Cycling is not only a low-carbon, sustainable way to travel, but it’s also one of the most immersive options for exploring a new place or having an epic adventure. What better way to connect with a landscape or city than by riding through it at your own pace?

In Europe alone, the possibilities are endless: Pedal toward pasta-filled villages in Italy, wheel through the sun-drenched vineyards of French wine country, or challenge yourself with exhilarating climbs through Austrian mountain ranges. Whatever your style, if you’re inspired by the iconic Tour de France this summer, let our cycling tips help you make the most of any adventure on two wheels.

Before you go

Plan your epic adventure

There’s no one single way to ‘do’ a bike trip. Cycling is such a versatile sport that there’s plenty of adventure for every type of traveler and athlete — you can totally tailor it to suit you, and there are epic routes (long, short, steep, or flat) to ride all around the world. The Applecross loop in the Scottish Highlands boasts staggering views, and the Bealach na Bà mountain pass – one of the hardest road bike climbs in the UK — has switchbacks rising over 2,000 feet of elevation. https://ea777vip.com/

For a circular route, spend four days cycling around the island of Mallorca (the coastal views may distract you from the mountain climbs), or hire a gravel bike to go off-road and tackle some of the challenging trails in Italy’s Dolomites. Cities can be great cycle destinations too — Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Paris, and Berlin all have brilliant cycle lane infrastructure that lets you explore by bike with ease.

Get inspired by the Tour de France

Many cycling fans mark their calendars each year for the iconic Tour de France race. The famed race traditionally finishes in Paris each year. Whether you experience the event in person or tune in from afar, you’ll see the tenacity and grit of top cyclists as they race against one another. The stages of the race wind through picturesque French villages and epic landscapes — a great way to get inspired for your own (perhaps more relaxed) cycling adventures.

Learn key phrases

Knowing some of the local language makes travel logistics much easier and helps you forge deeper connections with people you meet. Brush up on some cycling-specific phrases and useful vocabulary before you go — get confident asking for directions and distances, whether a restaurant or store has a preferred place to park your bike, and if the next section of the route is hard (on second thought, maybe don’t ask your fellow cyclists that). https://ea777vip.com/

Get your body prepped

You might want to get bike-strong before you travel so that you can really be present and enjoy the ride. Before a big trip, strengthen your legs with squats and lunges, and boost your endurance with some regular cardio. Start to put in the miles and aim for a regular training schedule that prepares you for the real deal when you arrive. An international adventure is not the place to try cleats (clip-in pedals) for the first time… So, if you plan on using cleats, master riding with them at home first so your feet can get used to slipping in and out.

Brush up on the rules of the road

If you plan on spending a good deal of time cycling the roads in your destination, try to learn as much as you can about the road laws there, which will apply to cyclists using public roadways. In Germany, for example, the right-of-way goes to the person approaching from the right in an intersection. Knowing the road safety rules can help keep yourself and others safe, so it’s worth brushing up on the road laws in your travel destination.https://ea777vip.com/

Getting there

Flying with a bike

Taking your bike with you in the sky can be surprisingly straightforward. A bike must be booked in advance, usually under ‘sporting equipment’, and you can’t just wheel it up to the airport baggage drop. You’ll need to secure it in a bag or a box, and it may also need to be disassembled (remove the pedals and front wheel, rotate the handlebar stem 90 degrees, and lower the saddle) to keep it small enough to fit through scanners. It’s also recommended to partially deflate the tires to prevent damage from the journey, so pack a pump too!

Taking the train with a bike

Combining train and bus travel can be an easy (and low-carbon) way to see a whole country or region. Across much of Europe, many train carriages have specific areas for bike storage. Don’t assume that your route is bike-ready, though! Check when you book your ticket whether you need to pay extra or reserve a free bike space. At the platform, the doors closest to the bike storage will often have a bike symbol on them, too. This will simplify getting on or off the train — nobody wants you to push a bike through the seated carriages. And if you’re muddy? Clean yourself and your bike off first. https://ea777vip.com/