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IT is a surprising fact, but for the vast majority of people who decide to book   either a guided or self-guided cycling holiday the most difficult task is picking a suitable destination.

AS is the case with any contract you put your signature to, it is vitally important to read the fine print attached to your chosen cycle tour BEFORE paying.

As a destination Victoria’s North East is a cycling paradise, as The Cycle Tourist discovered much to his delight during a recent three-week visit to the region.

WITH literally hundreds of cycle tour operators across the globe offering a bewildering number of tours in a vast number of amazing locations, how do you go about picking one particular tour operator to provide a cycling holiday experience that is “just right” for you?

AS far as diverse holiday groups go ours was about as diverse as you can get. There were 28 of us who boarded the barge Ave Maria in the historic Italian city of Venice on a perfect Saturday afternoon late in June primed for a week of guided cycling, sightseeing and, as it turned out, a lot of fun and good company.

Cycle touring worldwide is growing at a huge rate as demonstrated by Andrew Bain in his recent article for Traveller. What may not be so well known is the exponential growth in riders aged over 50 – in particular the baby boomer generation. This demographic is still fit and active and want the most out of their holiday – sightseeing, fresh air, exercise, relaxation and above all, fun!

After much research you have tracked down an organised cycle tour that is just perfect for you and have made the booking. What now?

Finally, after weeks - if not months - of searching for a cycle tour that ticks all of your boxes, the research is over and the booking is made.
Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for the day when you can finally head off on your long-awaited cycling holiday ... if only life could be that simple.

You have booked a cycle tour because you want to cycle, sightsee and generally soak up the culture of a foreign country – not to worry about doing your laundry and finding a place for it to dry overnight.

While there are a wide variety of cycle tours on the market available for aspiring holidaymakers, there are essentially three types that mainstream tour operators offer.

So what exactly do you need to find out before handing over your hard earned cash to the cycle tour operator of your choice?
Essentially there are 10 questions that you need to ask of yourself and your proposed tour company.

The Lot valley is a much lesser known but very close cousin to the Dordogne, being just the next river valley south. As such it is much less crowded and popular, though equally beautiful. It may not have the chateaux but the quaint villages and by-ways are all there - and if you need to visit a Dordogne chateau just point your bike the other direction!

If you were hoping to read about the macabre Thomas Harris character then I'm sorry to disappoint you. This article is about the original Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who was the nemesis of Rome in the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C. Among his many exploits he most famously marched with his army and elephants from Spain to the gates of Rome - you can now follow this route by bike.

Perhaps more than many global cities, Barcelona makes a very strong case for being a unique destination for travellers – and cyclists.

Sydney Australia is one of the few major cities around the world where you can just hop on your bicycle and go whale watching from shore.

Tony Olejinki from Infinite Mountain Adventure met up with Bruce Robertson from CTG at Atélier de Velo in Sydney.

The bicycle was introduced to Korea in 1884. Despite this being relatively recent, cycling has become integral to Korean culture and life. But there is more to this country than cycling...

A week’s cycling tour is only enough to give a flavour of the country but, like the food and the trip, this is best shared...

Korea probably doesn't feature too highly on most people's radar - perhaps due to a fear (or apprehension) of the unknown. Let me try to dissuade you of this....

In April 2012 1,757km of cross-country cycling paths were officially completed and unveiled in a series of ceremonies across Korea. This was a highly popular move but to further encourage use and promote interest a national certification system was adopted using a beautiful green passport.