Useful information

Useful information

LEARN THEM WHEN PLANNING YOUR TRIP

You must be properly prepared for every trip. To start with, check when it is best to go to a given country, what weather conditions are there at a given moment. What services are available, whether health care is at the right level, what insurance you need. If you are going on a trip organized by a travel agency, there is no problem at all, because the organizer will give you a whole package of organizational information that will allow you to prepare properly for the trip. However, if you are organizing the trip on your own, it is necessary to get acquainted with the maximum amount of information, unless you are going cold turkey because you like to travel in the unknown and count on a large number of adventures. What can you find in the article below? A lot of useful information, such as:

  • what to take with you to the repair kit
  • what to equip the first aid kit
  • what clothes to take with you
  • important emergency numbers
  • how can I get there
  • traveling by public transport with a bicycle
  • holidays and days off
  • accommodation for cyclists
  • foreign languages

Before that, however, it is worth noting a few facts. Poland is a member of the European Union, if you are a foreigner from the EU and have an EHIC card, you will receive medical assistance at no cost. If you are from another country, it is necessary to insure yourself and get acquainted with the General Insurance Conditions of your insurer.

Poland is a developed country, where you will find good hospitals, numerous pharmacies, shops, and high-quality bicycle services. And most of all, no matter what you read in the media, we are a friendly, hospitable and helpful nation.

And most importantly. The situation on our roads is not as dramatic as some might tell you. The network of bicycle routes and trails is developing very dynamically, and many drivers are cyclists as well, which results in a greater personal culture towards cyclists on the roads. So read now what you should pay attention to when preparing to go to Poland for a bicycle trip.

Important emergency numbers:

112 – emergency phone (fire brigade, police, ambulance, etc.)
+48 601 100 100 – waterside rescue number (WOPR)
+48 601 100 300 – mountain rescue number (GOPR and TOPR)

Repair kit?

In Poland, you will find bicycle shops and services in many places. In the vast majority of cases, you will have the opportunity to repair your bike in the nearest, larger town. However, sometimes breakdowns can happen in the least suitable place. There is a good chance that you will meet someone who will help you, but it is worth having a basic repair kit with you. What should it include then?

Below is a list of basic things to take:

  • spare minimum one inner tube
  • tire pump
  • multitool (set of repair keys)
  • chain lubricant
  • gloves
  • chain link
  • spare brake pads
  • spare derailleur hook
  • set of inner tube patches
  • penknife
  • tire levers
  • duct tape
  • cable ties
  • strong fast-drying adhesive

 

What should you have in your first aid kit?

After analyzing the most common diseases and injuries occurring during bicycle trips, we listed the most important products that should be included in your first aid kit. Of course, the set of things is quite rich, but in case of planning your trip, we will adjust its equipment to the most needed things.

 

1. Two-three types of dressing patches and without dressing
Application: Dressing patches are one of the basic elements of first aid equipment. You can apply them at every cut and skin damage. It is worth having several types of patches with you, depending on the type of skin damage. When using the patches, remember to stick them on dry skin, so that the glue of the patch can grab the skin and it will not peel off. The same story is with a patch without a dressing, which you can use to apply gauze or other dressing to immobilize it.

2. Several types of bandages and dressings
Application: The purpose of bandaging is to hold the dressing, seal the wound, insulate and hold the compress, immobilize the limb, prevent venous stasis. Upper limb bandaging can be applied to fingers, thumbs, hands, elbows, and forearms; and lower limb bandaging to knees, shins, and feet. Wound dressing, on the other hand, aims at covering the wound, accelerating its healing and protecting it from bacteria, thanks to the fact that all dressings are factory sterilized.

3. Wound disinfectants
Application: Octanisept is best for the wound decontamination agent. It can be applied as short antiseptic treatment of wounds, mucous membranes, and skin bordering such wounds. It lasts up to 1 hour and the active substances it contains are not absorbed. It is colorless and leaves no stains. Ideal for wounds and abrasions of the epidermis. Ideally replaces oxidized water. Sterile gauze soaked in alcohol is also a good solution. It is an ideal solution to clean the wound.

