Are you looking to combine your travels with a truly memorable cycling experience this year? Whatever your style, we have hand-picked some suggestions for you.
Whether you wish to discover new regions, test your athletic limits or celebrate cycling among like-minded people, our selection of unique bike events around the world promise to connect, inspire and challenge you in the best ways.
All of them are still open for registration at the time of publication or simply require you to show up. Let’s ride!
1. Bourbon Country Burn 🇺🇸
Image: Bourbon Country Burn
3 days, 250 miles, 16 distilleries: sign me up! This three-day, fully-supported bicycle tour of the bourbon distilleries and Thoroughbred horse farms of Kentucky lets you fully indulge both on and off the saddle of your bike. A feel-good ride for anyone who loves the outdoors, horses and whisky. Taking place in the last week of September every year, the memories of the Bourbon Country Burn will definitely last you a lifetime.
🗓️ When: 27 – 29 September 2024
📍 Find out more and register here.
2. 50 years Ciclovia: every Sunday in Bogotá 🇨🇴
Every Sunday and holiday since 1974, the Colombian capital closes its highways to cars and opens them to cyclists, skaters, joggers and walkers. This is no doubt one of the most forward-thinking events in terms of mobility and increases the quality of life and air in Bogotá. Ciclovia is not just an exhilarating experience of likeminded people, there are food stalls and vendors offering repairs and spare parts along the way. Ride an incredible 127,69 km of paved roads any Sunday and celebrate 50 years of Ciclovia.
🗓️ When: Every Sunday and holiday
📍 Many of you have been here! See the most popular Ciclovia routes on Bikemap.
3. Mecklenburger Seen Runde 🇩🇪
Image: Florian Selig / MSR
The Mecklenburger Seen Runde is a bike event open to anyone and takes place in May each year. While 300 km presents a serious physical and mental challenge, this distance seems to be to cycling what a marathon is to running. To some, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, others come back every year to enjoy a full day of cycling across the mainly flat landscape through the fields and lakes of the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This event is not only organised with the expected German efficiency, but is known and loved for its hospitality and sportive character. It offers multiple events including the MiniMSR for children and the MSR100, a 100 km ride for women only. With the right preparation, any hobby cyclist can become a finisher!
🗓️ When: 24-25 May 2024
📍 Find out more and register here.
4. Liège-Bastogne-Liège Challenge 🇧🇪
Image: Liège-Bastogne-Liège Challenge
If you’ve ever dreamed of racing one of the classics like a pro, this one is for you: join thousands of other cyclists and ride your very own Liège-Bastogne-Liège, 24 hours before the professional race! Though you will require some serious climbing training to succeed, you can choose from three different distances to master the hills of the Ardennes: 253km (elevation 4400m), 155km (elevation 2700m) or 79km (elevation 1500m – see route map below). While registration is still open, the LBL Challenge is limited to 8000 participants. Best to register now to start off your cycling season with this legendary race classic – then watch the pros ride some of the same roads the following day!
🗓️ When: Saturday 20 April 2024
📍 Find out more and register here.
5. World Naked Bike Ride 🇬🇧
Illustration by Henry Yuen / World Naked Bike Ride
The World Naked Bike Ride is an exhilarating peaceful demonstration against car culture, aiming to make the vulnerability of cyclists visible. The WNBR London ride is usually held on the second Saturday of June and has taken place every year since 2004, except in 2021 during lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While the turnout is a little dependent on the weather, we’re told more than 1000 riders – clothing optional, many with creative body paint – usually show up to participate and it’s always a fun-filled time!
🗓️ When: Saturday 8 June 2024
📍 More info: https://wnbrlondon.uk/
The exact route of this slow and easy ride is not announced in advance, mainly for logistical reasons. No need to register, just turn up at one of the starting locations listed here. In the meantime, you can discover popular routes in London here.
