Should I take my bike on holiday?

Is there any holiday where you wouldn’t benefit from enjoying your favourite pastime of cycling, ponders Lee Turner.

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re even asking this question, the answer is probably yes.

But I get it. You’re staring at your half-packed bag, eyeing your bike box like it’s a ticking time bomb. Your partner’s already asked, “Do you really need to bring it?”. Some airlines want your firstborn child just to check it in. And your back’s already hurting from lugging it to the airport curb.

So… should you take your bike on holiday?

Hell yes, you should. Every single time.

The hassle is real, but temporary

Let’s not pretend it’s all smooth tarmac. Taking your bike on holiday can be a logistical nightmare. Packing it without snapping something. Praying the baggage handlers don’t play WrestleMania with it. Navigating hire cars, transfers, narrow staircases, and tiny hotel lifts. Then there’s the transport. Will it fit in the rental car? Can it come on the train? Is it going to get stolen if you leave it locked up for five minutes outside a bakery in Barcelona? (Don’t lock it up; always make sure it’s in sight.) You’ll hoist it upstairs, roll it over cobbles, wedge it into elevators, and navigate unfamiliar terrain, always with one eye on your precious two-wheeled companion.

It’s awkward. It’s annoying. It’s an effort. But like every long climb, the suffering is short-term. The payoff? That lasts forever.

The payoff is limitless

The moment you swing your leg over that familiar saddle in an unfamiliar place, everything changes. You’re not just a tourist anymore. You’re a rider. A local – if only for a day.

Your bike becomes your compass. Your freedom machine. That awkward, oversized, gear-guzzling piece of luggage you cursed at the airport suddenly becomes your passport to adventure.

You discover roads no rental car will ever find. Roads that aren’t on the map. The perfect bakery halfway up a hill. The lookout with a view that steals your breath. The descent that puts tears in your eyes – not from fear, but pure, dumb joy.

Ride the story, not the itinerary

Holiday itineraries are fine. But riding? That’s where the stories live.

You’ll remember your ride at sunrise while the town was still asleep. You’ll remember the winding climb through olive groves or forest switchbacks that led to a hilltop café with pastries that never tasted so good. You’ll remember chasing local riders, legs screaming, lungs burning, heart full.

No tour bus gives you that.

And when you roll back to your accommodation, sun-kissed and sweat-streaked, with a grin you can’t wipe off. That’s when you know – it was worth it.

The people make the ride

There’s a magic in turning up to a bunch ride in a city you’ve never been to, only to be welcomed like family. Cycling is a global language. It says: I get it. I’m one of you.

Local riders will show you their favourite loops, hidden gems, and probably drop you on a climb just to keep your ego in check. And later, they’ll buy you a sparkling water and chat like you’ve known each other for years. You didn’t just ride; you plugged into a global tribe.

That’s the beauty of taking your bike – it brings people to you. Good people. Mad people. The best kind of people.

Fitness, freedom, and French pastries

And let’s not forget the holiday paradox: we want to relax, but we don’t want to come home five kilos heavier and feeling sluggish. Bringing your bike is the ultimate cheat code. Ride in the morning, indulge in the afternoon. Smash a mountain pass, then smash a croissant. Roll long, then roll into happy hour.

You’ll return fitter than you left, with better tan lines, stronger legs, and a heart full of memories that no resort pool can compete with.

No regrets, only chainrings

Let’s be honest, no one ever says, “I wish I didn’t bring my bike.”

But plenty of riders have stood on a spectacular road, staring at the horizon, thinking, “Damn – I wish I had my bike right now.”

Don’t be that person. Take the bike. Take the adventure. Take the long way around. Your future self will thank you every time you clip in.

Final word: take the bike always

Sure, it can be a pain. Yes, it’s awkward. But the reward? Unbeatable.

The roads, the views, the people, the rides. That feeling of freedom when the tyres hum, the chain sings, and the world opens up in front of your bars – that’s not something you can hire or borrow. That’s yours. And you brought it with you.

So next time you’re packing for a holiday, and you’re weighing up a beach towel versus a bike bag, remember this:

Take the bike. Make the memories. Ride the holiday you’ll never forget. Remember, a bike isn’t just a machine. It’s a passport to the places guidebooks don’t reach, and the best way to see the world is from the saddle.