Training – Ziba Adventures

3 Health-Boosting Benefits of Wild Camping

Introduction

Living a hectic routine can take a toll on the mind and body, so packing up your things and going wild camping in the wilderness is something that can recharge your health in more ways than one. The best thing about camping out in the open is that you can dictate the pace — be it to slow your roll off the grid or seek adventure off the beaten path.

There are different ways to tackle your journey in the great unknown, too, be it on a cycling tour along quaint, evergreen trails, hiking up mountainous wonders, or simply camping off with friends for a weekend escape. Whatever it is you plan on doing in your retreat, we’re here to back you up with facts on how camping can improve your health in more ways than one:

Benefit #1: Camping Gets Your Body Moving

Whether you’re going on a backpacking hike or a leisure stroll, wild camping is a physically active quest that will surely get you moving from head-to-toe. Walking along stunning scenery can do wonders for your muscles, joints, and even heart, but the best part is that you’ll be experiencing a workout with fresh air keeping you cool. Not only can you lose calories, but you’ll be doing it with a refreshing, breezy backdrop that can also give your immune system a boost!

Benefit #2: Relaxing and Uplifting

Leading a busy schedule can weigh down anyone, resulting in a mental breakdown every so often. Burnout can make daily life look bleak, but going camping can help you cope with stress. Not only does nature make it easy to relax, but even lounging under the sun can manage the melatonin production in your brain, reducing feelings of sadness in the end and allowing you to get a good night’s sleep.

The clean air also increases your serotonin, allowing you to feel emotionally lighter and achieve peace of mind, even just for a quick getaway.

Benefit #3: Get Vitamin D and a Good Time with Friends

Not only can embracing a sun-kissed look balance your melatonin levels but getting your daily dose of vitamin D can do wonders for your bone health too! Even better is that you can feel stronger with friends and strangers who are hanging with you at the campsite, allowing you to spend hot days together in a convivial atmosphere.

The Bottom Line: How Spending Time with Nature can Heal Your Well-Being

Taking on a nature-driven adventure is one of the most relaxing ways to unplug from a fast-paced lifestyle. All the pent-up stress can slowly ease away as the great outdoors greet you with its refreshing breeze, verdant landscapes, and the sound of Mother Nature waking you up in the morning.

Why Choose Us to Kickstart Your Thrilling Escapades?

Going on cycling adventures is extremely fun. Learning about them through amazing stories can help you get in the zone when you’re going on your cycling tours.

Ziba Adventures is a journal that brings enthralling travel stories to adventure seekers and gives them inspiration for their next epic trip. Besides that, we also offer cycling retreats that promise physical challenges while letting you enjoy the beautiful scenery of the English countryside.

Cycling Tips to Prepare You for the Road

Cycling Tips

For cycling enthusiasts, biking tours are a dream holiday and a great way to take a break from their usual cycling route. Once you’ve booked a biking tour, you’ll immediately feel a sense of excitement, prompting you to get on your feet and prepare yourself for the tour of your dreams.

However, some newbies don’t make the most of these tours because they’re not prepared for what they’ve signed up for. Of course, the only way to get the most out of your biking tour is to ensure that you put in as much preparation as you could.

When you invest time and effort to prepare for cycling retreats, you’ll elevate your tour and riding experience and take home with you memories of your trip. From your gear to how to train your body, we’ve compiled a few cycling tips, so you’re ready for your cycling holiday. Let’s take a look!

Tip #1: Consider the Bike Tour Grading

Before signing up for a bike tour, ensure that you read up on your cycling vacation and take note of the trip grading; doing so will help you prepare for the ride.

Check if there will be a lot of hill climbing, the area’s conditions, and how the weather on that day would be like. When you know your tour itinerary and grading, you’ll be able to formulate adequate training sessions and prepare yourself for what’s on the road.

Tip #2: Be Consistent With Your Training

One of the number of cycling tips when preparing for your Cycling adventure is to get your legs moving. Before your cycling retreat, you’ll want to prep your legs for this intense ride, and the best way to do that is by spending as much time on your bike as you could.

Besides hopping on your bike and spending hours on the road, it’s important that you also stay consistent with your gym training. Cross-training exercises can help give your body strength, stamina, and endurance, all of which would benefit you when you’re on your cycling tour.

Tip #3: Ride on Different Surfaces and Weather Conditions

You’ll never know what you’ll deal with when you’re on the road on your bike tour. For this reason, you want to bring with you as much experience as you could.

Prepare for bike tours by riding on various surfaces, dirt trails, and rocky paths. This way, you’ll know what to do to help you stay comfortable and moving even with these obstacles. Besides that, learning how to ride with different weather conditions can help.

You’ll get to test your rain gear and ensure you’re safe on the road.

