Out of all the activities you might choose on your next holiday you mightn’t think of hiring a bicycle. Well, think again! Cycling has emerged in recent years as the commute and exercise choice of many and there are a number of very good reasons for getting onto a bike when you are on holidays too:
1. Orientation
After a long flight or bus journey you find yourself in an unfamiliar city and it’s hard to know which way is up let alone get your bearings. Orienting yourself to your surroundings by bicycle is an enjoyable way of taking in information that is vital for the success and enjoyment of your trip. Being aware of where you are will save you time and money and help you make decisions about your itinerary. Knowing which way is north and where the city centre is and how far it is from your accommodation to the various restaurants or attractions will at least help you haggle with taxi/rickshaw/tuk tuk drivers with more confidence!
2. Exercise
One of the greatest enjoyments of travelling is the chance to sample local cuisines. However, the tendency to overindulge on delicacies while out of our normal routines can mean that besides our souvenirs we often bring home additions to our waistlines. Get moving on a bicycle while you are away and you will find that you can easily justify that extra big breakfast croissant in the morning or that next pint or glass of wine in the evening.
3. Doing what the locals do
In many parts of the world people ride bicycles everyday and there is something very satisfying about joining local people in their everyday pursuits. While in countries such as Holland there are so many people on bikes it seems almost rude not to join them and see what all the fuss is about. Prices start at £6.50. Although I wouldn’t recommend wobbling onto your ride after visiting one of the many cafés! In London many people use the ‘Boris Bikes’ of the public bike sharing scheme to commute to work and there are up to 8000 bikes and over 550 stations, so you can find one anywhere you go. The first half hour is free and subsequent registration for one day’s riding costs £2. Charges are then based on how long you ride; your second half hour will be £1 and if you ride on for another hour, for example, the charge rises to £6.
4. Taking it all in
Moving at slower speeds provides you with the chance to see and experience more. On my first day in Phnom Penh I rode around all day (for the princely sum of $2 US) and was able to take in so much that I hadn’t noticed while on the rickshaw from the airport that morning. Small children smiled and waved at me, I found little tucked away shops and art galleries, and I was able to stop any time to have a closer look at local curiosities such as the live eels squirming in their buckets at the market stalls. The most delightful moment was when I found myself riding for about 500 metres in unison beside a sweet Khmer man who would turn to me every now and then to share an almost toothless grin and the nod of the fellow cyclist.
5. Being Spontaneous
The beauty of travel is often in the opportunity to have new experiences without planning, to happen upon something and then see where it takes you. If I hadn’t been cycling around Kathmandu a few years ago I wouldn’t have noticed a wedding taking place in an unassuming old building. Then I wouldn’t have taken the chance to peek in, be seen by one of the guests, invited in and subsequently treated like a valued guest and have myself positioned next to the bride and groom in their wedding video. This amazing experience of authentic Nepalese traditions would perhaps have been lost to me if I had been hurtling along in a rickshaw or on a bus on that day.
Caveat: A Few Reasons Not to Hire a Bike
If you don’t know how to ride or have not been on a bike in years perhaps a foreign city is not your best place to start or to regain your skills. Or if you have a health issue or nervous disposition, hiring a bike might not be the healthy or fun addition to your trip that I claim it to be. To ride with confidence on unknown roads means that you need to be able to handle a bike well and have the nerve to insert yourself into local traffic that might not be playing by the rules that you know. Or any rules for that matter! Ultimately, play it safe.
So there you have it; for most of us cycling is a practical, healthy, adventurous and exciting element to add to your travels. On your bike, then!
