Imagine the wind in your hair, the sights and sounds of nature around you, and the sun warming your back as you pedal through unspoilt countryside. Whether you want to imagine being part of the Tour de France or meandering through towns and cities, cycling holidays are on the up.

Globally, cycle tourism was valued at USD 116.73 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% from 2023 to 2030 – that’s a lot of bums on saddles!

One of the reasons for this stonking rise is the growing popularity of e-bikes. These have opened opportunities for a broader audience to enjoy exploring on two wheels. Big hills become child’s play, long distances are no problem, and you don’t have to arrive at your destination sweaty.

Cycling holiday or holiday cycling?

Is there a difference? Indeed, there is.

Cycling is the main pursuit during cycling holidays. They account for 2 to 4% of European trips (this is expected to rise to between 6 and 12% in the next ten years). This is usually the realm of cyclists who love to take on a mountain or two, just like their heroes in the Tour de France and the Giro.

But the larger market is holiday cycling, where you take to two wheels, but it’s not the focus of your holiday. Yes, you could tackle a mountain if you wanted to, or you could pootle around the countryside, explore cities (without getting stuck in traffic) and generally discover something new with every turn of the pedals.

So, whether you’re a roadie, MTB addict, tourer, explorer or family of cycling enthusiasts, the booming cycling tourism industry is helping you to enjoy a healthy, sustainable, and authentic travel experience.

To hire or not to hire that is the question

Taking your bike with you on holiday is one option. However, you’ll need a bike box and the know-how to pack your bike and rebuild it at your destination. What a faff.

Or you could do what 80% of riders do: rent a trusty steed at their destination.

Hiring a bike—of whatever variety—simplifies your travel plans, means little maintenance on your part, and is usually more cost-effective.

Of course, that means finding a company that offers flexibility. The last thing you want is to have to pay to hire a bike for the duration of your holiday if you only need it for a few days or even a few hours.

One such company is ListNRide. Through its online platform, customers can access over 80,000 bikes across Europe and around the world. Seen as the Airbnb of the cycling world, its simple-to-use platform offers a ride for every use or need, making bike hire and bike sharing child’s play.

We spoke to the company’s CEO, Jonas Müller, to get his take on the growth of cycling tourism and how it’s impacted his business.

“Yes, we’re seeing a boom in the cycling tourism market,” said Jonas. “In fact, our recent marketing campaign identified a massive interest in hiring road bikes, e-bikes, and mountain bikes to cycling tourism hotspots like Mallorca and the Canary Islands.

“However, our most popular rental is cargo bikes in cities such as Berlin, which reflects the importance of sustainable travel to many of our customers.”

What happens if my hired bike is damaged or stolen?

The whole point of a holiday is to relax, enjoy yourself and have fun. The last thing you want to be doing is worrying about what happens if you fall off your hired bike, damage it, or some pesky bike thief makes off with it.  

“We’ve got that covered,” said Jonas. “It’s the insurance we offer that makes ListNRide so desirable to our customers. Around 70% of our customers said that the deciding factor in using our platform was that we provide insurance.

“We chose Laka as our insurance partner because of their flexibility. No one else offered the same approach. It’s great to work with a company that does things differently, just like us.”

Relax and enjoy the ride

Whether planning a staycation, a European city break or heading further afield, hiring a bike is a great way to explore and stay healthy. On two wheels, you can escape congestion, immerse yourself in culture, and burn enough calories to enjoy a café stop or two.

Just make sure you hire a bike from a company like ListNRide that provides insurance so you can relax, knowing every pedal stroke is covered.