Do You Need a Women-Specific Bike?

No, not at all. As long as you feel comfortable on a men's bike then there's no need to change anything. From my experience, any bike will do for your first, short trip, as long as it is in good mechanical order. That's how I started five years ago. But if you get the bug, I recommend looking into proper touring bikes.

Invest Time in Planning a Nice (and Safe) Route

The main reason I choose to travel by bicycle is to enjoy the scenery, peace, calm, and freedom. Choosing the right route is the main prerequisite to be able to get those experiences. Planning every foot of your tour is neither a wise nor a plausible idea. A big part of the beauty of bike touring lies in its unpredictability. You never know where the day will take you. !The Transfagarasan road in Romania The Transfagarasan road in Romania However, you should still plan a rough route that you should try following and be ready to change if need be. Keep these things in mind when you do it: A minimal amount of traffic. You should avoid busy roads with a lot of traffic as much as you can. Try to find back roads where there aren't too many trucks or cars. Many bike travelers, including myself, use a mobile app called Maps.me to plan their cycling routes. Beautiful scenery. The best advice I can give to you is to find routes that take you through nature reserves and national parks. Small towns and villages can be hidden gems as well. That's what bike touring is all about! Consider lodging options. When planning your route, try to make a rough plan of where you're going to sleep each night. Look for campsites or hotels/hostels if roughing it out is not your cup of tea. Resupply options. If you plan to cycle in remote areas without too many shops, make sure to plan regular town stops to get food, water, and other necessities.

Set Up Camp Before Dark (or Book Accommodation in Time)

The biggest mistake I have made on my bike tours is not setting up camp in time before dark. The last thing you want to do as a woman (or a man, as a matter of fact) is trying to find a good and safe place to camp in pitch darkness. !Free campsite somewhere in Finland Free campsite somewhere in Finland My go-to routine is to start looking for a suitable place to camp at least 2-3 hours before sunset. That gives me enough time to check a few options, cook food, wash, and get ready for sleep. If I run across a suitable campsite before I finish my planned distance, I might just call it a day and pitch my tent. If you prefer sleeping under a roof, use resources such as Airbnb, Warm Showers, Couchsurfing, or Booking.com to book accommodation the night before.

Bring Only the Essentials

I don't want to feed into prejudices, but as a woman, I am aware that we tend to carry more stuff than we actually need when we travel. I'm guilty of it as well. When you start climbing a steep hill on a bike, every pound matters. Therefore, make sure that you bring only the essentials and leave everything else at home. This is much easier to do when you're experienced and you know what you will and will not use. As a beginner, you should try to imagine which items you will use just a few times and which you'll make use of on a daily basis. Leave the former ones home. #### !Mmm, what else do I need? Here are some of the basics I always have in my panniers: Camping gear: A one or two-person tent, a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and a cooking set One or two pairs of riding shorts One pair of warm pants and leggings A few Dri-fit T-shirts and a long-sleeve layer A rain jacket and a warm jacket Swimsuit and everyday sandals Toiletries A microfiber towel Spare parts and a toolkit Duct tape and zip ties! Of course, depending on where you ride, you might bring more warm-weather or cold-weather clothes, that's completely up to you. Include a few pleasure items as well. Bike touring is about having an enjoyable time, after all. My favorite pleasure items are books and a hefty DSLR camera to take photos and videos with.

Get Several Pairs of Quality Cycling Bib Shorts (a Must!)

An important thing to put on your bike touring to-have list is a few pairs of high-quality, women's cycling bib shorts. These are a must if you want to avoid being sore and miserable after the first day of your tour and then enduring it for the rest of the trip. Carrying a few pairs is also important because of hygiene as bib shorts are worn without underwear. Therefore, it's important to change into a clean pair at the end of the day and wash the dirty one. I usually wear three pairs for this reason.

