What to buy and pack for a cycling holiday

A cycling holiday needs more than a roadworthy bike and a helmet. You will need repair equipment for problems between overnight stops, weatherproof storage for clothes and documents, and enough charging capacity for navigation and communication. This shopping list covers the practical kit for the route, including spare tubes, pumps, lights, luggage, first aid supplies and shared kitchen items. Check what you already own before buying anything, then test and pack it at least two days before departure.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Sports equipment

Tour bikesqty 4
Bike bagsqty 4
Bike helmetsqty 4
Bike locksqty 4
Spare inner tubesqty 8
Hand pumpsqty 2
Multi-toolsqty 2
Tire leversqty 4
Chain oil
Reflective vestsqty 4
Bicycle lightsqty 4
Water bottlesqty 8
Bike computersqty 4
Saddle bagsqty 4
Repair patchesqty 2
Elastic bandsqty 8

Safety

First aid kit
Emergency blanketsqty 4

Luggage

Waterproof bagsqty 4
Garment bagsqty 8
Travel document foldersqty 4

Equipment

Smartphonesqty 4
Power banksqty 4
USB chargersqty 4
Power stripqty 2
Navigation holderqty 2

Kitchen

Coolersqty 2
Reusable cupsqty 8
Reusable platesqty 8
Cutlery setsqty 8
Pocket knivesqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 2
Pot set
Gas burnersqty 2
Gas canistersqty 6
Thermos bottlesqty 2

Cleaning

Dish brush
Microfiber clothsqty 4
Laundry bagsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Oatmeal - 1 kilo
- Muesli - 1 kilo
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Whole wheat wraps - 24 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Jam - 2 jars
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Chicken breast topping - 1 kilo
- Eggs - 24 pieces
- Yogurt - 4 liters
- Milk - 4 liters
- Bananas - 28 pieces
- Apples - 28 pieces
- Oranges - 16 pieces
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Potatoes - 4 kilo
- Pasta - 2 kilo
- Pasta sauce - 6 jars
- Tuna - 8 cans
- Chickpeas - 6 cans
- Rice - 2 kilos
- Peanut sauce - 3 jars
- Muesli bars - 40 pieces
- Nut mix - 2 kilo
- Raisins - 1 kilo
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Salted crackers - 6 packs
- Sports drink - 12 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 48 bottles
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 500 grams
- Salt - 1 tin
- Pepper - 1 can
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Dish soap - 1 bottle
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 1 roll
- Laundry detergent - 1 bottle
- Sunscreen - 4 bottles
- Mosquito spray - 4 sprays

Tips

Pack at least one spare inner tube per bicycle, plus tire levers, a hand pump, a multi-tool and repair patches. A puncture kit is only useful if someone in the group knows how to use it before the first stage.
Use waterproof bags inside bike bags for clothes, electronics and travel documents. Pack one dry change of clothes where you can reach it quickly, rather than burying it under the rest of your luggage.
Allow one water bottle per rider for short stages and two per rider for hot or remote sections. Refill them at planned stops instead of relying on finding a shop along the route.
Check lights, reflective vests and navigation holders before loading the bikes. Charge phones, bike computers and power banks the night before, and carry USB chargers for every device that needs one.
Buy or gather shared kitchen items before the first grocery run: coolers, reusable cups, plates and cutlery. Count one complete cup, plate and cutlery set per person, then add one spare set for the group.

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy for a cycling holiday?: Start with repair and safety equipment: one spare inner tube per bike, a pump, tire levers, a multi-tool, lights, reflective vests and a first aid kit. Add bike bags, waterproof bags, chargers, power banks and water bottles before buying food.
How many spare inner tubes do I need for a bike tour?: Pack at least one spare inner tube per bicycle for a short trip. For a multi-day route with limited bike shops, take two per bicycle and bring repair patches as a backup.
How much luggage should each cyclist take?: Distribute luggage by person before departure and keep daily riding essentials in saddle bags. As a practical limit, pack only enough clothing for the planned stages plus one rainproof layer and one dry change, rather than filling every bag.
When should I prepare my cycling holiday packing list?: Make the list at least one week before departure so missing equipment can be bought and tested. Finish packing and charge phones, batteries and bike computers the evening before, then do the departure check on the day.

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