The world's most incredible bike routes
世界上最不可思議的自行車路線
Rides don't come much bigger or more remote than this. The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is off-road touring from Canada's Alberta all the way to New Mexico that takes in 61,000 meters of climb. That's more than 200,000 feet of glorious thigh burn.- China's Friendship Highway takes cyclists 800 lung-bursting kilometers through foothills of Everest
- More relaxing rides are available -- Japan's Shimanami Kaido can easily be completed in a day
- Riders might have bear or moose for company on the Great Divide bike route from Alberta, Canada to New Mexico
(CNN) -- The primary joy of a bicycle is that, in its purest form, it's little more than a highly efficient way of walking.
Just grab the bike, climb aboard and pedal swiftly to the shop, the bar or wherever.
Some cyclists, however, prefer their rides a bit more dramatic.
Perhaps even scenic, remote and arduous.
Here's a selection of fantastic rides from around the world that take anything from a day to several months to complete.
Don't forget the anti-chafe cream.
The Friendship Highway (China)
Whether or not the 800 kilometers (500 miles) between the Tibetan city of Lhasa and the Nepalese border is the planet's most beautiful ride depends on your idea enjoyment of sometimes bleak high-altitude vistas.
What's in little doubt is that it's the highest.
The route includes three road passes of more than 5,000 meters (16,400 feet), with a lung-bursting maximum of 5,220 meters over the Gyatso La mountain pass, where the reward on a clear day is a distant view of Everest.
This, it goes without saying, isn't for everyone.
Conditions can be testing and the distance between towns necessitates careful planning.
Plus, the sensitive political situation in Tibet means individual travel can be tricky at times.
MORE: Cycling across the sea in stunning Hiroshima
For the sufficiently committed this remains one of the globe's true adventures, from the religious and cultural wonders of Lhasa and Gyantse to the prayer flag-draped peak of the Gampa La mountain pass, with the vast, turquoise lake, Yamdrok Yumtso, shining in the valley below.
If that's not enough, the route ends with possibly the world's longest descent, a precipitous 3,500-meter drop off the edge of the Tibetan plateau along muddy hairpins.
La Ruta de los Conquistadores (Costa Rica)
Shorter but arguably no less arduous than the Friendship Highway is this 270-kilometer off-road ride across Costa Rica.
From the Pacific to Caribbean coasts, this one takes in mud paths, rainforest, coffee plantations, even an extinct volcano.
It can be completed in three days each November as part of theannual mountain bike race from which the ride takes its name.
Those in less of a rush can spend as long as they like, whenever they like, tracing the route of the 16th-century Spanish conqueror Juan de Cavallon, the chief conquistador of the title.
Costa Rica has a vast range of natural wonder packed into an area roughly the size of Switzerland, around a quarter of it national park -- La Ruta delivers a decent taste of this.
Beginning in the surf resort of Jaco Beach, the route soon turns onto energy-sapping red mud dirt roads, climbing up.
And up and up -- the official La Ruta course includes about 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) of climbing on the first day alone.
Skirting the capital, San Jose, it passes near the extinct peak volcanic peak of Irazu and down again to mangrove forests and white sand beaches.
The traditional end to the trip is a dip in the Caribbean. Riding in is optional.
MORE: Most bike-friendly cities in the United States
North Sea Cycle Route (Europe)
The NSCR, which also goes by the slightly less evocative name of Euro Velo Route 12, is a Euroskeptic's nightmare -- an EU-funded epic across eight countries that claims to be the longest signposted cycle route in the world.
Covering almost 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles), it runs from the northern edge of Scotland's Shetland Islands along the coasts of Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
It hopefully goes without saying that there's no need for anyone to attempt the whole thing.
Inevitably, it also goes without saying that a surprising number of people do, mainly over a series of summers -- this is a route where the warmest spot is probably somewhere near Ostend on the coast of Belgium, so it's really not one for winter.
The more intrepid riders fill the official NSCR website with arcane tips about acquiring krone when crossing into Denmark and the best way to get themselves and their bikes over the sea crossings.
