Bicycle touring

Bicycle tourism is a type of vacation planning with bicycles is growing since the 1980s, especially in Central Europe. This division of tourism includes your cycling than riding a bike and cycle touring.

• 3.1 Economic importance
• 3.2 Age distribution of cyclists
• 3.3 Germany
• 3.4 Spain

Types of bicycle tourism

Cycling holidays includes a variety of holiday designs in which the bicycle as a travel vehicle and / or sports equipment plays a role.

A cycling holiday can have two basic structures:

• Bike tour, consisting of several sections of an overnight stop to the next;
• Bike rides from a fixed quarters convenient;

Many cyclists travel with other modes of transportation (rail, road and air ) in a holiday region in order to make there a stage tour.

Some bike travelers to beware of a long itinerary, but then cycle along broken down into several annual leave.

A combination of cycling and mountain sports is the mountain bike tour.

Framework for a bicycle tour or a cycling holiday

Cycle routes and networks

Marked and developed routes and networks are not absolutely necessary for cycling holidays, but the best way to promote bicycle tourism. So can be created with strong car loaded main street attractive routes with enough time and effort in narrow valleys. Radwandernetze today are also a means hitherto little-known holiday destinations to make themselves known, or already known countries and regions to get away from a far more one-sided image. To demonstrate the Switzerland ( Cycling in Switzerland ) and Austria, that they not only have high mountains - but also that these mountains are erwanderbar with the wheel, and the island of Usedom, that it is not only bathing coast.

In many European countries, people have started early to plan nationwide networks. Designed at European level ( ECF) English, French and Scandinavians as early as the 1990s, a European network. In Germany, which arose at the beginning of the 1980s in a regional initiative, the first bike trails. The networking within the federal states of Baden-Württemberg came in early, in other countries, but later concluded. The nationwide orb Germany came last and is based on existing routes. Meanwhile, Germany is involved in the Euro Velo network.

Already in the 1980s, long before the official network concepts were in the Netherlands, detailed route descriptions for long distance travel in the market, for example, from the Netherlands to Scandinavia or to Rome.

Information resources

Bicycle travel guides and tourist maps are now available nationwide for European countries. That's part of the market trend, tickets for specific target groups to print instead of a card for all. Existing eviction can be evaluated much better and use if they are to understand the basis of a map. In some cases, however, takes the cartographic information behind tourist advertising logos. In addition, spiral notebooks are designed in landscape format to fit into the window of a handlebar bag.

On the Internet there are a lot of information for cyclists, such as fee- free. Some of it is just advertising in a printed document, but much also includes detailed route information. There are map server, route planner such as the North Rhine -Westphalia, elaborated routes in map form as well as GPS tracks.

Route selection and route planning

Popular tour is a downstream along the major river valleys (eg the Danube Bike Trail ). In the lowlands where river routes can indeed be marketed well because of the known names of rivers, but are often less varied than flow -independent routes. Especially in lowland cyclists may have to contend with many days of headwind. The is possibly grueling as a mountain pass, which only requires energy, but then rewarded beyond the pass, with a long descent. But even hilly terrain with a constant up and down leads to challenging routes. In mountain passes routes are for the ramp without strong motor vehicle traffic advantageous to reduce the inhalation of harmful gases in the effort. For the descent, the travelers should, however, avoid gravel and steep slopes, also here is a special motor vehicle traffic safety risk for the cyclists.

For the tour preparations are topographic maps with contour lines and similar advantageous particularly suitable are special tourist maps. On Weather consider experienced cyclist addition to the possible wind directions still different, eg cold spells in the mountains, in general, lower temperatures to higher mountains, hypothermia during long descents, heat in valleys and on south-facing slopes. Particularly exposed to wind are ways on dikes. Good wind and sun protection, forests provide. After heavy rainfall flooded riverside paths can be set and ferries to operate due to flooding. The motor vehicle and thus exhaust burden on certain streets and the bustle of boardwalk trails is on Sundays and public holidays quite different than during the week, on busy routes that goes for the bicycle itself for mountain bike tours off the beaten track is in route planning for the presence of Because that where cycling is navigable and allowed to pay attention - the most alpine associations maintain lists of radtauglichen mountain routes.

