Cycling With Friends - The Ultimate Checklist for a Perfect First Ride

You’re planning a bike tour with friends and wondering what you need for it? This checklist contains everything you need to go cycling with friends. Have you thought of everything?

Continue riding or turn around again? There is nothing more annoying when it comes to cycling with friends than to realize after the first few kilometers what you have forgotten everything. Often you realize that you are not alone and that no one has actually thought of the things that are actually the most obvious. Since this has also happened to us far too often, we created this checklist for the perfect bike tour with friends. Just check and check off. 🙂

1. These Questions You Have to Check at the Very Beginning!

How many friends are doing the bike ride?

According to experience, there are hardly any coordination problems with bike tours with up to three friends, you are flexible, spontaneous and mobile on the road. In small groups you often get to know other cyclists or campers, which is always exciting. Larger groups, on the other hand, like to stay among themselves and are also less spontaneous. Both can be great!

How long are you on the road?

For a one-day bike tour as a leisure activity, you have to plan and pack differently than for a two- or multi-day bike tour!

Which route is the right one?

The ideal route meets the expectations of all on the one hand and on the other hand does not overwhelm the weakest from the level of demand. For example, bike paths along rivers are mostly flat and therefore easy to manage, in contrast to a bike tour with many meters of altitude. In addition, there should be at least a goal or several intermediate destinations, which you want to head for, because also in beautiful places rest to make, belongs to a successful bike tour..

When do you start your cycling with friends?

Make sure it doesn’t get too cold at night, otherwise you’ll have to take that into account when packing. The rough guide: ideal temperatures are from June to mid-September – of course, it can also be perfect as early as May. From June, you can usually check in longer in the campsite.

2. What Kind of Cycling With Friends Trip Are You Planning?

This checklist is primarily intended for those who are going on a bike tour with friends for the first time. But even those who have already been on a few bike tours will definitely find some interesting tips here. We have the checklist intentionally divided into three parts: The first part contains a list of things you need for a one-day bike tour without overnight, the second part lists everything important for a two-day weekend bike tour with overnight and the third part is a checklist for a 5-day bike tour. Our important basic rule is always with our packing lists: as little as possible, but without giving up anything important.

3. Dividing, agreeing and planning is the be-all and end-all on a bike tour

Do you know what your friend, buddy or partner is packing for the bike trip? Even among couples, arrangements are not self-evident and if no one cares, you take many things twice. This is annoying, because you can well do without any superfluous weight on a longer bike tour. You should definitely go through the checklist with your friends before your trip. Divide among themselves, who cares about what and for what is responsible or stowed in his luggage. Just print out the list and note the names or cross out what you have already done: so you keep the best overview!

4. Checklists for Cycling Trips With Friends

Checklist Part 1 – For the One-Day Cycling Trip With Friends

1. Planning: choose the right bike tour & bike path

• All fellow cyclists should bring similar expectations: what do you want to see and experience?
• Fitness level: what does the weakest dare to do?
• Planning arrival and departure time, if you do not start from the front door! If you are traveling by train, find out in advance whether it is possible to take bicycles on your train.
• Which bike path is right for you? A river bike path, a lake bypass, a bike path between two cities, between tourist sites, to historical monuments or for the sporty ones: a mountain bike tour?

2. Clothing*: depending on how sporty you want to ride!

• Bike shorts* / shorts + functional shirt/ T-Shirt
• Bandana / hat / cap and helmet
• Sunglasses (also as fly protection)
• Wheaterproof shoes / sneakers if the Chester is fine
• Rain jacket / rain trousers

3. Equipment you should not forget

• Money & papers: cash, EC-card (possibly also credit card), ID, health card, booking voucher, Bahncard etc.
• Technology: Smartphone & camera with charging cables
• 1 pen + 1 small writing pad
• Waterproof luggage bags: 2 in the bag(+ 1 handlebar bag )
• Picnic blanket
• Hygiene gel
• Wet wipes
• 1 pack of tissues
• Sunscreen
• Drink holder for the bike with bottle: highly recommended!
• Navigation: bike mount for smartphone + free app such as Naviki
• Bike computer so you have the speed and distance always in view
• Bike lock

