Great Destinations On A European Bicycle Tour

A European bicycle tour is a thrilling way to see the sights of Europe. A cycling holiday has many advantages over the traditional European vacation, which typically involves plans, trains, rented cars, hotel reservations, and laundry lists of cities to visit.

First of all, biking through Europe is good for your health. You’ll burn a lot of calories covering 50-80 miles a day on your bike; this exercise, in turn, will give you plenty of opportunities to fill up on delicious local fare. Second, one of the last remaining ways to see Europe cheaply is by bike. Tour Europe in any other way, and (if you’re from America) you’ll be shocked at the exchange rate between the Euro and the dollar. Third, traveling by bike affords you flexibility during your Europe trip, especially if you’re carrying your tent on your back.

Although a bicycle tour of Europe ultimately requires less planning than a traditional European vacation, the planning that you do undertake will carry far greater consequences. The route you chose can make or break your bicycle tour. Europe has some fantastic, scenic, not crowded bicycle-friendly roads. However, some European roads are ill-suited for long-distance biking. Before you plan your racing or mountain biking tour of the continent, keep in mind these top ten European biking spots.

Provence, Southern France - Hot Spot Bicycle Tour

Provence, in southern France, is perhaps the best-loved region of Europe among biking enthusiasts. The roads that traverse the countryside of Provence are largely free of traffic. The land is mostly flat, for easy biking. During early autumn, you will feel as though you can bike forever through the same golden fields of corn that inspired Van Gogh, and that now line both sides of the road. In the summer, Provence is full of wildflowers. If you want to add challenge to your rides, veer eastward. You’ll be rewarded with an opportunity to visit out-of-the-way hilltop villages.

The Italian Dolomites are one of the best places in Europe for arduous mountain biking. Every year, the professional cyclists ride through these intimidating peaks during the course of the Giro d’Italia, the most important bike race in Europe after the Tour de France.

The French Alps are a European bicycle tour hot spot for a similar reason: the difficult terrain of the Alps forms the arena for the yearly Tour de France competition.

If you’re not yet ready to tackle endless mountainous ascents, the lesser, but still quite challenging hills of Umbria and Tuscany can be a good place to begin your bike tour. Italy gets very picturesque here. You’ll be biking among sunny hills, vineyards, villas, and gothic churches full of Renaissance paintings and frescoes. During the course of your journey through the countryside, you’ll pass through a few local villages. These are great places to purchase cheap, good wine.

If you prefer Spain to Italy, consider the option of a downhill mountain bike through the Picos de Europa. Of course, when you’re riding in the mountains, you’re going to be riding up as well as down. The Picos de Europa, located in northern Spain, are a challenge to bike, but the natural scenery (and absence of cars or even other cyclists) is certainly worth it.

Until recently, Eastern Europe has been overlooked as a cycling destination. One of the best and most challenging Eastern European bike routes is what’s known as the “amber trail” between Budapest, Hungary and Krakow, Poland. Bikers along this route follow the path taken by medieval and early-modern amber traders. The route takes bikers through farms and through villages and along the banks of Danube river. Eventually, the route takes the bikers into the Low and High Tatras mountain ranges, which makes for a grueling trip in either direction.

A good historical bike route follows the Way of St. James of Compostela through France and Spain. The Way of St. James is a historic pilgrimage route along which medieval pilgrims–in a sense, the first tourists–traveled by the thousands.

The Dordogne Valley and the Loire Valley are two more French biking hot spots. The Dordogne Valley features prehistoric cave paintings, while the Loire Valley boasts many views of French chateaux (castles). Finally, for easy, flat cycling among some of the most beautiful and melancholy scenery you’ll ever see in your life, try starting your European bicycle in the Netherlands (specifically, in Holland).

Recumbent Bikes Provides Exercise For Seniors

Recumbent bikes are increasing in popularity as they are great for exercise for seniors. Many seniors think they can no longer ride a bike, especially if they have physical limitations or are not quite as spry as they used to be. This is really not the case, though, now that recumbent bikes are increasingly popular. They are available in a variety of styles, many of which are especially well suited for the unique needs of seniors.

Recumbent Bikes Basics

Recumbent bikes are different from regular bikes because instead of sitting up high with your feet and legs pedaling underneath you, the bike allows you to sit more comfortably as if in a chair that leans slightly backward. Your feet and legs extend out in front of you and the pedaling movement is front to back rather than up and down as on a regular bike.

Seniors find recumbent bikes easier to use because of the relatively easy and relaxed seating position. If balance is a problem then a recumbent tricycle is an excellent alternative. Regardless of whether you choose a recumbent bicycle or tricycle, you will be probably be happiest if you invest in one that has at least some sort of suspension on the front and rear wheels. A padded seat is very nice as well; some manufacturers are now offering recumbent bikes and trikes with seats that are practically like recliners with their level of comfort.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Recumbent Bikes

There are a great number of advantages to riding on a recumbent bike, such as:

• Comfort – Between the comfortable seat and the reclining position, riding a recumbent bike is easier on your body and can be done for longer periods of time. Muscle strains and other pains are reduced quite a bit, thanks again to the reclining position.

• Safety – Because recumbent bikes are lower to the ground, if you should take a tumble you are much less likely to get a serious injury. There just isn’t nearly as great of a distance to fall. Also, the recumbent position makes braking and stopping much easier and quicker.

• Visibility while riding – Most seniors find it much easier to see where they are going and maintain good visibility while riding because instead of trying to hold their necks up like on a regular bike, they are already seated and facing forward with a wide range of sight.

• Customization – Recumbent bikes are extremely customizable, more so than a regular bike. You can specify the reclining angle of the seat, the width and padding of the seat, the length of the wheelbase, the shocks and suspension, and even a windshield to help protect from wind and rain.

Along with these advantages, of course, there are disadvantages to recumbent bikes as well. These include:

• Balance and stability – A regular recumbent bicycle take a bit more practice to master the balance and stability. Because you sit much lower to the ground it is more difficult to establish a balance and at slow speeds it is harder to keep the bike stable. This is why many seniors prefer riding a recumbent tricycle instead.

• Visibility while riding – While the rider has greater visibility on a recumbent bike, people in cars and other vehicles find it much harder to see a recumbent bike going down the street. Again, this is due to the low position relative to the ground. A good way to increase visibility is to attach a tall, flexible, and bright flag to the frame of the bike.

• Maneuverability – The longer wheelbase of a recumbent bike means the turning radius is larger than a traditional bike and the maneuverability is reduced. You have to take this into account when judging distances and safe areas to ride.

• Cost – A recumbent bike can cost as much as 20% to 50% more than a standard upright bike. For many seniors, though, the higher price is well worth it for the increased comfort and ridability.

Great Option and Exercise For Seniors

The bottom line when it comes to recumbent bikes is that they can be a really great option for seniors who want to be active but can’t ride a regular upright bike. They allow the rider to be more comfortable and ride for longer periods of time, which in turn contributes to better health and fitness levels.

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