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Since 1979, bike tours have been the core of who we are, and we’ve only gotten better with time. From the Rocky Mountains to the Tuscan countryside to Vietnam's Mekong River , our expert Trip Leaders guide you on the most scenic biking routes—far from the crowds and immersed in the region you’ve come to discover. Learn more about what you can expect when joining us on a Bike Tour. Check out our fleet of custom-built titanium bikes as well as our carbon options from Cannondale and Canyon.

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Your cycling holiday or bike tour in America

USA Bike Tours offers over 140 most spectacular cycling tours and cycling holidays in all parts of the United States of America and Canada, the whole year through. Long or short, guided or self-guided, basic or deluxe – you will always find the tour that fits you best! We selected the best and most beautiful tours. To guarantee high quality equipment, most scenic routes, excellent accommodation and dedicated support.

Experience The USA the best way – from the seat of a bicycle

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United States Bike Tours

Pacific northwest islands, rainforests, mountains and coastlines. southwest deserts and oases. tropical jungles and volcanoes. rocky mountain peaks and glaciers. mid-west badlands and “wild west” history. the manhattan skyline, and more.

We offer adventure tours that explore a wide range of uniquely beautiful destinations in the United States. Get reacquainted with your sense of adventure. Grab your helmet and let’s ride!

United States Tours

South Dakota, USA

Mt. rushmore & badlands bike tour, intermediate.

Mickelson Trail Bike Tour

Oregon, Washington, USA

Columbia gorge bike tour.

Arizona, USA

Arizona sonora bike tour.

Montana, USA

Montana’s bitterroot bike tour.

Northwest, Oregon, USA

Willamette valley: a promised land bike tour.

Wyoming, USA

Wyoming epic bike tour.

Arches & Canyonlands Multisport Tour

Bryce & Zion National Parks Bike Tour

Washington, USA

San juan islands bike tour.

Zion Multisport 4-Day Tour

Idaho, Northwest, Washington, USA

Trail of the coeur d’alenes bike tour.

Oregon, USA

Oregon crater lake bike tour.

California, Nevada, USA

Valley of fire & death valley bike tour.

Idaho, British Columbia, Washington

International selkirk loop bike tour.

Idaho, Northwest, USA

Sun valley road bike tour.

Idaho, Northwest, Oregon, USA

Bend to boise epic bike tour.

Hells Canyon & Wallowas Bike Tour

California, USA

Joshua tree & anza borrego bike tour.

Canada, Alberta, Montana, USA, International

Glacier-banff-jasper bike tour.

New Mexico, USA

Santa fe-taos bike tour.

Big Sur Coast Bike Tour

Oregon Coast to Crater Lake Bike Tour

Olympic National Park & Discovery Trail

Mt. Rainier to Mt. Hood Bike Tour

Empire Builder Epic Bike Tour

The Cascade Loop: North Cascades to Leaven...

The American Alps

Methow Valley Cross-Country Ski Tour

ADVENTURE TAKEOVER

The Best U.S. Cycling Tours to Add to Your Bucket List

Plan your next vacation around one of these epic destination tours in cities, parks, and countrysides across America.

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Plus, the fact that you’re on two wheels allows you to cover more ground than walking. Another benefit: You get to work up a sweat while exploring the magic of a new-to-you location. Pretty sweet, right?

In the spirit of biking meets vacation, companies across the U.S. offer guided destination cycling tours of varying length, locations, price points, and difficulty. From afternoon-long urban tours to overnight trips to National Parks , wine country, and idyllic farmlands, the following cycling tours—all hosted by highly-reviewed and reputable companies—can help fulfill your two-wheeled wanderlust.

The only question: Which one are you going to book first?

New Mexico Bike Tour

Hosted by: trek travel.

For a slice of Southwestern culture and an immersion into the natural beauty of New Mexico, consider this guided group tour out of art hub Santa Fe. You’ll cycle under wide-open skies past sweeping mountain vistas and learn about local history en route: Day two includes a stop at Santuario de Chimayó, a designated National Historic Landmark, and day three entails a visit to Galisteo, an abode village occupied since prehistoric times and the current residence of many local artists.

Designed for advanced riders who are comfortable pedaling three to four hours at a time at a solid pace, this high-altitude trip encompasses 189 miles of biking with more than 14,000 feet of elevation gain. For those craving a break from all that saddle time, non-riding activities include spa treatments, a hot air balloon ride, a visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, and more.

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico Duration: 4 days/3 nights Cost: from $3,399

Boothbay to Bar Harbor Bike Tour

Hosted by: summer feet cycling.

This week-long, small group tour (max size: 12 riders) offers cyclists a breathtaking tour of Maine’s diverse coastline with cozy stays at local inns along the way.

The journey ranges in distance between about 300 to more than 400 miles (they offer multiple distances most days), beginning at coastal village Boothbay Harbor and then traveling north along the shores of Penobscot Bay, a popular cruising bay, and Blue Hill Bay, before finishing with two full days of riding in Acadia National Park.

Along the way, you’ll hit top tourist spots, like Camden, a quintessential New England town dubbed “the Jewel of the Maine Coast,” while also touring several not-as-famous, equally beautiful seafront towns, like Port Clyde and Castine, says Norman Patry, owner of Summer Feet Cycling.

You’ll fuel your rides with a variety of Maine delicacies, including lobster, smoked salmon, fresh blueberries , and the local favorite whoopie pies.

Location: Portland to Acadia National Park, Maine Duration: 7 days/6 nights Cost: from $3,995

The Carolinas Bike Tour

Hosted by: backroads.

Traverse the Carolinas, climb the Blue Ridge Mountains, and experience Southern Appalachian culture with Backroads, an over 40-year-old company known for its upscale, active trips.

Highlights of this five-day itinerary include riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway (a 469-mile roadway famed for its sweeping views and thrilling elevations), navigating retired pro cyclist George Hincapie’s Gran Fondo route, staying at Hincapie’s Hotel Domestique, and visiting Asheville’s 8,000-acre Biltmore estate.

When you’re not pedaling , you’ll likely be eating classic Carolina fare, like farm-to-table meals and sipping craft beer, listening to live bluegrass, viewing local art, and simply soaking in the beauty of Carolina countryside. The distance and difficulty of the cycling is scalable to your fitness level, ranging from 80 to 211 total miles and 4,600 feet to 16,800 feet in elevation gain.

Location: Greenville, South Carolina, to Asheville, North Carolina Duration: 5 days/4 nights Cost: from $3,599

Las Vegas Mountain Bike Tour

Hosted by: escape adventures.

If mountain biking is your preferred mode of two-wheeled travel, consider this half-day or full-day guided tour through Red Rock National Conservation Area , a national reserve home to 100 miles of singletrack located just 17 miles from the glittering Las Vegas Strip.

You’ll cover between seven to 12 miles on a dirt trail with the option of a Specialized full-suspension mountain bike or a Specialized Levo mountain e-bike , making the tour accessible for a wide range of levels from beginner to expert.

Customers rave about their experiences with Escape Adventures, praising the high-quality, well-maintained bikes and personable guides. The company, in operation since 1992, boasts a five-star rating from over 700 reviews on TripAdvisor.

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Duration: Half-day (4 hours) or full-day (7 hours) Cost: from $150

Glacier National Park Bike Tour

Soak in the splendor of this million-plus acre National Park with a guided tour by Trek Travel, a Wisconsin-based company praised for its thoughtfully planned trips, high-end bikes , and knowledgeable guides.

Over the six-day trip, you’ll pedal 163 miles and climb more than 9,000 feet of mountainous terrain, including a stint on iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road, a nearly 50-mile road that brings together the east and west sides of the park and intersects the Continental Divide, per the National Park Service .

As you cycle, you’ll see glacial lakes, snowy mountains, cedar forests, alpine tundra, and more. The itinerary also features time off the saddle, including a rafting trip along the Flathead River (keep your eyes peeled for bears, moose, and other wildlife), plus a trip to the local farmer’s market in the resort town Whitefish.

Location: Glacier National Park, Montana Duration: 6 days/5 nights Cost: from $4,599

Denver City Tour

Hosted by: mile high bike tours.

Explore Colorado’s capital city in this approximately 9-mile tour that combines history, architecture, public art, and more. Operated by Mile High Bike Tours, which currently holds a five-star rating on TripAdvisor, the route charts through downtown Denver and along the Cherry Creek and Platte River Trails, highlighting landmarks like the historic Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower, Mile High Stadium, Coors Field, the Pepsi Center, and more.

All tours are led by born-and-raised Coloradans, who provide a local’s perspective on great things to do both in the Mile High City and around the Centennial State, according to the company. These folks will also adjust the experience to local happenings, per the company. If there’s a festival on the route, for example, the group will take a pit stop to listen to the music or, if it starts raining, everyone will duck inside for a beer. (E-bikes available for an additional charge!)

