You will have your suitcase every evening, allowing you to carry a light pack with only the necessary items to keep the weight to a minimum during the ride. The weather in the mountains can be highly variable, so it is important to have the appropriate clothing and equipment. The support van will have additional supplies, should that be necessary, so we will be well covered during the tour.

Required for Trail Riding

• Flat pedal shoes

  • This article from Outdoor Gear Lab compares different flat pedal shoes. Make sure you have broken in your shoes before arrival.

• 3 pairs of mountain bike socks, wool or synthetic material

• 2-3 chamois (padded bike shorts)

  • A chamois can be worn twice before being washed. You can wash your chamois in the sink of your lodging if you bring appropriate detergent.

• 2 pairs of pants, capris, or shorts for bike riding

  • Your local bike shop should have good options for you to try on. It can be helpful to talk to the sales associates to gather their experience and opinions on the different options. For some women, the men’s cut is more comfortable than the women’s cut, but find what works well for you.

• 2-3 wicking t-shirts (or lightweight long-sleeved shirts)

• Underwear – Optional under chamois, but if you do, it must be synthetic or wool. The same goes for bras.

• Bike helmet, or you can rent one with your bike

• Sunglasses

• 1 pair biking gloves (optional, but good for multi-day riding)

• 1 biking backpack or hip pack

  • We use Evoc packs as they have an excellent line of packs and hip packs.

  • We also like Dakine packs and hip packs. We find their hip packs to be very comfortable and durable.

  • There are a range of other brands, so use what fits you well so that you can comfortably wear it during your rides. You do not need a large pack – 5 to 10 liters is enough, but whatever you choose must fit everything for your ride: Rain layer, pads, snack, water, first aid kit, phone, extra small sunblock (optional)

  • The backpack or hip pack must be sports-specific. Fashion items are not made for long days of riding, will shift uncomfortably, and could be a safety hazard.

• 1 rain/wind layer

  • Showerspass.com makes great waterproof layers for biking. For more information about what to look for with your waterproof layer, check out our “Know your Gear” blog.

• Insulation layer (mid-weight fleece, or similar)

  • Read about midweight insulation layers in our “Know your Gear” blog.

• Tights or pants for cold days

  • Choose something that can be worn instead of your bike shorts or underneath

• Baseball cap or sun hat (optional)

  • We will stop in different places along the way during our rides and it is nice to have a hat to put on for the sunshine if you take your helmet off to walk around.

• Trail snacks (we like bars, nuts, dried fruit, etc)

• Sunscreen

• Personal first aid kit

  • Band-aids, blister pads or moleskin, antibiotic ointment. Note: only bring items that you know how to use.

  • Each person must carry their own first aid kit, even if they are traveling together with someone else.

• Small amount of duct tape

  • Duct tape can be useful in many different ways on the trail, especially for temporary fixes for your bike or gear. We like to wrap it around a lip balm that we always carry in our pack.

Other items

• Swiss Army knife or pocketknife (optional)

• Water bottle to carry in your pack or hip pack

• European travel plug adaptor specific to your destination (i.e. France, Ireland, etc.)

• Charging cords for personal electronics

• Sturdy walking shoes for exploring after riding. You can wear your biking shoes for these walks to save on packing space.

• Clothing and shoes for evenings after riding

  • The country B&Bs where we stay are relatively casual.

  • You may choose to pack at least one nicer outfit (jeans or business casual) for dinner. Please do not bring high heels, wedges, or any shoes unsuitable for walking in gravel.

• Layers to wear in the evening if it is chilly

• Toiletries (personal choice)

• Sleepwear

• Electrolytes for your water bottle (optional)

Packing Tips

• Do not wear any cotton items in the mountains. Cotton holds moisture, making it heavy and likely to make you cold after you sweat. It is important to wear proper moisture-wicking layers.

• Please remember our luggage requirements, which are sent in our pre-tour emails, when choosing your suitcase and packing your items.

• If you have questions about the packing list or any of the specific items, please email contact@atharaadventures.com.