Cycling Tour of Provence

Clothing

It is the client’s responsibility to arrive prepared with the items listed below to help insure a safe and enjoyable trip.

CLOTHING CHECKLIST:

The following items are required for this trip unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed.

• Cycling Shoes – sport shoes that are comfortable for cycling in.
• Socks – one pair for every day or two days of the trip. Sport specific padded socks, no cotton please! 
• Sun Hat – wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo 
• Cycling Gloves – padded gloves used specifically for cycling.
• Cycling Shirts – non-cotton, breathable short sleeve and/or long sleeve shirts
  (Note: long sleeve shirts provide better sun protection)
• Cycling Pants & Shorts – nylon pants AND shorts, zip-offs or leggings
• Windbreaker Layer – a lightweight wind resistant jacket or pullover
• Warm Top – mid-weight sweater or pullover of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene 
• Insulating Jacket – down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated “puffy” jacket or warm, lightweight fleece jacket (Note: this item may not be needed in summer months)
• Rain Gear – waterproof jacket and pants or high-quality poncho, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon. For the pants look for side zippers that will easily allow pulling them over footwear.  
• Casual Clothing & Footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes to wear in the evening after activities.

Important Note: Please, no cotton hiking/cycling clothes. Synthetic clothing is very efficient in drying quickly. Merino wool material clothing is also efficient in drying quickly, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of not developing a bad odor after use.

Gear

GEAR CHECKLIST:

• Saddlebag – if bringing your own bike, otherwise a saddlebag is included with your bike rental
• Personal Luggage – small duffel bag, suitcase or backpack – for extra items and casual clothes
• Cycling Helmet – (Note: mandatory for this trip) comfortable fitting, with rain cover. If choosing to use a rental bike on this trip, a helmet is included with the rental. 
• Hydration System – 2+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system (if planning to wear a backpack during cycling) and an additional water bottle
• Headlamp – preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries
  (Note: always test headlamp before trips and travel/pack without batteries in device)
• Phone & Charger – local sim card or international plan may be needed. Consider bringing a small power bank to use to recharge devices during trip activities.
• Waterproof Travel Case or Pouch – used to keep important documents (i.e. passport, health/travel insurance, etc.) & phone safe from weather/water
• Sunglasses, Sunscreen, & Lip Balm
• First Aid Kit – see first aid kit suggestions below*
• Personal Toilet Paper Kit – most public restrooms outside of lodging will have toilet paper available, but it is good to be prepared with a personal toilet paper kit to potentially use during portions of this tour. Along the trail, there may be the need to use natural settings for toilets (i.e. digging catholes, etc.) when there are no public toilets available. Kits should include toilet paper, wet wipes, sanitizer & sealable plastic bag(s) for carrying out used paper/wipes.
• Toiletries
• Contact Lenses & Glasses – if wearing contact lenses, please also bring back-up pair of glasses and contacts. 
• Prescription Medication – with emergency back-up supply
• Money – It is good to have some local currency, often smaller local businesses do not accept credit cards and/or prefer cash. Some public restrooms require small amounts of cash to use.

OPTIONAL ITEMS:

• Backpack – a small sized comfortable pack with a waterproof cover. Taking a backpack is useful as it makes it easy to carry your belongings when you go on a short walking trip along the way. If your bike has a rack system this bag can be easily attached or even packed within the saddlebag provided with rentals.
• 2-3 Face Masks; 1-2 Over-the-counter Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests (Note: recommended but optional)
• Travel Power Adapter – Electric power voltage in France is 230 V / 50 Hz and the plugs are E type
• Support Braces – consider bringing any joint braces that may be currently needed or from past injuries (i.e. knee, ankle, elbow, etc.)
• Sleep Mask & Ear Plugs
• Bug Repellent 
• Quick Drying Towel or Bandana(s)

*FIRST AID KIT SUGGESTIONS:

After years of experience planning adventure travel around the world, we've learned that anything can happen, and every traveler should carry a basic personal first aid kit. We want to ensure our guests are well-prepared and make smart informed travel decisions. In many of the places we operate trips, it may be challenging to find certain medications and/or first aid supplies, and sometimes common items you desire may not be available in the destination you are travelling. That's why it's good to be prepared and carry a small supply of first aid supplies, any prescription medication, and/or over-the-counter medications you may require during your travels.

