Skip to main content

Kit List and Accommodation for a short break

Heading off for an overnight stay is a great way of avoiding the local roads and trains you may get all too familiar with. Compared to a month-long tour you can travel lighter as you will have an accurate weather forecast. The following assumes a hotel stopover. 


Rider Kit List
- Dress for the forecast weather
- Toolkit to facilitate puncture repair including the means to remove the wheel
- Bike lock suitable for a café stop though check that your hotel can secure your bike
- Water and snacks appropriate for the weather and the planned café stops
- Extra clothing to deal with heat, cold and wet such as arm warmers, a light rain jacket, a sun cap, sun glasses, spare dry gloves 
- Minimal spare clothing such as underwear, a clean shirt for the evening and spare shoes if you use clippless pedals and plan to walk
- Minimal toiletries 
- Any medication, suncream 
- Means to charge any devices such as USB plug and charge lead
- Devices to be charged, such as phone and cycle computer 
- Cash and card

Additional Organiser Kit
- Power bank for any charging needs
- Basic toolkit to deal with non-puncture mechanicals
- First Aid kit
- Electrolyte tablets
- Spare lightweight rain jacket 
- Arm warmers

Accommodation Options 
Premier Inn

Travel Lodge 

Warm Showers

Church camping 


Nearly Wild Camping

Popular posts from this blog

Tour: Rickmansworth to Bicester

This post describes a 2-day cycle tour from Rickmansworth out to Bicester coming back via Marlow. Just add a start date and book your hotel! Start Point: Rickmansworth Station (Metropolitan Line and Chiltern Railways) Finish Point: The same as the start Meetup Time: 07:45 Start Time: 08:00 Route: Rickmansworth to Bicester Alt. Route: Rickmansworth to Silverstone   No. Days: 2 Day 1: Circa 100 km Day 2: Circa 100 km Options: If 100km +100km is a bit much why not do 62km + 50km by starting at Cheddington and finishing at Chinnor. Though more realistically subject to the Chinnor train times  (a tourist line) you would need to do the 45km from Bicester to Aston Rowant then make your own way to Princes Risborough which is another 12km. See below for other options.  Overnight:  Individuals book their own accommodation in Bicester (or Buckingham for the alternative route) such as a Premier Inn or Travelodge. Bicester is exactly halfway.  Hotels ...
Read more

Bike rides accessible from Harrow

Group Ride Etiquette  The rides listed below are suitable for social rides so it is worth learning ride etiquette . Remember your ride leader - if there is one - may be sacrificing their own ride to lead so be on time, follow the highway code, be prepared to fix your own bike (including punctures), be responsible for your own safety, take sufficient fuel and hydration, and don't race ahead. Bike components do break, punctures happen, and these things can't be avoided. However, bike maintenance can reduce the risk of failure during a group ride. The LCC has some well worded advice on bike checks . Use a safe and correct mount and dismount routine so you aren't the one who loses balance and crashes to the ground.  If you want to understand the practical considerations of a Guided Ride take a look at the relevant sections of  British Cycling Ride Leader Guidelines . This includes helpful supplementary links at the end. Mont Ventoux - May 2023 Hatch End Rides The start point...
Read more

Tour: Tring to Bicester to Tring

This post describes a relatively flat 2-day cycle tour from Tring out to Bicester via Buckingham then coming back to Tring via Chinnor. Just add a start date and book your hotel! Start Point:  Tring Station Finish Point:  Tring Station Meetup Time:  08:06 Start Time:  08:15 Route:  Tring to Bicester to Tring Route Alt: Tring to Bicester to Tring (ALT) No. Days:  2 Day 1:  72km Day 2:  79km Elevation: 910m of total climb over 2 days which is moderate. The only real climb is up to Brill early on the second day as the route always keeps you north of the Chiltern Hills. If you wanted a more demanding route you could avoid Marsworth and instead drop down to Cholesbury on the return as this takes you into the Chilterns.  Overnight:  Individuals can book their own accommodation in Bicester such as the Premier Inn or Travelodge. Bicester is approximately halfway.  Hotels   Bicester Premier Inn , in 2025 a room...
Read more