La Piazza Blog & Stories
How to Pack for Your Trip
How to Pack for Your Trip
As a cyclist, you’ve no doubt already got lots of shorts and jerseys. Bring your favorites! It’s crucial to bring shorts that you’re used to and that you know fit you well. If you buy new ones for the trip, please do some long rides with them to make sure they work well for you. Even expensive shorts can ride up or rub you the wrong way. Same goes for jerseys. Stick to comfortable cycling jerseys that are plenty long in the back and have pockets that are easy for you to get to. Comfort and visibility are the most important characteristics of the jerseys you should bring with you. If you’ve got a saddle that you really love (or if you’ve had problems with saddles in the past), it’s a good idea to bring your own. The saddles we provide are great, but a saddle can be a very personal choice. If you’ve ridden lots of different saddles and never had any real trouble, you’ll probably be fine with the ones we provide – otherwise, consider bringing your own.Many of our guests also bring their own pedals. If you use cleats and clipless pedals, you’ll need to bring them. (There are simply too may different kinds of pedals nowadays for us to stock them all.) If you choose to use our standard pedals, with or without the toe clips, make sure to bring shoes that are comfortable and have reasonably stiff soles that will grip the pedals. The is popular for bike touring, with good reason (they’ll also give you some nice retro street cred!).
You may also want to bring a cycling jacket, arm warmers, and leg warmers. If you’re on one of our first trips of the season, you’ll be glad you did. And you can always strip them off and stuff them in a pocket if you get too warm, then you can give them to a guide at your lunch stop.
It always seems a little scary taking technology abroad when there are different plugs and voltages to contend with. Fortunately, most gadgets now have adaptable power supplies that will work practically anywhere. Here’s a rundown on what you should consider when packing your electronics. If you’re a serious photographer, you’ll probably want to load up your full SLR kit, lenses, and accessories. Please feel free – and send us your best pictures! – but you’ll probably also want to bring a point & shoot to bring with you on the bike. If you want to take a larger equipment bag on the bike, please make sure that you request a rack. Our videographer-at-large Carlton Reid produced last year using only the equipment he could fit in a rack-top bag!
Most cameras will have adaptable power supplies, so charging won’t be a problem. Remember, though, that you’ll still need a plug adapter in most cases to plug a US-style plug into a foreign socket. Also remember to bring extra memory cards if you think you might fill one up. Some photographers choose to carry several 1 gigabyte cards instead of larger-capacity cards, so if there’s a problem with the card, fewer pictures will be lost. Do you really want your computer with you on vacation? We’d advise against it. But if you insist, please just be sure it’s got an adaptable power supply and use a bag that will protect it from knocks and being squashed. And while an increasing number of hotels and other venues have Wifi, it’s still not the norm. Most hotels do have a computer or two you can use to check email, and internet cafes are still common as well. It’s great to have a phone with you on your bike trip. If you need the guide for anything, he or she is just a call away. You have a few options:Easiest (but most expensive): If you have a GSM phone (also called “world phone”), it can probably be used abroad, as long as you’re set up for international roaming. Be sure to check with your provider before traveling to avoid a nasty surprise on your bill when you return.Cheapest (if you travel a lot): Buy an unlocked phone abroad with a prepaid SIM card. This will give you the best calling rates, but you’ll need to shell out for a handset that you’ll only use when you’re traveling.A good compromise: Rent a phone for the duration of your trip. You can rent an unlocked phone online and have it sent to you before the trip, then you can buy a SIM card at your destination. There are several reliable services that can do this; there are also similar services at airports abroad. If you rent your phone abroad, however, you might end up spending much more. It’s a good idea to do some research before you travel.
We always learn a lot from our guests who share their experiences with us, so please let us know if you have any more tips about what to pack for a Ciclismo trip!
You may also want to bring a cycling jacket, arm warmers, and leg warmers. If you’re on one of our first trips of the season, you’ll be glad you did. And you can always strip them off and stuff them in a pocket if you get too warm, then you can give them to a guide at your lunch stop.
It always seems a little scary taking technology abroad when there are different plugs and voltages to contend with. Fortunately, most gadgets now have adaptable power supplies that will work practically anywhere. Here’s a rundown on what you should consider when packing your electronics. If you’re a serious photographer, you’ll probably want to load up your full SLR kit, lenses, and accessories. Please feel free – and send us your best pictures! – but you’ll probably also want to bring a point & shoot to bring with you on the bike. If you want to take a larger equipment bag on the bike, please make sure that you request a rack. Our videographer-at-large Carlton Reid produced last year using only the equipment he could fit in a rack-top bag!
Most cameras will have adaptable power supplies, so charging won’t be a problem. Remember, though, that you’ll still need a plug adapter in most cases to plug a US-style plug into a foreign socket. Also remember to bring extra memory cards if you think you might fill one up. Some photographers choose to carry several 1 gigabyte cards instead of larger-capacity cards, so if there’s a problem with the card, fewer pictures will be lost. Do you really want your computer with you on vacation? We’d advise against it. But if you insist, please just be sure it’s got an adaptable power supply and use a bag that will protect it from knocks and being squashed. And while an increasing number of hotels and other venues have Wifi, it’s still not the norm. Most hotels do have a computer or two you can use to check email, and internet cafes are still common as well. It’s great to have a phone with you on your bike trip. If you need the guide for anything, he or she is just a call away. You have a few options:Easiest (but most expensive): If you have a GSM phone (also called “world phone”), it can probably be used abroad, as long as you’re set up for international roaming. Be sure to check with your provider before traveling to avoid a nasty surprise on your bill when you return.Cheapest (if you travel a lot): Buy an unlocked phone abroad with a prepaid SIM card. This will give you the best calling rates, but you’ll need to shell out for a handset that you’ll only use when you’re traveling.A good compromise: Rent a phone for the duration of your trip. You can rent an unlocked phone online and have it sent to you before the trip, then you can buy a SIM card at your destination. There are several reliable services that can do this; there are also similar services at airports abroad. If you rent your phone abroad, however, you might end up spending much more. It’s a good idea to do some research before you travel.
We always learn a lot from our guests who share their experiences with us, so please let us know if you have any more tips about what to pack for a Ciclismo trip!