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Author :Chelsea Barron in Education

Bicycling while RVing can be great. RVing and bicycling are two of those things that just go together, like peanut butter and jelly. Part of the reason you're traveling in an RV in the first place is to see new places, right? So, it only makes sense that once you've set your jacks down somewhere, you'll want an easy way to explore your rig's surroundings.

Having a bicycle is the best way to get the job done, and we're going to tell you why, along with how to make it work for your on-the-road lifestyle. Let's roll!

Reasons to Take Your Bicycle Camping

There are many reasons to bring your bike along on your next camping adventure. Here are just a few of them:

• It's healthy for you — Look around at most campgrounds and you'll see people mostly sitting around, having a leisurely time. There's nothing wrong with that of course, but it can definitely be an easy trap to fall into. Having a bike is a fun way to exercise and keep yourself from becoming too sedentary.

• It's eco-friendly — Assuming you're parked in a beautiful locale and/or close enough to urban amenities like restaurants and shops, you shouldn't have to venture too far away from your RV most of the time, which means you can usually avoid driving a gas-guzzling vehicle around.

• It's faster than walking — Not that we don't mind a nice walk, mind you, but there's something about having that breeze on your face and the scenery whizzing by that makes us want to ride our bikes in a way our feet alone simply can't match.

Related Read: Campground and RV Fitness Guide

Choosing the Right Bike for Your Needs

First, before you buy a bicycle, you need to ask yourself: Where will it be ridden most often? The answer will tell you what type of bike you should be looking for:

• For riding on city streets and in well-developed campgrounds: You want a road or hybrid bike.

• For rough roads, trails, and otherwise bumpy terrain: Get a mountain bike.

• For sandy beaches and the like: Look for a beach cruiser.

Whatever style you choose, you'll also need to keep an eye out for the right size of that bike, for the sake of both ergonomics and comfort. Here's a simple quick-reference chart to help you out:

The thing to keep in mind here is that everybody is proportioned differently, so use this chart as a loose guideline but still seek the advice of a bike shop professional to make sure you get a proper fitting.

Bike Rack Options for RVers

Once you've got your ideal bike, the challenge becomes figuring out how to bring it along with you. One of the easiest methods is to use a bike rack of some kind.

Depending on your rig and/or towing setup, you may have different types of bike racks you can choose from. We'll list some of the most common options so you can pick what's right for you:

• Ladder bike rack: If your rig has a built-in outer ladder, you can securely attach your bike(s) to it on travel days using a ladder bike rack (sometimes referred to as a hanging rack). The ladder racks made specifically for use with RVs tend to be made of lightweight aluminum and are rust- and corrosion-resistant. Depending on the one you buy, it'll allow bikes to hang either vertically or horizontally. Either way, it's probably the most aerodynamic option of this list.

• Bumper bike rack: This type of rack mounts onto the RV's bumper, whether it's into an available hitch receiver or by attaching a bumper adapter that has its own receiver. With almost all bumper racks, bikes will rest horizontally, shelf-style. Be warned, however that a lot of rigs out there do not come with bumpers designed to hold a lot of weight, and attaching a rack with one or two bikes on it may prove disastrous if you don't do your homework.

• Spare tire bike rack: This style of rack mounts directly onto the bumper and around your RV's rear spare tire. It's best for RVs that have no receiver hitch on the bumper, but like with the bumper racks above, you need to be aware of what your RV bumper can handle, weight-wise.

• Truck bed bike rack: If you're towing a bumper-pull trailer and have a free truck bed to use, you could install one to three truck bed racks. Bike storage really doesn't get any easier than this, if you have the room for it.

• Roof rack: Maybe you don't have space in your truck bed, you don't have an RV ladder, and your RV bumper might just fall off if you mount something on it. Where are you to put your bikes then? Well, assuming you have a tow vehicle, you can get a roof rack (or a few) and make it work that way. It's not very aerodynamic, but you do what you can with what you've got.

Keeping Your Bicycle Safe While Camping

While most people you meet on the road will be perfectly good-intentioned, the unfortunate truth is that there are some rotten individuals out there who will attempt to part you from your bike if the opportunity arises. You can't 100% prevent all theft attempts, but you should take every measure you can to keep your bike in your possession.

Related Read: RV Security: Keeping You and Your Possessions Safe

We recommend at least investing in a good bike lock, whether it's a hardy U-lock or a beast of a chain. If someone's going to come for your bike, this kind of deterrent will at least force the thief to be incredibly dedicated, at which point you or someone else nearby is likely to hear what's happening before they can get away.

But really, in our experience most thieves will simply leave it alone and move on if it's not standing freely, unlocked. It's just not worth the trouble for most of them if they can't immediately ride off with it.