Organized bike tours are cool, but it's much more exciting to plan your own bicycle adventure. You only need a good idea and a good friend/partner to join the party (although at least once a year I take my bike and go somewhere for the weekend by myself, which is just as good). Here are a few bicycle trip ideas for your next free weekend:

With a smile on your face, cross villages and talk to locals about this year’s apple harvest and how much a piglet costs (I bet you have no idea). Have a beer with one of those locals who spends the day scanning passers-by in cafes on the main square.


Photo: © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

You can enjoy a little bit more seclusion by escaping the main roads and hitting the dirt tracks. Some people prefer a preconceived route, but personally I'm happy to just head into the forest and see where that seductive trail leads.

You don't have to cycle so hard that you drop dead at the end; just keep it pleasant but still challenging. If you're in the mood to push yourself, however, try riding as fast and furious as you can.


Cycling at Larnaca Salt Lake, Cyprus | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

The exciting thing about mountain biking is that a smooth descent can turn into an adrenaline-fueled obstacle course in a heartbeat. If you're trying it for the first time, you might be about to discover your latest passion. 

Photo: © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

We often forget that our own neighborhood is someone else's tourist destination. Pretend to be a tourist and choose a theme (cathedrals, museums, historical buildings) around which to rediscover your surroundings. Calculate the cycling route that best allows you to visit several attractions in one day. Plan a lunch stop in a park or try out a new eatery.