Consider Finding a Touring Friend

If you are an absolute beginner to bicycle touring, you might consider finding a touring friend. That's not necessary, but it can be a nice plus. Someone with previous experience in traveling by bicycle would be ideal, but it's not mandatory. A person that is as adventurous, eager, and inexperienced as you would be a perfect match. However, make sure that it is someone you know well and can handle spending the whole day with. From personal experience, I know that bike touring with someone you are just getting to know can be a disaster if the two people are not compatible. Therefore, if you're considering a touring partner, make sure they're the right person for the job!

Learn to Maintain Your Bike and Change a Flat

I mentioned above that some basic spare parts and a toolkit are bike touring essentials. You'll have little use of them if you don't learn how to maintain your bike and how to change a flat. If that sounds like rocket science to you at the moment, YouTube is a fantastic place to start. Some basic skills that you should learn include: Cleaning and lubricating the chain Cleaning the bike Checking for loose spokes, nuts, and bolts Changing a flat and using the patch kit You should also learn how to use duct tape and zip ties for emergency repairs. When in doubt, just remember this useful flowchart: !flowchart Here is how it looks in action: !Toiletry Bag

Carry a Well-Stocked Toiletry Bag

Proper hygiene is incredibly important no matter if you are a man or a woman. However, as women, we usually have a bit more complicated routine. Therefore, make sure to carry a well-stocked toiletry bag with you, with all the essential items you plan to use every day. My toiletry bag is never out of the following items: • Toothpaste and toothbrush • Deodorant, soap, and shampoo • Hand sanitizer • Face cleanser and cotton pads • Nail clippers and a file • Sanitary pads • Wet tissues and a roll of toilet paper • Some painkillers and cold medicine These are the items that I believe every woman should bring on her bike tour. You might add other items as well, depending on your needs and preferences.

Apply Sunscreen Every Day

Sun… a bicycle tourer's best friend and biggest enemy. To make sure that you maintain a friendly relationship with the Sun and not curse it the day after, make sure to apply sunscreen regularly. Some cyclists only wear it when the sun is out and shining, but I suggest applying it even when it's cloudy outside. Clouds offer very poor protection from UV radiation. When buying sunscreen, go for a high sun protection factor of 30 or even 50 (which I personally use and recommend). This is important to avoid getting sunburns but also to protect yourself from skin cancer, which can be caused by too much exposure to harmful UV radiation.

Don't forget to have fun and savour every moment of it! Bike touring is not always enjoyable. If you're tired, cold, and wet, it can be quite miserable. But these moments come and go so don't let them leave a lasting impression on you. Remember that you're doing it for the memories, experiences, and the freedom to roam. Make sure to stop frequently, enjoy the scenery around you, and really be present in the moment. \--- Emily Taylor is an avid cyclist, bike touring enthusiast and regular contributor to Bicycle Guider. She has cycled over 10,000 miles in the last five years, visiting more than 20 countries so far. Her favorite place to cycle is Scandinavia, but she has had plenty of memorable moments in other parts of Europe and Asia as well. For her, a campsite with a view and a cold beer are the perfect combo to end a touring day. END ORIGINAL CONTENT -->

A Beginner's Guide to Bike Touring for Women

Q: Do I need to be in great shape to start bike touring?

You need a basic level of fitness -- you should be comfortable riding your bike for 2-3 hours at a moderate pace. You do not need to be an athlete. Tour difficulty scales with distance and terrain, so start with a short, flat route and build up. Many guided tours are specifically designed for beginners.

Q: How much does a bike tour cost?

Self-supported touring can be very affordable -- as little as $20-40 per day if you camp and cook your own food. A guided multi-day mountain bike tour with all meals, bikes, and gear included typically runs $200-350 per person per day, which eliminates planning and gear investment entirely. <!-- ORIGINAL CONTENT !Free campsite somewhere in Finland Are you a woman planning her first bicycle tour? After traveling more than 10,000 miles (and counting) in the last five years and visiting more than 20 countries, I feel competent to give you a few tips on some crucial beginner's do's and don'ts. Here's my simple and actionable guide that will get you from your couch to living the adventure of your life in no time.

