The number of possibilities to explore and experience new places is what excites any bike rider at the start of a road trip. It does make you tough as the only thing around you is the natural wilderness, and all you can do is make the most of the surroundings. Planning and preparation then become really important, as you can never be sure what lies ahead and what you might need.

After having experienced about three years of full-time bike riding, I have a good number of mistakes to my name. I have learned from those mistakes, which I surely could’ve avoided, and which you can too. So, here are some of the things that you can do to make sure that your road trip is a pleasant experience.

Don’t be Overambitious In Your Planning

I know that once you are out, you will get all excited to ride as much as possible and to cover all the trails. But, this overly ambitious planning of yours can be too harsh for you. While planning too many things in one go, you can miss out the essence of any road trip: enjoying every bit of it with your friends or co-riders. This turned to be a real disaster for me on my first road trip as I tried to include too many itineraries and building in too much driving.

You must be ready to get flexible and always try to create some leisure time for yourself and your team. Stopping to enjoy the sunset or sunrise, flowing stream, river, waterfall, exotic birds and animals is surely worth the time.

Stay Ready With Bike Gear And Mechanics

While you are travelling to the mountain, you just can’t expect to find a mechanic or a garage on the way. Therefore, it’s better to stay prepared for dealing with the basics such as changing flat tires, replacing a broken cable or other minor things. A lot of things can go wrong on such a trip and the last thing you would want is to spend an unnecessary amount on a component for which you neglected to bring a spare.

And, if it’s about finding a specific part that your bike needs then it can mean the end of your road trip. So, make sure that you prepare your bike to last without breaking down during the trip. Keep an emergency kit handy with you always.

Use Updated Maps

If you're using a paper map, make sure it's a recent edition and not an outdated one - you'll soon find that even the map that you used just a few short years ago may now be seriously lacking in accuracy. A good alternative is to use a digital mapping service that is always kept up-to-date - but of course remember that technology is fickle. You can never predict when your battery, or your signal, will let you down. Bringing a mobile charger and downloading the map data to your device can help to mitigate this, but it's always a good idea to carry an up-to-date paper backup as a last resort. Failure to do this can can get you into some really sticky situations!

Lastly, it’s important you consider you and your friends' fitness level for enduring a road trip. You simply can’t underestimate the weather that you will be able to handle. You need to be prepared for the worst of the weather and the situations. Pack up with proper food, clothes, water, and medication.