India biking vacations
There are some fine biking tours in India to undertake, and a couple itineraries that especially stand out as to where to go in India are Rajasthan bike trips and Ladakh cycling tours.
But before you set out on your bike trip either in Rajasthan or Ladakh, you have to know what to anticipate. The key concerns are distances between towns and villages and to it related dilemma as to a place to stay. Second concern is availability of food especially of water. Last, giving a thought to what you will do when you encounter an emergency of some sort.
Suffice to say that you have to be ready to cycle typically some 80 to 100 km per day, and even then you will not often find a good shtelter. In case you have ever bicycled in Europe you now know that finding lodging will not be an issue almost anywhere you may cycle. Along the said itineraries in Rajasthan and Ladakh it’s a not the same case.
Take into account that on organized tours operators supply vehicle support and the cyclist can dismount whenever and ride in the vehicle. Otherwise typically the operators usually get you to a starting point of a daily cycling leg, and then get you at some point later to take you to a suitable hotel for overnight.
On a self-supported excursion this is just not the case and you best bring along a tent for the situations if you shall not likely find any lodging as there positively are none in many small villages, even smaller towns in either Rajasthan or Ladakh, not except if you will be riding a bike in the tourist areas.
In Rajasthan in several rural locations there might be rooms on hand only in a local restored Rajput castle or a palace which is geared to cater namely to the well-to-do tourists on pre-arranged tours. Apart from it there will be typically nowhere else to stay, hence your only other choice is to camp out in your own tent.
Not enough accommodations is also going to mean you might have also virtually no potential for obtaining food. There will be none if any restaurants, at best perhaps a simple retailer where you can buy some rice and vegetables, thus coming on a self-supported excursion ideally give some thought to bringing a cooking stove. Nothing wrong with that option except it means needing to bring also cookware which inturn starts adding bulk and weight to your gear.
Suppose you can find a meal at the beginning and at the end of each day, but water you should have throughout as you cycle in an effort to stay properly hydrated. While there is bottled water available these days just about anywhere in India, it is not a norm in every remote village where every day life is focused on a village well or a body of water nearby. To be ready for the worst, give some thought to using water filtration system or at least some iodine tablets so you keep on being self-reliant.
India is a country where bicycles are a staple means of transportation for many and skilled and affordable bicycle repair is available just about anywhere. However, in regards to the subject of dealing with your state-of-the-art derailers, disk brakes and similar, be well prepared they will not be able to assist you. Thus you will have to depend upon your own bicycle repair skills. That suggests you best bring a adequate tool kit.
Finally, imagine if you should fall ill, have an accident? Despite India being a poor country, it does have a well developed internet and mobile phone network. Bring your cell phone and get a local SIM card, it may be useful in an emergency! In general don’t worry, bicycling Rajasthan or Ladakh is going to be the most special adventure you will ever have!
