7 Tips to Arrange a Perfect Weekend Ride With FriendsBy Angelica Malin
If you love cycling, then you must know how relaxing and refreshing it feels when you ride your bike on an open road or on a scenic bike trail. Riding not only helps your mental well-being but also keeps your physical fitness in check. It’s a great way to do some workouts while keeping your mind fresh.
But often our work-life doesn’t allow us to have the free time to ride. So a weekend ride with friends is the perfect way to remove all your monotony and tiredness. You can have the opportunity to catch up with your old buddies while enjoying some truly refreshing and breathtaking natural scenery.
So here’re seven important tips you must follow while arranging a bike ride with your friends on a perfect weekend.
1. Choose Your Bike
One of the most important aspects of having a great weekend ride is choosing the right bike for the trip. You have to decide which bike you’ll be using based on your destination.
For instance, if you’re planning to go on mountain trails for camping, you should go on mountain bikes. But if you want to stick your journey on straight roads, it’s better to stick with traditional bicycles. You can also ask your friends and see which types of bikes they’ll be using on the trip to get some idea.
One of the best choices open to you would be e-bikes. E-bikes come in many different shapes and sizes, so you can choose one depending on your style and preference. For instance, you can check out these amazing e-bikes to choose the perfect companion for your weekend ride.
2. Make a Proper Planning
A perfect weekend ride needs proper planning. The more time you spend on planning, the less problem you’ll face while riding. You have to start planning early for the trip.
First, you have to make a list of friends you want to invite. After that, call your friends and ask for a convenient date. Many of your friends might have other important commitments on the weekends. So you have to set a date where most of your friends will be available.
Then set a meeting spot where everyone can reach easily. You can also ask your friends for their suggestions regarding the weekend ride. Also, don’t forget to keep maximum flexibility when it comes to weather conditions. You can set a reserve date if the weather conditions are bad.
3. Find a Perfect Route
Finding a proper route is one of the most essential factors to having a great riding experience. You can consult with your friends for their opinion on which route will be best for the weekend ride. You also need to decide whether you’ll be covering a long distance or a fairly short one.
If you and your friends are fans of hardcore mountain riding, you can go for mountain trails. But if you are large on the number then it’s better to choose a safe route.
While choosing the road, pick the ones with the best natural view. If you’re living in the UK, there are some great cycling staycation spots you can check out for your weekend ride. You also need to consult with your friends and decide whether you want to set up a camp for the night or settle for only a day trip.
4. Consider Everyone’s Capabilities
When planning the route for the weekend ride and even when riding, you have to keep in mind that everyone’s ability to ride a bicycle is not the same.
You might have some older friends or female friends in your group. So plan your route in a way that suits everyone.
While riding, make sure no one falls behind. You can set up a spot to take some rest and wait for others to catch up.
If you’re planning on riding mountain trails, find a shortcut for less strong riders. While riding, you can all turn your GPS on. In this way, if anyone falls behind from the rest of the group, you can track and get find him or her via GPS.
5. Take First Aid Kits
Accidents can happen at any time, especially when riding. So try to take safety precautions as much as possible. But still, if anyone gets injured during bike riding, make sure to use proper first aid to treat the wounded area. You should have equipment like scissors, bandages, antiseptics, painkillers, etc. in your first aid kit. When going for a weekend ride, you can include a friend whos an expert in first aid treatment.
When planning for the weekend ride, you must ensure that the route you choose has proper network coverage. Otherwise, it will be difficult to seek help in case of an emergency.
6. Travel Light
When planning for a weekend ride, one important tip is to not take any unnecessary things with you. You have to keep in mind that too much weight can slow you down and you’ll get tired quickly.
Thus, only take the things that will help you in your ride. If you’re planning to camp, make sure to share the camping gear with everyone so that your bike doesn’t become overweight. You can also install a basket on your bike so that you can store the necessary things for your ride.
7. Stay Hydrated
Riding requires a lot of stamina and strength. So always remember to take enough drinkable water to stay hydrated during your riding. You might not find fresh water in the middle of the road. So always bring sufficient water to drink on your weekend ride.
If you’re planning a ride on a hot summer, you’ll need more than water to keep yourselves hydrated. You can make some green juice that’ll give you enough strength and refreshment during your weekend ride.
Conclusion
Weekend rides can be the perfect way to spend some quality time with your friends. Exploring scenic trails with your best buddies can remove all your day-to-day worries and energize you like nothing else!
So follow the tips you just learned and arrange a great weekend ride with your friends and create some wonderful memories!