The Packing Post

If you are planning a trip of any sort, you've probably encountered a mountain of advice about packing, solicited or not. If you're reading this, hopefully you're doing what I did: researching in excited anticipation of your trip! Unlike most bloggers, I do not currently have any sponsors or affiliates. All items here are provided simply because I purchased them myself.

1) Dry shampoo. I had heard about the wonders of dry shampoo but didn't purchase any until my last haircut before the trip. My stylist taught me how to use it and I bought a travel-sized spray can. I loved having it in my bag! I don't style or even blow-dry my hair. Still, when traveling there were days that I had to let my hair go unwashed a little longer than I would've liked, or had dinner reservations at the end of a day of cycling in the hot sun. Dry shampoo was an easy, no-hassle way to spruce up fast.

2) Cycling shorts. This is an item I didn't pack but should have. This trip was structured around cycling, after all, but I imagined leisurely rides with lots of stops. Honestly, that is mostly what we did, but several consecutive days of leisurely rides adds up to a sore rear that really could've used some cushion.

Reeuwijkse plassen, South Holland, Netherlands

3) Crocs. Perhaps I am biased as a Coloradan, but these shoes were objectively great for the trip. They added color to monochrome outfits, were classy enough for restaurants, passed for slippers at Spa Gouda, and functioned like flip flops at the beach and in locker room showers. I ended up using them far more than the ankle boots I packed for cooler weather and hiking.

Can't wait to get back!

4) Collapsible water bottles. It took us the entirety of our trip to figure out how to get free tap water at restaurants and other establishments in the Netherlands. We never figured out a way to access free potable water on trains. So these Platypus soft water bottles served us well. When empty, they cram easily into even overstuffed bags; great for airport security.

Overkill? Probably. But we lost two of them during the trip.

5) Compression socks or leggings. Jet lag wasn't too bad for me after our arrival, and I give partial credit to my compression leggings. If you plan to take long rides, they'll be useful for muscle recovery, too. They are light, take up very little space, and can be paired with a dress for versatility.

6) Travel towel. I doubted whether we would use this, and almost left it at home. About halfway through our trip, we moved it into our small packet of items to take everywhere, no matter the circumstances. It turns out The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy was right, one should always know where one's towel is. We used it as a blanket for a tired kid, a giant handkerchief for a nosebleed, a wipe to treat road rash, a shawl in unexpected cold, a picnic blanket and—yes—a towel. That said, one travel towel was plenty for our family of four; there is no need to pack one per person.

7) That's it. Seriously! It is nearly impossible to pack too little for a trip to any first-world country, especially during a warm season. As a friend assured me before my trip, almost every problem can be solved with a passport and debit/credit card. Here is a list of things I'd take again that you'll find on any packing list, but even these could've been purchased at our destination(s) without much hassle.

• Zip-off pants
• Rain jacket
• Swimsuit
• Sun hat
• Minimum quantity of clothing in quick-drying material. Try to pack only two tops, one bottom in addition to the cycling shorts and zip-off pants, and a dress for us gals. 4-5 pairs of underwear. Your compression socks are probably the only socks you need unless you never wear sandals.

We were able to pack one backpack per person, plus a packable bag for the whole family to use for overflow, laundry or shopping. I bought most of our backpacks at Arc Thrift, but splurged on this awesome convertible backpack pannier for my spouse. We averaged about 15 lbs. per person and in retrospect, I would've packed even lighter!

I over-packed.

How To Ride Uphill

A reader joked that hills are what keep her from cycling. Understandably, she hates having to walk her regular bike uphill, and the thought of trying to propel a load of kids up an incline can't be much more appealing. Fortunately, there are strategies even novice cyclists can use to make climbing easier and more efficient.

This article outlines some of those strategies. To summarize and clarify:

1) Get into a lower gear than you think you'll need for the climb. For me on the bakfiets, that almost always means my lowest gear. Keep your cadence (pedal speed/RPMs) up, and try to maintain speed.

2) Avoid shifting gears frequently, stay in the saddle for as long as possible, and point your toes to get the most power from your leg strength.

3) Be aware of your posture and breathing. Imagine yourself as a star cyclist on an epic climb in a big tour. You have a calm expression on your face, you are leaning into the incline with a flat back, you are pointing your toes, you are breathing deeply and staying focused. Cheeks, shoulders, and fingers should all be loose.

4) Only stand up for extra pedaling power when remaining in the saddle becomes clearly unsustainable. Standing over the pedals is a way to use a different muscle group, but it probably won't get you very far. This strategy should be saved for when your strongest and most efficient muscle group can really benefit from a short break. Shift into a higher gear when standing up. When sitting back down, immediately shift back into lower gear and focus on keeping your cadence fast.

I found a collection of articles on the topic here, so know that you aren't alone in your desire for strategies to conquer uphill climbs! Know that some authors focus on increasing strength-to-weight ratio, which is not practical for those of us hauling kids, water, snacks, diaper bags, and toys.

Recipe for a Fall Ride

1) Cycle to the grocery store to pick up a bunch of canned goods, a couple of bell peppers, and whatever else you need to make Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Chili (it isn't very spicy unless you add more than a dash of cayenne).

2) Check tire pressure and gear. Gather helmets. Decorate bike(s), if desired.

3) Rest overnight.

4) Throw everything in the crock pot and cook on low while you ride around for anywhere from 4-12 hours.

5) Skip the croutons described in the recipe and serve the chili with tortillas, cornbread, biscuits, etc. We aren't vegan, so I use real mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese as topping.

Enjoy!

From a Reader: What About the Fighting?

It's true. Riding with two kids in a bakfiets isn't always sunshine and rainbows. They are in very close proximity. They can easily hit one another, yell in each others' ears, and bonk helmets together, either on purpose or by accident.

