Before Lance Armstrong was exposed for doping offences during his professional career, he famously won the Tour De France cycling a record 7 times between 1999 and 2005. The Tour De France is widely believed to be one of the most physically challenging sporting events in the world. It averages about 21 days of racing, with only 2 rest days in between, and riders are expected to cover anywhere between 3000- 5000km in distance. Talk about extreme sports!
Well, for Lance Armstrong, his racing days in Tour De France are over. However, we believe that we have come up with a perfect leisure plan for him. Seeing as pushing himself to succeed did him no good in the end, we recommend that he take a slow-paced journey cycling around Bali, to catch up on some of nature’s beauty that he certainly missed when he was furiously pedalling to win the Tour De France. Maybe some of Bali’s holistic healing and spiritual vibes will rub off him in a good way too.
We propose the new Tour De Bali!
If you fancy some relaxation and good food before you start your cycling tour, you could start your journey at Jimbaran Bay. Whilst you’re there, soak in the beautiful beach and waves and load up on delicious freshly grilled seafood
Travel northwards towards Seminyak, which is about 13-15km away. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of Seminyak as you weave through the crowds of beachgoers and holiday makers. This stretch of road may prove to be the mot hazardous, not to your health, but to your wallet, if you get distracted and go into a shopping frenzy.
It is time to leave the city behind, and head for the uplands of Bali. Steadily travelling northwards, Bedugul is about 80km away. You can make a stop at Tanah Lot to view this iconic coastal seaside temple that is the scene for awe-inspiring sunsets each evening. The trail passes through Marga and climbs to an elevation of about 1200-1300km. You will be able to experience mountain terrain, as well as the magnificent views from up there.
Upon reaching Bedugul, we recommend that you choose either to head to Lovina to the west, or to Amed in the east. Since both Lovina and Amed are generally famous for beach and sea activities, the arduous bicycle journey to see both may not be worth your effort, especially if you are on a tight schedule. Of course, if time permits, you can do both, since both locations are indeed beautiful natural attractions. The route to Lovina, passing through Seririt is about 60km away.
The main attractions of Lovina are its dolphins, black sand beaches and calm waters. You can go diving, snorkelling, and even visit a pearl farm. There are also cultural attraction such as the Banjar hotsprings that you may wish to visit as you pass along the way. From Lovina, you can head back the way you came from, and divert to Ubud before heading back to Kuta area.
The tour to Amed will take cyclists around the coast of Bali and it is about 65km from Singaraja to Amed. Amed is home to some of the best diving sites in Bali, such as Manta Point where you can witness these graceful rays glide through the water. Continue on along the fringe of Bali and head to Candidasa to Padangbai, and Ubud.
On the way to Ubud, you can check out some of the beautiful cultural attractions of Bali, such as the Sukawati art market and the Tenganan village which houses the indigenous Bali Aga people who leave their dead out to decompose in open-air cemeteries. The Kerta Gosa traditional heritage building is also a popular destination that you can reach by bike.
Source: Michael Gunther
Check out the many craft villages such as Batubulan and Celuk, and perhaps pick up some souvenirs or arts and craft that have been handmade with love by the local Balinese.
If you have your own idea of how you would like to tour Bali on bike, there are plenty of tour operators that will be able to offer you such a cycling tour, and an experienced guide will accompany you so that you travel with peace of mind, as well as tap on his local knowledge to learn more about Bali. Cycling tours in Bali generally take place from South Bali and goes up to North Bali. Of course, the wonderful thing about a cycling tour is that you’re absolutely flexible with timings. No need to worry about catching a bus to your next destination, your tour is entirely up to you. There are so many different routes that you could choose for your cycling tour around Bali, the options are virtually limitless.
Bali is beautiful for cycling in, and cyclists are rewarded for their hard work by the beautiful scenery all around them. It is also possibly one of the best ways to see local Bali, and be able to stop by at local villages and witness how the Balinese live their lives.
Source: balicycling.com
For those who have been inspired to try this out for yourself, you may wish to participate in the Mountain Bike Marathon 2013, held on 9th June from 9am-4pm. It is an 80km trail and will be quite manageable for intermediate to advanced cyclists. This marathon will take cyclists over the Mount Batur Caldera trail. Expect challenging terrains, including forest trails, red mud, volcanic sand, lava cobbles, gravel and broken tarmac roads. There are stretches of trail which are steep and goes uphill, however, take a pace at which you are comfortable and be sure to enjoy the scenery on the way. Registration for this event ends 8 May 2013.
Happy cycling!
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