On two wheels: Mountain bike trips

Forget faddish fit camps or pedal pushing on the road, the trend for two-wheelers has moved into your leisure time, so lose the Lycra in favour of baggy shorts and a brush with mud

By Sam Lewis
Published 10 Aug 2016, 09:00 BST, Updated 7 Jul 2021, 14:26 BST

Mountainbiking, Alpe d’Huez, France. Image: Alamy

Photograph by Alamy

Switzerland's new mountain bike website features details of endurance trails, scenic tours and all-mountain rides, from epic single-track trails through the Alps to long-distance trips from Basel to Lake Geneva. myswitzerland.com

Why not try… Enduro
Megavalanche, Alpe d'Huez, France: The most famous enduro race (which combines timed downhill sections with untimed uphills) takes place every July with a mass start on a glacier at an elevation of 10,892ft. The 18-mile track, with its 8,530ft of vertical descent, typically takes around an hour but for a more gentle introduction, the Forest of Dean holds a mini enduro every autumn.

Swap it out
Your mountain bike for an e-bike: half the excursion for twice the appeal? Ideal for tackling some of Austria's tougher climbs, for example — Mayrhofen and Tirol both now offer e-bike tours. inghams.co.uk

Bespoke road biking packages

Beginner, Italy

Head to Tuscany in November to train with Dario Cioni, director of Team Sky, where he oversees Tour de France winner Chris Froome. Prices from €618 (£519). adler-thermae.com

Intermediate, Thailand
Up your bike game on a Fusion Fitness holiday at Thanyapura, a specialist retreat in Phuket, the training ground for racers such as Tour de France star Nick Gates. Prices from £1,485. healthandfitnesstravel.com

Advanced, Colombia
Covering 62 miles a day, this 13-day ride from Bogota to Cartagena, with a 49-mile climb up Alto de Letras, is doable for regular cyclists. Prices from £2,095. skedaddle.co.uk

Published in the September 2016 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)

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