How to turn a £70 bicycle into your next touring bike

Two cyclists who between them have ridden their bicycles over 30,000 miles through 31 countries are offering to share their hard-earned knowledge of cycle touring for free in a 60-page e-book.

Other advice offered by Friedel and Andrew on their blog includes tips on how to turn a modest £70 bicycle into a touring bike ready for adventure.

The Bike Touring Basics e-book includes advice, tips, photos and quotes from across the bike touring community. To receive a free copy of the e-book visit the Travellingtwo.com website

The resurgence of cycle touring

Nobody knows for certain the reason for renewed interest in cycle touring, but the signs are there to see. Record membership of the Cyclists’ Touring Club, the recent prime-time airing on the BBC of an excellent documentary about Mark Beaumont cycling the Americas end to end and recession-hit famillies looking for cheap and cheerful adventure holidays have all played their part.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “So-called ‘staycations’ such as cycle touring and camping are on the increase, a trend that may be reinforced this year by disruption caused by the volcano ash cloud.”

Insurance for cycle touring

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes 90 days’ European and 60 days’ worldwide cover as standard. See a full list of benefits here or get an instant quote below:

Help for reluctant cycle tourists: the electric bicycle trailer

American cyclist and engineer, David Meyers was unable to find a trailer for his bicycle that would not weigh him down on hills, so he designed his own.

So successful was the electric bicycle trailer that Mr Meyers now offers build plans so that cyclists can build their own.

The Electric Powered Bicycle Push-Trailer uses a brushless hub-motor drive system that is widely available online to provide powered assistance for up to 25 miles on average terrain and at speeds of up to 30mph on flat paved surfaces.