Packing essentials for a cycling holiday

If you’re coming to stay with us, definitely not! We have a great range of bikes, both road and mountain, for you to use. Our cycle team will assess, choose, and set up a bike specifically for you, and it’s all included in the cost of your holiday, so there’s no need to bring your own bike.

If you’re worried using communal bikes means settling for a wobbly old rust bucket, think again. Gone are the days of praying for the brakes to work!

If you’re on a Neilson holiday and fancy a two-wheeled adventure, we’ll set you up with a lightweight TREK bike to suit your size, ability and choice of terrain in no time. 

Serious cyclists can pre-book a premium full-suspension mountain bike or carbon fibre road bike – along with a custom set-up from our Neilson bike mechanics – for just an extra £95 per week. 

You may hate the sensation of sweat slowly dripping down your forehead, but a cycling helmet is an absolute must on holiday. Why? Because you’ll likely be unfamiliar with the route, terrain, and way of driving. Just think, you might not be able to show off your glorious locks, but if something goes wrong, you’ll only have a little scratch to show for it.

Choosing a helmet with plenty of air vents is a good idea when cycling in sunny climates. For the best protection, your helmet needs to fit like a, well, helmet. Get a tape measure and measure the circumference of your head, starting around an inch above your eyebrows – this will give you the measurements you need to find the perfect helmet size. If you’re still unsure on the right size and fitting for you, head along to the bike hut at your beachclub and ask one of our bike team to help. 

If you have space in your bags and would rather take your own helmet, that’s not a problem, but we don’t think it’s necessary. 

Comfort is key on a cycling holiday, so make sure you bring the right clothes for the job. We suggest:

•    A couple of pairs of padded cycling shorts. Trust us, you don’t want to ride without them. How should they fit? The inner layer needs to be snug but not too tight, while the outer layer can be anything from tight-fitting Lycra to a more forgiving loose-fitting fabric.  

•    Two or three comfortable cycling tops, ideally with sports wicking to speed moisture away from your skin as you ride. You want them to be loose enough for you to move freely, but not so baggy that they flap around annoyingly as you, no doubt, speed along. 

•    A lightweight, waterproof cycling jacket. Hopefully, the weather gods will smile on your holiday and you won’t need it, but it’s always good to be prepared… Choose a jacket that rolls up small for stashing in your backpack, and thin enough to not leave you sweating in a midday shower. 

•    Cycling shoes. We often get asked, “are cycling shoes necessary?” Whilst you don’t have to buy specialist cycling shoes, you do need to bring along trainers with a flat sole to give you the best grip when pedalling. If you’d rather use cleats, we suggest taking your own shoes and pedals so you can be guaranteed a good fit. 

•    A buff to protect your neck from sunburn or wind chill.

•    Your cycling gloves (they’re small to pack, and familiar to you).

Even on guided rides, you’ll need to bring along a few must-haves:

•    Water bottles or hydration reservoirs to fit in your bag. You lose a lot of water when riding in heat, so it’s vital you’re fully stocked up before you set off. 

•    Sunglasses or cycling glasses and waterproof suncream.

•    Snacks. Cycling burns a lot of calories, and you’ll need refuelling along the way, so bring plenty of them! There are some great energy gels and bars available offering a lightweight power boost. 

•    Chamois cream to eliminate friction between your skin and clothing – the cause of that dreaded cycling affliction: chafing. A must on long rides. 

•    A helmet camera or GoPro to capture the action (OK, it’s not essential but you’ll love looking back at the footage of your rides).

•    Your phone to track your ride stats and keep you on track. We use Strava to plot our favourite routes at each beachclub and provide secure phone mounts on all of our bikes.  

If you are bringing your own bike on your cycling holiday, you’ll also want to pack:

•    Spares – we’re talking inner tubes, chain links, rear derailleur, brake pads and brake/gear cables. Zip ties and duct tape – many a mechanical breakdown can be temporarily fixed with these ingenious items. A small tool kit that includes allen keys, chain splitter, adjustable spanner, cassette lockring tool and chain lube. Don’t worry, our bike mechanics will also be on hand to help you out back at base. 

•    Bike pump and a compact bike lock.

And don’t forget those travel basics – passport, insurance details, emergency contacts, EHIC card if you have one, bank cards and holiday currency. 

You’re all set. All that’s left is to get seriously excited. Let’s hit the road! 

Take a look through our cycling holidays guide, to find your ideal beachclub.