Location: Denver, Colorado Duration: 2.5 hours Cost: $65

Kentucky Bike Tour

Pedal rolling farmland hills, sample craft bourbon, and explore the history of the Bluegrass State in this guided group tour through Kentucky. Joey Coe, a trip expert at Backroads who grew up in Louisville and helped design this tour, says the trip is about giving participants “a real sense of connection to Kentucky” and “access to places that you could really only get if you were with someone that grew up there.”

With that ethos, the trip takes riders on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail , a region encompassing large-scale distilleries where you’ll cycle past idyllic pastures, sprawling country estates, and farms that raise Thoroughbred stallions.

Off the bike, you’ll jam out to bluegrass music, do a behind-the-scenes distillery tour, and sample Southern cuisine while staying in plush accommodations, including a medieval-style castle hotel with its own farm-to-table restaurant.

Participants rave about the experience, describing it as “the trip of a lifetime” and “very far off the usual tourist trail.” Several mileage options, ranging from 16 to 55 miles a day, make the experience accessible for varying abilities.

Location: Louisville to Lexington, Kentucky Duration: 5 days/4 nights Cost: from $3,499

Mt. Rushmore & Badlands Bike Tour

Hosted by: bicycle adventures.

Visit two National Parks, two National Monuments, and a whole bunch of other historic sites on this week-long group tour from the Badlands to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Highlights include a stint in Badlands National Park , a 244,000-acre expanse home to bison, big-horn sheep, and black-footed ferrets; a visit to Mammoth Hot Springs Site, an archeological dig that boasts the largest collection of mammoth remains on the planet; a stop at Wind Cave National Park, one of the oldest National Parks; a climb up to breathtaking Mt. Rushmore National Monument; and a ride to Devils Tower National Monument , a ginormous geologic feature you may recognize from the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind .

Daily mileage ranges from 30 to 60, with day four scheduled as an “off-the-bike” day in which you have the option to hike up to Black Elk Peak, the tallest point east of the Rockies.

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota Duration: 7 days/6 nights Cost: from $3,940

Florida Keys Bike Tour

Hosted by: great bike tours.

Get a dose of mid-winter vitamin D with this January trip to south Florida, where temperatures average in the mid-70s. Marketed as “very easy” in terms of riding intensity, this group tour, led by raved-about travel company Great Bike Tours involves pedaling 15 to 30 miles a day on flat terrain with generous tailwinds and e-bikes available. That leisurely pace sets the tone for a week of laid-back vacationing as you explore the Everglades, the Florida Keys, and Key West.

Highlights include a ride through Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to endangered species including the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida panther; a private kayak tour through John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park; visits to a rehab hospital for injured sea turtles as well as the Dolphin Research Center; and a sailing cruise complete with bottomless cocktails.

Location: Miami, Florida Duration: 6 days/5 nights Cost: From $3,895

The Heart of New Hampshire

Hosted by: ciclismo classico.

Led by Ciclismo Classico founder and New Hampshire native Lauren Hefferon, this group tour provides an intimate look at the southern region of the state dubbed “Switzerland of America.” You’ll pedal past winding rivers, under covered bridges, and through historic hamlets, averaging 29 to 45 miles a day on rolling, hilly terrain.

The adventures continue off the bike, with a hike up Mount Monadnock , a 3,165-foot National Natural Landmark; tours to local wineries and art galleries; and a variety of culinary highlights. Think: Honey and liqueur tastings at a beekeeping business, a visit to L.A. Burdick’s chocolate factory, and daily samplings at gelato shops and farm stands.

Location: Keene, New Hampshire Duration: 5 days/4 nights Cost: from $2,395

Washington D.C. Wilderness Ride

Hosted by: dc cycling concierge.

You probably don’t envision nature when picturing our nation’s capital, but this half-day tour explores a surprisingly serene side of Washington D.C. Pedal through the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens , an oasis within Anacostia National Park populated by beavers, turtles, and dragonflies. Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, as birds of prey are sometimes spotted on the tour.

Other highlights include views of the National Arboretum; a stop at the newly constructed Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge; and a visit to Bladensburg Waterfront where the Battle of Bladensburg occurred in 1814, famous for being the only battle in U.S history where the sitting president (James Madison) was present, according to guide and local historian Jeff Miller. All in, you’ll ride about 22 to 30 miles at a “decent pace” with several breaks along the way.

Location: Washington, D.C. Duration: 3-4 hours Cost: from $155

California Wine Country Bike Tour

Hosted by: sojourn bicycling vacations.

Wine lovers, this trip is for you. You’ll pedal through Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, famed for its Zinfandels; Russian River Valley , known for New World Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines; and Alexander Valley, where 15,000 acres of vineyards support 42 wineries, many of whom produce Cabernets, according to Sonoma County Tourism . Along the way, you’ll stop for winery and vineyard tours plus samplings of all the delicious vinos.

Additional highlights include picnicking under towering Redwoods, pedaling past the Pacific Ocean and eucalyptus groves, and staying at a cozy inn that boasts a hot tub or jacuzzi in every room. Daily mileage options range from 11 to 54 miles, with limited e-bikes available.

Location: Santa Rosa, California Duration: 6 days/5 nights Cost: from $3,975

Death Valley Weekend Cycling

Hosted by: rei adventures.

Explore the otherworldly wonders of Death Valley National Park—think: volcanic craters, multi-colored sandstone, salt flats, and towering sand dunes—with this three-day cycling tour that’s great for everyone from beginners (who can e-bike ) to experienced riders.

No matter your speed, enjoy the solitude of Death Valley as you pedal the quiet, smooth paved roads where traffic is minimal. Expect epic sunrises and sunsets, and if you plan your visit in the spring, you’ll likely see a large super-bloom of wildflowers spread across the valley.

Another highlight, no matter when you go, is the day three stopover at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America (elevation: 282 feet below sea level).

One more plus: Compared to other tour groups, this one minimizes the amount of time spent in the van. All in, you’ll pedal 113 miles with just six hours of driving. Riders eager for more can add extra distance on days two and three to reach a total of 186 miles.

Location: Death Valley National Park, California Duration: 3 days/2 nights Cost: from $2,199

U.S. and Aspen Snowmass Tour

Hosted by: pure adventures.

Designed for serious road riders comfortable pedaling at altitude (e-bikes are not an option here), this guided tour takes you on routes that pro cyclists tackle in series including the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and the Colorado Classic. Highlights include climbing 2,625 feet to the top of Vail Pass (elevation: 10,666 feet), pedaling in Glenwood Canyon alongside the Colorado River, riding along the Roaring Fork River to the small picturesque town of Carbondale, and climbing to the Maroon Bells, dubbed the “ most photographed mountains in North America .”

All that exertion will likely work up an appetite , which is good since the itinerary includes a three-course dinner in Glenwood Springs (a resort town brimming with natural hot springs), a sunset BBQ cookout, and an evening meal at the historic Redstone Inn, where the menu features hearty pastas, steaks, and classic American desserts (apple crisp, anyone?).

Location: Vail to Snowmass Village, Colorado Duration: 7 days/6 nights Cost: $4,200

Bikes, Bites & Brews Chicago’s Signature Dishes Bike Tour

Hosted by: bobby’s bike hike chicago.

This casual-paced, 13-mile guided tour combines two of our favorite things: cycling and eating. You’ll sample fare from the Windy City’s “four favorite food groups:” pizza, hot dogs, brownies, and beer, according to the tour company’s website .

The daytime tour takes you through northside neighborhoods, passing Lincoln Park, the Old Town Historic District, and Wrigleyville (home to Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs play), and more. And the evening route charts through downtown, encompassing highlights like the Chicago Riverwalk, Millennium Park (a hub of public art), and Buckingham Fountain, plus others.

Both tours include deep-dish pizza from locals’ favorite Lou Malnati’s plus lots of other bites, as well as history lessons on Chicago’s classic food dishes and local neighborhoods.

Location: Chicago, Illinois Duration: 4 hours Cost: from $80

Jenny is a Boulder, Colorado-based health and fitness journalist. She’s been freelancing for Runner’s World since 2015 and especially loves to write human interest profiles, in-depth service pieces and stories that explore the intersection of exercise and mental health. Her work has also been published by SELF , Men’s Journal , and Condé Nast Traveler , among other outlets. When she’s not running or writing, Jenny enjoys coaching youth swimming, rereading Harry Potter , and buying too many houseplants. 

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How to plan a cycling holiday

There’s lots to think about when planning a cycling holiday, especially if it’s your first cycling trip abroad and/or you want to make it awesome!

Below you’ll find our best tips on how to plan a bike trip – from deciding where to go and whether to book a tour, to picking accommodation and deciding what to take.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, just drop us a line . We’d love to hear from you.

