"Biking is an excellent way for visitors to experience Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim," says National Park Service Superintendent Steve Martin in a press release. "The bike friendly infrastructure along the newly reconstructed Hermit Road and associated greenway offer visitors a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the Grand Canyon by bicycle in an area that is free of private vehicle traffic."

The 277 mile (446 kilometer) long Grand Canyon was one of the first national parks in the U.S. Nearly two billion years of the Earth's geological history are exposed in the massive rift in the Colorado Plateau.  For at least 17 million years, the Colorado River has carved its way through the landscape. The result is a 6,000 feet (1.83 kilometer) deep and 4 to 18 mile (6.4 to 29 kilometer) wide canyon that is visible from space. The rock layers of the canyon walls showcase much of the early geologic history of the North American continent.

Now visitors can take in the scenery on portions of the park's multi-use greenway trail system open to bicycles, on all park roads open to public vehicular traffic and on park roads open only to shuttle bus traffic, including the Hermit Road and the Yaki Point Road. Self guided tours to explore the canyon and historical buildings located along the South Rim will be available through the fall season.

Since weather conditions can greatly affect the exploration, riders should obtain accurate forecasts and be aware of potentially extreme temperatures and late summer monsoons. Visitors can also utilize the park's shuttle bus system, which can accommodate up to three bicycles per bus.

Photo: Phil Konstantin/Public Domain

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The National Park "Hohe Tauern" is the largest in Austria, and the "Tauern Bike Path" runs along its northern boundary. The 695 square mile (1,800 square kilometer) park encompasses 246 glaciers and 304 mountains at 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) or higher. The "Tauern Bike Path" allows discovering one of Austria’s most beautiful regions. It runs along the banks of the Salzach River and passes through dozens of picturesque towns, yet it manages to avoid busy roads. While the 100 mile path is one of Europe's most popular touring routes, it never feels crowded.

The clearly marked path starts in Krimml, a small mountain village and popular holiday resort at an elevation of 3,500 feet (1,067 meter). It ends 100 miles (161 kilometers) and over 2,100 vertical feet (640 meter) later in Salzburg. Krimml is well known for its waterfalls. With a total drop of 1,247 feet (380 meter), the Krimml waterfalls are among Europe's highest and a source for the Salzach River.

Following the river downstream, the Tauern Bike Path will gently sloop through the Rosental  valley and pass the towns of Neukirchen, Bramberg, and Mittersill before reaching Zell am See after approximately 36 miles (58 kilometers). The small town of about 10,000 is a major tourist destination on picturesque Lake Zeller. The Hundstein is with 6,946 feet (2,117 meter) the highest peak in the area and provides a dramatic backdrop when seen from across the lake. The city itself dates back to Roman times and the St. Hippolyte Church is the oldest known building in the region.

Following the route to Bischofshofen, cyclists can enjoy grand views of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak. They will pass the town of St. Johann im Pongau, the most important shopping and tourist center in the region. St. Johann is famous for the scenic Liechtenstein gorge, open from mid-May to the end of October, and a beautiful cathedral.

Every year in January, Bischofshofen hosts the final competition of the traditional "Four Hills Tournament", an international ski jumping event. This 36 mile (58 kilometer) leg of the "Tauern Bike Path" combines mainly easy downhill cycling with beautiful scenery.

From here, Salzburg is another 36 mile (58 kilometer) ride through the Salzach meadows. A little climb to the 1,713 feet (552 meters) high Lueg pass will reward cyclists with a lunch-break at a rustic guesthouse.  On a downhill slope, the settlements of Golling and Hallein are passed. Hallein is a historic town close to the German border known for its salt mine. The name Hallein is derived from the Celtic word hall for salt, and the settlement can be traced back over 4,000 years.

After a short ride and a little bit more traffic, the city of Salzburg is reached. The city center, better known as the "Old Town," is one of the best preserved north of the Alps and listed as a World Heritage Site since 1997. Famous for its baroque architecture, Salzburg is the birthplace of the 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A castle called "Hohensalzburg" dominates the view and is one of the largest in Europe. With three universities, Salzburg is filled with the liveliness of a large student population. Many restaurants and cafés dot the city, and visitors outnumber locals by a large margin in peak times.

Cyclist can continue to follow the route along the Salzach and later the Inn. After crossing the border to Germany, they will pass through the picturesque towns of Burghausen and Braunau before reaching the city of Passau. At this point, they will have reached the Danube River. The landscape has changed, and majestic mountains and high peaks have disappeared in the distance. Instead, rolling hills and flat passages great cyclists and the early morning view is usually softened by a light mist.

If cyclists prefer to focus on burning calories and getting back in shape, the more active crowd can simply reverse the trip and travel from Passau or Salzburg to Krimml. Many uphill passages will certainly help to get back in shape after a long winter slack.

