Guest Post: Pedal Power – 3 Bespoke Cycling Holidays for Ultimate Green Travel

February 9, 2012 by Brenda
Filed under Featured Posts, Guest Posts, Travel & Tourism

Being green is often about making lifestyle changes, and it’s usually the case that making modifications to our current practices is an effective way to cut down our carbon footprint. However, holidays are to many people a valuable respite and treat that is difficult to cut out of our lives. Unfortunately the travel and tourism industry is incredibly fossil fuel thirsty, and this can leave us feeling a little guilty.

It is therefore a good idea to fall back on the trusty technique of adapting how we do something, and cycling is an excellent way to travel in an eco-minded way. So here are 3 frameworks for types of cycling holidays to have fun and take care of the environment.

City Cycling

City cycling is a great way to introduce the idea of cycling on a holiday as it doesn’t have to be the main feature. Jumping on the saddle after a few days hitting the shops and sights can give sore feet a welcomed rest as well.

Picking the right city is key so have a look at online guides before you go, but a good indicator is quite simply the presence of bicycle hire firms. It can be surprising which cities are a good match for a day’s cycling, but a couple of US examples are NYC and San Francisco. The hire companies will also provide you with ready-made maps of routes which are easy to follow, take in the best sights and have a time estimation of when you’ll complete it by.

Hop on the saddle in the Big Apple and you can tour all of Central Park and routes cross through the vibrant neighborhoods of which this town is spoilt for choice. San Francisco is a more extensive prospect for which the bay setting is ideal. Away from her steep hills, along the shoreline through areas such as Fisherman’s Wharf is a pleasant flat ride amidst the backdrop of Alcatraz Island. You’ll have to hike uphill to get to the bridge, but it’s most certainly worth it as you can glide across whilst lapping up one of the best views from a bridge around the world.

Road Cycling

Road cycling really has no limits in terms of where you can go. Bikes are generally better at dealing with poor road conditions than vehicles and easier to repair, but you are obviously more at risk from the dangers of the traffic and their driving abilities.

Europe is a top notch location for road cycling. The EuroVelo route 6 tracks across the continent from the West Coast of France to the Romanian Black Sea and is a popular, accessible option for any ability. Being in the West, you are never far from a fully kitted out Town and many people will chose where to start and end this route depending on your desires and constraints.

Cycle touring holidays are often at their best when they track the coastline. A notable location here is the Pacific coast of America, with its many trendy and popular cities and surf locales, as well as some dramatic coastal scenery. Furthermore, if you fancy a break, then you can revert to your holidaying status quo and simply jump in the sea or collapse on the beach.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is a completely different prospect but opens up the option of a more extensive biking holiday. If you’re looking to take it seriously, then pack a light tent, some durable clothing if the destination requires it, and really get to grips with the terrain. There’s nothing like riding a bike over the mountains to appreciate the contours of the landscape, an arduous climb will only enhance the satisfaction of bumping and jolting down the subsequent down slope.
Picking a location is incredibly difficult here as the opportunities are almost limitless. For anyone seeking a challenge, then Northern Thailand along the Burma border and the Chiang Mai region is a popular place if South East Asia is on your to do list.

Another strength of a mountain biking holiday is that it can give you cause to go to countries that aren’t on the traditional tourist trail. An example would be Kyrgyzstan, which may not be a country with the culture or attractions you would normally look for in a holiday, but with challenging ascents and some stunning lake views and the opportunity to bump into roaming nomads you may just change your mind.

Author Bio: Matthew is a travel blogging enthusiast and a seasoned budget traveller. He is now looking forward instead to some luxury family holidays later this year.

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