Active mountain bike holiday

Why an active mountain bike holiday gives you energy

Many people associate holidays with sitting still, but an active mountain bike holiday actually gives you new energy. It is the perfect way to clear your head. Because you are physically active, the worries of home and work fade into the background. Your focus lies entirely on the trail, your breathing, and the surroundings. The rhythm of pedalling is almost meditative. Furthermore, you see much more on a bike than when you walk or travel by car. You cover greater distances than on foot, but you go slowly enough to notice details you would miss from a car. You smell the flowers, feel the temperature drop when you ride into a forest, and hear the birds. After a day in the saddle, you feel a healthy tiredness that ensures a deep sleep. The next morning you wake up fit, ready for another new day full of adventure. It is this cycle of exertion and relaxation that makes this type of travel so addictive.

How do you physically prepare for an active mountain bike holiday?

Build up your fitness gradually or take the e-mountain bike

An active mountain bike holiday does demand something from your body, so good preparation is half the battle. Ideally, start training three months in advance. It is important to strengthen your base fitness. You do this by regularly cycling longer distances at a steady pace, known as endurance training. This teaches your body to burn fat and use energy efficiently. Alternate this with interval training where you cycle short but hard to get your heart rate up. Short on time? Take the bike to work a bit more often or do a long ride at the weekend. Also, try to get used to sitting on a saddle for several consecutive hours, because saddle soreness can really spoil your fun. Good padded cycling shorts (with a chamois) are indispensable for this. Listen closely to your body during training and slowly build up the intensity to prevent injuries.

Training strength and technique

Besides endurance, strength and technique are essential for an active mountain bike holiday. You don’t need to be a bodybuilder, but strong legs and a strong core (abdominal and back muscles) help enormously. Exercises like squats and lunges can easily be done at home and get your thighs ready for the hills. A strong torso ensures you sit stably on the bike and are less likely to suffer from back or neck pain. Don’t forget your technique either. Find an unpaved path or visit a local mountain bike trail. Practise changing gears at the right moment (before you start going up the hill) and braking in the corners. The more confident you are on the bike, the more you can look around and enjoy yourself. If you choose a destination with a lot of elevation gain, such as Rwanda or Corsica, it is smart to also practise climbing, for example on the Veluwe or in the hills of Limburg.

Food and drink during your active mountain bike holiday

Drinking before, during, and after the ride

Your body is the engine during this trip, and an engine needs fuel and coolant. Hydration is perhaps the most important thing during an active mountain bike holiday. In warm countries, you lose a lot of fluids and minerals through sweating, often without realising it because of the cooling wind. If you get thirsty, you are actually already too late. We advise taking a few sips from your water bottle every fifteen minutes. Water is good, but preferably add electrolytes or a sports tablet to it to replenish the salts you sweat out. This prevents cramps and headaches. On our trips, the support vehicle always provides an ample supply of water, so you can refill your bottles along the way. After the ride, it is important to drink immediately to restore your fluid balance. A cup of tea or a soft drink upon arrival does wonders for your recovery.

Eating to keep performing

Besides drinking, you need to keep eating. An active holiday means you burn a lot of calories. Start the day with a hearty breakfast. Choose slow-release carbohydrates such as porridge, bread or pancakes, and fruit. This gives you energy for the first few hours. Take easy snacks with you for the road. Bananas are every cyclist’s favourite snack: they are packed with energy and potassium and are easy to eat. Muesli bars, nuts, or dried fruit are also handy for your saddlebag. Don’t wait to eat until your stomach rumbles, because then you can hit the dreaded ‘bonk’ (hitting the wall), where you suddenly lose all energy. It is better to eat a little bit every hour. Lunch on our trips is often extensive and nutritious, with pasta or rice salads. In the evening, you can certainly reward yourself with a good meal; your body needs the proteins and carbohydrates to repair the muscles for the next day.

The balance between exertion and relaxation

Although the focus is on cycling, rest is just as important during an active mountain bike holiday. A good trip offers balance. We often leave early in the morning when the temperature is still pleasant. Around noon or in the early afternoon, we arrive at the accommodation. This means you have the rest of the day free to relax. You can rest your legs, read a book, swim, or visit a village. These moments of rest are essential for your recovery. The accommodations that CvA travel selects are specifically geared towards this. Think of lodges with a veranda where you can sit wonderfully with a view of a lake or the mountains. We ensure that the itinerary is realistic. There are days with more kilometres and elevation gain, alternated with quieter days. This keeps it fun and prevents you from getting overtired. After all, a holiday also means enjoying doing nothing after a hard day’s work.

Why CvA travel is the specialist for your mountain bike holiday

Organising an active mountain bike holiday abroad can be quite complicated. Where are the beautiful routes? What about safety? And what if my bike breaks down? At CvA travel, we take all these worries away. We are specialists in cycling holidays and know our destinations inside out. Our routes are scouted and tested by us, so we know for sure that they are both beautiful and rideable. We work with local guides and mechanics who are ready for you 24/7. In addition, there is always a support vehicle for luggage transport and assistance. Should you feel less fit one day, you can simply get in. We arrange the logistics, the permits for national parks, and the best places to sleep. Because of this, you only have to concentrate on pedalling and enjoying yourself. We make the adventure accessible, safe, and comfortable, so you can stand on the pedals with peace of mind.