Bike path in the river valley, Central Mountains ( Weserradweg between Hann Munden and bathroom Karl port)

Cycle track in hilly terrain, Central Mountains ( Vogelsberger Southern Railway cycle path before Birstein )

Bike path in the river valley, high mountains ( Drauradweg at Radlach, Austria )

Bike path over the mountain pass, high mountains (Reschenpaß / Passo di Resia, Italy)

Technical Equipment

Since the 1980s, some was developed in special equipment for cycling holidays. However, Much of it is general leisure and outdoor equipment, whose market has increased significantly in recent decades. Especially for cycle tourism durable weatherproof panniers have been developed that are now used by many cyclists also for shopping and getting to work.

Some of the most powerful and durable parts are, however, disappeared from the market, since the number of small bicycle tours has increased more than the extreme tours. Although the proportion luxuriously equipped bikes on offer has increased significantly, but ergonomic quality and durability are based more on performance than 1000 km per year. So parts have changed mostly still and other changes be made in order to make a standard bicycle is tailored to the particular cyclists touring bike. For off the public streets trekking bikes are that are combinations of touring bike and mountain bike.

Luggage and weight

In addition to clothing and food are often sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, and cookware when not stayed in accommodation establishments, and also carried maps / GPS - equipment and camera equipment. The use of waterproof panniers is functional, but also increases the weight. For full luggage including tools and spare parts, as well as a first- aid kit for accidents. The provisions cover depending on travel area and individual preference only the need of drinks and food for one to two hours or for several days.

The total weight of a loaded wheel travel is dependent on the equipment and travel duration between 15 and 70 kg, in some cases even more. The driving behavior is directly dependent on the total weight of bike and luggage. Up to 40 kg payload built a normal driver can easily master if the luggage is distributed sense. Up to 60 kg some practice is required, especially at very low or very high speeds. 80 kg are in a 'real' touring bike just barely manageable. The bike can start flapping. Punctures are more common, and dangerous driving in to a lightweight design and poor material may lead to increased fractures or even spoke to the fork or frame breakage. Some bike travelers prefer a bike trailer for a lot of luggage.

Single driver or riding in a group

The single driver is more flexible in the design of the stages. Breaks and short holding, for example, to photograph, can be inserted spontaneously, if the traffic situation permits. Similarly, the route if several alternatives exist, to be replaced spontaneously. The landscape experience can be intense, as no attention must be paid to passengers and the view is not limited especially at the front by passengers. For the single driver has the baggage that does not have to carry any rider in a group carry. This is especially true for maps / GPS equipment, first - aid kit and tool and which, if not stayed in accommodation establishments, including tent and cookware. In case of accidents or mishaps, the individual driver has to help himself, or, if this is not possible, wait for help. In addition, the single driver constantly moves in the wind.

Driving in the group conveys a group experience. Luggage that does not have to carry any driver can be distributed to the group, making the luggage load each bicycle falls. In case of accidents or mishaps immediate help is available, unless the entire group is directly affected. For breaks, short hold and the route selection must be coordinated. Problematic are groups that consist of drivers with very different performance, because some drivers are asked of or. Track transfers with larger groups can be difficult, mainly because in busy trains often do not have enough parking for all bikes.

Driving in the closed group is usually not in bicycle racing style, as the group is exposed on the streets of exposure to motor vehicle traffic and offer bike trails usually little space in width. Drafting is common, however, requires increased by all drivers attention to the rider, because the margin of safety can be maintained. Regular change at the top should be self -evident, but are not traffic and routes due at any time. On uphill gradients, the group can fall apart. It is common to wait at the end of the uphill path to all drivers. Downhill usually not done in the closed group, so that every driver has a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and enough space to taxes. The group then collects at the end of the downhill track.

Organized bike tours

A bike tour is to reach a goal of their own muscle power. As it appears at first glance to be a contradiction in terms if tour operators sell bicycle tours. However, not many have a few cyclists neither the desire for adventure, yet want to take the trouble of meticulous organization, there is quite a market for it.

If it comes to guided tours, they offer the relevant parties other benefits.

• They give a group experience.
• You open up holiday regions with poor education infrastructure in which many people do not dare to travel alone, for example, the Romanian Carpathians.
• They enable large sporting events in the sense of Radfernrennens as fun run, for example Munich Cesenatico.

