EQUIPMENT
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Preparing for an excursion “into the green”, where you sit on a saddle, is a beautiful experience that generates strong emotions and provides unforgettable moments. However, as those situations are memorable indeed, it is necessary to know how to prepare yourself and how to predict any necessities.
What's most important, a bicycle has to be robust and equipped with bags or trailers to transport the luggage from one place to another. If you are just a beginner and do not wish to purchase an expensive kit, we suggest to rent or borrow the essentials, especially as items bought cheaply could cause problems.
Bicycle
An optimal bike is that made for long journeys with luggage: light but robust, with medium-width tyres and carrying bags in the back as well as in the front. The bicycles should be equipped with a comfortable saddle and many gears, constructed particularly to endure all the long trip’s strains.
Tyres and wheels
For the gravel roads we advise thin tyres (less than 28mm), but it is necessary to use those of a medium-width, between 32 and 37 mm. The wider are the tyres the more efficient the susupension in result, with an advantage for the wheel as well as for the cyclist’s back.
Gearing
The paths departing from Riccione are of various difficulty and incline level. For faster roads there is a need to dispose of a low gear, especially when there is luggage transported (unless you want to stand up on your feet each time). In major number of bicycles with gearing the relationship is too high and a lugguage transport becomes very difficult. It is convenient to have them modified by a mechanic, who at low cost exchanges the rear rack with one a little bit bigger.
External gears are ideal for longer journeys, as high number of gears makes it easy to adapt ratio to one’s needs. In that ultimate case attrition is weaker then in the bicycles without gearing.
Bicycle carrying bags
Usually two capacious rear carriers are enough. A bag on handle bars is dedicated to the transportation of small object like maps, money, sunglasses, camera.
On the bicycles of children, that drive on their own, it is possibile to install small carriers at the back, in which they could keep their own things. However, the youngest ones (6 – 7 years) shouldn’t carry own proper luggage, not mentioning cumbersome objects, as they could make it difficult for them to get on and off the bicycle.
Other equipment
Bottle carriers: Assembling bottle carrier on to the bicycle means always having drinking water within reach and no necessity of cluttering the bags. It costs less than 14 euro.
Computer: A bicycle that measures the distance and speed can make a trip more entertaining.
Map carriers: Even in the absence of a bag in the front, it is still possible to have a map always within one’s sight. It is enough to install a map carrier on the handle bars remembering to put it in a plastic bag, just in case of rain! |
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