The Bottom Line: A Successful Bike Tour Can Only Happen When You’re Prepared

Cycling retreats are incredibly thrilling, but just because they’re exciting doesn’t mean you should sleep on preparation. To enhance the quality of your riding experience, it’s best to do some research about your tour, read about other cyclist’s experience, get the right gear, and train your body. Trust us — you’ll want to go on cycling tours once you find your groove!

How Can I Help You?

Going on cycling adventures is extremely fun. Learning about them through amazing stories can help you get in the zone when you’re going on your cycling tours.

How to Prepare for a Cycling Adventure

How to prepare for a Cycling Adventure

If you’re looking forward to going on a cycling adventure soon or holiday, before you start enjoying your much-awaited trip, you first have to go through the process of planning the whole journey.

It involves deciding where to go, when to leave, and what to ensure you start on the right foot.

For people interested in adventure travels that consist of exploring the great outdoors, such as camping, backpacking, or cycling, it’s essential to have a well-organised itinerary.

When you list down the equipment and food to prepare, logistics to accomplish, and weather conditions to experience, you reduce the chances of facing unforeseeable problems along the way that could put a damper on the adventure!

Maintaining a system is necessary every time you travel, so you can avoid being on the verge of breaking down because you don’t know how to go about your trip.

Keep reading below to find out ways to take the lead and lay down a firm plan for your next adventure retreat.

Create an Organised List

There are plenty of ways to come up with a list, such as manually writing it down or utilising a digital spreadsheet for easier editing and organising.

You don’t have to master technology to create a spreadsheet because you can start simple and tackle your trip’s necessary details!

An essential part of arranging a cycling retreat is knowing the appropriate equipment to bring based on the place you’re visiting, the season, and other necessary information.

Your checklist should have your clothing and gear and your shared equipment, which you have to decide among your group who is assigned to bring them.

Besides listing what to bring, your spreadsheet should have a category for pre-departure bike tune-ups to guarantee that everyone’s bikes are secured and ready for new trails.

You have to decide on your transportation, departure schedule, permit requirements, and travel passes regarding your trip logistics.

Pack a Physical Paper Map

Even though you can find almost any place on Google Maps and other GPS devices, it’s still best to develop a plan B if you run out of batteries or lose your mobile phone.

Besides relying on technology, you should carry a physical map with you at all times.

In the event you get lost while you’re following a trail, whether you’re alone or with others, you will have an easier time finding your way back with a reliable map in hand.

If possible, it should indicate the camping spots and bike trails, along with water refilling stations in the area you’re visiting.

Other than that, your desired itinerary should be highlighted on your map. If you’re going to make stopovers, you need to take note of them beforehand to avoid losing precious time.

It’s best to keep your map in a waterproof case to preserve its good condition throughout your cycling weekend.

Arrange Your Cycling Gear

When it comes to preparing your gear for your cycling trip, since you already have a spreadsheet or a to-do list to depend on, you will have a more manageable time gathering everything.

If you want to stay organised, it will help to grab clear bins and categorise your gear accordingly throughout the year!

With its proper labels in place and the equipment in the correct containers, you don’t have to panic or run through each of your items to locate the one you need.

On the day you begin packing, you can work through your list and go over your bins one at a time.

Conclusion

Going on an outdoor trip is always exciting, especially if it’s a tailor-made adventure that works to meet you and your companions’ needs.

Before you head out for your cycling escapade, remember to create an organised list, pack a physical paper map, and arrange your cycling gear.

It doesn’t matter if you’re going on a camping or safari adventure, so long as you remain composed and well-prepared, there’s nothing left to do but to have a grand time.

Are you looking for cycling adventures in the UK for you and your friends to join?

Ziba Adventures is a platform dedicated to sharing travel stories to readers worldwide. We also provide cycling retreats for interested travellers! Get in touch with us today and sign up for our next date!

5 Ways to Prepare for a Cycling Retreat

Introduction

Cycling Retreats are a beautiful way to see and enjoy the world. There’s nothing quite like a cycling adventure through hills, forests, lakes, and rivers, with just you, your bike, and a few close companions.

Maybe you already love cycling, and you’ve decided that a week-long holiday by bike is an exciting way to travel, or perhaps you just bought a new bike, and you want to try something new. Either way, the time before a trip can be exhilarating and a bit nerve-racking.

While cycling trips are a magical experience, you can’t just go on one willy-nilly. It actually takes quite a bit of planning and active preparation to pull off properly and safely. Your cycling retreat will be much more enjoyable if you’ve done all the necessary preparation beforehand.

To guide you in this process, here are five things to do to get ready for your first cycling trip:

Undergo Physical Conditioning

Before you go off on your adventure, you must put in some miles on your bike. Make time to cycle around your area and get used to sitting in your saddle for hours at a time. You wouldn’t want to beg off your cycling trip an hour in because of aches and pains.