The good news is, they are right in front of me, so I can nip most skirmishes in the bud. I can physically hold on to one helmet or the other if necessary, which usually cuts down on the helmet bonking specifically and behavior problems generally. It is also relatively easy for me to intervene with distractions that occupy their hands and mouths, such as snacks and water bottles. A couple of pinwheels are great distractions and take the cuteness level off the charts!

In the event that behavior is really out of hand, I move to the sidewalk, take the aggressor out, and walk for a block or two. That is usually all it takes for the child to realize the journey will be much more enjoyable in the bicycle.

If your destination is appealing to the kids, you can always threaten to turn around and go home. I used this strategy on our Beat the Heat ride to Union Station, before we were more than a couple of blocks from home. It was particularly effective because I said I would stay home with the child who was hitting, and the other could go with dad and have fun. I think it set the tone for the whole day: this outing is a privilege, and it is supposed to be fun for everyone.

Singing songs is another great way to get the siblings more focused on cooperating instead of fighting. YOU might be insane by the time they get to the fifteen billionth refrain of "Itsy Bitsy Spider," but it's still better than screaming, in my book. Personally, I like to adapt "The Wheels On the Bus" to "The Wheels On the Bike." Naturally, I accompany the verse about the bell on the bike with actual ringing of the bell.

One final note: Usually getting in the bike and on the road is the hardest part. Once we're rolling, there is so much to look at and talk about.... the rides really are mostly sunshine and rainbows!

From a Reader: Describe Your Cycling Area

A reader asks: How bike friendly is your area? Are you on main roads with or without a bike lane? Are there bike paths that you take for part of your journey from point a to point b?

All great questions! While Denver came out on top of REI's inaugural "Cycling Town Showdown" in 2014, I think our placement at twelfth in the U.S. by Cycling Magazine in 2010 is probably a closer estimation.

I would describe most of our riding areas as "urban neighborhood," meaning that we use residential roads in the city, which intersect with multi-use paths. We live near Washington Park, which has dedicated paved roads for pedestrians and cyclists. The Cherry Creek path is famous as an urban multi-use path, which goes through the city along a small river, set low beneath the bustle of Speer Boulevard. We use the Platte River trail to get to Costco, and have to navigate one scary intersection at Iowa and Santa Fe Boulevard to get there.

While we use paths frequently, I would say we use bike routes and quiet residential streets just as frequently. We aren't big fans of traditional bike lanes, because of the door zone, high density of urban parking, and a tendency for many of these lanes to end abruptly. That said, sometimes they are the best option and can be a straightforward way to navigate an unfamiliar area.

When planning a cycling route, it helps to completely dissociate from what you would do in a car. If you're much more used to driving, it is tempting to try to cycle the same way you would go in a car. Instead, start from scratch by looking at a bicycle map or Google maps with the cycling option for mode of transport. Bike shops frequently carry bicycle maps which highlight cycling infrastructure. Printable maps may be available online for your area. Google maps should be taken with a grain of salt, but we've had good luck with it.

While these tools are great, they are no substitute for the knowledge and advice of local cyclists. They can tell you from first-hand experience which routes work well and which are best avoided. This is just one of the many reasons I set up this blog and our Facebook group!

If you find yourself without any tools to navigate an area that you know by car, imagine where you would drive if your normal route were closed for construction. Those small, residential streets that are near main roads but don't experience high traffic flow (think "detour" or "alternate route") are often great for cycling!

Options For Kids Who Don't Yet Ride Independently

I've received several inquiries about cycling with kids before they are ready for long rides, but are either too big or too energetic for trailers or box bikes.  We settled on the Follow Me tandem trailer. It allows kids to ride independently for part of the ride, then hook up to an adult's bike when they get tired or need help. We have also found that it can help kids get the feel of riding without training wheels, even if they aren't riding independently yet. It costs a lot to ship it from the UK, but we thought the benefits were worth the extra cost.

Other options we considered were the Trail-Gator and the Weehoo trailer. The Weehoo was eliminated because it MUST be used as a trailer. We are trying to minimize the amount of gear we buy, and we had already invested in an Islabike (more on this decision in another post) for our 5YO. The versatility of using the child's bike with or without the trailer attachment was very attractive, in addition to being convenient and space-saving. In fact, I frequently leave the Follow Me on my bike even when I don't have any kids with me.

The Trail-Gator is more affordable and available at Target, but we were concerned about reviews that said the child's bike tended to lean to one side or the other. It also is incompatible with one of our racks. As you can see, we need our racks:

We have friends who have a Weehoo and love it. One advantage is that your kid's rear will not get sore from a bike seat, so it might be better if you like to take REALLY long rides.

Using a tandem trailer takes a bit of practice. We taught our 5YO not to brake at all, ever, when attached to the adult bike. Then, we implemented a "red light, green light" method to let him know when to pedal harder and when he could put his feet down at a stop. It also helps to say, "Ready, set, green light!" when waiting at a stoplight so he has time to get his feet back on the pedals before we have to go.

One potential drawback is that neither the Trail-Gator nor the Follow Me are compatible with training wheels. So, if your kid is using training wheels, you'll have to remove them or re-orient them each time you use the attachment, then reset when done. That said, as I mentioned above, we found that the Follow Me was helpful in getting our child used to the feeling of riding without training wheels, even though he hasn't yet learned to cycle independently without them. The Trail-Gator website now offers flip-up training wheels for about $24. Please comment if you have used this product and would like to offer a review!

The Follow Me is Swiss design, and it shows. It is intimidatingly technical at first, but once you figure out where all the pins go and what the knobs do, it is easier than it looks. It caused some wear and tear on the rack we use with it (it started to pull off the rear light), but a bit of bike chain around the rack itself offered the needed support and prevented further damage.