Bicycle as luggage

Many cyclists wishing to cycle in regions that are too far away for them to arrive on your bike. So the bike for part of the journey is to luggage.

• Railway: More environmentally friendly than cars and aircraft, plying, to some extent everywhere despite mesh thinning, the web is actually predestined for motorized arrival for a bike ride. Difficulties are currently restrictions on the carriage of bicycles on long-distance trains. (eg Germany: In ICE bicycle transport is excluded, Reservations required for IC). Obstacles there may be in the cross-border long-distance transport. Problems with the platform stairs are solved in Europe increasingly by customers elevators and special cyclist ramps.
• Bus: Because of the difficulties of bicycles, especially in international rail traffic, several bus companies specialize in transporting bicycles. Buses with bike trailer run by some Dutch and German cities to popular holiday regions. In line buses off the big bike routes the wheel must be stowed in most limit luggage space.
• Cars: Many vacationers transport their bike on the car roof or on the bicycle rack of your own car. Thus, they have no problems with the handling, but they can do only those trips where they come back to the location of their car. Unprotected transport, especially on the highway can lead to permanent damage. Hanging the bikes on the rear of the vehicle, the wind resistance and thus the fuel consumption is lower, the safe transportation and the wheel protected. Suitably, a rear-mounted bicycle carrier, in which the rear or trunk door will not open when mounted and loaded.
• Air: In international traffic, the carriage of bicycles on the plane is usually less bureaucratic than by train. In this case, however, the use of a bicycle suitcase or other packaging is often prescribed. Prices for bicycles may vary greatly depending on the airline.

Data for cycle tourism

Economic Importance

Were cycling earlier than poor people's tourism, as catering and accommodation sector have come to realize that cyclists have on average more money in a tourist area as motorists because they are by the limited radius of action and the need to transport everything by muscle power, much small-scale supply. Bicycle tourists visit due to the slower movement in the just- visited region rather than motorists also monuments and museums. By signposting of cycle paths, it is possible to distribute the tourists in the area.

Of particular economic importance of cycling tourism in scenic areas is no outstanding attractions, such as large parts of the Danube valley from Germany to the mouth or the plains of Europe.

Age distribution of cyclists

Previously made ​​almost only teenagers and young adults bicycle tours. Meanwhile, a sizable part of the cyclists is 50 to 70 years old. Quite a few have the sights of the world has long grazed. Others have claimed a life full of obligations now have more time and are still significantly fitter than their peers thirty years ago. In the classical off-season in which people make preferably holiday when the school-age children are out of the house, the weather for cycling is more suitable than for beach holidays or mountain tours. There is a great share of sprightly pensioners among American cyclists in Europe, enjoying and exploring the homeland of their ancestors and thereby make often considerable distances.

Parents with small children are also well represented among cyclists. A bike trip with children but requires good preparation and a sense of teaching. First, there is so many formerly insurmountable problem today technically solved with child trailers and semi-trailers for the little ones to yourself kicking for the not so little ones. But much can not be solved with technology: it can take less than a toy, for example, on a road trip. Some children interested in a Game possibility along the way more than a milestone. Many breaks should be allowed for. More powerful children can be either unwillingly, or overwhelm by excessive ambition. Young people often prefer to go their own way than to do with parents and younger siblings holiday.

Germany

The ADFC is called a turnover of EUR 5 billion a year in Germany alone. About 40% of holidaymakers call cycling as a popular activity on vacation; over two million German have been on holiday with the wheel in 2002. The Federal Ministry of Transport indicates a sales alone in the bicycle trade of EUR 4 billion; 6800 establishments in 50,000 employees.

In a study presented in 2005, the General German Bicycle Club has analyzed the German bicycle tourists:

• 2004 spent 2.45 million German their multi-day vacation " majority in the saddle ." These are 8.9 percent more than last year.
• Short Trips by bicycle made ​​in 2004 1.4 million German, which were 5.9 % of all getaways. For 61 percent of these 1.4 million which was the main short trip in 2004.
• More than three quarters (76 %) of the cycling holidays are peak holiday travel.

Organizations: Dachgeber ( Network for cyclists) Network of paths: D route

Spain

Although the bike is particularly suited to spend your holidays away from mass tourism, spend annually more than 60,000 cyclists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland a cycling holiday on Mallorca.