There are few activities which offer the benefits of cycling.
Not only does it provide you with a good muscular and aerobic workout, it also gets you out and about in the countryside. For us motorcaravanners it's easy to take bikes away, enabling us to leave the 'van on site and avoid parking problems and fuel costs.
Getting started
A good bike is now cheaper than ever: choose carefully and look after it well, and you'll have a machine that will carry you for thousands of miles.
A decent bike will cost you anything upwards of £150 – and if you intend to use your machine regularly you should spend as much as you can afford. Your other initial expense should be on a good-quality helmet. Again, spend as much as you can – you might really come to appreciate it in the event of a fall.
There are many companies which can provide you with a well-priced, good-quality bicycle and accessories. We'd recommend Halfords (www.halfords.com), or Specialized, Trek, Canondale or Saracen brands (from Evans Cycles at www.evanscycles.com).
Don't forget, you'll need to get your bike serviced, just as you would your 'van, and our advice is to take it to your local independent bike shop.
On the road
Once you have got your bike, you'll have to transport it. Unless you have a large garage in your 'van, or have bought a folding bike, it's best to fix a rack to the back of your vehicle.
Omnistor (www.omnistor.co.uk) produces a good selection of cycle racks, including standard and extendable versions which fit on to the back of your coachbuilt, as well as those specially designed for the rear of a van conversion. The company also sells a rack designed to be fitted inside your motorhome's garage and hold your bike securely while you're on the road. Prices start from around £100 but remember that a rack will take up to 10kg off your payload.
Other manufacturers include Towtal (www.towtal.co.uk) and Fiamma (www.agentfiamma.co.uk). If you have a van conversion, consider Van Racks (www.van-racks.co.uk).
Racking up opinions
Our reader team member Adele Bromfield (pictured, below) comments: "We have tried lots of different makes
of cycle rack over the years and I would advise those thinking of fitting one to get hold of the Fiamma catalogue, which features a fabulous choice of racks. Each is recommended for different makes and models of 'van.
"Most Fiamma racks come with fixing kits: some have self-tapping screws while others don't even require holes to be drilled. If you're not sure about drilling into the bodywork of your 'van, the local garage shouldn't charge too much to do it as it is merely a case of measuring the correct height, and connecting the fixings.
"The Fiamma catalogue even lists those motorhomes with pre-installed brackets for cycle racks, in which case – no drilling required! Just buy the correct rack and connect it to the fitments on your motorhome's bodywork.
"When we had a Champion L'Asale 'van, money was tight so Martin connected our car cycle rack to the ladder at the back of the 'van to fit four adult bikes. Two sat upside down and beneath them another two sat upright.
"Extra 'ratchet' straps for the mounted cycles are always a good idea as they offer extra security when travelling long distances and also prevent the bike wheels from spinning in the slipstream."
Another of our reader team members, Caroline Mills (pictured below) comments: "Our Ci Carioca has a Fiamma
three-bike rack which was fitted as an accessory when we bought the 'van. It is a simple five-minute job to take the rack off and put it back on again, depending on your needs for certain trips: we have found that some ferry companies ask for information, and charge extra, for the additional length.
"Incidentally, our bike rack, when fitted, covers a back window which may be bad news for some, but it makes an excellent security feature."
Reader team member Carol Longton (pictured, here) tells us: "My rack is the usual Fiamma two-bike rack, specifically for
a panel van. It is easy enough to mount the bike on it, although the rack is quite high so a lightweight bike is much easier to handle.
The rack is very secure and the holding arms for the cycle frame are sturdy, creating
a rigid and secure unit."
Insurance
Your bike should be insured before you take it away, in case of theft or damage. If your home contents insurance does not cover you (and the fact is worth checking) consider extending it or taking out a separate policy from an insurer such as Endsleigh Insurance (www.endsleigh.co.uk).
In the saddle
Some 75 per cent of the UK's population lives within two miles of a National Cycle Network route, which means that wherever you are in Britain, you shouldn't be too far from a great cycling route to make the most of your bike.
The routes are co-ordinated by a charity called Sustrans.
Its website (www.sustrans.org.uk) provides a fantastic resource: all you have to do is type in the name of the area where you are going to stay, and you'll be presented with
a map of cycle routes (both
on- and off-road) which you can print out and take away on tour with you. There are also suggestions for a few easy routes to begin with.
Here, we have provided
an example:
Route Stratford-upon-Avon
to Long Marston.
Length Five miles each way.
Terrain Flat and traffic-free.
Details This route begins at Stratford-upon-Avon railway station. Follow the signs and join the railway path near the racecourse at Seven Meadows Road – listen out for the skylarks that nest here.
The route crosses the Avon via the multi-span Stannals Bridge, before crossing the Stour. It then continues through some lovely countryside to the village of Long Marston – keep an eye open for the numerous wild plants (including cowslips and tansy) which grow alongside the path.
Long Marston is the turnaround point but if you'd like to carry on, National Route 5 continues southeast to Banbury (a further 25 miles), where you can catch a direct train back to Stratford.
Campsite Riverside Caravan Park is just one mile from Stratford, and would make an ideal base from which to cycle. You can find out more by going to the website at www.stratfordcaravans.co.uk.
Renting two wheels
If you don't want to buy your own bike, or have neither the room nor sufficient payload
to transport one, there are many companies throughout the country which offer bicycles for hire. If you have access to the internet in your 'van, go to www.yell.com
and enter the term 'bike hire' and the area in which you are staying. You should then see
a comprehensive list of local outlets that rent out bicycles. Alternatively, you can phone
a directory enquiries service such as 118 118 (and, of course, the phone number is the same as its name).
Many campsites have bicycles for hire, so it's worth ringing ahead in the area that you're planning to visit, to find those which do.
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