Cycling activities in Europe
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Tenby Cycles
You can rent bikes from Tenby Cycles.
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Bycykler
Long before Paris got in on the act of free bikes, Copenhagen had its famous Bycykler, allowing anyone to borrow a bicycle for free. In all there are over 1000 bikes available from 1 May to 15 December.
These gearless bicycles are rudimentary and are certainly not practical for long-distance cycling, but that's part of the plan - use of the cycles is limited to the city centre. To deter theft and minimise maintenance, the bicycles have a distinctive design that includes solid spokeless wheels with puncture-resistant tyres. The bikes can be found at 110 widely scattered street stands in public places, including S-train stations.
The way it works is that if you're able to…
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Fietsen Popelier
A recommended bike rental outfit. Children's bikes (same prices as adults') are available, and baby/toddler seats and baskets are provided for free. Helmets can also be hired. No deposits are required for bikes. The cycles here are in excellent condition - never more than six months old, with moulded seats, six gears and good suspension. Some regional cycling maps, including the Riante Polder Route, are sold.
Stay around town - there's no better way to see a sizable swath of the city in a relatively short time - or head out along the Damse Vaart canal to Damme (30 minutes, 6km one way). Alternatively, the Riante Polder Route is a full-day excursion, clocking up 44km and…
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Cycling & Cycling Paths
One of Oulu's best features is the extensive network of wonderful bicycle paths - routinely praised as the best local cycling routes in Finland. Nowhere is the Finns' love of two-wheeled transport more obvious than here in summer. Bike paths cross bridges, waterways and islands and can take you all the way out to surrounding villages.
A good easy ride is from the kauppatori (market square), across the bridge to Pikisaari and across another bridge to Nallikari where there's a good beach facing the Gulf of Bothnia.
Bikes can be hired from the train station, and bikes and rollerblades can be hired from shop 24 at the kauppatori. Nallikari Camping rents out bikes but only to…
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Bike Rental
Cruising around by pedal-power is hip. Bicycles and two- or four-seater buggies can be rented from the corner of Vilniaus and Laisvės alėjas, Vilniaus alėja 10 or next to the tourist office on Čiurlionio gatvė.
The tourist office sells cycling maps covering three cycling trails: the southbound riverside Sun Path (Saulės takas; 24km) - also a footpath - goes to the windmill museum, Stars Orbit (Žvaigzdžių orbita; 20km) snakes south into the Raigardas Valley, and the forested eastbound Žilnas Path (Žilvino takas; 20km) links Druskininkai with Grūtas Park 8km east - a great day trip.
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Royal Tours
With a cycle track network of over 700km, Vienna is great for a bike ride on a warm day. Bikes can be rented from Pedal Power or from Vienna City Bike , which has blue and yellow bike racks across the city. International MasterCard or Visa credit cards can be used, but unfortunately only an Austrian bank Maestro card; buying a city bike card is easiest. This is available from some hotels and pensions, or from Royal Tours for €2 per day. But make sure you don't lose the bike, or €600 will be deducted from your card.
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Greenway Bicycle Trail
The region around the Bieszczady (byesh-chah-di), in the far southeastern corner of Poland and sandwiched between Ukraine and Slovakia, is one of thick forests and open meadows. Scantily populated and largely unspoilt, it's one of the most attractive areas of the country.
One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the completion of the 350km bicycle loop known as the Greenway Bicycle Trail, which links the Bieszczady towns of Sanok, Lesko, Ustrzyki Dolne and Solina before crossing into Ukraine, Slovakia and back into Poland.
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Yellow Zebra Bikes
Long-established and very reliable Yellow Zebra Bikes rents out bicycles year-round from just behind the Tourinform office, as well as from behind the Opera House from its Discover Budapest branch. It also runs cycling tours (adult/student 5000/4500Ft) of the city that take in Heroes’ Square, City Park, inner Pest and Castle Hill in around 3½ hours. Tours, which include the bike, depart from in front of the Lutheran church in V Deák Ferenc tér at 11am from April to October, with an additional departure at 4pm in July and August.
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Luka
Though cycling is very popular with locals, the dearth of bike-hire agents makes it tough for visitors. Luka is the only agency that hires bikes (800Sk per day). A good, but steep, route from the Luka office northeast of the centre is to continue north on Kysucká to the picnic and park area of Železná studienka, where there's a chairlift. The adventurous can transport themselves and the bike up via the chairlift and ride back down the mountain cycle path..
Flatter routes include along the Danube to Devín castle (8km).
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Greenway Bicycle Trail
The region around the Bieszczady (byesh-chah-di), in the far SW corner of Poland and sandwiched between Ukraine and Slovakia, is one of thick forests and open meadows. Scantily populated and largely unspoilt, it's one of the most attractive areas of the country. One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the completion of the 350km bicycle loop known as the Greenway Bicycle Trail, which links the Bieszczady towns of Sanok, Lesko, Ustrzyki Dolne and Solina before crossing into Ukraine, Slovakia and back into Poland.
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Vélo en Ville
The topography's not flat, but those with decent muscles will find Luxembourg City great for biking. The only rental outlet, and it's a good one, is Vélo en Ville. Children's bikes are available (same price as adult bikes), as are toddler seats. Under 26 year olds get a 20% discount (not available on half-day rentals).
