Is Europe the best place in the world to tour?

[bohrsatom]

One thing I love about cycling in Europe, that you can't easily replicate elsewhere, is finding yourself near the border of another country and popping over just to see what things are like. I find it amazing that despite open borders you still notice the transition from one country into the other.

[pjclinch]

One thing I love about cycling in Europe, that you can't easily replicate elsewhere, is finding yourself near the border of another country and popping over just to see what things are like. I find it amazing that despite open borders you still notice the transition from one country into the other.

Popping over in to Germany from NL last year, first indication was a really dumb bit of work on the cycle lane we were on...

Pete.

[nirakaro]

Like that day when I started in German-speaking Villach, rode to Romance-speaking Tarvisio for lunch, and finished the day in Slavic-speaking Kranska Gora. I’m sure there are other places where you could do something similar, but would the lunch be as good?

[wheelyhappy99]

Exactly. A whole series of interesting transitions, language, culture, history and geography in a relatively compact area.
And the food in Kranjska Gora is great too.

[Jdsk]

One thing I love about cycling in Europe, that you can't easily replicate elsewhere, is finding yourself near the border of another country and popping over just to see what things are like. I find it amazing that despite open borders you still notice the transition from one country into the other.

There's a lot of border crossings on the Rhine route. The marking seemed to be much less than previously. Often not even a notice. I found myself looking at the style of street signs to check what country we were in.

Jonathan

[Sweep]

Interesting post OP - I tend to agree.

I know cyclists are supposed to age well/have a longer active life, but we still only all have one/a single life.

And no one except the seriously driven has a hope in hell of experiencing the entire planet.

europe will fill most folks' lifetimes I think.

I also don't necessarily agree with the idea that travel/wide wide travel broadens broadens the mind. Too many these days are I fear more interested in selfie propaganda rather than broadening their minds.

Broadening the mind often lies closer to home home than many people think/care to think.

[Eman Resu]

Broadly agree with this sentiment except for the 'europe will fit most folks' lifetimes I think'. There are a great many touring cyclists outside of Europe and they will tour in their immediate regions. Being an Indian citizen (albeit having lived and still living in the UK for 55+ years and toured several times in France/Spain) I now solely tour in India - find it appreciably more interesting and exhilarating.

[Angstrom]

Interesting question. Having lived in Australia, the USA and Sweden other from the country in which I grew up and live now - France - I agree with what others have said well about variety and scale. I won't repeat it.
What I would add is that I find that what we look for in traveling (end that includes bike traveling of course) differs with age. The thirst for new scenery, new culture etc. is not the same at 20 or 60, and after you've been in the USA at age 20, you don't necessarily feel the same thirst for seeing it again.
There are still plenty of places I'd like to cycle tour other than Europe (Japan, Turkey, Thaïland/Laos, California, etc.), but I must admit that I find Europe to be the best place to be living for someone who wants to do a few tours per year without flying, without going for a prolonged period etc.
For me it's the combination of geography, topography, road/lanes network, history, gastronomy and more generally culture that makes Europe a cycling paradise.

[Sweep]

Broadly agree with this sentiment except for the 'europe will fit most folks' lifetimes I think'. There are a great many touring cyclists outside of Europe and they will tour in their immediate regions. Being an Indian citizen (albeit having lived and still living in the UK for 55+ years and toured several times in France/Spain) I now solely tour in India - find it appreciably more interesting and exhilarating.

that "quote" is from me I assume.
Must say seems to me that you are agreeing with me. Am not suggesting that folks on the other side of the world repeatedly fly to europe,

[mattheus]

Broadly agree with this sentiment except for the 'europe will fit most folks' lifetimes I think'. There are a great many touring cyclists outside of Europe and they will tour in their immediate regions. Being an Indian citizen (albeit having lived and still living in the UK for 55+ years and toured several times in France/Spain) I now solely tour in India - find it appreciably more interesting and exhilarating.

that "quote" is from me I assume.
Must say seems to me that you are agreeing with me. Am not suggesting that folks on the other side of the world repeatedly fly to europe,

What about Martians? You seem to have overlooked how your advice would suit them :-/

[simonhill]

Europe is the best place in the world to tour.

On the same lines, you could say that the UK is the best place. A wide variety of scenery, extensive road network, history, culture, food, even different languages. One of the great things about the UK is that every geological period is represented (maybe because we named most of them) which gives us such wonderfully varied landscapes.

I certainly wouldn't disagree that Europe encompasses much within its boundaries and certainly punches above its weight in many ways. It can satisfy many years and many many Kms of happy touring.

However there is a wider world out there and some of us want to see it.

Another big factor (for me anyway) is cost. I can tour in much of Asia for under £20 a day, staying in reasonable hotels and eating wonderful food. If going away for months at a time this is a big consideration. On my shorter tours in Europe, I'm lucky to get away under £50 per day.

Finally there is the weather. Unless you are into dark, cold short days, Europe is essentially a spring, summer autumn location. Meanwhile, there are plenty of places in the world that will give you a warm dry winter time.

Each to their on.

[Angstrom]

On the same lines, you could say that the UK is the best place. A wide variety of scenery, extensive road network, history, culture, food, even different languages. One of the great things about the UK is that every geological period is represented (maybe because we named most of them) which gives us such wonderfully varied landscapes.

I'm trying to get my wife to agree crossing the channel for touring in the UK but she is adamant that in the UK, it's only narrow lanes buried between 2 hedges which prevents seeing the landscape. She seems to have been marked by our experience in Cornwall 30 odd years ago.

What region would you advise me to pitch for a 2-week tour in quiet country, beautiful scenery and small towns/villages that would change her prejudice against touring in UK. Anywhere but Cornwall? (We don't mind a bit of ups and downs).

Thank you.

[Jdsk]

...
What region would you advise me to pitch for a 2-week tour in quiet country, beautiful scenery and small towns/villages that would change her prejudice against touring in UK. Anywhere but Cornwall? (We don't mind a bit of ups and downs).
...

We had a tour from Oxfordshire up to the Wash, down through East Anglia, then through Essex to London. It's in the archives.

I was very pleasantly surprised by Essex.

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

Europe is the best place in the world to tour.

On the same lines, you could say that the UK is the best place. A wide variety of scenery, extensive road network, history, culture, food, even different languages. One of the great things about the UK is that every geological period is represented (maybe because we named most of them) which gives us such wonderfully varied landscapes.

I certainly wouldn't disagree that Europe encompasses much within its boundaries and certainly punches above its weight in many ways. It can satisfy many years and many many Kms of happy touring.

However there is a wider world out there and some of us want to see it.

Another big factor (for me anyway) is cost. I can tour in much of Asia for under £20 a day, staying in reasonable hotels and eating wonderful food. If going away for months at a time this is a big consideration. On my shorter tours in Europe, I'm lucky to get away under £50 per day.

Finally there is the weather. Unless you are into dark, cold short days, Europe is essentially a spring, summer autumn location. Meanwhile, there are plenty of places in the world that will give you a warm dry winter time.

Each to their on.

I'll never get to some of the places that you describe, but I very much enjoy the descriptions. Please keep them coming.

Jonathan

[Angstrom]

...
What region would you advise me to pitch for a 2-week tour in quiet country, beautiful scenery and small towns/villages that would change her prejudice against touring in UK. Anywhere but Cornwall? (We don't mind a bit of ups and downs).
...

We had a tour from Oxfordshire up to the Wash, down through East Anglia, then through Essex to London. It's in the archives.

I was very pleasantly surprised by Essex.

Jonathan

Thanks Jonathan. Looks like what I'm after. I'll have a deeper look.