Bucket list bike rides

The legendary Tour de France cycling race has kicked off, coinciding with a heightened interest in cycling worldwide. In recent months, changing consumer habits have driven much higher demand for bicycles, so much so that it has provoked a scarcity of supply in many countries. Many people who rediscovered the fun of cycling in lockdown are now passionate about the sport, and I've been taking a look at some of the bucket list bike rides that could take that interest to another level. 

Credit: Visit Isle of Wight

For those not wanting to travel too far from home, the 'Round the Island' route on the Isle of Wight is a possibility. It's home to over 322km of traffic-free cycle routes through some of the most scenic countryside in the UK. The cycling route offers 113km of trails, and Lonely Planet rated the Isle of Wight as one of the best places in the world to explore by mountain bike. 

Further afield in Columbia, cycling is more than a sport - it's a way of life, and with Colombian Egan Bernal's triumphant win at the Tour de France in 2019, the eyes of the world are on Columbia and its spectacular cycling training routes. Cyclists can enjoy national parks and heritage villages throughout the country, including the Coffee Route, which weaves through Columbia's Coffee Belt, a region declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011. The route is ideal for a road or mountain bike, and makes a great three to five-day bicycle tour. 

Visitors to Vienna can join the famous cycle path along the Danube which leads from Germany through Austria to Hungary, and is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga. Cycling along the Danube Canal bike path is a beautiful experience in itself, but to catch sight of Vienna's famous attractions such as the Opera, Parliament and Burgtheater, cyclists should veer off onto the Sightseeing Bicycle Path Ringstrasse that encircles Vienna's old city. You'll then roll back into nature when you re-join the Danube bike path at Danube-Auen National Parks, which is part of one of Europe's last primeval forests and is home to a vast selection of mammal, bird and plant species. 

You might fancy a trip to Northern Italy and one of Trentino's most famous cycling routes begins in Tesero and journeys through to Pompaego, offering majestic views in both summer and winter over the region's dramatic alpine settling. You'll be riding through history, as you cycle the same ascent as legendary cyclists Marco Pantani and Pavel Tonko when they famously raced towards the Giro d'Italia finish line in 1998. Be warned....this route is classified as having a high level of difficulty, and is most suited to experienced riders. You'll be rewarded though as you cycle down a route bursting with picturesque scenery and incredible mountainous views which make the challenging ascents worthwhile! 

Credit: Todd Brenneman

And finally, and perhaps I've saved the best til last - Namibia. One of the best ways to appreciate the natural beauty of the country's wildlife and vast landscapes is by bike. Adventurous cyclists looking to challenge themselves can book the Exodus Cycle Namibia trip which offers the chance to cycle across open sand dunes, between granite hills and over challenging rocky outcrops. Beginning in Windhoek, cyclists will visit the towering dunes of Sossusvlei and climb Dune 45 where the contrast of the rusty-red sand against the blue sky is breath-taking. Travelling north, you'll ride across the Tropic of Capricorn, where you'll zoom past ostriches, gembok and mountain zebras before heading to Swakopmund to try fat biking, where wider tyres allow visitor to explore remote areas that traditional mountain bikes are unable to reach. Other highlights include spotting the 'Big Five' on a safari in Etosha National Park before sleeping under the starts at a tented camp. Hopefully I've given you some food for thought, and made you glad you dusted down that old bike!