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Cape Breton Island’s Cabot Trail is 190 miles (305km) of stunning rocky coastlines, a pristine inland sea and mountain highlands. If you take this one on during the right time of autumn, you’ll also be treated to the amazing hues of fall foliage. The trail is paved, though somewhat bumpy in sections, so the best bicycle is one that has good suspension but with road tires. If you ride the trail in a clockwise direction, the ascents are not as challenging as the opposite direction. Take two or three days to do the whole trail so you can experience the all the sights and smells of this beautiful island.
This hidden gem for biking topped Lonely Planet’s list in 2010 for biking adventures (and bird watching and dog walking as well). The specific trail listed here, Kartai Road, is an off-road cycling experience through farmlands that will give you amazing coastal vistas. Although only a 30-minute ride, once you’ve gotten a taste of the Otago Peninsula, you’ll want to explore many of the other cycling routes available. There’s also an annual Otago Peninsula Challenge that includes both short (14 miles, 23km) and long (27 miles, 43km) MTB rides with special permission granted by private landowners for cyclists to traverse their properties. The event is typically held in January and is a great way to discover all the cycling options the peninsula offers.
This is quite a long trip – 746 miles (1,200km) – that spans the length of Vietnam between it’s two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) and hugs vast stretches of the coast with its many sandy beaches. Along the way you’ll climb to the challenging Hai Van Pass, the historic dividing line between North and South Vietnam. The descent from there is nothing short of breathtaking, with mountains to the west and the South China Sea to the east. There is much to explore along this route, from rural hamlets and rice paddies to lush jungles. Plan on two weeks for this journey.
Visit the far northeast corner of Italy if you want some of the most beautiful and relatively easy cycling you’ll find anywhere. All the roads are well-paved and smooth, running by Slovenian farmers working their fields, plenty of luscious vineyards and villages dotting the mountainsides. Depending on which routes you take, you’ll enjoy castles, churches, piazzas, ancient caves and grottos. Plan on a stop in Danielle to sample their world-famous prosciutto. Wind up your exploring with the most scenic bit of all, cycling down the Istrian coast to the Trieste sea. Don’t forget to take advantage of some of the world’s best red and white wines as well, though that might be best saved for post-cycling evenings.
This 363-mile (584km) route takes you all the way around Lake Champlain in New York and Vermont, as well as across the Canadian border along the Richelieu River in Quebec. Only a few areas take you off-road, but there are also paved-road alternatives to those sections as well. You’ll experience quiet country roads, charming villages, beautiful scenery, roadside farmstands, historic sites and museums along with plenty of shoreline campgrounds and parks. The Lake Champlain Bikeways group has also laid out dozens of side trips and loops if you’re looking to do some in-depth exploring of everything the area has to offer.
The Isle of Wight has become something of a destination for young Londoners looking for weekend getaways, and it’s a true cycling paradise. In 1985 a group called the Wayfarer Cycling Tour Club established the Randonnee trail that circles the entire island. The 62-mile (100km) route is clearly marked with signs bearing white bicycles for the clockwise direction and blue bicycles for the counterclockwise direction. Although the ride can be completed in one day, you’ll want to take two or three in order to really experience the rolling hills, coastal views and white chalk cliffs. In early May the Wayfarers sponsor a free Randonnee tour event that attracts as many as 2,000 cyclists to make the round-the-isle trip. There’s also a cycling event in the fall as well, usually in September or October.
Munda Biddi literally translates as “path through the forest,” and cyclists will experience the lush eucalyptus-laden jarrah forest as they bike this 206-mile (332km) off-road cycling trail from Mundaring to Collie, which just opened in 2004. As you wind your way through forests and scenic river valleys, be sure to keep an eye open for wildlife sightings which could include brush wallabies, western gray kangaroos and brushtail possums. Overnights can be camping in trail shelters or staying at inns in quaint country towns. If camping, be prepared to treat your water before drinking it – sever stomach cramps can put a serious damper your cycling adventure.
The clearly-signed bike routes of Luberon are hilly but rewarding. In this corner of Provence, you’ll cycle past carefully laid out vineyards and historic villages that haphazardly occupy rocky slopes. You’ll pass through cool and quiet pine forests and fields filled with lavender stretching out from both sides of the road. Legendary Mont Ventoux may beckon you to test your strength in biking to its summit. When you need a break you can explore ancient Roman ruins and medieval dwellings. You can also take advantage of worldclass wines produced in the region. This particular route is a 7 or 8-day loop that begins and ends in Cavaillon.
This route is a two-day tour around the Loop Head peninsula’s breathtaking coastline. It is best experienced in a clockwise direction, keeping the river Shannon and Atlantic coast on your left. You’ll pass through the peninsula’s farmlands and enjoy many stunning views of the river Shannon as well as the powerful waves of the Atlantic as they crash against the cliffs around the peninsula’s lighthouse, visible from miles around. Take the time to interact with the locals. You’ll find they’re very friendly and hospitable. Once you’ve had this taste of Ireland, you’ll want to explore several more of the remaining 6 cycleways of County Clare and the Shannon region.
Plan on a good three months if you want to do the entire off-road route that begins in Banff, Canada and follows the Great Divide all the way to Mexican border. It includes a lot of rough terrain, so you’ll want a mountain bike with rugged suspension forks. If you find the thought of making a trip that big rather daunting, you can also choose just a part of it, like the section that runs through New Mexico from Pie Town to the border town of Antelope Wells. That piece is only 308 miles (496km). This is pure nature cycling at its best.
