The Worst Bike Touring Advice on the Internet (And What to Do Instead)

Posted on by Darren Alff

If you’re planning your first bicycle tour—or even your tenth—you’ve probably come across a flood of advice online… and not all of it is good. In fact, some of the most common bike touring tips shared on blogs, forums, and YouTube can be misleading, outdated, or downright dangerous.

In this article and video, I break down the worst bike touring advice on the internet and replace it with proven, real-world strategies based on years of experience cycling across multiple continents. You’ll learn which common bike touring mistakes to avoid, what actually works when it comes to gear, safety, and route planning, and how to prepare for a successful, stress-free adventure.

Whether you’re a beginner bicycle tourist or an experienced rider looking to improve your next trip, this guide will help you cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters when planning a bike tour.

During a live Internet event (held on December 8, 2015), the Bicycle Touring Pro (Darren Alff) discussed the Internet’s worst bike touring advice and shared seven of his best-kept secrets for bicycle touring success.

During the first part of the video recording, you will hear about the #1 worst piece of advice people on the Internet give to bike touring newbies. Seriously, this is truly TERRIBLE advice that people on the Internet give all the time… and today Darren is going to tell you why this piece of advice is so very wrong.

Then you’ll hear Darren talk about the 7 major things he’d want to know if he were a first-time bicycle tourist. He’ll tell you about some of the mistakes he has made during his 15+ years of bicycle touring around the world… and he’ll give you some tips that you can use so you don’t make the same mistakes yourself.

Finally, Darren opens up the webinar up questions and answers. While chatting live with people from all around the world, the Bicycle Touring Pro takes a moment to answer your biggest, most-pressing question about bicycle touring and world travel.

Watch the video recording of this live event above, or click here to see the video on YouTube.