How to start

There are lots of factors to consider when bike trip planning – this can make it difficult to know where to start! It’s the same as when trying to plan a holiday that doesn’t involve cycling – and then adding even more things to think about!

We usually begin with the question of where to go and narrow it down from there. This article is structured in that way:

Part 1 covers where to go, with the idea that you create a long list of places you’d like to cycle in and then narrow the list down by using the remaining factors, such as who’s going on the trip, what kind of holiday you want and when you’re looking to go.

Part 2 moves on to other issues you’ll need to consider when planning your bike holidays, including insurance, whether to hire your bike or take your own and what to pack.

We hope you enjoy the planning process!

Part 1: Planning a cycling holiday (where, when and how)

1. where to go.

It’s time to create your long-list of places you’d like to ride in!

Cycling holiday inspiration

If you’re looking for inspiration, head over to our 70+ destination guides here . They’re broken down by country and each regional guide gives detailed information on what it’s like from a cyclist’s perspective, including where to ride and GPX files. They’re packed with our best cycling in Europe tips (and advice on further afield destinations too).

The inspiration section of our website is also there to help and these articles are also very popular and potentially useful to you when creating your long-list of destinations:

• 15 of the world’s best cycling routes
• Best cycling destinations in the world
• Best cycling destinations in Europe
• Best cycling routes in Europe
• 7 top cycling holiday destinations in France
• Planning a cycling holiday in Belgium
• 9 top cycling holiday destinations in Spain
• Cycling in Italy: what you need to know
• Cycling in the Alps: what you need to know
• Cycling in the Pyrenees: what you need to know
• Best cycling routes in Switzerland
• 13 top cycling holiday destinations in the UK
• Cycling in Scotland: what you need to know
• Best cycling routes in the UK
• Best family cycling routes in the UK

Here are some factors to consider when picking your bucket list of cycling trip destinations:

Popular or off-the-beaten-track destination?

The mountains of Italy, France and Spain draw thousands of cyclists each year. Made famous by the Grand Tours, climbs like Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, the Stelvio and Angliru are always popular. Summers are short at these kinds of altitudes and this means the roads are busy with tourists – both the regular kind in cars and motorhomes but also the lycra clad kind… Hotels and accommodation make the most of the demand and prices in July and August are at their height.

If you want more ideas, our pick of the best cycling climbs in Europe (and this pick of the hardest climbs ) might help.

If you’d prefer to go somewhere less known, other parts of Europe offer fantastic possibilities for some of the best cycling holidays abroad. For instance, you could opt for less mainstream places like cycling in Switzerland’s St Moritz/Engadin Valley , Spain’s Terres de l’Ebre , Croatia or the Algarve . This might lead to your cycling trip requiring more planning as there will likely be less support available locally, but for more experienced cyclists this might be a price worth paying.

Even if you’re basing yourself in a city, consider whether you might be able to squeeze in some riding! (Check our pick of the best cities for cyclists and we have guides to cycling from cities as diverse as Brussels , Melbourne , San Francisco and Edinburgh .)

Easy cycling holidays, challenging adventures or something in-between?

How fit are you?! Are you looking for famous climbs and steep mountain passes – or are you less bothered about ticking off the famous cols and are happy in the hills?

Challenging

For hardcore cycling fame and glory, the French and Italian Alps are obvious destinations and you could also consider the Italian Dolomites, French Pyrenees and Spanish mountain ranges such as the Sierra Nevada and northern Spain.

If you’re less about bucket list climbs and bragging rights, the foothills of the famous mountain ranges might suit you better than the mountain valleys themselves. These kinds of area often offer the option to cycle into the mountains or enjoy easier days in flatter areas on quiet roads. Base yourself somewhere like Port de Pollenca in Mallorca, Girona in Spain or Paphos in Cyprus and you’ve got the best of all worlds.

Classic easy cycling holidays in Europe tend to be focused around the river cycle paths and veloroutes of Europe – for example the Danube, the Loire and the Burgundy Canal, but we’d also encourage you to consider bases like Girona as mentioned above.

There are guides to all of these places (and many more besides) here .

How many days/weeks have you got?

It’s an obvious point, but bear in mind how long it’s going to take you to get to the destination you like the look of. (For those in the UK), a long-haul destination like Borneo , Japan or Colorado is quite a different matter to somewhere closer to home like Yorkshire or the Alps !

Factor in things like the time you have to arrive before a flight/ferry and transfer times at both ends to make sure you’re getting a realistic idea of the overall time it’s going to take you.

There’s no point booking a long weekend cycling trip somewhere that’s going to take you two days to travel to/from…

This article shares our pick of the best long weekends in Europe for couples to visit.

To fly or not to fly?

Flights and transfers (plus baggage charges/bike hire…) have an annoying way of eating into your cycling holiday budget. There’s also the environmental cost of flying, especially for short journeys – read this for more on eco-friendly cycling holidays . It can be a lot easier to just stick everything in/on the car and drive, rather than having to pay careful attention to airline policies on weight allowances and number of suitcases. If you want to take your e-bike, driving might also make things easier – read this for more on flying with/shipping e-bikes .

So, when weighing up flying or ferry/drive holidays, remember that many destinations in mainland Europe are a feasible drive away (from the UK). Our pick of the best cycling destinations in Europe that you can drive to from the UK might come in handy. You might also want to know about hiring a bike van.

However, if you’ve only got a short time to travel or want to get somewhere a bit more far-flung ( Seychelles , San Francisco or Dubai anyone?!), flying might well be the only way to go. If you feel bad about your carbon footprint, you could always consider carbon off-setting – it’s becoming a more popular part of planning a bike trip for those who care about the environment.

How much driving are you willing to do?

If you’re doing a DIY trip, make sure you’ve planned your routes before you book (each of our free destination guides have lots of route suggestions). If there are particular climbs or routes you want to do, check out whether you’re going to be able to take them all in from the accommodation you’re staying in or whether you’ll need to drive to the start of a climb/loop route. Is that something you’re willing to do?

For example in the southern Alps, the famous climbs are much more spaced out than in the central Alps. This means you may only have a couple of loop rides from one base without repeating parts of what you’ve already done. The same goes for the classic destinations in the Dolomites like Corvara. To get to new areas you’ll need to get in the car or change base.

When we explored the Yorkshire Dales, we had our family in tow. We left the kids with grandparents at Centre Parcs Whinfell Forest, but this meant we had to drive into the Dales each day to start our rides. Not ideal.

If you’re in the UK and considering UK cycling holiday destinations, you’ve got hardcore regions for cycling such as Cornwall, the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District or easier cycling holiday destinations such as the Isle of Wight.

This is one of the most overlooked things when it comes to how to plan a cycling holiday. So make sure you’re definitely comfortable with how much time you’ll be spending behind the wheel.

Travel restrictions

While COVID-19 doesn’t really factor into planning your cycling trips abroad anymore (phew!), that doesn’t mean you don’t have to consider other potential travel restrictions for your road cycling holiday.

Always remember to check FCO advice (or the travel advice of your particular country for those outside the UK) and new requirements due to Brexit.

Travel insurance and passport validity/travel documentation is important too (more on that below ).

This will have a big influence on your decision.

2. Who’s going?

Family cycling holidays.

If it is a family bike trip, will you all be riding, just the adults or just you?

Family bike tours can be fantastic, but if everyone’s cycling, you’ll need to think carefully about the number of miles you’re riding each day, the terrain and places to stop en route. Depending on the age of the children, you will need to consider whether they’re up to riding their own bike and whether you’re happy on roads or would prefer bike paths.

From personal experience, family bike trips with toddlers and young children are particularly age dependent. A cycling holiday with a sedate 2 year old who is happy to sit in a seat on the back of a bike is quite a different matter to a cycling holiday with a stubborn 4 year old who won’t go on the back of your bike but also can’t cycle more than a few kilometres.

If it’s just the grown-ups that are cycling, what will you do with the kids when you’re on your bikes? You’ll want accommodation with a great kids’ club or be willing to hire a nanny/babysitter.

If you’re the only cyclist, make sure your other half is on board with how much riding you want to do and when! It won’t hurt to pick somewhere where there are lots of potential kid-friendly excursions too.

Read our tips for planning a family cycling trip for more details and inspiration for good destinations. Our UK family cycling holiday and Europe family cycling holiday articles might also be useful.

Cycling holidays for beginners

If this is a cycling trip for beginner cyclists, you’ll probably have an easy cycling holiday in mind and will want to focus your research on Europe’s flatter terrain and easy routes.

You may also want to think about getting some extra support from a cycling holiday company. They can offer support in the case of mechanical breakdowns or if you or one of the riders in your group runs out of energy to ride any further. There’s more information on the options available below .

These tips for beginner cyclists might also be useful.

Singles cycling holidays

If you’re an experienced cyclist and happy in your own company, you might be happy travelling and riding by yourself.