You should be doing other forms of exercise, as well. Running and swimming are great to improve your stamina and boost your endurance. Make time in your schedule and keep up a consistent amount of exercise in the weeks leading up to your trip.

Pack Smart

When travelling by bike, every gram and every inch counts. Choose lightweight gear and compress your clothes. Bring things that you don’t mind damaging or losing.

To make sure that you’re only bringing the essentials, lay them all a few days before leaving, and then return to them once a day to see if you can pare it down even further.

If you don’t already have an insulated water bottle, get one immediately.

Don’t forget to pack food in the pockets of your bags, so you always have a little treat in case you get hungry. The best cycling trip snacks are trail mix, energy bars, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

Remember to Gear for Comfort

Two words to remember for comfort: padded shorts. It will feel strange at first, but they will provide much-needed comfort when you’re on the bike for a few consecutive hours!

Cycling jerseys are lightweight and breathable, but if you prefer just using a light cotton t-shirt, that will do as well. You may end up cycling through some extreme weather, so be prepared for that, too!

Go on a Test Drive

It’s one thing to go on a leisurely bike ride in your local park. On the other hand, a cycling trip is a whole other ballgame.

Cycling while carrying bags of supplies and equipment can be challenging for a first-timer, so you will need to practice.

There are many places around the UK to see check out https://www.sustrans.org.uk/national-cycle-network for different routes around the UK.

One of your regular exercises in the days before you set off is to test drive your fully loaded bike. Learn how to balance and maintain control over long distances.

After a few days, it should be easy for you to catch up to your veteran companions!

Invite a Friend, and Have Fun!

Some people go on cycling trips to get away from their busy lives and find some much-needed solitude.

But if you’re the type of person who finds that new life experiences are enhanced with the company around, then invite a friend to your cycling retreat.

You will see some of the world’s most beautiful environments and experience a country’s hidden gems. Make new memories with a close friend, sibling, or partner.

Conclusion

Cycling trips lead to breathtaking sights, unforgettable adventures, and memories you will carry for a lifetime. For a worry-free, comfortable journey, make sure to get a lot of exercise, pack light, and take your bike for a test drive. By preparing thoroughly, you’re sure to have a memorable time.

Do you want to join a cycling weekend in the UK? Ziba Adventures is kicking off our first cycling retreat this year with an exciting adventure in the glorious English countryside.

We go out of our way to find the most incredible places to make for an unforgettable journey. Sign up with us today!

Sponsorship for Expeditions

HOW TO GET sponsorship for expeditions

HOW TO GET SPONSORSHIP FOR

EXPEDITIONS

This is a detailed article explaining how you go about getting sponsorship for expeditions. I tell you how sponsorship for expeditions is a long process and whether it is right for you.

Recently on the Podcast, I was speaking to Geordie Stewart about sponsorship. A question I get asked a lot. In 2012 I decided to cycle across America solo and unsupported. Thinking this was a significant achievement, I went about asking companies for support and sponsorship. All but a few came back with a big fat no!! One mistake I had made that I look back on, is not to see it from their view. Why would they give me money and what are they going to get in return.

Here are a couple of lessons I took while chasing money and adventures down the years.

I’m not an expert by any means, and I am just giving the lessons I have learnt, so in the comments, I welcome your observations on sponsorship for expeditions.

Before going on an adventure ask yourself this

Do you need sponsorship?

Looking back, I would have had more money for the expedition if I had spent the final six weeks working and saving rather than emailing random companies for a t-shirt or energy tablets.

Rather than all the strain, disappointment and loss of self-respect that goes into pursuing sponsors, you might be a little better off just staying in your job for a little bit longer and saving up for the expedition? This depends on the size of the expedition.

USP

People are doing excellent stuff every day, why are you different, and as was said on episode 4 of the Podcast, no one cares really!! Sponsors don’t watch if you are getting over a mental health issue or walking the length of Great Britain naked for a charity. What is in it for them? What makes you unique and why should they care. What is your unique selling point?

Is it a world record, will you be the youngest or fastest person. Big companies will ignore you so unless you have a contact, going down this avenue will be challenging and demoralising. It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.

As painful as it is for me to say. Most of the sponsors I have got have been through contact. Network…. The people you know the more connections you have.

Build yourself

It is worth setting aside a couple of months to concentrate on branding yourself and building a following before starting to send out your proposal kit. Check out Instagram. The more you have an audience, the more you are going to be appealing to businesses. Across all your channels, have an exact look and wording and start putting out high-quality content.

It has become much easier to gain support while searching for opportunities because I have increased my social media accounts to the thousands.

