A Guide To Travelling With A Bike Post-Covid

The world saw huge changes  in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. As such, it’s understandably hard to know what the future of the travel industry looks like. With many countries still keeping their borders shut and others using a traffic light system to determine who can and can’t visit it, making plans has become more difficult. 

But one thing is for certain, people are keen to get back out there exploring the world again, with people enjoying  more time outdoors, there has been an increase in the demand for walking and cycling holidays. 

So if you’re considering a holiday this year, why not make it a cycling one? 

Below, we’ve put together a guide to travelling with your bike in a post-COVID world. Read on to find out more. 

Find out the rules where you’re going

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Even though we are starting to come out of the other side of the pandemic, different countries are still recovering at different rates. Because of this, there may still be some local COVID-19 restrictions in place. 

So before you travel anywhere, you need to make sure that you look into these rules. For example:

– Do you need to prove that you’ve had a negative COVID-19 test?
– Will you have to self-isolate on arrival or when you return home? 
– Are masks still mandatory in some places? 

Once you’ve got to grips with local rules, you’ll be better equipped to make sure you don’t break any laws and also that you keep yourself as safe and healthy as possible.  

Choose the safest and most comfortable way to travel

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There might have been a time when you didn’t give much thought to how you travelled, as long as the journey wasn’t too long or expensive. However, the pandemic has caused lots of people to rethink the way they travel, either to avoid confined spaces or because they are more conscious than ever about their environmental footprint. 

So before you book your holiday, you need to think about which travel style is going to be best for you. Will you get the train? Ferry? Plane? Etc.

And depending on how you’re travelling, will you be able to take your bike with you, or will you need to find a reliable courier service to ship your bike over to your chosen accommodation for you?

So, before you book, just think about your preferred method of travel and what is going to make you feel safest and most comfortable along the way. 

Check in on your group size

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Although this might fall under the local restrictions, it’s best to consider the size of the group you are travelling with, even post-COVID. Some places might not welcome large groups as this can make social distancing harder and increase the likelihood of spreading any illnesses (whether COVID-19 or not). 

As such, you should consider a reasonably sized group, perhaps just your family or a smaller group of friends. This can also make the trip a lot more personal and enjoyable than trying to cycle in large numbers. 

Have the essentials with you just in case 

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Although not everywhere will require mandatory face masks, you might feel more comfortable wearing one inside, especially when you’re somewhere abroad. As such, it pays to keep some of the essentials with you at all times, even when the virus is at bay. 

Some of the key essentials you might want to carry with you include: 

– Face masks
– Hand sanitiser
– Wipe
– Bottled water
– Perhaps a quick COVID-19 test, just in case
– Proof of your vaccination status
– And of course, a bike puncture/repair kit 

 Knowing that you’ve got these handy essentials with you can give you peace of mind and make your cycling holiday much more enjoyable.  

Makes sure you get the right insurance 

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Since the pandemic, lots of travel companies have begun offering tailored insurance, largely in case people need to cancel their trip at the last minute due to illness, isolation or lockdown. 

However, the same applies for travel health insurance, and you need to make sure that you’re covered should something happen to you. This will, of course, need to cover the usual illnesses and injuries (especially if you have an accident on your bike), but you should also consider policies that offer COVID-19 cover as well. 

This way, if you do have to self isolate or perhaps cancel your bike trip at the last minute, you won’t feel like you’re losing out on lots of money. 

Consider self-contained accommodation 

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As you’re travelling around your chosen location, you might be looking for multiple places to stay, or you might just be exploring one chosen area. Either way, it’s a good idea to consider self-catering options for your stay.

For example, holiday rentals that come with their own kitchen, bathroom, etc. or self-catering hotel apartments. This can help to reduce the risk of the spread should there be an outbreak of the virus. 

And hey, having your own private accommodation rather than a hotel room can be much more relaxing after a long day out riding, especially if you’re travelling with your family or friends. 

Look for places that are great for cycling

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And last but not least, there are some good things that have come out of the pandemic. Lots of beautiful European cities responded to the increase in citizens using bikes rather than public transport and began to expand their cycling network. 

In fact, some have spent billions of Euros on putting in new bike lanes or car-free roads, making it much safer and easier for cyclists to get around. Some of these key destinations include Barcelona, Paris, Lisbon and Krakow. 

So you’ll have plenty of options if you want to explore these great cities. Or, you can get out into the beautiful open spaces of the mountains, ride along the seafront or whatever other style of cycling takes your fancy. 

This is a great way to have an active holiday, explore new places and keep yourself safe and healthy even in a post-COVID world.  

Written by Stuart Cooke from https://www.mybaggage.com/