Otherwise, you might want to get in touch with a reputable cycling holiday company and see what mixed group departures they have available. Some companies specialise in cycling holidays for singles – do a bit of research and you’ll find lots of options.

Alternatively, you could consider just getting a few days guiding in your destination. This way you could do some riding alone and some with a local guide. There’s always the option to contact a local cycling club before you leave – many will be happy for you to tag along with one of their rides.

Group cycling holidays

If you’re part of a group of cyclists looking for a cycling holiday, your requirements are likely to be different again. For example, if your group is on the large size, you might need quite a hotel that can offer lots of single rooms. But if it’s a case of you and a friend are planning a cycling holiday, finding suitable twin accommodation is a lot easier.

Also, one of the major questions you’ll need to consider is the fitness of the cyclists within your group. Are you all at a similar fitness level?

What are your objectives? Is this a hardcore training camp or a relaxed holiday in the sun?

What speed will you ride at? Will you ride all day every day?

Ideally there’ll be at least a few of you of similar abilities so that you can ride together. You could also consider an e-bike tour – the option for hiring electric bikes for those that are less fit; electric bike hire is becoming increasingly popular and available, especially in mountainous areas.

This article on how to plan a group cycling holiday has lots more information.

Women’s cycling holidays

Some women might prefer to go on a cycling holiday that’s just for women. If that sounds like you, read our article about what makes a women’s bike tour different and questions to ask before you book.

3. What kind of cycling holiday are you planning?

Supported/self-supported cycling tours/diy cycling holiday.

Who will do all the planning and booking for your trip? Are you the bike trip planner, or are you using a cycling holiday company?

Getting a company involved will probably make it more expensive and you may lose some flexibility in the itinerary, but it should also take the hassle out of all the trip planning. On a guided trip, they’ll probably provide a support car and most meals. This is a particularly attractive option if you’re looking at a point to point trip or planning a trip on behalf of a group. It’s also a good option if you’re looking for other cyclists to ride with or just want the comfort of there being a support vehicle on hand.

In fact, often with a guided cycling holiday, you just need to turn up at the airport with your bike (unless you hire one) and they take care of you for the entire trip. From airport transfers to guided routes and mechanical assistance, there are plenty of levels of personalisation that the best cycling holiday companies offer. And if you really have a lot of cash to splash, completely bespoke holidays are an option too. They often include things in addition to cycling, like local attractions and things to do off the bike.

There’s more information about supported cycling holidays here:  

• What is a guided cycling holiday (and is it right for you)?
• 13 things to check before booking a bike tour
• The best luxury bike tours 
• Planning a budget cycling trip

Once you’ve decided you want a company to help you organise your tour, these guides to choosing the best cycling holidays in France, Spain and Italy should assist:

Cycling holidays in France

• Cycling hotels in France
• How to pick a cycling holiday in France
• An unbiased comparison of the different cycling holiday operators in France
• Overview of the best Provence bike tours
• Pick of the best Alpine bike tours
• In-depth review of cycling tours in Nice (+bike rental)

Cycling holidays in Spain

• Cycling hotels in Spain
• How to pick a cycling holiday in Spain
• Comparison of the different cycling holiday operators in Spain
• Overview of the best Mallorca bike tours

Cycling holidays in Italy

• Our pick of the best Italy cycling tours

And finally, if you are interested in which cycling tour operators we worked with in 2022, read this.

Point to point or one base

A point to point trip will allow you to feel like you’re on a real cycling adventure, covering lots of ground, taking in beautiful landscapes and passing through plenty of towns and villages.

Classic examples include London to Paris, Land’s End to John O’Groats , the NC500 in Scotland , the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland , Raid Pyrenees , the Routes des Grandes Alpes and Portugal’s N2 road . There are also more bespoke tours such as Seville to Valencia in Andalucia, Spain . As well as events in the USA like cycling across America or the incredible South American TransAndes . There are also the long distance veloroutes that run throughout Europe.

Organising a point to point trip obviously requires much more effort than a single base type trip. When considering how to plan a holiday that begins and ends in different places, travel can be a little more tricky. Plus you’ve got to find somewhere to stay each night. If you’re camping and carrying all your gear it might be relatively straightforward, but if you’re relying on B&Bs/hotels and need someone to transport your gear, there will be much more to do in the way of logistics.

Which option is best for you will heavily depend on who you’re with, whether you’ve got someone to help arrange everything and whether you want a traditional holiday with a bit of cycling or a full on cycling odyssey. These types of holidays are great for getting plenty of miles in and really seeing different parts of a country. Whether it’s the UK or abroad, you’ll come away with a much broader perspective than if you’d stayed in one central base.

Cycling event

You might want to base your holiday around a specific cycling event or challenge. The event itself may only take up a day or two, but perhaps you can tack on a few days and turn it into a holiday?

Our granfondo guide and pick of the best UK , European and Worldwide cycling challenges should give you some inspiration!

Our guides to these incredible events might also help: Dragon Ride , Marmotte , Maratona , Mallorca 312 , Granfondo Stelvio Santini ,  Saimaa Cycle Tour , Col de la Loze sportive ,   Peaks Challenge Falls Creek , Taiwan KOM and the Tour des Stations .

If you’re looking for an easier starting point, this article on the best cycling challenges and events for beginners will be a useful read.

At the other end of the spectrum, perhaps you want to take on an Everest cycle challenge ?

Or you might be looking to just watch the pros in action: how about a Tour de France trip , Spring Classics trip or trip to watch the Tour of the Algarve ?

As these events become increasingly popular, more tour companies offer their services to provide a one-stop trip. It takes the hassle out of you needing to organise accommodation at what will be one of the busiest times of the year for the local hospitality industry, and can guarantee you entry into events which may sell out quite quickly otherwise.

Type of cycling

What kind of terrain do you want to ride? Easy, flat bike paths? Roads? Off-road? Or a mix of all the above?

Make sure your destination supports the kind of riding you’re looking for.

The “types of cycling” section of our site has more details. The e-bike touring and gravel touring sections might be particularly useful.

Training camp

If you’re the kind of person that’s driven by objectives, perhaps you want to use your cycling holiday as more of a focused training camp to build your fitness for a particular goal for the season. These are great for getting away from reality for a week or two and living how the professionals live – with no distractions away from cycling!

There are quite a few specific considerations when booking a training camp, so check out our guide to cycle training camps before you go any further. This interview about cycling camps in Spain (inc Girona) may also be useful – it includes a list of seven questions to ask before booking your cycling training camp accommodation.

Full-on relaxation

On the other hand, perhaps you’re after a break, free from the pressures of hardcore gradients, finish times and training goals. You want to ride for the sake of riding, to meet people, experience the culture, natural beauty and sights, rather than clock up the kilometres.

In this case, you’ll probably want to keep things simple and be based from one place, making sure to check the riding from that base is beautiful without being overly strenuous. Also have a good think about what activities the destination offers when you’re off the bike – whether that’s restaurants, beach based activities or historical monuments, chateaux and vineyards to visit when you’re off the bike.

4. When to go?

Factors to consider.

There are lots of factors to consider around the subject of the best time to go on your cycling holiday:

• When is the likely best weather in the destination?
• If you’re going somewhere mountainous, will the roads be open?
• Are you limited by school holidays? If not, you might want to avoid them!
• Are there any events at the destination that you either want to go to – or avoid!
• Are there any cheaper times of year to travel?
• Are you keen to stay in a particular hotel/town or eat somewhere particular? Bear in mind that many places close out of season, so check before you book!

Our destination guides contain an indicator of the best time of year to travel from a weather perspective, but the decision on what’s best for you will obviously be a very personal one. This article on best destinations in winter and cycling in Limassol Cyprus in winter may be useful.

Often watching or taking part in a cycling event can be an excellent reason to visit. We’ve got tons of inspiration for events to take part in. Check the events section above .

5. What kind of accommodation?

Bear in mind the kind of accommodation that’s available at the destination.Our pick of  Europe’s best cycling hotels could be a good place to start.

If you like 5 star luxury, you’re unlikely to find it in a small village on the side of a mountain in the French Pyrenees, the Alps or sun and sea destinations like Cyprus and Gran Canaria. But there are definitely some interesting options in places like Mallorca , Girona , Nice and further afield in the Seychelles . Even Tenerife has some excellent resorts that are great for a luxury cycling holiday. You’ll find our pick of the best hotels in those destinations if you click through to the destination guides.

Mid-range/budget

Alternatively, if your budget is more restricted, there are some great options by the sea in Spain: Calpe is well-known for its excellent rates out of season, as is the Costa Almeria and Costa Daurada . (As before, you’ll find our pick of the best hotels in those destinations if you click through to the destination guides.) Camping, motor-homing and local B&Bs can also be good budget-friendly options.

