Uncategorised - Cycle Trekkers

Biking can be a great way to connect with nature and even discover a new city. Still, many of those who enjoy cycling also like to try out various types of trails in all season. From muddy trails in the spring rain to snowing trails in the winter, biking can be a great way to explore and stay healthy. In this article, we are going to show you 5 of the most epic rides you can take in the southern hemisphere, so you can hit up one of these places while on vacation to challenge yourself!

New Zealand

New Zealand is already known as a place where extreme sports thrives. In New Zealand, you can choose either the North or South Islands for mountain biking. On the South Island, you can head to Queenstown for one of the best locations in which to bike in the entire country.

If you head to the Queenstown Bike Park at Ben Lomon Recreational Reserve, you will find some of the best trails out there. Here, you can find many specialist outlets for biking that will inform you about the trails and various bikes.

You can head to cities near Wellington for some awesome trails to bike. You will have your choices of many, including heading to Auckland for the Woodhill Bike Park, or Napier at the Pan Pac Eskdale Mountain Bike Park. You won’t be disappointed!

Australia

If you have an Enduro bike, then head to Australia for the competitions and events they have for Enduro racing, such as the annual Cross-Country Marathon National Series, which is only held in Australia. This race spans 4 states and 2 territories, at nearly 600 km long!

If you don’t want to compete, you can head to Stromlo Forest Park for some great trails by yourself or with friends. This 5-stars rated park boasts a network of trails that are perfect for beginners or those who are advanced. You can find this bike park in Canberra and you can explore every bit of it!

Sparrow Hill, also in Canberra, is another great park that has many trails to explore. This is an intermediate skill area that has single tracks about 32 km long. The Hillside Dams area of this park is great for those that like a different terrain as it has many rocky areas and winding paths with lots of shrubberies.

Bolivia

If you are an avid mountain biker and you have heard of biking in Bolivia, then you may have heard of Death Road. Located in La Cumbre, an hour from La Paz, Death Road is known as the world’s most dangerous road. You will start out in an area in the Andes that is located over 15,000 feet above sea level. You will see Huayna Potosi, which is the highest peak, and it’s snowcapped.

You will start on Death Road on a 40-mile trek that will decrease your altitude by nearly 12,000 feet. You will be riding through rain, on a mountain where the road is very narrow and only fits 2-way traffic. Safety is a concern, but with a guide, you will be lead safely.

Most of this trail is downhill, and you will pass through villages and see various animals like llamas. You will pass by cliffs, rock overhangs and a ton of beautiful vegetation. Luckily, there are places to stop and rest and get something cool to drink. Just before your biking ends, you will pass by a beautiful, cooling waterfall. Just past that is the end, where you can relax at a wildlife refuge!

Argentina

Argentina is known for its beautiful landscapes and scenery, which you will get a lot of if you go mountain biking here. In San Juan, you will find Tres Marias, an advanced single track that starts at the bottom of the mountain and goes east or west, depending on where you want to go. The trails range in terrain and you will enjoy getting to the top of Tres Marias!

If you choose to take a biking tour, you can go around Buenos Aires, specifically the districts of San Telmo and La Boca. This tour will take you to various landmarks around Casa Rosada and Plaza de Mayo. You explore many of the popular areas as well.

Chile

Head to Santiago, Chile, and bike at Cancha Carrerra! This is a difficult circuit for advanced bikers as it has many types of terrain. It is touted as one of the best downhill trails in Santiago. In many areas, there are rocky areas and rock gardens and many curves. As you continue, you will encounter gaps, jumps, zigzags and sharp turns.

Once you get to the end, you will pass through the forest, where you will continue to zigzag and enter rocky territory. Take your GPS with you as it is easy to miss a turn, and there are several roads that go in other directions!

Enjoy the beautiful views this circuit has to offer. You can see the fog that enters into the mountains, and on clear days you can see for miles and miles!

El Huinganal is also in Santiago and is an advanced single track that is nearly 1,000 feet in elevation. You will start off around Establo el Huingal, where you will pass by horses! On this trail you will cross 3 creeks and enjoy a flat area to bike on that has some rocky parts to it.

