Summer is the season for travel in Europe, and thanks to the proximity of the various countries, the continent can be easily explored by train, car or even by bike.
With this last option, you are definitely doing something good for the environment, as well as your own fitness. And you’re slowing the pace down, opening the possibility of discovery that you might not have racing through the countryside in a car or train.
Europe has plenty of great long-distance bike routes. If you’re not sure where to start, a good place to look is the European cycle route network, an initiative launched some 25 years ago by the umbrella organisation of the European cycling federations.
The European cycling network EuroVelo’s website lists a total of 19 routes across Europe, some of them thousands of kilometres long.
EuroVelo 1 starts in the North Cape, Norway, and finishes in Alentejo (above), in southern Portugal. Photo: Shutterstock
EuroVelo 1, the Atlantic Coast route, will lead you from the North Cape in Norway all the way to the southern end of Portugal, for example, while the Meuse cycle route, or EuroVelo 19, follows the Meuse river through France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Be it a ride from Andalusia to Athens or from Norway to Normandy, EuroVelo can also help you plan a custom route using the EuroVelo route planner. Enter your point of departure and your desired destination, and it will come up with an itinerary, combining different EuroVelo routes if necessary.
Not every EuroVelo route is marked well, the federation admits. However, cyclists can download GPS data available for each route from the website to help them find their way.
EuroVelo links up already existing bike routes, but does not build new ones, which means that the paths do not all have the same quality. Some may not be completely paved, which can be challenging for racing bikes.
If you have questions about a specific route, EuroVelo recommends contacting the national cycling associations, which are listed on the network’s website under national information for each country.
A sign for the EuroVelo 6 in Mulhouse, France. 19 EuroVelo routes criss-cross Europe. Photo: Shutterstock
An option for those who do not wish to organise and plan their own bike trip is to sign on with a tour operator. Offers are also on the EuroVelo website. The costs range between €190 (US$206) and €1,500 for a week-long trip.
When travelling by train to reach a cycle route, make sure that there’s space available to bring your bike; this can vary from country to country, especially on long-distance services.
Just how bicycle-friendly hotels and other tourist offerings are can be judged by seals of approval. The German bicycle federation, for example, issues a “Bett+Bike” (bed and bike) seal for accommodation in Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria and Italy catering to cyclists. In France, the seal “Accueil Vélo” designates bike-friendly lodgings.
For those who prefer to plan their own tour, the German national cycling association recommends not only to look out for accommodation but also places to eat along the way, as on some routes options might be sparse.
Source link : https://amp.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3272420/19-long-distance-routes-european-cycling-holiday-plus-how-plan-your-own
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Publish date : 2024-07-30 09:15:09
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