4. Contusion ointment, elastic band, and cooling spray
Application: quite often it can happen that you craze yourself. Most often it is a wound to a knee or shoulder. Such are the charms of falling down. That is why it is worth to have ointment for bruises and elastic band to protect the joint from further damage. It is good to have two types of bands to be able to use them depending on the place you will be wrapping.

5. Stomach problems | vomiting | diarrhea
Application: Especially when you go to places in the world where you meet other bacterial flora, you have to remember that you have to buy products that will help you in this situation. In addition to standard charcoal, it is necessary to take appropriate specifications, which are available in any Polish pharmacy. However, one of the theories says that it is best to treat with the products available on-site, in the place where you have encountered this unpleasant situation. The basic ones are of course smectic and gastrolith. Smecta prevents further dehydration. Gastrolit prevents and cures dehydration as a result of diarrhea or vomiting.

6. Calcium; adrenaline shot;
Application: Calcium is very good for colds, infections and allergic reactions. However, if someone has very strong allergic reactions, which can occur during a bicycle trip, such that they are life-threatening, it is necessary to have intramuscular adrenaline with you. It is prescribed by a doctor and can only be bought with a prescription. If you have something like this, please let your guide know about it on the expedition!

7. Tribiotic, steri strip, aqua gel dressing
Use: It is good to have the above things with you in case of various types of burns, cuts, abrasions. Steri-strips will help you bring small cut wounds together to heal faster. The tribiotic ointment will help you fight wound infection. And a gel dressing will help with abrasions and burns.

8. Eye and ear drops
Application: Although it is advisable to wear sunglasses, not everyone follows, but it may also happen that you forget about it. In addition, the rush of wind during downhill runs and changing weather conditions may be conducive to eye or ear infections. In this case, it is worth having an eye or ear drops with you in your first aid kit. These will help you to fight otitis or conjunctivitis.

9. Glucose; electrolytes in the sachet, heaters
Application: A sudden drop in sugar? Excessive cooling of the body? Glucose is the solution. Ideal because it is quickly absorbed. In addition, it is worth having heaters with you to help you regain the right body temperature in case of hypothermia. Do you want to be sure that you will properly hydrate your body during or after intensive physical effort? It is necessary to carry electrolytes in sachets.

10. Aspirin, ibuprofen, no-spa
Application: When you’ve had a ride in the cold, wind and feel like you might get sick, and you still have a few days to go, it’s worth taking an aspirin. If you have bruised your knee or suffer from a sprain, it is worth taking ibuprofen, which has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. And no-spa, you know perfectly well, because it helps during painful menstrual days.

11. Mugga, D-panthenol
Application: Are you planning to go to a place where mosquitoes might be a problem? You must take Mugga with you. And if you’re thinking that the sunscreen you are taking with you might not be enough, take the D-panthenol cream with you in case of sunburn – it will relieve the burning.

Other mandatory elements of your first-aid kit
In addition to what is mentioned above, your first aid kit must include such elements as scissors, disposable latex gloves, thermal foil or mask for artificial respiration and a needle with a syringe, tweezers. The use of these elements does not need to be explained, they simply facilitate you in providing first aid and care for your safety.

 

What clothes to take to Poland?

Given the climate of Poland, a cyclist planning a trip to Poland must be prepared for all weather conditions. From colder days with rainfall to hot days with the scorching sun. Therefore, you ought to apply the principle of dressing in layers, the so-called onion.

It is worth taking with you:

  • a puff sleeve or a thin hat for your head
  • a raincoat and wind jacket
  • a long sleeve jacket
  • a short-sleeve T-shirt
  • warmer pants in case of a cool down
  • rainproof trousers
  • bicycle leggings
  • short bicycle shorts
  • high socks
  • bike footwear
  • shoe protectors
  • bike gloves
  • sunglasses
  • UV-filter cream for strong sunshine

 

How can I get there?