MORE: Cycling South Africa's wine routes
The Shimanami Kaido (Japan)
At a shade more than 64 kilometers (40 miles) this is perhaps the only route on this list on which riders could reasonably consider taking their kids the full length without worrying about a visit from social services.
Completely separated from the road, it snakes across a series of small, wonderfully scenic islands in Hiroshima prefecture, in the west of the country.
Japan might be more popularly associated with the car rather than the bike, but cycling is common here and the Shimanami Kaido shows how two and four wheels can happily coexist.
The segregated cycleway, which also has a lane for pedestrians, for the most part runs alongside the road, though there are diversions, not least the longer, more gentle and thus more leg-friendly slopes up to the high road bridges.
Bikes can be hired at a series of points along the path.
Some people complete the trip in a day, but many dawdle to gaze at the beautiful vistas along the Seto Inland Sea.
This is a route for gentle meandering, not teeth-gritted grinding.
Yes, there are tolls on the bridges for cyclists, but these are pretty small, more necessitating a pocket of change than a bank loan.
MORE: Full gallery of the Shimanami Kaido
Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (North America)
Want big?
This is big.
An off-road touring route from Canada's Alberta all the way to New Mexico.
If the 4,400-kilometer (2,734 miles) length (as detailed on the Adventure Cycling website) isn't enough to start palpitations, how about a combined 61,000 meters (you don't even want to know what that is in feet) of climbing?
Yes, that's right, almost seven times the height of Everest -- from sea level, that is, not base camp.
It's also often extremely remote, and thus largely the preserve of wiry, wind-burnished men and women on much-traveled mountain bikes towing trailers filled with anti-bear spray, titanium camping spoons and nuclear fusion nano-stoves.
It's undeniably spectacular, taking in everything from woodland to mountains (did we forget to mention the Colorado Rockies?) and the wastelands of the Great Basin.
Potential companions could include grizzlies, moose, mountain lions and eagles.
If that's not enough to think about, weather conditions mean the trip is only really feasible from June to September, and even then flash rains can make sections impassably muddy for weeks at a time.
Munda Biddi Trail (Australia)
Another epic, and this time in one of the more cutoff places in the world: Western Australia.
At least with the Munda Biddi the route organizers might actually be on the rider's side.
Slightly.
A vastly ambitious, recently completed 960-plus kilometer (596 miles) off-road route through the forested wilderness -- Munda Biddi means "path through the forest" in the local indigenous language -- it runs from near the state capital, Perth, to Albany in the far southwest.
MORE: Freewheeling around Europe's best cycling cities
The less ambitious can tackle smaller, less strenuous sections of just a day or more, and the official website gives updates on sometimes muddy trail conditions.
Anyone planning the full slog would be wise to avoid the full heat of summer, and come prepared.
That said, between towns there are designated campsites every 30 or so miles, with sleeping huts and water supplies.
The South Downs Way (England)
File under "deceptively tricky."
This 160-kilometer route (99 miles) is hardly alpine in outlook, crossing some of the most stereotypically lush and rolling English countryside you can imagine.
But all those small ups and down add up.
Riders tackling the entire route commit themselves to almost 4,300 meters (14,107 feet) of uphill pedaling.
A much tramped walking route for thousands of years and now a fully signposted hiking trail, the South Downs Way meanders from the precipitous cliffs of Beachy Head to historic Winchester, virtually all off road and much of it on ancient chalky bridleways.
Open to cyclists, walkers and horse riders, those on two wheels generally allow two or three days for the trip, and there are plenty of absurdly picturesque villages en route with pubs and guesthouses.
Some hardy souls tackle the entire thing in a day, but there's an argument that pedaling furiously through some of England's most glorious vistas kind of misses the point.
Know about an amazing cycle route that's not on this list? Tell usbelow.
Peter Walker is a journalist based in the UK who regularly contributes to cycling publications. He once rode a bike most of the way from Sydney to London.
CNN Travel's series often carries sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy.
