Once you have asked all your questions, fielded all your answers, agonized for the appropriate amount of time, and sent in your nonrefundable deposit, the ball is in your court to get ready. Are you and your butt ready for the soreness ahead?

Cruise along the coast

Don't panic. A bike trip is rarely a race, and trip designers know that you are only human, this is your vacation, and there are other things to do in a day besides cycle. Still, you are about to test a number of muscles that you may not know existed, and you are going to do it for a number of days in a row. Be good to yourself: Prepare.

A couple of weeks (or more) before your trip begins, try several longer rides. If you will be averaging 50 miles per day on your trip, try a 50-mile ride; see what it feels like. Don't pound it out in one long, painful pedal. Take a leisurely all-day ride. Do it like you hope it will really be, complete with food breaks, rest stops, and sightseeing. You might also try a weekend trip that includes a night in the style of what's coming: If you've booked a bike trip with camping, spend the night in your tent!

A few more practical tips: Do some hills! Practice with loaded panniers if you will be touring toting your gear (a bicycle handles very differently when it is heavily laden). And, finally, if you have time, attend a few basic bike-repair workshops. Or at least read a few chapters of a book and practice repairing a flat tire at home.