SWISS TOURER

Why is this workshop a good investment?

 

This workshop will greatly contribute to save money and facilitating the smooth running of the trip in administrative (visas, transport tickets, planning, etc.) and technical (the bicycle) areas. The workshop shall allow you to tackle all eventualities in a proactive manner, including potential issues such as corruption, crime, accidents, etc. which sometimes can get very expensive.

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​The two-day course is specially designed for participants who are planning a long-term trip or a bike expedition (e.g. the Silk Road or the Panamericana) or who simply want to know more about the topic of cycle-touring. Special emphasis is placed to acquire problem solving skills to become more autonomous.

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1. Help choosing the right equipment (before you leave home!)

 

√ Choose quality equipment specific to touring or bike packing (it may give you better value for your money)

√ Tools that are essential to take on your trip

√ Help choosing a suitable airline to either save time or money

 

2. Bike and equipment how to;

 

√ Re-assemble your bike after it has been packed for transport

√ Adjust and personalize the set up of your bike to maximize efficiency and comfort

    (no sore bums, wrists, neck and knees)

√ Repair a puncture, change a tyre, adjust the brakes, replace your chain, a spoke and much more

√ Maintain and service your bike and other equipment along the journey

√ Preform makeshift repairs in remote areas – until able to visit a bike mechanic

√ Set-up & calibrate cycle computer or other equipment

 

3. First Aid

 

√ Intervene appropriately in the case of an accident

√ Secure the accident location

√ How to treat common cycling injuries

√ Use of first aid apps on cell phone or tablet

√ Emergency contact numbers, useful apps

 

4. Training and physical condition 

 

√ Improve confidence in your physical abilities (if necessary)

√ Plan your journeys in order to improve your fitness 

√ Organise training sessions - basic fitness, peak effort, recovery, etc

√ How to enjoy effort and to handle physical hardship

 

5. Riding a touring bike, health and safety

 

√ Store your bike and gear securely to avoid theft 

√ How to ENJOY riding a loaded bike (once launched you go forever!)

√ How to climb (a lot easier you think) and descend with a loaded bike

√ Ride for various weather extremes

√ Avoid muscle strains and injury

√ Ride safely in a large city and understand the local road rules

 

6. Nutrition how to;

 

√ Eat the right food types/quantities required for touring and good health 

√ Stay hydrated

√ Prevent and deal with hypoglycemia 

√ Loose a few kilos along the way

 

7. Navigation how to; 

 

√ Use your smart phone or a map effectively to find cycle-paths or quiet roads

√ Plan your trip and build an achievable itinerary

√ Locate roads with little traffic

 

7. Cultural awareness, local tips a cost saving ideas how to; 

 

√ Overcome the language barrier, rather than pay 5 times the price for a place just because they speak English

√ Identify any relevant cultural awareness's unique to the region

√ Find accommodation according to your budget

√ Find food appropriate to cycling in local shops or restaurants (instead of a 1 months fast food diet)

√ Utilize cycle touring networks and organizations along the way

√ Share any other tips we have gathered along our travels that will help make yours more enjoyable

√ Save money and time 

 

9. What are the potential risks and how to deal with them

 

Please note: Hazards can happen; abroad as much as at home. It is important to be aware of such risks and to act in a way to prevent them occuring so if something happens out of the blue its always good to know the best way to deal with a problem before it occurs.

 

√ Information about the most common risks (scams, corruption, prostitution, theft, accident, etc)

√ How to prevent & avoid hazards

√ How to behave in a tricky situation

√ What not to do

√ Emergency phone numbers (hospital, embassy, etc)

√ Theft of a wallet, credit card or passport; what to do, who to call

 

10. Camping

 

√ Find a good location when free camping

√ Avoid hazards (Weather, Animals, Diseases, Erosion on slopes, etc)

√ Legal allowances to free camp 

√ Equipment (space saving and light)

 

11. Ride Along

 

√ 20-50km group ride over the 2 days to simulate a true cycle touring day  (dependent on fitness level and conditions; more riding is possible if required.) The distance is split up in stages.