Spring and autumn are relatively pleasant, making it easy to embark on expeditions during long weekends or holidays.

Moreover, with a road bike, you can travel further, significantly expanding your range of activity.

It's enjoyable to head out alone, and it's also fun to go with a group.

Simply focusing on pure riding can be a stoic and enjoyable pursuit, but combining it with activities like camping, where the bicycle becomes a mode of transport, necessitates clever packing due to limits on luggage, making it even more fun.

When planning your first expedition, there are a few things you should know, which I will outline below.

However, unless it's a life-threatening situation, consider small mistakes as part of the fun of an expedition and learn from them for next time; this mindset will make it easier to go.

That said, going completely unplanned from the start can lead to difficulties, so please read through this guide to ensure a safe and enjoyable expedition.

Planning Your Trip

If you plan down to the minute, you might feel constrained by the schedule and won't be able to enjoy yourself.

If your weekdays offer little freedom, it's better to spend your weekends relatively freely.

However, it's safer to decide at least "where to go" and "how to get there."

When planning, you can use Google Maps to check not only the route and distance but also elevation changes.

It's a good idea to estimate how challenging the ride will be.

Having a general idea of where bicycle shops are along the way can prevent unnecessary anxiety in case of trouble.

It's also convenient to know whether there are convenience stores or drugstores.

In the worst-case scenario, if your bicycle breaks down in the middle of nowhere in the mountains, you can't make emergency repairs, have no food, and no cars or motorcycles pass by, your life could be in danger.

Please be careful.

Preparing Your Gear

When riding a road bike, you need to have both hands free.

A backpack that you wear on your back is better than a shoulder bag.

Wearing it with balanced weight distribution reduces the risk of injury.

The following items are the minimum you should bring:

・Helmet

・Nutrition (snacks) and drinks

・Towel

・First-aid kit (band-aids, patches, etc.)

・Hand tools (driver and wrench, at least)

・Tire repair kit

・Lights and batteries

・Eyewear (sunglasses or goggles)

・Rain gear or warm clothing, etc.

The items listed above are in order of importance, so please do not forget them.

Explaining each item would take up an entire article, so I'll skip the details here. However, each item is crucially important for preventing trouble, so please prepare as many as possible.

Even items like goggles, which you might think are unnecessary at first, are important because insects can fly into your eyes, making it impossible to ride safely.

Goggles are essential for protecting your eyes, so they cannot be omitted.

Preventing Bonking (Hitting the Wall)

Among your essentials, food and drink are critical.

When you're physically active, your body can run out of energy.

In this situation, regardless of your motivation, your body will stop moving.

In the worst-case scenario, you could be in a life-threatening situation if you're not transported by ambulance.

Regular sugar intake prevents this.

While carbohydrate restriction is common in diets these days, for active individuals like road cyclists, the body will stop functioning without adequate sugar intake.

Many cyclists have their favorite "fuel" such as candies, yokan (sweet bean paste), anpan (sweet bean bread), or castella cake.

Be sure to prepare your favorite fuel.

To Rinko or Not to Rinko (Bike Bag Transport)

When traveling long distances, you may need to use Rinko (bike bag transport) if you're using trains or planes.

With a road bike, you can make it compact by removing the wheels or folding it, then putting it in a bag to use public transportation.

This allows you to enjoy road biking anywhere, not just within a fixed range from your home, but also abroad.

In this case, you will also need to prepare a Rinko bag.

Rinko bags are often made of relatively thin fabric, so they don't take up much space when folded. However, since the items you can carry are limited to begin with, you should still consider the bulk of the bag.

Using a Cycle Computer

When you're on an expedition, I highly recommend using a cycle computer instead of your smartphone.

Cycle computers often include a speedometer, and more advanced models even come with navigation.

Many display additional information such as time, distance traveled, and cadence (how fast you're pedaling). Some advanced models can even link with wearable devices (like smartwatches) to display heart rate, enabling more effective physical activity.

Introducing new equipment on an expedition without prior use can lead to unexpected problems, so it's best to familiarize yourself with it beforehand by using it during commutes, school trips, or non-expedition weekend rides.

Summary

When embarking on your first road bike expedition, consider it different from your usual local cycling trips and make sure to prepare essential gear and food.

Always prioritize safety to ensure an enjoyable expedition.