4. Provisions & drinks: quick energy supplies belong in your luggage!

• 2 sandwiches for everyone
• Muesli bars / candy bars: give fast sugar
• Dextrose: restores the sugar balance the fastest
• 2-4 liters of water per person or you can buy more drinks on the way
• 1 apple / cookie / cracker / nut per person for a quick snack

5. Tools: be prepared for small mishaps!

• Tool bag to stow away
• Stuff to patch + rag
• Spare tube: check which tube sizes you need to take with you!
• Spare valve
• Air pump
• Bicycle bones, Allen wrenches in different sizes
• Multi-function tool: I use a Leatherman, which is reliable and space-saving. Of course, you can alternatively pack pliers, screwdrivers, etc. separately.
• 5-10 sturdy cable ties for fastening
  

6. Safety: Must have!

• First aid kit with bandage, wound healing cream, plasters, blister plasters, scissors, painkillers.
• Insect repellent
• Disinfectant

Checklist Part 2 – For the Two-Day Cycling Tour With Friends

Important! In this checklist you will find the additions to the utensils listed in the 1st part of the checklist! So check part 1 of the list first, then part 2!

1. Planning: additions to part 1!

• Divide into stages! How many km/day are realistic? Our guideline for normal occasional athletes is about 70-90 km per day.
• Choose an inexpensive camping site or book a more comfortable accommodation (you should book a camping site in advance during the high season).

2. Clothing: Functional clothing pays off!

• 1 padded cycling shorts – your butt will thank you on the 2nd day 😉
• 2 functional t-shirts
• Bicycle gloves
• Cap / Bandana / helmet
• Sunglasses
• Wheaterproof shoes and another pair of shoes 
• Rain trouser/ rain jacket
• Flip flops (for camping)
• Swimwear
• Underwear, change of socks
• Sleeping clothes
• Sweater / hoodie, 1 normal Tshirt, 1 long pants for the evening

3. Camping equipment: divide and remember: less is more!

• One Igloo tent per 2-3 friends
• Camping mat: the smaller and lighter the better! I use a self-inflating mattress
• Sleeping bag: as small & light as possible with sufficient temperature range
• Self-inflatable pillow: admittedly, this is not a must, but I don’t want to do without my pillow 😉
• Washing stuff: shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant
• Towel: I use this cheap 100 g-light, small functional towel
• Flashlight
• Cooking accessories: per person 1 plate, 1 cutlery set, 1 mug & for all together: 1 electric stove or gas stove, 1 dish sponge, mini dishwashing liquid, 1-2 lighters
• Food for dinner and breakfast
• Pocket knife with corkscrew & can opener
• Gaffer tape
• Games: 1 x dice, 1 deck of cards or you can play one of our games like moment of truth or Who am I?

Checklist Part 3 – For the up to 5-Day Bike Tour With Friends

Important: Part 3 of the checklist is an addition to parts 1 and 2 with further things that are only interesting for long bike tours! Don’t forget to check parts 1 and 2 as well before you check part 3!

1. Planning: addition to the points on checklist part 1 and 2

• Plan regeneration phases! On multi-day bike tours with luggage, cyclists cannot ride such long distances at such high speeds as on a one-day bike tour!
• Plan moderate stages! By day 3, the miles are already in your bones and the longest stages should be behind you.

2. Clothing: Functional clothing is actually a must!

• 2 padded cycling shorts
• 3 funktional T-Shirts
• Cycling gloves
• Cap / Bandana / helmet
• Sunglasses
• Wheaterproof shoes
• Rain trouser/ Reain jacket
• Flip flops (for camping)
• Underwear + socks
• Sleeping clothes, sweater / hoodie, 2 normal t-shirts, 1 pair of pants for the evening

3. Equipment: more storage space needed?

• Panniers: More storage space with a luggage roll or the luggage rack
• Washing paste for hand washing
• +2 packets of handkerchiefs

4. Drinks and provisions: so that the mood never tips!

• Per day and person 1 muesli bar or chocolate bar: give fast sugar
• Dextrose
• At least 1 pack of snacks per day

Everything checked off? Then you forget 100% nothing important for your cycling with friends!
Take a look at our other summer activities and excursion tips. On our ideas portal, a wide variety of activities with friends, as a couple or with the family also invites you to browse.

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Image source Cover photo: On the R1 in Poland by Jan Dressel at CC BY 2.0

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