles, Skyline augmented reality, and much, much more.