hacks for cycle touring in Asia

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Hacks for Cycle Touring in Asia
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For an independent intrepid traveller, a cycling
tour is one of the most exciting tasks. Exploring
the world on two wheels and replacing the deluxe
travel experience with tents and wilderness is a
different kind of adrenaline rush in
itself. Long-distance cycle tours have become
really popular among travellers who are looking
for affordable yet challenging options. A lot of
people do not associate with any cycling
community and create their own personal goals.
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Ride with Clip less MTB Pedals and Shoes

• If you are undertaking a cycling tour in Asia, it
  is important to start your journey with the right
  gears and equipment.
• This would provide you comfort and ease
  irrespective of the terrain or climatic
  conditions you might encounter.
• In case you are using some new gear or
  equipment, make sure you have practiced cycling
  with them before you set out so that you can
  avoid embarrassing falls.

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Tools and Spare Parts

• Cycling tours might not always be as exciting as
  they sound. You have to be well equipped for some
  erratic conditions.
• A pump, tire levers, chain lube, two spare tubes,
  a couple of extra chain links and a multi-tool
  with a chain breaker are a few must-haves during
  your journey.
• While packing, always go by the age-old adage
  less is more.  Before you add anything to your
  bag, make sure you ask yourself if you will be
  able to install/replace that particular part if
  something goes wrong.

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Sun Protection Cooling Sleeves

• Cycling in Asia is not a waltz. Most of your
  touring might be during the day-time and you
  cant afford to rest as much just because of the
  fiery sun.
• Sun sleeves could come to your rescue and keep
  the sweat at bay. Besides this, they also lend a
  cooling effect to your arms which could prevent
  you from withering away in the heat.
• It also saves you the trouble of applying
  sunscreen multiple times a day (especially when
  you have to do it with sweat and dust stuck to
  your arms).

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Gilet or Windproof Vest

• Some places like Borneo and Laos can experience
  tropical climate and heavy downpour. In such
  cases, waterproof jackets might not work in your
  favour as they get wet on the inside really fast
  due to sweating and heavy cycling.
• Gilets are made of water-resistant materials
  that keeps the heavy rain off your core but gives
  a cooling effect to your arms. They are easily
  packable and allow more breathing space as they
  are sleeveless.

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Wear Over-Shorts

• While a lot of cyclists might prefer wearing some
  clingy fabric or lycra, it might not be the most
  pleasant sight for some people. For instance, if
  you take a Bhutan cycling tour, you might come
  across some remote villages where the
  conservative people would not appreciate such
  sights.
• You might also miss the chance of visiting some
  beautiful temples or Dzongs just because of your
  inappropriate attire. Thus, it is advisable to
  carry some light over-shorts so that you can have
  an ideal travel experience and not be an
  obnoxious spectacle for the passersby.

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Cotton Wool for the Arid Land

• Thorns and punctures are inevitable while cycling
  through the scorched land in Asia. Even though
  changing tubes is not a herculean task for
  cyclists, it might be difficult to find that one
  thorn that interrupted your smooth journey.  
• If you run a piece of cotton wool along the
  inside of the tire, you can easily pick and
  remove that invisible thorn.

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Zip lock Bags

• These light-weight bags are the most suitable for
  keeping phone, wallet or camera and can easily be
  placed in your shorts or jersey pocket. Since
  they are re-sealable, they are waterproof and
  keep the dust and dirt out.
• Go for the zip lock bags if you are looking for a
  hassle-free cycling experience no matter what
  kind of weather you experience.

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Power-Bank and Navigation

• Improved camera quality in the phones has reduced
  our travelling paraphernalia. We can access
  everything we need through one smartphone and
  also take pictures with the same device, while on
  tour.
• You could use Google Maps or an app like Strava
  to track your speeds. The only problem with the
  mobile devices is their short battery lives.
  Carrying a power-bank could help you overcome
  this problem while youre away from a power
  source or situated in some remote location.

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THANK YOU