Have Bike, Will Travel [p.5]

Essential Supplies for Biking Tours:

Waterproof panniers
Multiple specialty biking tools
Three bottle cages to hold water bottles
One bungee cord
Bike shorts with internal padding
Biking shoes with clips or biking sandals
Mole-skin
Diaper rash cream
Pump with American and Asian fittings
Extra brakes and cables
Helmet
Biking gloves
Raincoat
Neoprene socks
Headlamp
Red flashing light
Handlebar bag for money and map

10 Tips for Biking in Viet Nam:

1. Wear padded biking shorts and use a hard leather or hard plastic seat.

2. Travel southern Viet Nam before the summer rain between December and May.

3. Box up your bike when you leave your U.S. departure city.

4. When selecting hotel rooms, ask if you can keep your bike in your room.

5. Barter when you can. Merchants expect it. And it makes your purchases more fun.

6. Stay on marked roads. Good topographical maps are hard to come by.

7. Eat at roadside stands. Local treats are clean, delicious and cheap.

8. Drink and brush your teeth with bottled water.

9. Bring lots of plastic sealable bags. They come in handy on a bike tour.

10. Don’t forget your camera. There is too much beauty to capture.

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Terry Hollowell completed his biking journey after working in South Korea. Since obtaining his Master’s degree, he has set out to explore the vastness of the world in new and enlightening ways. He works at home and abroad, writing about his adventures and sometimes misadventures. He also works with his twin brother on their online travel magazine, www.JourneyBeyondTravel.com.