Lonely Planet Epic Bike Rides of Europe

by Lonely Planet

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. Rides feature adventurous bikepacking routes, classic race routes, must-do mountain biking trails, and family-friendly forays.

Guest contributors include author Rob Penn, who cycled around the world in his late twenties, and Ned Boulting, a British sports journalist and television presenter who has reported on everything from the Tour de France to the Vuelta a Espana. So turn those pedals and enjoy the ride to over 50 cycle-loving destinations.

About Lonely Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world’s number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we’ve printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You’ll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, eBooks, and more. 

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Cycling

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2024

About the author

OUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.

Reviews

[Andrew Larkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring book! Mine is now full of post-it notes bookmarking the rides I'd really like to do.

[Kevin K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like the Epic Bike Rides of the Americas, this is a fantastic high level guide book.

My imagination is alight with potential rides, and I'm starting preliminary travel planning for a cycle trip (or few!) in Europe. Many options from Portugal to Turkey (East/West) and from Scotland down to the tip of Italy and everywhere in between, the guide book presents so many options (with beautiful pictures throughout).

I've tabbed the heck out of the book, and the planning muscles are in full force.

[Patriarcaettore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anche se in lingua inglese si presta facilmente alla lettura. Un bel ventaglio di scelte fra le molteplici che l'Europa propone per chi ama la bicicletta. Schede tecniche, approfondimenti e discrete immagini faranno la felicità del ciclista che vuole assaggiare il "vecchio continente". Una buona lettura per pomeriggi freddi e piovosi se nevica allora usciamo... certamente:).

[Stefano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good general guide to big rides, it lacks depth in that one needs to research anything but the most basic details. I think the constraints put to keep it at a reasonable size hurts the final result a bit and having a few more pages available per route would have helped in making it more of a reference

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

better than the world-wide one, I think. More in-dept.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting overview of different bike routes in Europe - my main criticism was that I wish they mentioned elevation change with every route!