Over the last two years, bikes were dusted off in garages around the world and new bike sales surged, thanks to new attitudes, especially among younger travellers, to see the post-pandemic world in the great outdoors and at a safe social distance.
According to inflation-adjusted figures recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, North Americans spent nearly $8 billion (U.S.) on bicycles and accessories in 2021, up from $6 billion in 2019. And while spending appears to be decreasing in 2022, bike sales still remain well above pre-pandemic levels.
Is the bike boom simply a market response to the pandemic that will go the way of puzzle sales, subscription streaming services and sourdough bread baking, or is it here to stay?
Maybe taking a bicycle trip will offer the perfect opportunity to ponder if your bike will go back to collecting dust or become a regular fixture in your active, healthy future.
So, if you’re one of the lucky ones who was able to find a new bike, or if you simply dusted off an old bike in the garage, take a look at this list of bicycle travel ideas from around the world to keep this bike spike rolling:

Ride a volcano in Ecuador

See waterfalls, lakes and Inca ruins during the day and stay in classic haciendas each night on a mountain biking tour of the foothills around Ecuador’s Cotopaxi National Park with Adventure Life. At the end of the trip, take on the thrilling descent of Cotopaxi Volcano itself into the valley below.
https://www.adventure-life.com/ecuador/tours/3951/cotopaxi-mountain-biking

Dolomites cycling tour
 
Experience dramatic mountain beauty and fairytale towns of Italy’s Dolomite Mountains with Tourissimo. Each day, guests will be surrounded by stunning Alpine scenery as they cycle through some of the most beautiful towns and villages of this breathtaking region. Ride over exhilarating passes, climb by soaring spires, and coast downhill to charming hamlets on routes made famous by the world’s greatest cyclists.
https://www.tourissimo.travel/dolomites-bike-tour

Maui multi-sport

 Escape Adventures’ Maui multi-sport tour loops around the valley between Pu’u Kukui on the west and Mount Haleakalā on the east. In addition to world-class road biking, surfing lessons and sea kayaking, guests can add water sports to their experience, while several unforgettable hikes offer a chance to see the beautiful island on foot.
https://escapeadventures.com/tour/hawaii-maui-multi-sport-road-bike-tour/

Bike across Europe

Follow in the footsteps of Napoleon’s Grande Armée on Ride & Seek Adventures’ 36-day, 3,700km “Bike Across Europe” tour. The epic adventure crosses eight countries between Paris and Tallinn, Estonia, taking in the Champagne region of France, the green hills of southern Germany, the great lakes of Poland and the Baltics.
 https://www.rideandseek.com/

 

Utah's MTB hut system
The new Aquarius Trail Hut System offers a backcountry mountain biking experience like no other in the region. A system of five huts furnished with beds, a bathroom, a fully stocked kitchen and solar power has been strategically placed along a 320km route through some of Utah’s most scenic backcountry and best mountain biking trails.
 https://aquariustrail.com/

Cycle across America

Plan an epic bike tour or bike packing trip of your own with assistance from Adventure Cycling Association. To help riders find their way, the organization offers maps for 80,000km of bike routes in North America, the Bicycle Route Navigator app and other resources. Cross the U.S. on the TransAmerica Trail, ride the Rockies on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route or try a shorter adventure in between.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/

App puts cyclists on the right path

For the travelling cyclist, the new JAGZ app connects them with locals who can guide them on the best rides. JAGZ users can search destinations across the world and choose from thousands of hosts, guides and tours. When at home, users can connect with other cyclists in their hometown and create or join group rides and events. The interactive ride calendar allows users to browse upcoming races, demo days and trail building events.
More info: https://jagzapp.com/