Have you noticed that cycling holidays and tours are becoming ever more popular? Over the past two decades, cities all around the world have introduced affordable bike-sharing schemes to cope with the increased demand. And if you check out the list of most popular activities and tours in a city like Austin, Texas on TripAdvisor, you’ll find bike tours near the top of the list. So why should you plan a bike adventure with your group? Well, here are 5 reasons to plan a bicycle adventure with your group this year:
Better bonding
Remember the cycling adventures you enjoyed with your friends back in middle school? Cycling down to the creek, you escaped your parents and discovered a new world with your best friends. Biking is a sociable pursuit that provides you the time and opportunity to chat with your loved ones as you pedal along. Renew and deepen your friendships with a shared interest.
Cycling also encourages questions from local people. Everywhere you go, people will ask you where you’ve come from and where you’re headed. Somehow, the openness of a bicycle makes you seem more approachable and friendly. If you want to know all about the local stories and history of Old Austin and why it’s important to “Keep Austin Weird”, cycle through the older parts of the city.
Great pacing & freedom
When you’re cycling through the countryside or a historic city center at 15 mph, you have ample opportunity to appreciate the beauty surrounding you. The scenery changes swiftly enough to be stimulating but slowly enough that you can take in all the details.
If you see something interesting, it’s easy to pause your bike to admire the view. You don’t need to spend time looking for a parking place. You simply brake, stand up, and look…or slip out your camera and capture the moment.
Unlike using a car or bus, you can explore the narrow paths and side streets. Sudden pedestrianized areas around the most interesting attractions are no problem because you can jump off your bike and push it right up to that amazing statue or well-preserved ruin.
And the legal restrictions are more relaxed for cyclists. If you decide you want to go on a bike tour of the three best breweries within Austin’s city limits and sample their craft beer at each one, you won’t need to fear the local law enforcement officers. But, for safety’s sake, do keep your bike-drinking to a reasonable level and don’t forget to use bike headlights after dark.
Good for your health
Cycling is recognized as one of the best exercises for improving your health. It’s relatively easy on your joints and provides a great aerobic workout. You don’t have to be an experienced and super-fit cyclist to go on a bike holiday. You can opt to cycle some of the time and take public transport or drive for the rest of the time to control the amount of time spent in the saddle.
For example, you could fly to Austin in Texas and explore some of its famous art museums, such as the Blanton Museum of Art, the Elisabet Ney Museum, and The Contemporary Austin. Then during your stay, you could enjoy an easy cycling tour of the city’s finest eateries and breweries to learn about Texas history and local insights. You’ll burn off the calories from the craft beers and the food during your cycle from location to location.
More eco-friendly
One of the main reasons so many are turning to cycles is increasing concern for our environment. Cycling holidays reduce your carbon footprint. Instead of being driven around the wonderful craft breweries in Austin and generating noxious emissions, you can cycle and avoid guzzling as much gas.
Flying abroad increases carbon emissions but staying closer to home is better for the environment. Train journeys or shorter flights are less harmful than long haul flights. And simply cycling from your home to your destination is the best way to reduce harmful emissions.
Even if you chose to fly to your destination, choosing to tour the city and visit attractions by bicycle instead of using trains, buses, and cars significantly reduces the carbon footprint of your vacation. Also, many cities suffer localized problems with inner-city pollution. If you take a tour bus, you’re contributing to the damage. If you ride a cycle on a bike tour, you’re not.
Rise to the challenge
When I was a kid, vacations were about lying on a beach and getting a tan. At their most adventurous, they involved my parents taking me to a famous city and dragging me around the museums. Things are changing.
Outdoor adventure holidays are on the rise. People like to try different things. They want challenges they wouldn’t face in their everyday life. And setting a goal to cycle from one place to another or up a specific peak can provide just the right kind of challenge, especially if you’re part of a competitive group. Now is the time to hang your bike from your bike rack and head out into the wilderness with your friends.
For example, the main outer loop mountain bike trail in Walnut Creek Metro Park in Austin is 10½ miles long and involves a total ascent of 407 feet. If you head out there with your group, you could challenge one another to complete the route in a set time. Alternatively, you could compete to see who can set the best time. Or, you might set a target time to beat, based on experiences on other routes.