Cycling trip in Armenia

Cycling trips gain popularity from year to year. And Armenia is no exception. Our country is generally very attractive for travelers on a budget who prefer to do everything independently. If you want to travel in Armenia by bike, here are some tips to make your cycling trip in Armenia full of positive emotions.

Armenia is a mountainous country

There are many serpentines on the Armenian roads, many high mountain passes with rather steep slopes. Therefore, you should not take a road bike for traveling in Armenia. Choose models with low gear to easily ride up the mountains. Also, look for bikes with high-quality powerful brakes to control descents without overheating the brake machines.

Sometimes you will have to ride on country and dirt roads, where it gets very dirty after rain. Therefore it is better that you have disc brakes and a wide universal tread. In short, a gravel bike or cyclocross bike is what you need for our conditions.

Climate

Armenia has pronounced altitudinal climate zonation. There are semi-desert, mountainous, wooded and subalpine zones. This means that in one day, after passing 100 km you can feel very hot and then very cold several times. Therefore, take several sets of thermal underwear for different weather conditions, warm clothes and spare clothes, because rain can also start and end unexpectedly.

Be your own master

Outside the big cities, it is difficult to find a specialized store or a master who will fix a breakage. Except, in vulcanizing shops you will be able to pump the tires. Therefore, it is better to have a repair kit with you with spare bicycle spokes, brake shoes, pump, bicycle chain parts etc. There are many bicycle clubs in Yerevan, which also have workshops, where they solve any bicycle problems. In Gyumri, Vanadzor, Dilijan and other relatively large cities you can also find workshops or bike enthusiasts who will gladly help you. However, it is better to rely on your own self.

Mountain biking

There are many off-road places in Armenia where you can and should go by bike: Dilijan National Park, Geghama Mountains and more. You cannot miss these light enduro rides in Armenia. We have a good selection of this kind of trails with experienced instructors and bike rentals.

Have a couple of good bike locks

U-locks are a good option if you want to safely park your bike. Bicycle culture is not yet very developed in Armenia. Although there are many bicycle parking lots in cities, there is still a risk of your bike being stolen.

Be careful in cities and in traffic

Although bicycles have become very popular lately, they are not yet perceived as a form of transport, but rather as a sport and healthy lifestyle activity. That is why Armenian drivers are not used to sharing roads with bicycles and motorcycles. We do not want to scare you, but keep in mind that in Armenia there are no separate roads for bicycles.

We hope that this article did not scare you and that now you are motivated to visit Armenia. If you decide to do it on a bike, contact us, and we will help you in any way we can.

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