An excellent route to start with is the 40km Piste Cyclable du Centre (signposted PC1),which circles the city's outskirts. The Vélo en Ville crew supply a basic B&W map of this route.
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Kingfisher Trail
The Kingfisher Trail is a waymarked, long-distance cycling trail that starts in Enniskillen and wends its way through the back roads of Counties Fermanagh, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan. The full route is around 370km long, but a shorter loop, starting and finishing in Enniskillen, and travelling via Kesh, Belleek, Garrison, Belcoo and the village of Florencecourt, is only 115km – easily done in two days with an overnight stay at Belleek. You can get a trail map from the Enniskillen Tourist Information Centre. There's no bicycle hire available in Enniskillen, though; the nearest is in Castle Archdale Country Park.
You can buy fishing permits and licences from the tourist…
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Yellow Zebra Bikes (Discover Budapest branch)
Long-established and very reliable, Yellow Zebra Bikes rents out bicycles year-round. It also runs cycling tours (adult/student 5000/4500Ft) of the city that take in Heroes’ Square, City Park, inner Pest and Castle Hill in around 3½ hours. Tours, which include the bike, depart from in front of the Lutheran church in V Deák Ferenc tér at 11am from April to October, with an additional departure at 4pm in July and August.
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Cycle Routes
The tourist office has a brochure-map of Gwynedd recreational cycle routes, established by Gwynedd Council along disused railway lines. Three of these are based around Caernarfon: the 12-mile Lôn Eifion running south to Bryncir (starting near the Welsh Highland Railway station); the 4.5-mile Lôn Las Menai along the Menai Strait to the village of Y Felinheli; and the 4-mile Lôn Gwyfrai to the village of Waunfawr.
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Ferula Viaggi
There are plenty of official guides to the sassi - the tourist office has details. Ferula Viaggi offers guided trekking and mountain-biking trips (with English-speaking guides), a range of tours in the sassi and the Murgia, as well as cultural, cooking and archaeological tours around Basilicata. It also rents bikes and is an excellent source of information on self-guided trips.
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QuasiMundo Bikes
Cycle tours are big business in Bruges. QuasiMundo Bikes is highly recommended. The guy who runs this company has been involved in cycle tourism for more than a decade. Three tours with English commentary are offered: a 2½-hour (8km) tour of Bruges; a four-hour (25km) cycle to the Dutch border and back via Damme; or tours of Bruges by night. Bookings are necessary.
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Ostankino Park
The park behind Ostankino Palace is a lovely, car-free space to roll around on your own two wheels. You can also make your way around the vast grounds of the All-Russia Exhibition Centre, which backs up to the same park. Both bikes and skates are available for rent, either at the entrance to the All-Russia Exhibition Centre or on the grounds of Ostankino Park.
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Neskuchny Sad
A wide, flat, paved path follows the Moscow River all the way from Gorky Park to Vorobyovy Gory Nature Preserve. In the 19th century, this wooded area, which translates as ‘not-so-boring garden’, contained three country estates, but only a few dilapidated buildings remain. It’s a pleasant, peaceful setting for a ride or a roll.
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Les Voies Vertes des Gaves
To get away from Bernadette Soubirous for a day, hire a cycle and head for the mountains along all or part of Les Voies Vertes des Gaves or Mountain Streams Green Routes. This follows the old, long-abandoned Lourdes-Cauterets train line up the lovely Vallée des Gaves all the way to Cauterets, from where you can catch a bus back to Lourdes.
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City Segway Tours
Run by Pedal Power (which conducts bicycle tours in and around Vienna), these Segway tours meet in front of the Staatsoper and cover the main city highlights including the Ringstrasse and the Rathaus, Hofburg and more. They look funny but function without a hitch, and they make certain you’re comfortable on the apparatus before you head off.
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Syklistenes Landsforening
For Norway-wide cycling information and for more detailed maps for the Buskerud region (the area surrounding Oslo), contact Syklistenes Landsforening. It is a local club and not really set up for tourists, but members are happy to help if they can. Ring the bell 10m to the right of the door if it looks closed.
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Bike Rides
A tourist-office leaflet lists local bike rides, which include a 7-mile Gallanach circular tour, a 16-mile route to the Isle of Seil and routes to Connel, Glenlonan and Kilmore. You can hire mountain bikes from Evo Bikes (566996; 29 Lochside St; ;09:00-17:30 Mon-Sat), opposite Tesco supermarket, for around £15 per day.
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Lido on Bike
To tour at your own pace, rent a set of wheels from this friendly bike place near the Lido vaporetto stop, with reasonable prices that includes a free map with recommended routes. You must have official identification showing you’re at least 18 to rent. And remember to mind the traffic.
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Hervis Sports
The stunning alpine scenery and mountain passes around the Zillertal encourage cyclists to grab a bike and get pedalling. The routes zigzagging up to Ginzling and Hintertux can be tough going, but the views are exhilarating. Enquire at the tourist office about tours. Bicycles can be rented from Hervis Sports .
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Ecovoyager
Pedalling Pisa using two or four wheels is the way to do it: Ecovoyager rents romantic canopied riscio (rickshaws) made for two - or indeed up to six people - as well as conventional bicycles and rollerblades. Hire an English radio-guide at the same time and you're all set to explore Pisa your way.
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