Why local cycling trips are awesome

Local cycling trips don't get attention sometimes; the allure, glitz and glamour of a big cycling trip – especially if it's to France for the Tour or Italy for the Giro or Belgium for the Classics – is pretty hard to resist.

However, it can be a frightfully expensive (but worthwhile) experience. I mean, it's not a huge amount of money in the scheme of things (5k will get you there for a month), but 5 grand is 5 grand no matter who you are.

By the way, I made a video about why an overseas trip is totally worth it – see below.

The allure and cachet of these overseas trips is so great, that overseas cycling holidays can crowd out the amazing fun you can have doing a local trip.

Moreover, we are all so harried these days, or so focussed on planning big trips, that it's easy to forget we can have short, local Velonomadventures even just a few hours from where we live.

Whilst the vast majority of VeloNomad articles are obviously full of information about cycling overseas, particularly in Europe for the Tour de France (because that's what the site was originally 100% focussed on), some local VeloNomadding can be a very fun experience.

However, local VeloNomadventures, and short cycling holidays interstate or intrastate can be done much cheaper (or for free) and can be just as fun – it's all a matter of perspective.

Why local cycling trips are great

There are a variety of reasons why local cycling trips can be just as rewarding as overseas cycling trips.

And how's this photo from Donal. Donal lives in Alberta and headed down to Montana for some epic riding. And the steerer cap? That's the awesome VeloNomad “This is Fun” alloy steerer cap.

And I just received an email from Crystal in Colorado telling me how awesome her trip following the USA Pro Cycling Challenge around with her husband was.

• Cost – local trips are way cheaper. Even when I worked in Melbourne and was on a stupid wage I always got back from overseas and thought “man, I just spent 5k”.
• Language – local trips mean no worrying about a foreign language. You might not worry about language, but I sure do. I like to be able to communicate effectively (at a “survival” level) in restaurants and so on. Even if you don't worry about it, it's one less hassle to deal with.
• Mechanicals – mechanicals when riding overseas are an utter pain in the bum, especially if you don't speak the language.
• Time – the time required to fly overseas is significant especially if you want to make the cost of flights effective (i.e. it's not cost or time effective to fly overseas for a week). A reasonable period for an overseas trip would be 3 weeks minimum.
• Good practise for big trips – shorter local trips, especially if you fly, will show you what works and what doesn't for longer cycling trips. Considerations such as bike bags, what to pack and constructing a great itinerary
• Less stress – I don't know what you're like, but I can get stressed driving around small villages in a large campervan. I just find that at some points on an overseas cycling trip, stress can creep into proceedings, especially if you're moving around a lot. If you stay in one place for an extended period, this isn't so much of a problem.
• Flexibility – local trips offer a lot more flexibility. If something goes wrong or your plans need to change, itinerary and arrangement changes are much easier and hassle free to handle at home.

Case Study: Tour Down Under – BETTER than the TDF

I've done the Tour de France several times and I'll happily admit that a trip to the Tour Down Under is more fun than a trip to the Tour.

Whilst watching the TDF is great, it also:

• Can be highly stressful – Stage 13 2009 Tour de France is a good example
• Can be a let down – miss your chance or are late to the stage, that's one less stage!
• Is highly regimented (again, see Stage 13 2009 link above)
• Is over in a flash!
• Can obligate you – hey you came all this way and now don't feel like it today?! (Not such a problem for the local Frenchies).

Quite honestly, the TDF is fun, but very hyped.

I don't think it should be the focus of a trip, but rather a side part of the trip. You're better off watching a couple of stages in the Alps or Pyrenees or Provence and spending the rest of your time enjoying yourself.

On the other hand, the Tour Down Under is pure joy. It doesn't matter if you're a local or coming from overseas, it's an awesome week of cycling.

Having the whole event around one town lets you do loads of riding, minimal transits and doesn't overload you.

Hyper-local Velonomadding

Last year, Kate and I threw in a very comfortable life (in terms of money, anyway) in Melbourne, bought 10 acres near Byron Bay and made a very significant and scary lifestyle change.

Part of moving to a new area (a new state in our case) is acquainting yourself with the local cycling scene and cycling routes. We've moved to a breathtaking beautiful part of the world and one of the benefits has been the discovery of some extraordinary riding – and very steep climbing (everything seems to be 10%-20%!) – right on our doorstep.

I must confess that living in a city like Melbourne for 10 years encouraged some lazy riding habits. Lots of training, racing in winter and a real lack of VeloNomadding. Instead, I just felt a real obligation to ride.

This move has refocussed my cycling on really just enjoying myself. With the hustle and bustle of the city and heavy focus on training, racing and “keeping up with the Joneses” gone, my focus in purely on riding and breathing in the surrounds as I just ride my bike.

I'm in love with cycling again.

I've spent a lot of time doing long (6 hour plus) rides just getting lost (but not too lost) and having little adventures.

Of course, this might not be pertinent to you at all, so if not, forgive my short digression.

But if you find yourself doing the same rides with the same people, here are my tips for a change up (apart from your peeps, you might just really dig them!):

…Get lost. Got a smart phone? You'll be right! Just start riding and taking random turns on the road.
…Go long. I had occasion recently to knock out a 200km ride. I hadn't ridden that far since my epic 2011 Etape Alps 210km, 3 HC monster ride via the Telegraphe, Galibier, Alpe D'HUez and Glandon/Croix de Fer. So I headed out early and just started riding with no particular plan, except to reach 200km. Now, 200km isn't an extraordinarily long way, but around my place – DEAD roads, constant hills of 10-15%, it's far enough.
…Note other places along the way to come back to visit.

My point is that the glitz and glamour of overseas trips is deserved, and a trip to France and the Tour (in particular) worthwhile, don't underestimate your local rides, surrounds and events.