The best months to travel are usually Mai - June and September – October. Hotels enjoy their peak summer season in July and August when Europeans take long vacations. Hot temperatures at lower elevations can also limit the fun factor during this time. Cyclists will notice that Austrian’s and German’s always find reasons to celebrate. Town festivals are common, especially during the fall season, and the streets are often closed to traffic and filled with tourists sampling local cuisine, wine and beer from hundreds of vendors.

© Global Adventures, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Salzburg, Austria

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Google says that the new feature has been the most requested addition to Google maps. An organization called Google Maps Bike There collected more than 50,000 signatures to endorse the addition of bicycle routes. "This new tool will open people’s eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding," says Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. "We know people want to ride more, we know it’s good for people and communities when they do ride more - this makes it possible. It is a game-changer, especially for those short trips that are the most polluting."

Much of the data comes from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Cyclist will appreciate that Google developed an algorithm that estimates travel times and factors in changes in elevation and even fatigue. In standard mode, the planner avoids steep climbs. Another useful feature allows cyclist to find locations where they can take a break or find repair shops along the route.

"Streets are not just for cars," said Jim Lecinski, managing director for Google in the U.S. "This is the next move in what we think mapmaking should be." While the bike-trip-planner will not immediately be available on cell phones and other wireless devices, Google says it is working on mobile applications.

Other applications that allow cyclist to plan their routes include mapmyride.com and ridethecity.com.

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RAAM is among the best-known and longest annual endurance events in the world. It is one of the pinnacles of sporting accomplishment, globally seen as one of the highest rungs of the endurance sports ladder.

To put it bluntly, RAAM is the American answer to Europe's Tour de France. Unlike most multi-day bicycle races, it has no stages. There is no specified distance to travel each day. The winner usually finishes in eight to nine days, after riding approximately 22 hours per day. Having to ride continuously for days with little to no sleep puts this event in the ultra marathon category.

The continuous physical output places considerable strain on the competitors as well as their support crews. As many as 50 percent of solo participants drop out of the race due to exhaustion or for medical reasons.

The fastest men's speed was by Pete Penseyres in 1986, when he rode 3107 miles (5,000 kilometers) at 15.40 miles per hour (24.8 kilometers per hour) in 8 days, 9 hours, and 47 minutes. The fastest woman was Seana Hogan in 1995, who averaged 13.23 miles per hour (21.3 kilometers per hour) to finish 2,912 miles (4,686 kilometers) in 9 days, 4 hours, 2 minutes.

RAAM is an expensive endeavor by most accounts. Most participants spend more than $15,000 for the event itself, not including training or equipment.

The race was originally organized by John Marino in 1982. There were four competitors, John Marino, John Howard, Michael Shermer, and Lon Haldeman. The concept caught on and the event grew bigger every year. RAAM is, on average, 30 percent longer than the Tour de France and solo racers finish in half the time with no rest days. The race format is essentially a time trial, commonly called racing against the clock or the race of truth. Unlike the Tour de France, there is no drafting or taking shelter from the wind. It's an all out solo challenge.

The 3,000+ miles route touches 14 states and climbs over 100,000 feet. All entrants must be members of the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association, or UMCA, and then prove their abilities by competing in any of several qualifying events, completing a course within a specified time period.

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The route moves through the Loire Region to Limoges before turning back to the east in a gradual descent down the country and into the "Côte d'Azur" at Nice. The 68th Paris – Nice race starts March 7 just outside the French capital and finishes in Nice on March 14.

The first Paris-Nice race took place in 1933. Until 1939 it was held every year, with no events during the Second World War. In 1946 a sequel was organized, but it appeared to be a one-off event. Five years later, in 1951, reporter Jean Leulliot gives the race a new lease of life and calls it Paris - Côte d’Azur. Changing the name of the race wasn’t a big deal those days.

Starting in 1954, the current name is used to identify this multistage race. With only one exception in 1959 (Paris - Nice - Rome) it has been called Paris - Nice. Obviously, that year the race ended in Rome: 1,955 kilometers divided into 11 stages with a one-time finish in Rome.

In the sixties, France is divided into two sides. One side supports Jacques Anquetil, the others side favors Raymond Poulidor. The rivalry between the two doesn’t just exist in the Tour de France, but also in the Paris - Nice race were hard battles are fought. In the late 60’s, another champion emerges. Eddy Merckx made was in the news in 1968. The following year, he returned to collect the prize and dominate this race for three years in a row.

1982 is the year of the demise of Jean Leulliot. His daughter follows in her father’s footsteps and goes on organizing the beautiful race. That same year, a virtually unknown Irishman makes his stance and wins during his first Paris – Nice competition. Sean Kelly will win the Paris – Nice seven times in a row, which makes him all-time record holder.

In 2002, the organization that’s responsible for operating the Tour the France takes over the Paris – Nice’s management. Since 2005 the race has been a part of the UCI ProTour.

A official map of the 2010 race can be seen here.

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