Best cycling challenge in the world?!

rbarcan

I am looking for a special trip to celebrate a big birthday. Could be on or off road and anywhere within reason. 5 - 10 days would be about right. Looking for something involving high mountains

Where in the world should I go?!

apriliarider

Transrockies - awesome fun, great trails, good mountains 500km and 17500m in 7 days - enjoy !!

blorg

Maybe define "high mountains" - a high mountain in the UK is very different to what you will find elsewhere. And "within reason" - in the UK, Europe, anywhere?

The Raid Pyrneen might be a good option. 4.5 days from the Atlantic to the Med (or the other way) going over 19-20 cols. Beautiful scenery and all those cols that are famous from the Tour. Best 4.5 days I ever did on a bike no doubt.

If you don't need quite as much climbing another alternative would be the Camino de Santiago. You can do this on-road or with a fair bit of off-road and should get from the French border to Santiago in the 10 days. Max elevation is a touch over 1,500m IIRC. There is still plenty of climbing but not on the scale of the Raid.

The Grand Traverse of the Alps from Geneva to Nice would be another option, longer than the Raid.

Note you won't be able to do the proper high mountains until around June as the passes are not open until then.

Aggieboy

I'd recommend Northern Spain. Although not the highest of mountains you get the best of everything. Sort journey by plane or ferry. Picos mountains, lovely beaches with nice coastal roads, nice towns/villages, camping or b&b etc and you can go off road up in the mountains if you go by MTB, Fuente De and Cares Gorge etc. The climb to the lakes and camp site up Covadonga is great. http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&so ... group&sa=X

shawman

+ 1 on the Raid Pyreneen. An amazing week.
http://www.velopeloton.com/raid-pyrenees/