Q: Get the Right Kind of Bike

Some bicycle traveling guides will lead you to believe that you can hop onto any old bicycle you find in your garage and just start cycling. That's true if you are going on a short trip, but not so much if you are planning a longer one. Ideally, you need to get a touring bike. These bicycles are specifically designed for long-distance, multi-tour rides. They have strong wheels and strong frames that can carry the extra load. Their geometry puts your body in a comfortable position that will allow you to ride hundreds of miles without pains or aches. The best gravel bikes out there are also a common choice among bike travelers. They have similar advantages as touring bikes and are awesome for off-road touring as well.

The key to a successful first bike tour as a woman is to start with the right bike, pack only essentials, plan your route with safety and scenery in mind, and — above all — give yourself permission to go at your own pace. You do not need thousands of dollars of gear or years of experience. Women are among the fastest-growing segment of bike touring, and the barrier to entry is lower than you think. This guide covers everything from bike selection to hygiene to finding the right touring partner.

If you would rather skip the logistics entirely and have someone else handle bikes, meals, and navigation, a guided mountain bike tour is an excellent first step into adventure cycling — especially in destinations like Moab, Utah where the scenery is unbeatable and the terrain is accessible to beginners.

Get the Right Kind of Bike

Some guides will tell you any bike will work. That is true for a short weekend trip, but for anything longer, you want a proper touring bike. Touring bikes are designed for long-distance, loaded riding with strong wheels, reinforced frames, and geometry that keeps your body comfortable over hundreds of miles. Gravel bikes are another excellent choice — they share many touring bike advantages and handle off-road sections well.

You do not need a women-specific bike. As long as a standard frame fits your body comfortably, it will work perfectly. The most important thing is proper sizing and a professional bike fit if you are planning a tour of more than a few days. Poorly fitted bikes cause knee pain, back pain, and hand numbness that can end a tour early.

For your first short trip, whatever bike you have in good mechanical order will get you started. If you catch the touring bug, invest in a dedicated touring or gravel bike for longer adventures.

Plan a Smart Route (Safety and Scenery First)

Route planning is where women often have the most questions, particularly around safety. The good news: bike touring is remarkably safe, and the cycling community is overwhelmingly welcoming. Still, smart planning makes everything better.

Minimize traffic exposure. Seek out back roads, bike paths, and routes through nature reserves and national parks. Apps like Maps.me and Komoot are invaluable for finding low-traffic alternatives that main mapping apps miss.

Plan lodging loosely. Know roughly where you will sleep each night, but stay flexible. Look for campsites, hostels, and Warm Showers hosts along your route. If wild camping, start looking for a suitable spot 2-3 hours before sunset — never try to find camp in the dark.

Consider resupply points. In remote areas, map your town stops for food, water, and supplies. Running out of water in the desert or mountains is a real risk that a 10-minute planning session can eliminate.

Share your route. Tell someone your general plan and check in periodically. A satellite communicator like a Garmin inReach is worth the investment for remote touring.

Pack Light: The Essential Gear List

Every pound matters when you are climbing hills, so ruthless packing is a skill worth developing. Here is a proven touring kit:

Camping gear: Lightweight 1-2 person tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, compact cooking set
Clothing: 2 pairs cycling bib shorts, 1 warm pants/leggings, 3-4 moisture-wicking shirts, 1 long-sleeve layer, rain jacket, warm jacket, swimsuit, camp sandals
Bike essentials: Spare tubes, patch kit, multi-tool, tire levers, chain lube, duct tape, zip ties
Toiletries: Toothbrush/paste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, hand sanitizer, face cleanser, sunscreen (SPF 30-50), sanitary products, wet wipes, toilet paper, basic medications
Extras: Microfiber towel, headlamp, phone/charger, 1-2 personal comfort items (book, camera)

The biggest mistake beginners make is packing “just in case” items. If you will not use it daily, leave it home. You can always buy forgotten items in the next town.