We recommend discussing your travel plans, vaccination requirements, and any medication usage with your primary healthcare provider before embarking on our trips. This helps ensure you have a safe and enjoyable travel experience.

Here is a basic list of what we think makes a good personal travel first aid kit:

• Medications –  Brands of your choice, all medications should be either prescribed directly by your doctor or discussed with a doctor prior to use.
  • Prescription Drugs – Any prescriptions you have from your doctor with back-up doses (always kept with you in carry-on luggage)
  • Epinephrine – Consider bringing multiple doses of Epinephrine (EpiPen) if you have any severe known allergies and have a prescription from your doctor.
  • Pain Relief – Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Non-Aspirin: Comparable to Tylenol – brand of choice
  • Antihistamine – Diphen: Comparable to Benadryl – brand of choice
  • Non-Drowsy Allergy Relief – Loratadine: Comparable to Claritin – brand of choice
  • Antacid/Heartburn Relief – Bismuth: Comparable to Pepto-Bismol, Antacid tablet – brand of choice
  • Anti-Diarrheal – Loperamide hydrochloride: Comparable to Imodium – brand of choice 
  • Cold/Flu Medicine – brand of choice
• Electrolyte Replacement/Drink Mix – brand of choice
• Creams – Antibiotic ointment, Anti-Itch: Hydrocortisone, Arnica
• Eye Problems: Dry/Itchy – Eye drops
• Feminine Hygiene – Tampons
• Wound Care – a various pack of bandages, antiseptic swabs
• Blister Care – blister kit made up of items of your choice
• Sun Protection – sunscreen, SPF lip balm
• Various Items – Athletic tape/”KT Tape”, Nail clippers, Tweezers, Small bottle of hand sanitizer, Sewing kit (clothing/button repairs), Disposable surgical gloves (1-2 pairs)

Luggage

PACKING FOR TRAVEL:

It is recommended that you prepare your items in the following manner for your travels to this trip. 

“Carry-on Bag(s)” - This is the bag you will bring with you on the plane. We recommend all your pertinent information be in this bag (passport, travel documents, etc.) as well as your most important gear items (footwear, jacket, prescription medication, etc.) in case any checked luggage items become lost or delayed. 

“Checked Bag(s)” - This bag will be checked and contain the rest of your personal items (clothing and gear, etc.).

Important Note: Again, it is recommended to either wear or pack in your “Carry-on Bag” the main gear items you need for this trip vs. putting them in your checked “Travel Bag” (in case luggage is delayed). Lost or delayed luggage has become more common in major airports for international travel since the global pandemic.

LUGGAGE MANAGEMENT DURING TRIP: 

During this trip, the packing system needs to be in 2 bags.

Extra Luggage - “Checked Bag(s)” & ”Carry-on Bag(s)”: This bag will contain all the items you want to bring along on the trip. It will be transferred by vehicle to your lodging, and you will have access to it at the end of each day of activity at hotels, but not throughout the day. Extra luggage is not allowed on this trip beyond the 1 bag requirement. Maximum 15kg/33lbs per person per bag can be transported.

Extra luggage, not needed during your trip can be safely stored at your starting accommodation in Avignon to be picked up upon return.

Saddlebags/bike bag (provided with bike rental): All guests will need a bike saddle bag, which they will be responsible for carrying during trip activities. Items in this bag should include anything you may need throughout the day during the trip. (i.e. rain gear, warm layers, water, sunscreen/lip balm, snacks/food, camera/phone, etc.)

To Transport Your Belongings (while cycling): 

If you don’t have a saddlebag & rack on your bike, bring a 30-40L backpack with a waist strap to carry what you need for the day (i.e. rain gear, warm layers, water, sunscreen/lip balm, snacks/food, camera/phone, etc.) as you cycle. If you have a rack on your bike, you can attach your bag with the help of bungee ropes or paracord. Rented bikes are equipped with a saddlebag where you can store your belongings. You should still bring a small backpack with you, so that you can easily take your belongings with you when you are visiting attractions along the route.