Bike
MTB
Five Places to Ride Before You Die
The spots on planet Earth you cannot afford to miss on your mountain bike.
A new descent
© Miles Holden/Red Bull Content Pool
Whether it's sifting through old Lonely Planet guides, browsing travel sites or simply throwing a dart/knife at a map of the globe, January is the best time to plan the year's two-wheeled adventures.
But where to go? Here's our guide to the far-flung places we reckon look like some of the best prospects for a mountain bike adventure.
1. New Zealand
This was relatively easy as it feels like every man and his bike are currently in New Zealand already. It's the middle of the Kiwi summer riding season at the minute and the country features what is being widely touted as some of the best riding on earth. It's quickly becoming a popular "training camp" for the pros of the UCI World Cup desperately seeking year-round endless summer escapades.
The country also plays host to the incredible Gorge Road dirt jumps just in case you get bored of all the downhill runs and singletrack.
The training continues
© Miles Holden/Red Bull Content Pool
Alpine singletrack
© Sven Martin
Brook Macdonald showing how good it CAN be...
© Miles Holden/Red Bull Content Pool
2. Canada
Canada had to feature, didn't it! And whilst all the fuss usually centres around Whistler and the North Shore, we've opted for Retallack. An area made famous by its backcountry skiing is now seeing a growing popularity as a freeride Mecca.
The old mining hills and expansive slopes make it perfect for build-it-yourself shenanigans. It mightn't be for the faint-hearted, but, trust us, it would be worth it!
Evening sun
© Mattias Fredriksson
3. Wales
When it comes to riding in Wales, you're spoilt for choice. Man-made spots include its vast swathe of modern trail centers and of course Bike Park Wales, one of the UK's premier mountain bike destinations. But it's the scope for endless "backcountry" escapes that we love. Do the work, ask around and the trail riding gold is soon revealed.
The Welsh riding scene is incredibly active and has produced two of the world's leading young racers in Mike Jones of Chain Reaction Cycles/Nukeproof and Taylor Vernon of GT Factory Racing.
Brendan Fairclough at Red Bull Hardline 2014
© Duncan Philpott
Related
4. Norway
In terms of international mountain biking Norway is perhaps most famous for the Hafjell Bike Park, but it's stunning fjord-hugging mountains mean that there's so much more to explore. The Sunnmøre Alps in particular feature incredible trail riding but only once they've emerged from their 32 inches of snow.
The Geiranger fjord
© Mattias Fredriksson
Tarløysa Mountain – The big one
© Mattias Fredriksson
Finding the right line
© Sven Martin 2012
5. Finale Ligure
From the minute you leave Nice Airport and begin skirting the Mediterranean coast, you're already in love with Finale. By the time you reach the beach having descended one of its many world-class rocky trails it's too late, you'll want to stay forever. There are few places on earth that can claim to marry this quality of riding with this kind of backdrop. It needs to be experienced to be believed.
Finale Ligure, the traditional season-ender of the Enduro World Series
© Sven Martin/Red Bull Content Pool
Fabien Barel takes the stairs
© Sven Martin/Red Bull Content Pool
Curtis Keene
© [unknown]
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