Family-friendly

We mentioned family-friendly cycling trips above – if you’re looking for places with good kids clubs that might allow you to sneak out for a few hours’ riding, check out the Club Med resorts in France. Also Club Le Manga in Spain has excellent kids sports facilities (this is the 5 star hotel , these are the 4 star apartments ).

Part 2: Planning everything else for your cycling trip

6. cycling holiday travel insurance.

It’s not exciting, but insurance is an important part of holiday planning. It’s worth thinking about travel insurance and making sure you have it from the day you book; that way you’ll have the peace of mind of cancellation cover from day one.

It’s important to ensure your insurance covers the cycling you’re actually going to be doing on holiday.

Think about insurance not only for you if you get hurt, but also damage/loss to your bike and to other people caused by you. There’s also all the potential cancellation/delay situations you will need to think about too. Bear in mind that while you might have cover for some things in policies you already have, classic travel insurance often doesn’t cover all kinds of cycling at all altitudes – and cycling events are often outside the scope of normal cover too.

We’ve written this article on cycling travel insurance to give you some pointers.

Other (boring but important) things to check

We mentioned FCO advice and Brexit related issues above – but you should also check your passport is valid and the expiration date is at least six months after your final day of travel.

The effects of Brexit have also impacted the EHIC card, which granted you healthcare in the European Union. Instead, if your EHIC card has expired you must apply for a GHIC card. You can find out more on the NHS website, here .

Finally, also ensure you have the appropriate travel documentation (any necessary visas etc).

7. Whether to hire a bike?

The age-old question of whether to take your own bike or hire one there.

On one hand you’ve got the horror stories about airlines losing/breaking bikes when travellers have been flying with a bike, you’ve got the hassle of packing and unpacking it and getting a transfer vehicle big enough to fit the box. Plus the temptation to test ride a new bike on your trip.

On the other side of the argument, perhaps you want to ride your beautiful bike somewhere new and awesome, you’re wedded to your particular set-up (and power meter ) and the hire options aren’t great where you’re going…

There’s more to help you decide where to hire or whether flying with your bike is the best option for you in this article . If you decide to hire, it also covers what to check before marching out of the bike hire shop.

If you decide you want to take your own bike, this article will take you through the process.

8. What to take?

Top tip: allow enough time to pack, especially if this is your first trip. Also, don’t assume there’ll be shops where you’re going that will stock everything you need; the more remote you are and the more specific the thing is that’s broken or been forgotten, the less likely you’ll find it when you’re there!

Packing for a cycling trip does require a bit of thought – fortunately we’ve done this many, many times and we’ve written down our list of what to take to help you out. You can find our ultimate cycling packing list here , info on what to wear when it’s cold , together with reviews of some of our favourite kit.

If you’ve decided to take your bike, allow time to service it before you leave. There is nothing worse than arriving on holiday to find you’ve got to deal with bike mechanical problems… Also think about gearing – make sure you’ve got enough gears if you’re heading somewhere mountainous!

9. Do you need to train?

Have a careful think about your training well before you head off on holiday. After all, you want to enjoy yourself when you’re away!

So if you normally just do a few miles at the weekend, it’s worth doing a bit of training before you go away. Riding every day for a week, for hours and hours each day is very different to short Sunday morning rides at home.

Make sure your training matches the kind of terrain you’ll be riding. If you’re heading to the mountains, you may have to do repeated efforts up shorter local climbs to help you get ready.

Perhaps you need to consider some turbo training if the weather or terrain at home aren’t suited to you needs?

If you’re planning to ride every day on holiday, it’s a good idea to at least try out riding back to back days at home. That way you’ll know how your body will respond.

Make sure you train wearing the kit you’ll be wearing on holiday. That way you know it will work and be comfortable. Likewise, if you’re going to have panniers on board, make sure you’ve trained with your bike loaded up so you know your stuff fits in them, how to pack them, how the bike handles with weight and that they are fit for purpose!

For more information, check out our tips for preparing for long distance cycling and our specific training tips too.

10. What routes will you ride when you get there?

If you’ve opted for an organised trip, this is much less relevant. But, if you’re going DIY, it’s really important to think about what bike routes you’ll do before you arrive. Trying to sort bike rides and GPX routes out on a dodgy wifi connection in the hotel is not what you want to be doing on evening one of your trip…

We’ve got hundreds of tried and tested epic cycling routes in our destination guides; you can find all the cycling destination guides here , just click through to find our routes and GPX files.

If we haven’t (yet) covered your destination, make sure you read our in-depth article on cycling route planning . It contains all our best tips from years of practise.

We’d also just mention that Strava heatmap is a great resource for finding the most commonly used roads in the area you’re planning on riding in. It’s a really handy tool as a cycling trip planner. It’s updated using (anonymised) data from other riders, so you can see where people tend to go. If you’re looking for tips on how to plan a cycling route yourself, we’d also suggest looking on Google Streetview to make sure you don’t accidentally route down a track or private road – believe us, even the best routing apps in the world can fail on this one!

Finally, for each route you pick, you should also consider where you’ll stop for breaks and lunch (these cafes in London , Mallorca and Girona might be good to know about). You should also make a plan B in case you or someone in your group isn’t up to to the ride or has a mechanical.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re planning your first cycling holiday or you’ve completed a lot of cycle holidays abroad, whether you’re looking for an easy cycling holiday or a super challenging one, we hope these cycling holiday tips have helped you.

Feel free to explore the buttons below, which link to additional content on the points covered above.

Have a fantastic cycling trip and don’t forget to drop us an email or message on social media to tell us how you got on!

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Kate is a passionate cyclist who has explored the world by bike, including Europe, central America and South East Asia. Kate is a key member of the Epic Road Rides team; when she’s not busy commissioning articles for Epic Road Rides, you’ll find her busy writing and editing articles herself.

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Moscow Bike TOur

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Description

Highlights:.

• Find adventure at every turn
• Take pride in covering Moscow in record time
• Enjoy the icons in style
• Explore off the beaten path routes of Moscow
• Expert commentary as you travel around the city
• Test your nerve, driving on crazy Russian roads
• Get an Endorphin Rush
• Savour delicacies from different regions of Russia in a traditional restaurant

Only in Moscow for a short time and want to get the most out of the city and have fun? Then a 3-hour bike tour in Moscow is what you need! You won’t hear much about Russian history or become an expert on Russian art, but you will experience all the rest of Russian culture! This tour gives you a unique perspective of a little bit of everything in 3 or 5 hours: must-see tourist sights, local hangouts, Russian food, a glimpse of the modern Moscow life, amazing photo opportunities, a bit of Russian history, and a lot of fun!

This is a great opportunity to cut the usual all day tour down to only 3 or 5 hours and get the most out of the city while having fun and being fit in the greatest locations around Moscow!

A bike trip is sure to capture your heart. It enables you to see the heart of Moscow within the Boulevard Ring and to explore some non-touristic areas of the city, to get an image of the city centre and to work out at the same time.

Our tours differ and depend on whether you are interested in city scenery or nature-like landscape. A variety of places in Moscow are great for riding a bike: these are large parks, yards with old mansions, and historical streets in the centre.

Let’s see what’s waiting for you!

Here are 4 suggested itineraries for a 3-hour tour:.

Moscow Bike Route #1

St. Basil's Cathedral, GUM, Kazan Cathedral, State Historical Museum and Lenin's Mausoleum

Revolution Square and Theatrical Square

Bolshoy Theatre, Metropol Hotel, Chinese Wall, State Duma of Moscow

Alexander Garden

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, fountains, the Grotto, Central Exhibition center, Kutafya tower, Kremlin wall and towers

Historic City Center

Tverskaya street with its beautiful historical architecture, China town (Kitai-gorod), an old historical area of Moscow

Beautiful  City bridge  leading to  Gorky Park  with scenic views of  Christ the Savior  cathedral and the Moscow River. Explore all the beauties riding a bike along the riverside pathways.

Sculpture Park

Peaceful  Crimean embankment  is one of the quietest area of Moscow city with painters' works at the  Vernisage , close proximity to new  Tretyakov Gallery  and good views of  Christ the Savior Cathedral ,  Peter the Great  monument and the Crimean bridge.

Delicious lunch at a café/restaurant

Arbat street + Stalin Skyscraper

The  Arbat  has existed since at least the 15th century and is proud of being the oldest surviving street of the Russian capital. Nowadays, it is now an entertainment and event mecca for Muscovites and tourists alike.

Victory park

Get thrilled with 142 metres  Obelisk  and  Victory Park museum , which is an open-air museum dedicated to the Russian victory of 1945, built in 1995 to celebrate 50 years of victory

Moscow Bike Route #2

Pyatnitskaya street - the Tretyakov Gallery - Luzhkov Bridge - the Cathedral of Christ the Savior - the Gogolevsky Boulevard - the Nikitsky Boulevard - the Tverskoy boulevard - Teatralnaya street - the Bolshoi Theatre – the Kitai - Gorod - Red Square and GUM store - the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge

This route is the best one if you want to see the heart of Moscow. It goes right through the major places of interest and touches upon the most exciting and vibrant areas of Moscow such as part of the Boulevard Ring, which is absolutely loved by everyone.

