2019-11-01_Bicycling

This week of mountain biking and dirt cul-

ture features iconic riding in the Cascades

wedged between two local mountain bike

festivals (close your eyes and conjure up

food trucks, a beer garden, and spirited

group rides). For the first half of the trip,

you’ll stay in a boutique hotel in downtown

Seattle, hit farm-to-table restaurants, and

ride singletrack in lush woodland. The

second act unfolds in the Teanaway Valley

on the east side of the Cascades, where the

landscape is drier and more exposed, the

downhills rip, and the singletrack will test

your technical skills. Decamp at a large

mountain cabin (with a pool and hot tub)

where the culinary vibe is campfire s’mores

and BBQ. 2019 Giant Trances are included.

7 days / 154 miles / $2,695 /

Intermediate/advanced

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Cairngorms Adventure Scotland // H+I

Adventures  Highlands whisky and single-

track in the only Arctic ecosystem in the

U.K.—keep an eye out for wild reindeer.

8 days / 100 to 115 miles / $1,958 / Intermediate

BEST MOUNTAIN BIKING

The Trip  Wild & Sacred

Seattle | The Outfitter 

Sacred Rides

This tour-outfitter collaboration takes you to two

exotic and distinctive cultures. Meander north from

the Adriatic and explore Friuli—known for produc-

ing many of Italy’s best white wines—where locals

speak their own language. Cross into Slovenia, a

darling of travel hot lists for good reason: In the

foothills of the Alps, you’ll enjoy rustic meals, quiet

and undulating roads, views of verdant valleys and

snowcapped mountains, and a culture that’s exotic

without being impenetrable. In six days of riding,

you’ll cover 195 miles—leaving plenty of time for

immersive sightseeing, long lunches, and multisport

diversions like river rafting, hiking, and paragliding.

BYO bike or choose from a f leet of Bianchi road,

hybrid, or e-bikes.

8 days / 195 miles / $4,195 / Recreational-plus

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Tour of Ireland’s West Coast // Eat Sleep Cycle 

Expect rural roads, seaside villages, emerald hills, and

more than a few quality pints.

7 days / 300 miles / $2,775 / Intermediate/advanced

BEST HIDDEN EUROPE

The Trip  Friuli Venezia

Giulia and Slovenia |

The Outfitter  Tourissimo + Ride &

Seek Bicycle Adventures

RIDING

FROM BOVEC,

SLOVENIA,

TOWARD ITALY.

48 BICYCLING.COM • ISSUE 1 | 2020

TRAVEL

AWARDS

2020