Where bikers can still be explorers: 10 adventure destinations

Gitta Beimfohr

· 05.07.2017

Photo: Alain Baschenis

Where bikers can still be explorers: 10 adventure destinations

You're king on local trails, perhaps already a connoisseur on the Lake Garda trails - and on the Cape Verde Islands? An explorer! Adventure destinations that broaden your horizons with exotic trail experiences.

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Beyond the horizon: From Romania to Cape Verde - where bikers can still be explorers. These are our adventure destinations:

Scotland: Where brake discs go on holiday and bends are fun even uphill: If you love trails, you simply have to soak up the flow through the Scottish low mountain ranges. The forestry authorities are behind the "7 Stanes" (seven stones) trail centres south of Edinburgh. They want to use this project to attract more people to the forest and nature. Seven regions started and now every third town has a trail circuit in the hinterland. The principle is always the same: You buy a parking ticket for three pounds at a central car park, select a loop on the trail board (easy, medium, difficult) and simply follow the unbroken trail markings. The trails wind through meadows, mossy forests and heather for up to 25 kilometres. There are no straight sections. The trail builders have used every opportunity to create playful curves. Back at the trail centre, a bike wash, coffee bar with scones and hamburgers and sometimes a bike shop await. Our favourites: Innerleithen, Wolftrax and Glentress. | Fly to Edinburgh and cruise from one trail centre to the next in a hire car (left-hand traffic!). Information on all Scottish trail centres: www.ibikeride.com

Madeira: Although Madeira means forest in Portuguese, the island between the Azores and the Canary Islands is known as the flower island. The subtropical, warm south coast in particular is in bloom all year round. England's bikers have long been aware of this, and a seamless infrastructure has developed over the last 15 years. Hire stations, tour guides, shuttle services, shops and, above all, well-maintained trails are very popular here. However, you should bring a good riding technique with you, and if you don't want to use the shuttle service, you should also be in good physical condition, as Madeira's volcanic mountains are really steep. | Flight: from Germany to Funchal (FNC) from 150 euros, flight time: 4.5 hours. Map: Madeira Tour & Trail Map (1:40000), 7.49 euros. Shuttle, bike hire, tours: www.bikulture.com, www.lokolokomadeira.com, freeridemadeira.com

Cape Verde: You should like cobblestones if you fly to the 15 islands off the West African coast. The Cape Verdean road and path builders are true artists when it comes to laying cobblestones. The roads wind up vertical volcanic walls in an almost spiral-like pattern. You often don't stand a chance on a bike uphill here - and downhill only with plenty of suspension travel, very good brakes and delicate cornering technique. As the volcanic islands are located in the Sahel region, it rarely rains here and temperatures never fall below 20 degrees. However, dense fog often clings to the desert mountains, which are up to 2000 metres high, and storms sweep around the ridges. Portuguese is spoken! | Flight: from Germany direct to Sal and Boa Vista (6 hours) from approx. 250 euros. Then by domestic flight (TACV) or ferry to Santo Antao, Santiago and Sao Nicolau.

Greece: Into the throne room of Olympus A biking holiday on a Greek island always sounds a bit like a goat's paradise between a beach lounger and the harbour pier. However, the mountains on the mainland have been shrouded in a heroic myth since ancient times. Regardless of whether you are attempting a multi-day crossing of the seat of the gods on Mount Olympus (2918 metres) or paying a first-time visit to Apollo, the god of light, on Mount Parnassus. Lonely and rough mule trails are guaranteed, bear and wolf encounters are possible and any kind of "been there, done that" moments are completely out of the question. If that's too adventurous for you, how about signing up for the team stage race across the Pindos Mountains? | Info on the Olympus Crossing and the Bike Odyssey Race

Madrid: Sierra de Guadarrama - ever heard of it? Well, the 2430 metre high mountain range is not exactly on our doorstep, but it is just outside the northern gates of Madrid. The Romans, Napoleon, Franco and a whole host of bandits have been up to mischief here for centuries, leaving behind a dense network of trails. The trails wind their way through pine and holm oak forests, passing medieval castle walls and trenches from civil war times. As a biker, you can really lose yourself here. For this reason alone, a GPS device, map and sleeping bag should not be missing from your luggage. | A report by British photographer Dan Milner on the Sierra de Guadarrama will appear in a forthcoming issue of BIKE. If you need more information now: www.blacktowntrails.com

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Photo: Dan Milner

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Gitta Beimfohr

Editor

Gitta Beimfohr joined the BIKE travel resort during her tourism studies when the Strada delle 52 Gallerie on the Pasubio was closed to mountain bikers. Since Gitta crossed the Alps twice at racing speed, she has favoured multi-day tours - by MTB in the Alps or by gravel bike through the German low mountain ranges.

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Where bikers can still be explorers: 10 adventure destinations

Gitta Beimfohr

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