Cozy streets of Zamoskvorechye will never leave you indifferent. This district has a long and vivid history and is full of old baroque houses along with Stalinist buildings. It includes three theatres, three museums and sixteen churches.

Back in the 18 th century Zamoskvorechye was known as a quiet, country-like land of single-storey houses and conservative businessmen. It remained country-like and is much more filled with business than before, as this area is just right in the city centre.

You’ll learn:

• what was previously on the site of the Novokuznetskaya metro-station;
• names of four abandoned metro stations and how to find these stations;
• what is the oldest bridge among all the bridges in Moscow;
• how old was Pavel Tretyakov when he decided to collect paintings, that are now exhibited in the Tretyakov gallery;
• what does the real form of the Boulevard Ring in Moscow look like;
• what tricks did the Russian government used to save the houses and buildings from bombing during the World War II;
• what unofficial name the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky bridge has

Moscow Bike Route #3

View over the Kremlin - The Luzhkov Bridge –  The Strelka Institute –  The Muzeon Park –  The Gorky Park –  Neskuchny Garden –  Sparrow Hills –  The Luzhniki Stadium -  Novodevichy Convent – The Arbat Street – The Gogolevsky boulevard - The Cathedral of Christ the Savior –  The Bolotnaya Square

This route includes the most popular city-sights and goes along the Moskva-River. It starts with an observation point, from which you may enjoy the view over the Kremlin, and covers all the most beautiful green areas of Moscow. Historical sites are included into the route so you can feel the historical vibes of ancient Moscow.

• where is hidden an island Moscow;
• where in Moscow you can get printed music of the most sweet masterpieces like “Chocolate waltz” and “Cake-gallop” along with a box of chocolates of the 18 th century;
• why the Luzhkov bridge is also called “the bridge of kisses”;
• the place where the famous Olympic symbol – the Olympic Bear of the Olympics-1980 was flown from;
• the stage where Rolling Stones and Madonna performed when they came to Moscow;
• why the Krymsky bridge was Stalin’s favourite bridge and what musical instrument it represents;
• where living statues in Moscow could be found in 1740s;
• myths and legends about inhabitants of the main building of Moscow State University;
• story about why Sparrow Hills were called that way;
• how Napoleon was cheated when he was going to burn down the Novodevichy convent;
• what was supposed to be on the site where the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is now;
• why Moscow was nearly burnt down in the 15 th century and which role the Arbat street played in it.

Moscow Bike Route #4

Starting with wide area of the VDNKh, you are to learn interesting and fun facts about this spectacular part of Moscow.

• where is a hidden the secret bunker under Moscow (and no, it’s not a famous Bunker 42 everybody knows about;
• why the number of golden statues at the fountain is more than the number of Soviet republics, although it is said to correspond them;
• why one of the Stalin statues was called “matryoshka” (Russian doll);
• what was Picasso’s favourite statue at the exhibition in Paris in 1937.

You’ll see:

• the world’s first light-music fountain that was built in 1950-1954;
• pavilions that symbolize Soviet republics;
• the Botanic garden which is twice as big as the Principality of Monaco;
• the largest green-house in Europe (for the opening day in 1945);
• English garden at the Ostankino mansion;
• Ostankino Tower, one of the tallest structures in Europe;
• the most beautiful flowers in hidden places of the parks.

Biking through VDNKh, Botanic garden and the territory of the Ostankino park will definitely be appreciated by nature-lovers and all those who are keen on speed, who knows no limits and want to explore off the beaten path of Moscow.

We can customize your bike adventure to meet your individual interests.

Our bicycle tour in Moscow gives you a chance to have a s pectacular ride  with  wonderful photo opportunities  and an  unforgettable cultural experience!

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow
• + Private & customized tour
• + An exciting tour, not just boring history lessons
• + An authentic experience of local life
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri)
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow

*This tour can be modified to meet your preferences

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The best way to explore Moscow! - Moscow Bike Tours

• Europe    
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• Moscow Bike Tours

I was a solo traveler and I just had one day in Moscow. This bike tour was great not only did it... read more

Vado was a fabulous tour guide and he took us to unexpected and delightful places. His ability to... read more

The best way to explore Moscow!

The cycling tour was definitely the highlight of our visit of Moscow. Vado was an excellent guide. His English is very good, he knows a lot about the city and everything's there's to see, not only the most touristy places. He is perfectly able to improvise and customise the tour to whatever you want to see or know about. As we had already seen the Red Square and its surroundings, he showed us some spots that you wouldn't normally get to see on a first visit of the city. Especially the parks were great to cycle through. He is very concerned about your safety and well-being. As we were enjoying it so much, he made the tour even much longer than was indicated on the website. We made some welcome stops for coffee, lunch and icecream. If you want, he also takes pictures of you throughout the tour (free of charge!), which is a very nice plus. I would recommend Moscow Bike Tours to anyone visiting the city, be it for the first time or not!

We had such a great time with Vado on our bike tour. He was super knowledgable of the city and had such interesting facts about things we would never even know to ask about. He took us on a private tour and we were able to customize it to what we liked. He always was conscious of our safety and did not ride too fast or too slow. I especially liked how he took pictures throughout our travel. We would love to do another bike tour with him and explore other gems Moscow has to offer.

This tour was fun, adjusted to our needs and wishes - several times actually on the tour. The guide Vado was very knowledgeable on various subjects, very willing to share it, answer questions and just a very likeable guy. He helped us finding a taxi at a reasonable rate (lot's of different rates for taxi's) and not reading the Cyrillic alphabet and since this is not a big company with a big logo (which is part of their quality) we do recommend taking a taxi to their location. We did find their bikes in the driveway and a very discreet label with their phone number. We can honestly say we thoroughly enjoyed the tour and can recommend it.

From booking this trip through to getting the photos after, Vado, with his perfect English, was a superstar, certainly not letting us down on the day with his insightful, informative and exciting bike tour around Moscow. I really do believe that this is the best (and certainly most healthy) way of seeing the busy city. You not only see the main sites, but all those small places that you would never get to see otherwise, allowing you to interact with the people and places, which would otherwise be impossible on a bus tour. Vado ensured that we went at a pace we were comfortable with and stayed safe on the roads. I was incredibly impressed with the work the local mayor is overseeing to make it a bike friendly city. This is a big thumbs up from my wife and I.

I spent a week in Moscow with a friend and we wanted to get a good overview of the city on the first stay, which we got with the bike tour. The tour was worth every penny we paid for it. We started at midday right on time and the tour ended at about 7 pm with a lunch break. We got to see the main sights of the city and since we booked a private tour we could stop anywhere we wanted, to take pictures, to visit a couple of monasteries... Our guide, Nadia, was very nice, she knew many stories about many things we got to see, recommended more things we could do during our stay, restaurants we could go to, good Russian or Soviet movies we should watch... We had a great time. I would highly recommend this tour.

The tour was everyting and more than what we expected. Vado is a very frienly and knowledgeable person. He speaks fluent english with a lot of humor. We covered the whole city in 6 hours, had a lovely lunch at an old soviet diner. I would definately advice any person who visits Moscow to do the cycling tour on their first or second day. Thanks Vado for a great day well spend!

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About Bicycle Trip

50 years of serving the santa cruz cycling community.

Since 1973, the Bicycle Trip has been a locally owned and independent provider of top-quality bicycles, bike fittings, performance optimization, and repair services in Santa Cruz. We're proud to have served the Santa Cruz cycling community for half a century, and we invite you to dive deep into our story and history.

Our product mix is carefully curated and features all types of bikes, including electric, road, mountain, kids, urban, and a wide selection designed specifically for women. We're proud to carry products from the world's most innovative and inspiring brands, and we offer electric bikes from Giant, Pivot, Liv, CUBE, Intense, Cannondale, Aventon, Norco, and Rocky Mountain, starting at just $1299. We also feature analog bikes from Giant, Pivot, Liv, Momentum, Cannondale, Roll Bicycle Company, Intense, Allied Cycle Works, Norco, Rocky Mountain, and Electra.

Our selection of cycling clothing for road and mountain includes options from Castelli, Troy Lee Designs and Giro, and we offer helmets from Giro, Bell, and Nutcase.

At the Bicycle Trip, we pride ourselves on being the friendliest bike shop in town, and our Service team is second to none. We offer a full range of services, from fixing flats and tuning to adjusting your ride, dialing in your electronic drivetrain, and performing complete overhauls on your front and rear shocks. Best of all, all estimates are free.

If you've purchased a bike from another company or manufacturer online, don't worry. We're happy to help you down the road to a safe, comfortable, high-performance ride experience. Simply bring your purchase into our shop, and we'll make sure it's ready to pedal.

