1. Your phone
We live in the 21st century, so it is very convenient to make use of the technical possibilities. A mobile phone can help you not only in an emergency, but also when you are momentarily lost or to keep in touch with the home front.
2. Money
Without a coffee stop, no cycling tour. That coffee doesn't pay for itself, so always bring a few euros and your debit card to pay for your coffee. The word coffee can be swapped here 1-to-1 with the word beer.
3. Your helmet
This goes without saying. Also when climbing the mountain just keep your helmet on.
Are you still cycling without a helmet? Then be sensible and immediately buy a new one.
4. Your brain
Don't leave your brain at home when you hit the road. Make sure you are aware of the rules of the road. In the Netherlands, this usually won't be a problem, but when abroad, it's not wrong to familiarize yourself with traffic rules, road signs and other things. A bit of logical thinking will get you a long way!
5. The use of hand signals
If you paid close attention to Bassie and Adriaan as a child, you know that on a bike, you should hold out your hand in the direction you are going. These are basic rules that many cyclists are quick to ignore. Yet it is super important to indicate your direction, especially as you are a fast road user on a road bike, it is good not to upset others.
If you cycle in a group, you can memorise and use the hand gestures below.
6. The route
You can of course willy-nilly go cycling, but most of us decide in advance a route they are going to cycle. Make sure you know where the points are where you might get lost and keep your smartphone handy to look up the route if necessary. If you have the luxury of a on-board computer? Then leave route on in, say, your Garmin or Wahoo and follow the indicated route. By the way, this is also a fun way to discover new roads.
My favourite sites for creating routes are the Komoot (premium feature) and the cycle route planners of the cycling federation and the ANWB. You can also look at platforms such as Cycling Destination for inspiration.
7. Gloves
There are riders who deliberately cycle without gloves because they find it uncomfortable. I used to be one of those riders too, but I have recently completely changed my mind. I had simply never found the right size cycling glove. I turned out a size bigger than I thought I had summer short gloves. What extra comfort it offers, I cycle a lot nicer since then!
In summer, of course, the short gloves for comfort and in winter the long glove to protect against wind and cold. Look carefully at the material of the winter glove, a waterproof glove is nice to keep your hands from getting cold in rain, wet roads or even snow. If you have super cold hands despite good gloves, I have one tip: cycle past the petrol station and put on those plastic gloves as inner gloves. Nothing will bother you anymore!
8. Insurance card
You never know what will happen to you on the road. An insurance card is always good to have with you. Just in case.
9. Passport/driving licence/ID
In the Netherlands, you have compulsory identification and should a policeman want to detain you for any reason, there is no good excuse for forgetting it. So make sure it is in your standard equipment when you go on a bike ride.
10. Donor codicil
I shouldn't think about it and wish it on absolutely no one, but if you are a donor it is wise to take them with you. As said, I don't wish it on anyone, but should decisions be made about your organs and you have already thought about it, make sure the right choices are made.
Don't have a donor card yet? Request it here!
11. Additional clothing
Then bring the right clothes. Is rain coming? Will it get colder, or warmer? Will the wind pick up? All reasons to bring leg or arm warmers or, for example, a rain jacket. In autumn, winter and spring, when I make a stopover I often like to put on a dry undershirt, so I almost always take this with me to make sure I don't cool down too much.
12. Locking your house/garage
In your enthusiasm to jump on the steel, or carbon, steed, you may still forget to lock the house or your garage. Don't forget!
13. Sunglasses
In summer, sunglasses live up to their name. You put them on for the sun. When the sun is not shining, it is always handy to put on as protection from flies, teary eyes and bouncing pebbles. Check out these glasses
14. Multitool
Breakdown on the road is in a small corner. You can, of course, wait for another cyclist to be kind enough to help you. That exudes good faith in humanity, but unfortunately, no matter how helpful that cyclist is, it is a small burden for that cyclist to help you. So make sure you are self-sufficient and take that pesky heavy piece of weight with you anyway.
15. Covering yourself with sunscreen
Burnt calves are every avid cyclist's nightmare. At first you think it's not too bad, but in the shower they start to burn and in the evening the sheets rub against your lower legs like sandpaper. You don't know what to do and lie awake all night. So lubricate those guns!
16. Shaving your legs
My girlfriend does not allow me to shave my legs (I have a soft spot for her, that much is obvious), so unfortunately I have such thick fur on both my legs. Should you be lucky enough to (be allowed to) shave your legs, remember to do it before you go out. Otherwise, do it for me. We have also some tips for you.
17. The Rules
Although on this site a lot of rules emerge, the real rules are neatly listed on Velominati's website. Learn this page so off the top of your head or order the book
18. Food
Besides drinking, you should also eat enough. Keep to one piece of food per hour and you won't starve at a normal cycling pace provided of course you've eaten enough beforehand too, never go cycling on an empty stomach, you'll be parked in no time.
19. Your house and garage key
Coming home and finding yourself in front of a closed door is no fun. You want to grab a shower, freshen up and maybe even sit down behind the TV to watch race. You can easily save an embarrassing call to family or friends by checking that you have your keys with you. Screw off all unnecessary keys, as they are just ballast.
20. A new inner tube
If you have ever found yourself in the middle of nowhere without an inner tube, you will never forget to put that piece of rubber in your back pocket. If, for whatever reason, you have no inner tubes in stock, order them quickly, for example at bol.com. And oh yeah, don't forget your tyre levers!
21. Drinking
While cycling, you not only burn a lot of calories, but also a lot of fluids. So don't forget to fill your water bottle and take it with you. Count on about half a litre of fluid per hour, so it often doesn't hurt to take two water bottles with you.
22. Checking buienradar.co.uk first
Keep a close eye on the weather. A quick look at the weather radar can tell you whether it could rain in the next few hours and how the wind is.
23. A cap for under your helmet
Niki Terpstra is partly responsible for the revival of the racing cap. With the flap up, of course. In summer you put the cap under your helmet to catch sweat, in winter to keep your head warm. You can buy the most stylish caps at BlueOn Bike, so be sure to take a look there!
24. Strava
Nothing is more annoying than not being able to reminisce about your ride. So make sure you switch on your phone, or other GPS device, in time so you can analyse everything perfectly on Strava afterwards!
Thanks to the many responses to the WAF Facebook page an essential good addition here!
25. A bicycle pump
There you are with new inner tube on your rim, around you only meadows, the nearest farm is 1 kilometre away. Pump forgotten. I had even forgotten to write it down in my first 24, from which the importance is immediately apparent!
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