Invest in Quality Cycling Bib Shorts

This is non-negotiable. Quality women’s cycling bib shorts with a good chamois pad are the single most important comfort item on your tour. Without them, saddle soreness will make you miserable by day two.

Carry at least three pairs so you always have a clean one ready. Bib shorts are worn without underwear, so hygiene requires rotating pairs — wear one, wash one, dry one. Quick-dry fabrics make this rotation work even in humid conditions.

Finding a Touring Partner

Solo touring is rewarding and thousands of women do it safely every year. But if you are a complete beginner, a compatible touring partner can boost your confidence and make problem-solving easier. The key word is “compatible” — touring with someone you clash with is worse than touring alone.

An experienced touring friend is ideal but not necessary. Someone who matches your fitness level, pace preferences, and adventure tolerance is more important than experience. Test your compatibility with a weekend trip before committing to anything longer.

If you want the social experience without the compatibility gamble, a guided group tour solves this perfectly. Rim Tours’ multi-day adventures like the White Rim Trail or Needles to Moab bring together small groups of riders with professional guides who handle all logistics and group dynamics.

Learn Basic Bike Maintenance

You do not need to be a mechanic, but you must be able to handle the basics:

Fix a flat tire — practice at home before your trip; this is the most common trailside repair
Clean and lube your chain — a dry chain destroys drivetrains; carry a small bottle of chain lube
Check for loose bolts — rack bolts, stem bolts, and spoke nipples can vibrate loose over rough roads
Emergency repairs — duct tape and zip ties can temporarily fix almost anything

YouTube is an excellent resource for learning these skills. Spend an evening watching flat repair and chain maintenance videos, then practice hands-on before you leave.

Sunscreen: Your Most Important Daily Habit

Apply SPF 30-50 sunscreen every morning, even on cloudy days. Clouds block very little UV radiation, and the combination of altitude, wind, and hours of exposure makes sunburn a serious touring hazard. Reapply every 2-3 hours, and do not forget the backs of your hands, your neck, and behind your ears — areas that get relentless sun on a bike.

The Most Important Tip

Embrace the uncomfortable moments. Cold rain, headwinds, steep climbs, wrong turns — they happen to everyone. They also make the best stories and build the deepest confidence. The freedom of bike touring is unlike anything else, and every experienced touring cyclist will tell you the same thing: the hardest part is deciding to go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bike touring safe for women traveling alone?

Yes. Thousands of women tour solo every year across the US and internationally. Standard travel safety practices apply — share your route with someone, trust your instincts about people and places, and carry a basic first aid kit. The cycling community is notably welcoming, and apps like Warm Showers connect you with trusted hosts worldwide.

How many miles should I plan per day as a beginner?

Start with 30-50 miles per day on flat to rolling terrain. This gives you plenty of time for breaks, sightseeing, and setting up camp before dark. As your fitness builds, 50-70 miles per day becomes comfortable. For mountain bike touring on dirt roads, 15-25 miles per day is typical.

What is the best time of year for a first bike tour?

Late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October) offer the best weather across most of the western US. Avoid mid-summer in desert areas where temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees. For high-altitude mountain tours, July and August are ideal.

Do I need to be in great shape to start bike touring?

You need a basic level of fitness — you should be comfortable riding your bike for 2-3 hours at a moderate pace. You do not need to be an athlete. Tour difficulty scales with distance and terrain, so start with a short, flat route and build up. Many guided tours are specifically designed for beginners.

How much does a bike tour cost?

Self-supported touring can be very affordable — as little as $20-40 per day if you camp and cook your own food. A guided multi-day mountain bike tour with all meals, bikes, and gear included typically runs $200-350 per person per day, which eliminates planning and gear investment entirely.