Our commitment to cycling and to the Santa Cruz community runs deep, spanning decades and including programs like Project Bike Tech, a nonprofit that provides technical training in bicycle mechanics to prepare youth for job opportunities in the industry. We also support nonprofits like Ecology Action, Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship, and Bike Santa Cruz County, all of which are dedicated to educating and encouraging the public and making bikes a part of the solution to societal challenges.

Co-owners Berri Michel, and Aaron and Rachael Jacobs continue to align with these organizations and others in the community to promote cycling as a solution to societal challenges and to provide friendly and professional service for all.

At the Bicycle Trip, we're passionate about bikes. Our staff members have a wide range of experience, knowledge, and interests, from elite enduro and downhill to road racing, trials riding, bike packing and touring, commuting, and casual cruising. We're a professional and family-oriented Santa Cruz bike shop, and we're always looking for talented individuals to join our team of bike fanatics. If you're interested in working with us, please send us your resume and cover letter.

We're here and ready to help you and your ride get ready for your next cycling adventure. We hope to see you soon!

Good Times Best of Santa Cruz 2023

Year after year, Bicycle Trip is honored to earn the distinction of  Best Bicycle Shop  in a Good Times survey of residents of Santa Cruz County and surrounding areas. 

Why the recognition and accolades matter:

Consistent Quality: Bicycle Trip's consecutive wins showcase our commitment to delivering exceptional products and services that consistently meet or exceed customer expectations.

Trust and Reputation: Winning the "Best Bicycle Shop" title repeatedly has built trust and solidifies Bicycle Trip's reputation as a reliable and knowledgeable establishment.

Customer-Centric Approach: We prioritize customer needs, providing outstanding service and personalized recommendations to ensure customer satisfaction.

Expertise and Knowledge: The recognition highlights Bicycle Trip's expertise in the bicycle industry, with well-informed staff capable of providing valuable advice on bike selection, maintenance, and repairs.

Community Engagement: We actively support and engage with the local cycling community, demonstrating our involvement and commitment to the Santa Cruz area.

Overall, being voted the "Best Bicycle Shop" in Good Times year after year highlights Bicycle Trip's excellence in product quality, customer service, expertise, and community engagement. It reinforces our position as a trusted and reliable destination for cyclists in Santa Cruz.

Good Times has been the leading free weekly in Santa Cruz County for more than 40 years, with a circulation of 35,000 and readership of 96,000 each week.  Good Times is available at nearly 700 distribution points including the University of California at Santa Cruz, diverse communities from Davenport to Watsonville, the San Lorenzo Valley, and top visitor destinations. Good Times has been recognized as California’s Best Weekly FOUR YEARS IN A ROW!

Why Choose The Bicycle Trip?

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We sell products from the best bicycle brands in the world. We offer great value to our customers through competitive pricing, quality products, and superior customer service.

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We aren't your average bike shop. Our staff is helpful and passionate about cycling. We listen to your needs and work hard to help you find precisely the right products for you.

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If you find the same product in stock locally for a lower price within 30 days of your purchase, we’ll happily credit you the difference. Get the best products at the best price.

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We’re dedicated to helping you find the perfect bicycle for your riding style. We carry a wide selection of bikes and cycling gear for beginners and experts alike, and we’re here to help you select the equipment that best meets your needs as a cyclist.

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Our staff is professionally trained, and our friendly employees contribute to our welcoming atmosphere. In sales and service, we’re committed to providing you with an exceptional shopping experience.

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Our qualified professional mechanics service all makes and models of bicycles. Visit us for a free estimate, and count on us for quick turnaround times and quality bicycle repairs.

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Proper bicycle fit is essential to enjoying the ride. Our certified fit specialists learn about you, evaluate you in the riding position, and configure your bike to meet your cycling goals.

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World-class cycling your way. Ever wanted to take adventure into your own hands without worrying about the nuts and bolts of making it happen? Now you can do just that. Our self-guided bike tours combine the freedom to explore your favorite destinations your way with the best parts of any Trek Travel itinerary—curated routes and itinerary suggestions at your fingertips, world-class Trek bikes, and the best accommodations along the way. You just have to wake up and go. View Self-Guided Bike Tours Travel Info

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Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.

Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.

These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.

On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of hotel levels, from Explorer to Luxury to Ultimate Luxury. Rest assured, no matter which level of hotel you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.

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Road : 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

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Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).

Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).

Road : 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).

Gravel:  4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

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Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.

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Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself

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Best touring bikes 2024: tourers for adventures on two wheels

Although there are many bikes capable of cycle trips, the best touring bikes remain the optimal tool for longer journeys

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Our pick of the best touring bikes

What to look for in a touring bike.

The allure of the open road is one of cycling’s enduring themes. Touring by bicycle allows for this on a grand scale, travelling for several days, often in far-flung places with all your kit strapped to the bike. Of course, micro-adventures closer to home can be just as much fun and still keep the spirit of adventure alive.

Whether you’re planning an expedition abroad or fancy exploring more local roads in far greater detail, a touring bike is the ideal tool for the job. Designed for cycling long distances in comfort, the bikes should be both stable and reliable in their handling, as well as providing all the mounts you need for pannier racks and bags and mudguards . Self-sufficiency is one of the tenets of cycling touring, so the bikes are usually designed with ease of maintenance in mind, too.

The good news for touring cyclists is that the range of bikes available to cater for their needs has grown substantially in the last few years.

In this guide, we've rounded up the more traditional options. If you're thinking of going off-road, perhaps investigate gravel orientated options in our buying guide here , and if you plan to go quick and travel light, see endurance road bikes here .

There's more on what to look for in a touring bike below - but first, here are our top picks of the best touring bikes.

Genesis Tour de Fer 30 touring bike

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

This is a bike that's been created exclusively to provide a comfortable and practical ride for a touring cyclist. The Reynolds 725 Heat-Treated Chromoly frame promises a springy ride and an incredibly strong base.

The 160mm rotor mechanical disc brakes are a more modern introduction with a nod to practicality, especially in the wet. Although we’ve found mechanical TRP Spyre brake calipers aren’t quite as powerful or as easy to modulate as a hydraulic brakeset, they are easy to adjust and highly reliable – perfect for a long-distance tour.

A 10-speed Shimano Tiagra drivetrain is about right for a bike at this price point, but in our experience, a 50/39/30 crankset provides gears that are just a bit too big for cycle touring – particularly over hilly terrain. 

But you can always swap this out for a smaller ringed option down the line. We find that with a cassette of 11-34t, going for a granny ring of 26t is generally a good bet.

We’ve always found Schwalbe’s Marathon tyres to be highly puncture resistant and with a good wear rate. In 35c, these are capable of traversing broken roads and tamer gravel, but if you’re planning on spending a large amount of time off road you would want something a bit plumper.

Handily, this bike come with many of the accessories we think are a must. Firstly, mudguards, but also dynamo powered front and rear lights, bottle cages and the Tubus pannier racks front and rear.

Surly Disc Trucker

A spin-off of Surly's much-revered Long Haul Trucker, the Disc Trucker keeps many of the much-loved versatility and can-do attitude, but this time with the addition of mechanical disc brakes and thru-axles – unlike the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 which has disc brakes and QR axles.

Opinion is a little split on thru-axles for touring – if you have any catastrophic issues with your hubs in more remote countries, you're unlikely to be able to find a replacement locally. That said, those kind of hub issues are quite rare and if it does happen you can always get a replacement sent out. For the improved alignment between the rotor and the caliper, we think the benefits outweigh the negatives.

A multitude of braze-on mount means the Disc Trucker is capable of running front and rear bags, full-coverage fenders, two water bottles, a spare spoke and even a pump peg. However, in not coming with these accessories, you will have to factor these into the cost, making the value for money a little less than the Genesis Tour de Fer 30 or the Kona Sutra.

With both 26" and 700c wheel build options available, the Disc Trucker can be as adventurous as you choose. The 26" (in sizes 42-58cm) is capable of taking up to 2.1" tires, while the 700c version (in sizes 56-64cm) has room for up to 42mm tires — both with fenders.

Although touring bikes generally do have a more relaxed position than a typical road bike, designed as they are for comfortably covering long distances, the Disc Trucker does have a particularly high front end. This isn't necessarily a problem, but if you are coming from a road cycling background, you may find just such an elevated position a little uncomfortable 

Made from a CroMoly Steel, the Disc Trucker comes equipped with a Shimano Alivio/Sora drivetrain, with the 48/36/26 triple Alivio crankset and 11-34 9-speed Shimano cassette provides a gearing range we find to be a great balance between top-end speed and low-end winching – particularly if you’re planning on maxing out the rider and kit weight limit of 161kg (355lb).