Think outside the box

Think small up and coming companies and local. Think differently. How many funding applications do North Face obtain for climbing expeditions such as Mount Everest. A great example was when Bear Grylls dropped his idea for an Everest climb off at a random company named David, Landon and Everest simply because of the name; Bear Grylls was on the correct lines.

Do something cheaper if you can’t afford it. Don’t allow budget problems to interrupt your adventure. Take a look at how much money you have in your bank today, sell everything you don’t need, get on your bike, scooter or Kayak and hit the sunset. Avoid making excuses to postpone it. Book the flight or ticket and commit.

Cost more than you think

When I was beginning to look for funding, people gave me advice early on, and they were right.

For some reasons, an extra £ 1,000-£ 3,000 is not a significant sum for a medium or large corporation. Valuing yourself higher makes you more desirable. You should spend the extra money to ensure that your commitments are genuinely fulfilled to get pictures they can use, paying for a PR person to get you in the media, or using Instagram ads.

CONTENT is KING

In terms of photographs, videos and press publicity, there is a lot to be said for the exposure you can give a company.

This is particularly true when working for a brand that has a brand (i.e., a clothing brand who want you to wear their clothes on the expedition). Companies spend thousands on photo shoots and content development, but by offering this service, they make investing in you a safe bet.

Learn from Others

I started talking to people who may have experience and started reading online as soon as I knew that I wanted to look for funding. Make yourself acquainted with anything relevant to the budget.

Approaching

Most of my popular sponsorships came from brands with which I already had some partnership or bond. Even if it’s just a brand that’s been giving me a trial kit in the past or that I’ve been talking about, something like that. If you already have the name of a person to call, it is so much simpler, and it is much harder for them to say no if they know you! Start with your contacts or contacts from contacts for this purpose.

This is going to take a lot more personal approach than sending out blanket emails, unlike having funding in the form of free gear. To try to locate the right person to call, use LinkedIn. Start going to conferences and events where you can meet individuals working for fascinating businesses.

Networking lunches and activities also give great opportunities. Calling for a meeting or at least a phone call where possible. Try to get the right person in front of you so that you can get them in.

Final thought

Getting a sponsor certainly brings more stress and tension to an expedition. It’s a job. You get paid to provide a service.

There are moments when a lot of work will look like this. The support outweighed those obstacles for me, and I found that being supported emotionally strengthened my confidence and made me work harder to ensure that my expedition was a success.

You’re going to get rejections and failures, but try just to let them wash over you. Continue to look on the bright side, and you still have your next lead. Remember to sell yourself and happy adventures.

Also, let me know what you are doing, and I will see if I can help. Please tag me in your stories on Instagram at @johnhorsfall

For Posts on Central Asia check Out

https://www.zibaadventures.com/central-asia/

Looking to create your own Adventure? Pin this post for later!

Cycling the Continent ‘LDN2ASIA’

Five weeks to go!! In mid-July this year I am planning on attempting to cycle solo from London to Asia, but with a slight twist. In the summer heat of Europe if that wasn’t enough, I am trying to make the whole journey without the use of money, can’t touch it, can’t be given it, can’t have it sent to places.

This story is about giving, for every gift I receive, whether a glass of water or a bed to stay, I will personally give £1 to a chosen charity.
To train for this I am cycling from Wiltshire up to Edinburgh tomorrow, hopefully showing some of Britain’s magnificent landscapes and people along the way.

I hope you can follow my story through the ups and downs in the months ahead.

Introduction

Benefit #1: Camping Gets Your Body Moving

Benefit #2: Relaxing and Uplifting

Benefit #3: Get Vitamin D and a Good Time with Friends

The Bottom Line: How Spending Time with Nature can Heal Your Well-Being

Why Choose Us to Kickstart Your Thrilling Escapades?

People also read

Cycling Tips

Tip #1: Consider the Bike Tour Grading

Tip #2: Be Consistent With Your Training

Tip #3: Ride on Different Surfaces and Weather Conditions

How Can I Help You?

People also read

How to prepare for a Cycling Adventure

Create an Organised List

Pack a Physical Paper Map

Arrange Your Cycling Gear

Conclusion

People also read

5 Ways to Prepare for a Cycling Retreat

Introduction

Undergo Physical Conditioning

Pack Smart

Remember to Gear for Comfort

Go on a Test Drive

Invite a Friend, and Have Fun!

Conclusion

People also read

HOW TO GET sponsorship for expeditions

HOW TO GET SPONSORSHIP FOR

EXPEDITIONS

Before going on an adventure ask yourself this

Do you need sponsorship?

USP

Build yourself

Think outside the box

Cost more than you think

CONTENT is KING

Learn from Others

Approaching

Final thought

Looking to create your own Adventure? Pin this post for later!

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