There are loads of variations on bike touring so there are not neat lines between the different types and no one even agrees on the terminology.
I have tried to make some distinctions for purposes of clarity but they are far from being hard and fast. You can investigate further and decide what works for you, including mixing styles.
A first distinction is between whether you or a friend organises it yourself or whether you join an organised tour.
Within organised tours, there are three broad types:
- Fully guided and supported;
- Supported;
- Self-supported
On fully guided and supported tours, there will be one or two guides who will be with you for the whole trip, accompanied by a support van which will take your luggage and if necessary, you and your bike if you are having a bad day. Accommodation, breakfast, some or all meals and visits to attractions will be thrown in. More often than not, so will bike rental. The only thing that you need to do is to turn up with the right clothes (and you will receive a guide). You will usually be in a group of riders.
On the one hand, there will be no need to think of anything apart from what to wear in the evening, you will get the benefit of local expertise – and expertise on riding – and be able to ask loads of questions. You will also have company and get to meet new people, and of course, your luggage and potentially you will be carried. On some tours, they ‘skip’ the boring/ impassable bits by van, avoiding some of the lengthy transitions. When researching some of my Norway trips for instance, where there are lots of tunnels closed to cyclists, I saw that companies were able to stitch together some of the better bits.
On supported bike tours, you will be given a map or app, accommodation, breakfast and admission to attractions arranged, your luggage picked up every day, and there might be a service to pick you up if you get into difficulty. You will generally be on your own.
Self-supported bike tours are very similar to this but without the luggage pickup. On both of these, you would usually be given a rental bike.
These can both give you greater flexibility than fully supported tours though there might be scheduled times for luggage to be picked up. The issue of renting and insuring the bike is also likely to be covered. On the other hand, you will not have the full expertise available to you and might be limited to a combination of written instructions and an app on your phone, which will be less practical for guiding yourself. This can be a good way to start touring and I would certainly consider it. You might though conclude that with a bit of extra research, you can get most of the benefits yourself without having to pay a company.
With self-organised tours, clearly you plan everything and you carry everything. They broadly break down into three types, according to where and how you sleep:
- Hotels, apartments or hostels, popularly known as “Credit card touring” though I prefer “Comfortable bike touring”;
- Organised campsites, regularly known as “Traditional bike touring”;
- Wild camping or sleeping for free at someone’s house or in their garden;
And then there is bikepacking, self-organised but existing in a category and type of its own.
The term “Credit Card Touring” refers to those who stay in hotels, hostels and apartments when they tour.
“Traditional touring” is as the name suggests, the original form of bike touring and probably the most popular. You carry a tent, mattress, sleeping bag, food and cooking equipment.
These are more or less, the flip side of each other. Credit card touring will give you a comfortable bed and ensure a warm shower every night, will reduce your weight, and will allow you to leave your valuables and bike safely overnight. You will be able to sit out rain and wind and are more likely to be able to stay in the centre of a town, close to attractions. And in this modern age, you will be able to recharge your precious electronic devices.
On the other hand, there is something very pure and romantic about sleeping outdoors and cooking your own meals, waking to the dawn and watching dramatic sunsets. Camping will not only cut costs but will give you greater flexibility on the road, avoiding the need to book ahead (though campsites in France, Germany, Italy and the Alps can get pretty packed in summer).
Chacun a son goût. And of course, nothing to stop you mixing, mostly camping but taking the odd night in a hotel or hostel.
For those with lower budgets or trying to spread it out, a further option is to cut accommodation costs effectively to zero by wild camping – defined in Wikipedia as the act of camping in areas other than designated camping sites – or by staying in someone’s home or garden for free, with Warmshowers being the most popular for bike tourers.
Finally, there is bikepacking. https://bikepacking.com/bikepacking-101/ defines it as “a mix of all-terrain cycling and backpacking. It evokes the freedom of backcountry hiking and travel off the beaten path but with the added range, quicker pace, and thrill of riding a nimble bicycle. Bikepacking involves carrying the essential gear—and not much more—on an off-road-capable bike for an overnight or multi-day ride. That could range from a full load with sleeping gear, a cooking kit, and food for camping to a minimal kit with just the clothing and supplies you need to link shelters or hotels.” It is almost a subculture, a state of mind and it has a big community. This is really for those who like the flexibility, but do not need or care for their creature comforts.
Interested in reading more about other aspects of bike touring? Check out these other pages:
- Your first bike tour: a general guide
- Planning your first self-organised tour
- Where should you tour in Europe? Some tips
- What to pack for your tour
- Twelve tips for happy bike touring
- Ten tips for staying in hotels and apartments while bike touring
- Transporting your bike to and from a bike tour
- How to pack and unpack your bike for a flight
- Frequently Asked Questions
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