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THE BUZZ
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BIG QUESTION
34
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TRAVELLER
FOR POOTLERS
LYON
The ride
Paved and blessedly flat, the
easy-going Voie Verte cycle path running
through Burgundy fromGivry to Mâcon
– 117km in total – forms the backbone
of a pleasant glide through prime wine
country. Detours downminor roads and
farm tracks, plus the Canal du Centre
for waterside cruising, make for a family-
friendly ride. Keep it gentle on the valley
floor and among the lakes of La Dombes
region or climb up into the vineyards.
The sights
Cycling gives you a great
opportunity for communing with nature
that you simply don’t get with faster
means of travel. You’ll pass through one
of the most beautiful parts of central
France. Refreshment and refuelling-wise,
it’s impossible not to dine (and drink) well
here, on any budget.
Book with
The Chain Gang (
chaingang.
co.uk
) to explore the region’s gastro
reputation or take the kids on a
customised itinerary fromCycling for
Softies (
cycling-for-softies.co.uk
).
Fly to
Lyon from29 destinations
.
FOR SERIOUSWHEEL NUTS
TENERIFE
The ride
For one of the world’s greatest
climbs, leave the built-up hustle and
bustle of the coast and glide away on
immaculate tarmac up El Teide to an
altitude of 2,350m. Starting from sea
level, the tough 45km ride never seems
to level out, but experienced riders
will love the challenge and drivers are,
helpfully, very respectful of your efforts.
The sights
Away from the coast, the
island offers an unusual mix of volcanic
rockiness and lush, fertile landscapes,
and cycling enables you to see all the
lesser-visited spots. FromEl Teide
to Esperanza, you’ll pass the Teide
astronomical observatory and the
delicious-smelling pine woodland of
Corona Forestal Nature Park.
Book with
Simple to navigate, most
hardcorers do this one on their own,
but Lavatrax (
lavatrax.com
) and
Mountainbike Active (
mtb-active.com
)
can rent you bikes or host tours.
Fly to
Tenerife South from six
destinations.
FOR KEEN RIDERS
BILBAO
The ride
Competent cyclists will find a
reasonable challenge for legs and a feast
for the senses along the coastal hills of
Spanish Basque country. At the highest
points, there are precipitous cliffs just
off the roadside, while idyllic, sandy bays
await you at sea level. If you have the
muscle, it’s possible to cross over the
border into the French Pyrénées.
The sights
Coastal vistas backed by
a high country of baked earth provide
a perfectly beautiful rural backdrop
to your ride.When you’re in Bilbao,
however, you’ll want to be sure to visit
the Guggenheimmodern-art museum,
as well as experiencing the city’s nightlife
and cuisine, while Basque food and drink
counts as an attraction in its own right.
Book with
Hooked on Cycling
(
hookedoncycling.co.uk
), which offers a
12-day, self-guided holiday, or brush up
on your skills with a week-long mountain-
biking adventure run by experts Basque
MTB (
basquemtb.com
).
Fly to
Bilbao from six destinations.
“Where are the
best routes for
cycling holidays?”
Get on a bike for a healthier, greener holiday. Here
cycling journalist
Benji Haworth
suggests his
three favourite two-wheeled trips
PHOTOS © SIMON TAYLOR, HOOKED ON CYCLING, PATRICK HUDGELL