Poland is very well connected. We have several popular airports, which are used by several million tourists every year, including:

  1. Kraków-Balice
  2. Warsaw-Okęcie and Warsaw-Modlin
  3. Katowice-Pyrzowice
  4. Gdańsk
  5. Wrocław
  6. Poznań
  7. Rzeszów

Such a network of airports and a large number of airlines offering a connection with Poland provides an opportunity to easily reach Poland by air. You can also reach larger cities by rail. By default, you can also come to us by car.

 

Traveling by means of public transport with a bicycle?

Traveling with a bicycle by public transport is not the easiest of tasks. We have three travel options. I strongly recommend the first one.

  • Railway
    Traveling with bicycles by Polish railways is the least problematic. You just have to remember to buy the ticket as soon as possible because there is a limited number of places for a bike (the earliest you can buy tickets 30 days before the day of travel at https://rozklad-pkp.pl/) If you are late or there will be no more places, you can always dismantle the bike and carry it as oversized luggage.
  • Long-distance buses
    There is a very small chance that the driver will take your bike. As a rule, this is not possible.
  • Public transport
    In most cities, it is possible to transport a bicycle in public transport. However, you must read the regulations of individual transport companies in a given city.

 

Holidays and days-off?

In Poland, there are several holidays, which, combined with weekends, form the so-called long weekends. Why are we writing about this? This is very important during the planning phase of your trip to Poland. From our perspective, we strongly advise against traveling on these dates, because several million Poles spend this time exploring our country and you will have a problem finding accommodation unless you book it much earlier.

1. The long May weekend, the so-called “May days”
May 1st and May 3rd – public holidays.

2. Long June weekend
This is a weekend combined with the Feast of Corpus Christi, which falls 60 days after Easter. In the coming years, the long weekend will fall on the following dates:

– 11.06 – 14.06.2020
– 03.06 – 06.06.2021
– 16.06 – 19.06.2022
– 08.06 – 11.06.2023
– 30.05 – 02.06.2024
– 19.06 – 22.06.2025

3. Long August weekend
On August 15th, we celebrate the Feast of Mary Queen of Poland, which is a day off from work, and if it is favorable on the calendar, then in conjunction with the weekend, we will have a long weekend.

4. Easter
It is a movable holiday that begins from Good Friday and lasts until Easter Monday. In the coming years it falls on:

– 10.04 – 13.04.2020
– 01.04 – 04.04.2021
– 14.04 – 17.04.2022
– 06.04 – 09.04.2023
– 28.03 – 31.03.2024
– 17.04 – 20.04.2025

In those days you will have trouble finding an open store. In addition, remember that the vast majority of stores and shopping malls in our store are closed on Sundays.

5. School holidays
In Poland, the summer vacation period for students begins at the end of June and lasts until 1st September. Expect increased tourist traffic in popular places at that time.

 

Accommodation for cyclists?

Bicycle tourism is becoming increasingly popular in Poland, so in the area where there are bicycle routes and trails, you will find accommodation of a good standard, where you will not have a problem with storing a bike in a safe place. When booking accommodation in advance, it is worth informing the hotel that you travel by bicycle so that they are prepared for it.

 

Foreign languages?

Many people in Poland are fluent in English. You will also find those who speak German, Russian or Spanish. I am convinced you will be able to communicate with others. We learn foreign languages ​​at school and college, in addition, many people travel abroad, so contact will not be a problem. Especially in larger cities, and in regions popular with tourists, you communicate in English. In smaller towns, you may not be so lucky, then you can handle sign language. We keep our fingers crossed. It’s great if you learn a few words in Polish such as:

dzień dobry – good morning
dobry wieczór – good evening
cześć – hi/hello
jak się masz? – how are You
dziękuję – thank You
poproszę – please
pomocy – help
rower – bicycle