- 中國的友誼公路通過珠峰山麓需要騎自行車800肺破裂公里
- 更輕鬆的遊樂設施可供選擇 - 日本島波海道可以輕鬆地在一天內完成
- 車友可能會有熊或駝鹿的公司，在大分水嶺自行車路線從加拿大阿爾伯塔省到新墨西哥
（CNN） -自行車的主要喜的是，在其最純粹的形式，它比步行的一種高效的方式而已。
只要抓住了自行車，爬上軍艦，迅速蹬到店，酒吧或其它地方。
有些騎自行車的人，但是，他們更喜歡乘坐更戲劇性一點。
甚至景區，遠程和艱鉅。
這裡有一個選擇來自世界各地的夢幻般的遊樂設施採取任何東西，從一天到幾個月的時間才能完成。
不要忘了防摩擦膏。
友誼公路（中國）
不論西藏拉薩市和尼泊爾邊境之間的800公里（500哩）是地球上最美麗的騎取決於你的想法享受，有時暗淡高空景觀。
什麼是在毫無疑問的是，它是最高的。
該路線包括超過5000米（16400英尺）三路通行證，與肺破裂最高5,220米，飛越了嘉措拉山口，在晴朗的一天的獎勵是珠峰的遠景。
這一點，不用說，是不是適合每一個人。
有條件的可測試和城鎮之間的距離就必須仔細規劃。
此外，西藏的敏感的政治局勢意味著個人旅遊，可有時會非常棘手。
為充分致力於這仍然是全球的真正的冒險之一，從拉薩和江孜的宗教和文化奇觀的Gampa拉山口的祈禱國旗覆蓋的山峰，廣袤，碧綠的湖水，羊卓雍錯Yumtso，閃耀在下面的山谷。
如果這還不夠，該路由可能是世界上最長的血統，險峻3500米落西藏高原沿著泥濘的髮夾的邊緣處結束。
香格里拉魯塔德洛斯征服者（哥斯達黎加）
較短，但可以說是不亞於友誼公路艱鉅的是這270公里的越野騎跨哥斯達黎加。
從太平洋到加勒比海沿岸，這個發生在泥路徑，熱帶雨林，咖啡種植園，甚至是一座死火山。
它可以在三天內各十一月完成的一部分，每年的山地自行車比賽從乘坐的名字。
那些在更短的倉促可以花，只要他們喜歡，只要他們喜歡，追踪16世紀西班牙征服者胡安德Cavallon，標題的首席征服者的路線。
哥斯達黎加的自然奇觀打包成一個面積瑞士差不多大小，大約四分之一的它的國家公園的一個浩大的範圍 - 拉芸香提供的這一個體面的味道。
在哈科海灘的衝浪勝地開始，路線很快變成到能削弱赤泥的土路，爬起來。
並一直上升 - 官方香格里拉魯塔課程包括攀上僅僅在第一天的3000米左右（9842英尺）。
踢腳首都聖何塞，它附近藥袋的滅絕的火山峰峰值，並再次下到紅樹林和白色的沙灘通行證。
傳統的結束行程是在加勒比海暢遊。騎在是可選的。
北海自行車道（歐洲）
該NSCR，這也流逝歐元腭路線12的略少令人回味的名字，是一個歐洲懷疑主義的噩夢- 8個國家的歐盟資助的史詩，聲稱自己是世界上最長的路標自行車道。
幾乎涵蓋了6000公里（3,728哩），它來自蘇格蘭的設得蘭群島以及英國，法國，比利時，荷蘭，德國，丹麥，瑞典和挪威海岸的北部邊緣運行。
它希望不用說，沒有必要對任何人試圖整個事情。
不可避免的是，它也不用說的人數量驚人的事，主要是在一系列的夏天 - 這是一個途徑，其中最熱烈的斑點可能是某處附近的奧斯坦德的比利時海岸，所以它真的不是一個為冬季。
更強悍的車手填寫官方網站NSCR與神秘的技巧有關越境進入丹麥的最佳途徑時，讓他們自己和他們的自行車在海口岸收購克朗。
在島波海道（日本）
在一片綠蔭超過64公里（40英里）的這也許是唯一的出路這個名單上的乘客可以合理地考慮他們的孩子的全長而不用擔心從社會服務的訪問。
