Epic Bike Rides of Europe

Explore Europe’s most thrilling cycling routes with the latest installment in the Epic series from Lonely Planet. From dreamy getaways on sun-dappled Mediterranean Islands to challenging alpine crossings, bike enthusiasts share stories from the best road, mountain, dirt and trail routes across the spiritual home of cycling.

Destinations suit a range of trip types and abilities, and each ride features stunning photographs, a richly-illustrated map and a toolkit of practical details so that riders can help plan their own trips. From some of the remotest corners of northern Scotland to mighty mountain passes in the pristine Pyrenees, you’ll explore some of the continent’s least-explored regions, as well as cities including Berlin and Copenhagen amongst many others. Rides feature adventurous bikepacking routes, classic race routes, must-do mountain biking trails, and family-friendly forays.

Guest contributors include author Rob Penn, who cycled around the world in his late twenties, and Ned Boulting, a British sports journalist and television presenter who has reported on everything from the Tour de France to the Vuelta a Espana. So turn those pedals and enjoy the ride to over 50 cycle-loving destinations.

INTRODUCTION 04

NORTHERN EUROPE

In Pursuit of Spring (England) 08

The Berlin Wall (Germany) 14

Cape Wrath & The Wild Northwest (Scotland) 20

The South Downs Way (England) 26

The Styrkeproven (Norway) 32

A Snowdon Double (Wales) 38

The Beers of Flanders (Belgium) 44

From Sea to Sea (England) 50

A Dutch Summer Holiday (The Netherlands) 56

Riding into History on Wayfarer Pass (Wales) 62

A Baltic Odyssey (Germany, Denmark) 68

A Cultured Cruise from Copenhagen (Denmark) 74

God’s Own Ride (England) 80

West Cork’s Wild Coast (Ireland) 86

A Tour of Lake Constance (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) 92

Into the Outer Hebrides (Scotland) 98

A Flavour of Bavaria (Germany) 104

WESTERN EUROPE

A Traverse of the Provençal Alps (France) 112

The White Roads of Tuscany (Italy) 118

Twice Up the Galibier (France) 124

Into the Montañas Vacias (Spain) 130

A Toast to the Vines of Burgundy (France) 136

How to Raid the Pyrenees (France) 142

Down the Danube (Austria) 148

The 24hrs of Finale Ligure (Italy) 154

La Route des Grandes Alpes (Switzerland, France) 160

Into the Valley of Death (Italy) 166

Across France the Easy Way (France) 172

A Traverse of the Sierra Nevada (Spain) 178

The Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Switzerland, Italy) 186

Rolling Through Baroque Sicily (Italy) 192

The Col de Portet (on a folding bike) (France) 198

The Trans Dolomiti (Italy) 204

The Lessons of the Hell of the North (France) 210

The Rocacorba Test (Spain) 216

To the End of the Earth (France) 222

The Hope 1000 (Switzerland) 228

Mallorca’s Spring Playground (Spain) 234

The Torino-Nice Rally (Italy, France) 240

The Transpyr (Spain) 246

A Corsican Challenge (France) 252

EASTERN EUROPE

The Julian Alps (Slovenia) 260

Into the Tatra Mountains (Poland) 266

Island-hopping in Croatia (Croatia) 272

The Trans Dinarica Trail (Slovenia, Croatia, BiH) 278

EuroVelo 6’s Eastern Heart (Hungary to Bulgaria) 284

The Ride of a Thousand Years (Czech Republic) 290

To Durmitor and Back (Croatia, BiH, Montenegro) 296

Tuning Up in Macedonia (North Macedonia) 302

Turkey, Here I Come (France to Turkey) 308

ISBN: 9781788689427

Edition: 1st

Publication Date: August 2020
 

Writers: Lonely Planet

320 pages, 320pp color | Dimensions: 207mm × 265mm

Next edition due: Not yet determined