If you are the sort of person who, when it comes to vacations, likes to just jump up and go, a bicycling holiday may not be the one for you. While it may sound the sort of holiday where you can just hit the open road and enjoy the freedom, this is one holiday that can go badly wrong if you don't make the right preparations. Even if you are an experienced cyclist it still pays to give your trip some consideration in advance.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Do you need to be fit before you decide on a cycling holiday, or can you make the decision to go and then start training? Don't be tempted to bite off more than you can chew. If you are not very fit make sure you leave plenty of time to get into shape before you go away. Researching the area you intend to cycle will also help; knowing a bit about the terrain, the possible temperatures and the distance between night stops (unless you intend to camp out) will all help you decide whether this is a practical proposition.

Will you take your own bicycle or will you rent one? If the starting point of your trip requires a flight or a long journey you may consider renting a bicycle instead of taking your own. This might not be very practical, however, if you are not intending to make a round trip as you will need to return the bicycle (you could look for a rental company that collects or that has different branches).

If you are thinking of taking your own bike you may need to consider how you will get it to your starting point if this is not from home. In the UK some train companies charge for carriage of bicycles and some trains have only a small number of places for bicycles you may need to book tickets in advance if you wish to take a bicycle. If you are flying first, you need to look at the different charges various carriers make for bicycles and how the bicycle would have to be packaged. Armed with this information, you may think it makes more sense to rent a bicycle.

If you are not taking an organized cycling vacation you will have to think about accommodation. If you are looking at overnight stays in a hotel or hostel you may need to book in advance if traveling during a busy time. If you are considering taking a tent, you will now need to look carefully at what you will need to carry and what is practical. It is a good idea to do at least a little training while carrying your baggage as otherwise you may find it quite a shock when you realize how much extra weight you have; its much

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