Riders will experience the America that inspires patriotic songs: uninterrupted forests, burbling rivers, splashy waterfalls, vibrant wildflowers or foliage (depending on the season), and mountains haloed in clouds.

You’ll also have ample opportunity to stop off along the way to sample local wines and other delicacies, arriving in Basel, Switzerland some eight days later. We’ve been big fans of the multi-day Haute Route road sportive series, and last month saw the 10th anniversary of their definitive Alps event. The route is mostly flat, and at a push it’s possible to get between the two cities in just four days. If you’re looking for a slightly more relaxing approach, most choose to break it up into approximately eight days of 40 miles each. Explore Europe’s most thrilling cycling routes with the latest installment in the Epic series from Lonely Planet. From dreamy getaways on sun-dappled Mediterranean Islands to a Bavarian beer crawl in Germany, bike enthusiasts share stories from the best road, mountain, dirt and trail routes across the spiritual home of cycling. The US is where gravel riding as we know it now was born, but differences in terrain and road-network design make gravel over the Atlantic largely very different to the UK and elsewhere.Like the road events, Gravel Epic will have a focus on point-to-point racing, high mountains and gruelling, if sporting, daily distances, with fully supported off-the-bike logistics meaning your bags are transported between stages. The route may sound daunting, but it takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery on the continent. You’ll see everything from sprawling capitals to medieval towns, and cycle through pristine vineyards and the densest of forests. For cyclists, it offers a classic Tour de France-style challenge with tough climbs, invigorating descents and relatively smooth roads. La Farola starts 124 miles (200km) east of Santiago de Cuba and is thus best incorporated into a wider Cuban cycling excursion. You could also charter a taxi to drop you off at the start point. Of course, these factors all make the region perfect for a multi-day cycling trip. The terrain between the three countries is relatively flat, and though you may have to venture onto some busy roads and up a few hills, there are also large stretches where it’ll likely just be you, the bikes and the ocean.

Given the sheer length of the river, you’ll never be short of epic views and dramatically changing scenery as you wind your way between remote, fertile valleys and four of the continent’s most iconic capitals.In many ways, cycling offers you the best of both worlds. At cycling pace you cover just enough distance not to feel dejected — even those unaccustomed to the sport can cover several dozen miles in a day, more if you opt for an electric bicycle. This will expose you to various attractions and changing landscapes in a matter of minutes, and although you can cover good distance, you’re not going so fast that the world is whistling on by. Namibia has the second lowest population density in the world. Most of its people are in the north, so the south is empty indeed. Not surprisingly, it’s dry and unforgiving land. Towns and amenities are few and far between. Roads are mostly loose gravel. But it’s also unutterably gorgeous. The Baltic Sea Cycle and Iron Curtain Trails are part of the renowned EuroVelo cycling routes, which incorporate some of the best long distance bike rides across Europe. The EuroVelo routes connect Europe by bike through a network of long distance routes and are perfect for testing the legs over multiple days.

There’s something truly satisfying about journeying between two capitals on your own pedal power, and there are few better to connect by bike than Copenhagen and Berlin. The first stage from Leeds to Harrogate spans almost 120 miles, taking riders past the historic Harewood House, through the quaint village of Skipton and then on tothe rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales. The second stage is slightly longer at 125 miles and takes riders from York to Sheffield, through Bronte Country and up Holme Moss, one of the toughest climbs in Britain. Explore Europe's most thrilling cycling routes with the latest installment in the Epic series from Lonely Planet. From dreamy getaways on sun-dappled Mediterranean Islands to challenging alpine crossings, bike enthusiasts share stories from the best road, mountain, dirt and trail routes across the spiritual home of cycling. Destinations suit a range of trip types and abilities, and each ride features stunning photographs, a richly-illustrated map and a toolkit of practical details so that riders can help plan their own trips. From some of the remotest corners of northern Scotland to mighty mountain passes in the pristine Pyrenees, you’ll explore some of the continent’s least-explored regions, as well as cities including Berlin and Copenhagen amongst many others.

In Asia, we venture through Vietnam's valleys; complete the Mae Hong Son circuit in northern Thailand; cross the Indian Himalayas; and pedal through Bhutan. And in Australia and New Zealand we take in Tasmania and Queensland by mountain bike; cycle into Victoria's high country and around Adelaide on road bikes; and try some of New Zealand's celebrated cycle trails.

In a nod at how such information would be presented on a web side, each of the fifty routes ends with brief "more like this" section with another three routes covered in a paragraph. Some of these rides were more interesting to me than the ones covered in details - oh well. The south of Spain is particularly conducive to rewarding cycling tours, and there are several companies — including Cycling Country, Euro Bike and Andalusian Cycling Experience— that lead groups between the region’s most revered destinations, or can point you in the right direction for a self-guided trip.

West Balkan Triangle - Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Upon reaching the glistening golden temple the road narrows, leaving the tourist buses behind and sneaking into the shadows of the deciduous forest that guards the mountain’s upper reaches. Away from the tourists, you’re left alone to pedal in cool silence to the peak. You can choose to take the journey from either city, or, if the mood takes you, do it all again in reverse and return to your starting point. The good news is that "Epic Bikes of the World" is for the most part a well written travelogue, a series of writers sharing their actual experiences on these trails. At times, you can feel their experience in the writing and you can feel how meaningful that experience had been in their lives. The towns you’ll pass through along the way are all notable destinations, made all the more special by the fact that those traveling in faster modes of transport tend to overlook them. You can also plan your route to cycle to some beautiful natural attractions, including Lake Stechlin, several canals, and both Nossentiner Heide and Mueritz National Parks. When to ride Spring and autumn. Summer can be punishingly hot, and winter is a little too like the real Lapland.