There are many reasons why bike touring is an incredible way to travel. For one, the pace of it is fast enough to rarely get bored, while being slow enough to really appreciate every place you move through. For another, it’s always an adventure — landing you in a new spot nearly every night. And then, there’s the incredible community of bike tourers you meet along the way.
One of the other reasons bike touring is amazing is the fact there are so many ways to do it. Long trips/weekend trips, standard bike/e-bike/recumbent bike, on your own/with a partner, on a tight budget/on a greater budget, and — the subject of this post — unsupported or supported bike touring!
If you’re new to these terms, a supported bike tour is one where you go with a tour company along with other riders. They will take care of the route, food and accommodation planning for you and carry your bags, among other supports offered, which we’ll delve into in the video below! An unsupported bike tour is one where you head out on your own or with a partner or group doing all of the above yourself.
What are some of the key differences to bear in mind when debating between unsupported and supported bike touring for your next adventure? Check out this interview with Eva from TDA Global Cycling and then take a peek at the rest of the post below to help determine the right choice for you.
So now that you understand the similarities and differences between unsupported and supported bike tours, which one should you choose for your next adventure?
Reasons why an unsupported bike tour may be right for you:
- Planning your bicycle adventure is half the fun for you — you love looking at all the route/accommodation options and sights to see along the way — picking what you’ll do and how you’ll get there brings you joy
- You crave the journey of the unexpected — changing things on the fly, veering off course and making it up as you go along
- You like mostly riding on your own or with a chosen companion (while also recognizing the bike touring community is incredibly welcoming and you’re likely to meet others on the road to join with should you choose to!)
- You find joy in the simplicity of having all your belongings strapped to your bike
- You’re prepared to research food/water/accommodation resources as well as cultural/environmental differences to ensure your safety and enjoyment
- It doesn’t bother you that things may not go to plan or delay your trip (i.e. flat tires, campsites/hotels being full, route/road closures, etc.)
- You’re on a tighter budget and appreciate the savings offered by cooking your own food, creating your own route and using lodging options like wild camping, campsites, hostels or Warmshowers
Reasons why a supported bike tour may be right for you:
- You’re new to bike touring and are feeling overwhelmed by the planning and “what ifs” — having the support of a guide and team makes you feel more confident in setting out
- You would like to bike tour in a place where you don’t feel you know enough to feel safe and comfortable
- Planning your route, accommodations, food, etc feels like a headache and you appreciate having someone else do that work for you
- You’ll feel more comfortable knowing there’s a guide, mechanic, medic, chef, etc supporting you along the way
- You value having safety concerns like food, water, shelter, and cultural or environmental differences researched by someone else and mostly taken care of for you
- You have a greater budget to allocate to this trip and want to put it towards the resources offered by supported bike touring
- You enjoy being able to ride freely while having your gear carried by a vehicle
- You look forward to being with a group and knowing that each day you can choose to ride on your own or with others depending on your mood and goals
At the end of the day, there’s no wrong way to bike tour! Exploring the world by bicycle is an incredible adventure and it’s really all about planning the trip that feels right for you. Whether it be supported or unsupported, I’m excited for you to head off on your next bicycle journey!
More Bike Touring Videos
How to Plan Your First Bike Tour
Nutrition Tips for Bike Touring
Cycling the Alps from Munich to Venice
…so informative…loved it all