Conclusion

Are you ready to plan a trip yet? Hitting up these trails and the many others in the southern hemisphere will excite you and test your limits. Going mountain biking is not only a great way to stay in shape, but to explore nature and different areas. With these trails, you will surely enjoy yourself and maybe learn a thing or two! See you on the trails!

Cycling in Europe has a lot to offer: wonderful vistas, friendly people, and a rich cultural background. You can experience the Old Continent in a new way, traveling by your bike, on different routes. That’s why we found the best trails for you, regardless whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced cyclist.

Brittany to Normandy

This is a great route if you’re intermediate to biking because of the medium elevation gain during this 8-day long journey. But it’s totally worth it, considering you’ll see some of the most beautiful beaches in France. Not to mention the historical charge, given the pit stops of this route. So this 8 day tour starts in Saint-Malo, where you can visit the walled city. The second day ends in Cancale, but on the road there, you’ll see the coast, plenty of fisherman villages, as well as oyster farms. Over the next few days, you can visit Roman-age towns, spend the night in beach hotels, learn more about the Battle of Normandy and about medieval history in general. The coastline is stunning and you’ll breathe in a lot of fresh air.

Paris to Moscow

This is a longer route that lasts for approximately 45 days during which you’ll travel more than 2700 miles, but you’ll get to experience a lot of different countries along the way. This is an advanced journey, during which you’ll travel through the places where Napoleon went in 1812, during his Russian Campaign. It’s a good idea to take the best hydration bladder you can find, considering you’ll be on the move so much. You’ll travel through Germany with its deep forests, through the medieval villages of Poland, and the rolling vineyards of Lithuania and Latvia. These last two countries, along with Estonia have an Eastern culture that’s visible throughout their streets, buildings, and monasteries. The end point is Moscow, where you can rest your weary legs.

The Danube river tour

This is another one of the most popular rides, and it’s definitely for beginners. That’s because you’ll have little to no elevation gain, and you’ll be cycling on paved paths, following the Danube. So there won’t be any rocky terrain or traveling through forests, but you’ll get to travel through four different countries. You’ll start in Germany with its Alemannic history and Bavarian monasteries. After that, you’ll travel through Austria, where you can marvel at its impressive vineyards. Slovakia is a country with lots of memories from the two World Wars, as well as from the Ancient times. And lastly, you’ll get to Budapest, Hungary, with its green villages. The whole journey will take you about 13 days, and you’ll travel about 500 miles total.

The Alps to the Adriatic

This is definitely an epic journey, and it’s more appropriate for advanced cyclists. You’ll pedal through various heritage sites and alpine cities, but you’ll start in Venice. After cycling through the long green plains in Venice, you’ll bask your eyes in the crystal clear water of the Adriatic sea. You’ll travel through hills and beaches, through plateaus and baroque cities. You’ll see various cities in the countries of Italy and Austria, as well as other highlights in the course of this 27 days route. The 1155 miles total are a long way to go, but you’ll be traveling an average of 52 miles each day.

The Moselle to Mozart

This amazing tour covers a part of Germany and Austria, but the route will take you to the border with Luxembourg as well. You’ll see various historic cities, and pedal on the shore of different rivers, the most renowned ones being the Rhine and the impetuous Danube. Other impressive vistas are offered courtesy of deep forests, green valleys, and quaint villages. Bask your eyes at the poetic vineyards along the way, and enjoy the magnificent old river beds, timbered houses, churches, and castles. The medieval villages and towns, filled with monasteries and ancient castles will lead you to Vienna, where you can go for a nice stroll or a guided tour of the city. This 16 days journey mostly runs on even terrain, so you won’t have to strain yourself too much. However, you’ll be pedaling an average of 60 miles daily, and that’s what makes it an intermediate tour.

What will it be?

With so many choices at your disposal, it’s not easy to pick one. All these tours have a lot to offer in terms of sceneries and history, but they all challenge you differently. So in the end, your choice depends on your skill level and time frame. Don’t be shy and tell us what you picked. And if you have other, better tour suggestions, we’re happy to hear them! The comments are right below.

Category: Uncategorised

5 of the World’s Most Epic Bike Rides in the Southern Hemisphere