從道路完全分離，它蜿蜒在一系列的在廣島縣內的小，奇妙景色秀麗的島嶼，在該國西部。
日本可能同車而不是自行車被更普遍關聯，但騎自行車是常用的在這裡和島波海道顯示了兩個和四個輪子能愉快地共存。
該隔離的自行車道，其中也有一個車道的行人，在大多數情況下運行旁邊的道路，雖然有改道，並非最不重要的更長，更柔和，從而更多的腿部友好的斜坡到高的公路橋。
您可以租用自行車在一系列沿路徑點。
有些人在一天內完成行程，但許多磨蹭凝視沿著瀨戶內海的美麗景色。
這是溫柔蜿蜒的路線，而不是牙齒咬磨。
是的，有對橋樑騎自行車通行費，但這些都是非常小的，因此需要更多變化的口袋比銀行貸款。
大分水嶺山地自行車路線（北美）
希望大嗎？
這是大的。
越野旅遊路線從加拿大阿爾伯塔一路新墨西哥。
如果4,400公里（2,734哩）長（詳見冒險騎自行車網站）是不夠的，開始心悸攀登，怎麼樣結合61000米（你甚至不想知道是什麼腳） ？
是的，這是正確的，珠穆朗瑪峰的近七倍的高度 - 從海平面，就是不大本營。
這也是常常微乎其微，以及結實的，風打磨男性和女性在很多的旅行山地自行車牽引拖車裝滿防熊噴霧，鈦野營匙和核聚變納米灶從而在很大程度上的保留。
這是無可否認的壯觀，採取一切從林地到山（我們沒有忘記提及科羅拉多洛磯山？）和大盆地的荒地。
潛在的夥伴可能包括灰熊，麋鹿，美洲獅和老鷹。
如果這還不夠，去想，天氣條件意味著此行是唯一真正可行的六月至九月，甚至再閃降雨可以使部分impassably泥濘幾個星期的時間。
蒙達Biddi徑（澳大利亞）
另一個史詩，而這一次在世界上更截止地方之一：西澳大利亞州。
至少與蒙達Biddi路線組織者實際上可能是對騎手的一面。
咯。
一個大大雄心勃勃，最近完成了960多公里（596哩）的越野路線，通過樹木叢生的荒野 - 蒙達Biddi意思是“路徑穿過森林”，在當地土著語言 - 它從靠近州首府珀斯運行，奧爾巴尼在遙遠的西南。
缺少激情可以解決只是一天或更多的更小，更劇烈的部分，以及官方網站給出的更新上有時泥濘的道路情況。
任何打算全面猛擊明智的做法是避免夏季的全部熱量，有備而來。
這就是說，城鎮之間有指定的露營地，每30英里左右，有睡覺的小屋和水的供應。
南部丘陵（英格蘭）
根據文件“看似棘手。”
這160公里路線（99哩）幾乎沒有高山的前景，穿越一些最刻板鬱鬱蔥蔥，連綿起伏的英國鄉村，你可以想像的。
但所有這些小的跌宕下來積少成多。
車友解決整個路線承諾踩踏上坡幾乎4300米（14107英尺）。
一個更跋涉的路線走了幾千年，現在完全路標的遠足徑，南部丘陵從比奇角的陡峭的懸崖蜿蜒到歷史悠久的溫徹斯特，幾乎所有的越野和大部分是古代白堊馬道。
開到騎自行車，散步和騎馬者，那些在兩個輪子通常允許兩三天的行程，並有大量的荒謬美麗的村莊帶酒吧和賓館的路線。
一些強壯的靈魂應對整個事情在一天，但有那種通過一些英格蘭最輝煌的前景奮力蹬踏忽略了一點爭論。
知道一個驚人的騎行路線，這不是這個名單上？請告訴我們以下。
彼得·沃克是總部設在英國的記者誰定期為騎自行車的出版物。他曾經騎著自行車大部分來自悉尼的方式來倫敦。CNN旅遊的系列往往帶有贊助我們分析的國家和地區始發。但美國有線電視新聞網保留完整的編輯控制其所有的報告。閱讀策略。
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