Kona Sutra All Road touring bike

The gloss black Sutra is made from Kona 's Cromoly steel frame and is kitted out with smooth-rolling Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 700x40c tires on WTB STi23 rims, which are now tubeless-compatible.

The current model has replaced the previous Shimano Deore 3x10 drivetrain with 2x10 chainset from Shimano's GRX gravel range. It's a move that's unlikely to please the touring purists. The 46/30t chainrings are matched with a 11-36t cassette, which sees the bike's gearing range reduced. It should still see you up the steep climbs, just perhaps not in as much comfort as before.

Gone too are the bar-end shifters, replaced with Shimano 10-speed Tiagra road shifters. Again it's quite the change, moving the Sutra from a traditional tourer into a far more modern interpretation. It reduces some of the bike's previous mechanical simplicity, which is appealing if your tours are long and overseas. That said the move to STI levers will appeal if you're used to riding a regular bike.

Another nod to modernity are the TRP disc brakes, which are blend of mechanical and hydraulic, and the frame's thru-axles.

With a Brooks B17 leather saddle, mudguards and a front pannier rack finishing off this tourer, this good-looking bike oozes style.

The leather Brooks saddle does require a bit more care than what you might be used to – it need to be kept covered from heavy rain and needs a semi regular application of cream to keep the leather supple. But by functioning essentially as a hammock, it is exceptionally comfortable and only gets better over time as it moulds to your shape – it wears in, rather than out..

Ridgeback Voyage

Classic styling never goes out of date - and the vintage-looking Voyage has got it by the bucket load, though a redesign means that modern tech has not been overlooked.

The Ridgeback Voyage uses Reynolds 520 tubing for the frame, with a CroMoly steel fork. A rack and full mudguards (fenders) come as standard. 

The Shimano 48/36/26t triple chainset paired with an 11-34 cassette offers a good range of gearing although with relatively large jumps between the gears due to having just nine gears at the rear. 

We don’t find this to be too much of an issue when taking it steady on a cycle tour but would prefer something a little tighter if multiple very high mileage days are planned.

Shifting and braking is taken care of by Shimano's reliable Sora levers and Tektro cantilever rim brakes. The latter certainly help make the Voyage a maintenance-friendly machine - easy to maintain and find replaces for, even in remote locations - although disc brakes may be a preferred choice for all-weather tourers.

Alex rims with a high spoke count are pretty dependable, even if not the flashiest and fitted with 32c Continental Contact tyres, they can handle a little off road, but are best suited to the tarmac.  

Trek 520 disc touring bike

Constructed from Trek's CroMoly steel, the frame has been designed around disc brakes and fitted with a rack and fenders mounts.

The Bontrager Affinity rims are tubeless-ready, which might be worth setting up if you want a bit of a faster ride when commuting. But for long-term touring it’s generally best to stick with inner tubes so as to avoid the added complication of sealant drying out. Bontrager’s 38c H1 hard-case Ultimate tyres offer good puncture resistance themselves.

The drivetrain is a mixture of Shimano parts with Sora shifters. The crankset is a triple, with 48/36/26 tooth chainrings, and the cassette is an 11-36 so you'll have ample gears when the road goes up. TRP Spyre C 2.0 mechanical disc mechanical discs look after stopping.

However, with only nine sprockets on the cassette, the jumps between the gears are a little large, as with the Ridgeback Voyage. But if this does cause you an issue, and if you find yourself not using all of the gears, you could fit a tighter range cassette for smaller jumps.

Like the Genesis Tour de Fer 30, the wheel axles are QR, which can make getting the rotor and caliper aligned properly a little more difficult than with a thru-axle system

The overall weight comes in at 14.26 kg / 31.4 lbs in a size 57, which is lighter than some of the more traditional options.

Cube Travel Pro Trapeze touring bike

Cube offers its Travel Pro tourer in both a traditional crossbar and step-through frame design, with the latter making mounting and dismounting this robust, aluminum bike easy and convenient.

The convenience theme is carried through much of the bike. It's equipped with a Shimano Nexus internal hub gear system and a Gates CDN Belt Drive system which offers super low maintenance compared with a more traditional chain and derailleur system.

With this eight-speed hub, the jumps between the gears is a little larger and the overall range a little lower than you can get with a derailleur system, and it's not quite as efficient. But that said, if you're planning on taking it steady on your cycle tour, those points are pretty immaterial compared to the benefit of much lower maintenance.  

There's plenty of clearance for extra-wide tires and the wheels are currently wrapped in Schwalbe's Marathon Almotion 29x2.15in rubber.

Finishing off this functional tourer are full-length fenders, an adjustable CUBE stand Pro kickstand, a Knog Oi bell, lights (front and rear), and a semi-integrated carrier for pannier bags; these features will have you covered for any adventure.

Salsa Marrakesh

The Marrakesh is designed to take you touring wherever you wish — including a trip around the world if necessary. The frame is built from 4130 CroMoly tubing and has a serious array of mounts. There's room for up to five bottle cages thanks to extra fork mounts plus it comes fitted with front and rear racks. There's even a mount to carry a spare spoke.

Elsewhere there are bar-end shifters and a 3x9-speed Shimano Alivio groupset. The gearing range is designed to get you up the steep stuff even when fully loaded thanks to 48/36/36 triple chainring paired with an 11-36t cassette. The shifters also make roadside maintenance a little easier.

Its world-touring credentials are further aided by its generous tire clearance - 700 x 40mm even with mudguards (fenders), and comes stock with Maxxis Roamer 42mm tires. This means you should eat up the miles in comfort even when the road gets rough.

It's difficult to lay out specific criteria when it comes to choosing a touring bike because the beauty of touring is that it can be whatever you want it to be – there is no single best touring bike for everyone, what is best for you depends on the type of tours you want to go on. However, there are key elements to consider when selecting your two-wheeled riding buddy, which will enable you to get the best touring bike for you.

Touring bike frame

If you're planning a longer trip, and intend the bike to be used primarily for such adventures, then the resilience and comfort of steel is a sensible choice. As such, most of the best touring bikes will feature this metal. The amount you're willing to invest will dictate the weight, strength and character of the steel you end up with.

When looking at steel touring bikes, expect to see the word 'Chromoly' a lot. This is a form of low alloy steel that is used when strength is particularly important. It takes its name from two of the primary alloying (mixing of metals) elements used: “chromium” and “molybdenum”.

If you're planning on using the bike for touring and other duties: club runs, commutes, shorter rides where speed might be more in your interest, consider aluminum or carbon .

Bikes suitable for touring will have a relaxed geometry: a shorter top tube and taller stack to put the rider in a more relaxed position. The wheelbase will be longer, to create a feeling of stability. You'll also notice that the chainstays are longer - this means panniers can be mounted without a chance of clipping your heels and it allows for better distribution when panniers are full.

Touring bike wheels

Elsewhere in the cycling world, we talk about low weight and aerodynamics when it comes to bicycle wheels. And sure, if you're aiming to break a world record on your cycle tour then those are probably still very important areas to consider.

However, if you mainly want to get to somewhere rather far away, and you'd like to arrive there with a wheel that's still true and contains the same number of spokes you left with, then a strong wheel is what you desire. Look for a higher spoke count that you might opt for on a speedy road bike.

The best touring bikes will generally have at least 36 spokes per wheel, tandem touring bike can even go as high as 48. 

Touring bike tyres

It's incredible how much difference a set of tyres can make to a bike. The frame can be designed with comfort top of the agenda, but put on some narrow rubber shoes and pump them up to the wrong tyre pressure and you'll be bumping about all over the road.

Most touring cyclists will want to go for wider tyres - 28mm+, when compared with their road racing cousins. The further off the beaten track you want to go, the wider they should be. If you plan on tackling some light trails, look for 32mm+.

Touring bike brakes

Traditionally, touring bikes had rim brakes and these will certainly do the job for most road-based tours. However, disc brakes do provide far superior stopping power, especially in the wet, and they are now more common than rim brake on the best touring bikes

Since disc brakes don't rely upon the rim to bring the bike to a halt, they also reduce the risk of the rims becoming worn through debris building up on the pads.

Add in that many touring cyclists are carrying luggage, therefore adding to the overall load, powerful brakes that work in all weathers do seem like a sensible addition. However, not everyone likes the appearance of disc brakes on a traditional steel machine and the pads are a tiny bit harder to replace and set up, which is worth considering if you're maintaining your bike on the road.

Luggage and Lights on a touring bike

A purpose-built touring bike will come with pannier racks fitted, as well as fenders and perhaps even built-in lights. These all add to the overall weight, but if the intended purpose requires them, it's no bother.

If you plan to use the bike for other purposes, like group rides, then you may want to look for a bike that comes with eyelets for guards and racks, so that you can remove and fit them as and when.

There's a lot of clever luggage solutions around these days, such as frame bags and oversized saddlebags , that allow you to do away with panniers if you'd rather distribute weight differently.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.

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