5 bikepacking trails to celebrate 200 years of the bicycle

Photo: Backpacking, Reading-Bristol, UK / Tharik Hussain

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the “velocipede”—that’s “bicycle” to you and me. The great-great-grandfather of the modern bike was first ridden by German inventor Karl Drais in 1817.

To celebrate two centuries on two wheels, we’ve come up with a list of bikepacking trails for riders of all abilities. For those of you that don’t know what bikepacking is, it’s just like backpacking, only on two wheels, with the added bonus that you don’t have to carry your stuff on your back, as your trusty two wheeled-mule will do it for you!

1. THE DRAGON’S SPINE, SOUTH AFRICA

This monster of a tour stretches from the northeast corner of South Africa, close to the Zimbabwean border, down to coastal Cape Town, passing through the kingdom of Lesotho. Inspired by the David Bristow and Steve Thomas book Riding the Dragon’s Spine, an essential companion on the journey, this dirt-track-heavy trail offers incredible African scenery and interaction with locals as you cross two fascinating countries.

Distance: 2,500km

Level: Intermediate-Difficult

2. THE MUNDA BIDDI TRAIL, AUSTRALIA

Munda Biddi means “path through the forest” in the Aboriginal Noongar language, yet this trail offers much, much more than that. Littered with campsites and huts, this is a route that takes you from canopies of stunning flora to dramatic cliff edges where the Indian Ocean batters the rocks below, and introduces you to some fascinating local residents along the way. Be sure to say hello to the baby ’roos and ornate crevice dragons while you’re deep in the best of the Western Australian wilderness!

Distance: 1,000km

Level: Intermediate

3. ALPS 2 OCEAN TRAIL, NEW ZEALAND

This dramatic cycle through Lord of the Rings country goes past six deep-blue freshwater lakes where you can Instagram stunning reflections of the mountainous backdrop that stays with you for almost the entire journey. Well signposted and resourced throughout, this middle-of-the-way trail is the ideal way to explore Middle Earth.

Distance: 360km

Level: Intermediate-Easy

4. READING-BRISTOL BY TOWPATH, UNITED KINGDOM

Photo: Rural English West Country, UK / Tharik Hussain

Offering the best of the English West Country and none of the hills, this route is almost entirely along the renovated towpaths of rural England, where once upon a time huge Shire horses dragged barges loaded with coal up and down the country. These days the Kennet and Avon Canal is less industry, more leisure. Quaint little villages like Hungerford and the 29-lock Victorian engineering miracle at Caen Hill will keep you wowed until you enter the UNESCO world heritage city of Bath, followed by vibrant, bohemian Bristol.

Distance: 150km

Level: Easy-Intermediate

Photo: English canals, UK / Tharik Hussain

5. THE DUTCH EXPERIENCE, NETHERLANDS

Photo: Dutch cycle signposting, Netherlands / Tharik Hussain

No other nation welcomes a cyclist like Holland, because the Dutch have the most advanced cycling infrastructure of any country. That’s why this is the only trail where you won’t need a map, such is the quality of signposting for cycle traffic. Starting at the Hook van Holland, this gentle, super-flat trail will take you through a section of the refreshing North Sea Cycle Route for the very best of Dutch culture. First there’s the political capital, The Hague, then there’s the intellectual capital, Leiden, before the grand finale, the hedonistic capital that is Amsterdam.

Distance: 90km

Level: Easy

Photo: Amsterdam, Netherlands / Tharik Hussain

(This article is written by Tharik Hussain. Tharik is a freelance British Muslim travel writer, journalist, broadcaster and photographer specialising in the Muslim stories of Europe. Hussain’s first ever radio documentary, America’s Mosques; A Story of Integration, has been declared one of the world’s best radio documentaries for 2016. All his work can be viewed at www.tharikhussain.co.uk)

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