Cycling is ambivalent in Mauritius; while it is a means of transportation for the poorest in countryside’s villages, a sporty cycling scene is emerging in the more affluent areas. A few mountain and road bike races are held annually.

Given its small size (~2000 km²), crossing the island by bicycle is doable in one day. From Souillac (southernmost point) to Cap Malheureux (northernmost point) there are around 80 km. The east and west coast are about 50 km apart. However, being a volcanic island, Mauritius' central plateau culminates at ~500 m. The south west of the island has more relief than the north which is flatter. Therefore, depending on the area traveled, a good physical condition is required.

The road network is in an overall good state but potholes are unavoidable especially when crossing villages. Older roads tend to be quite narrow and may represent a safety risk for cyclists when being overtaken by careless drivers. However, Mauritian drivers are usually respectful of cyclists. There could be high traffic on some roads (especially the west coast road from Port Louis to Tamarin). There are only limited cycle paths separated from the main axes. A cycle road from Curepipe (central plateau) to Flic en Flac is being built (as of 2024) with the section between Curepipe and La Marie already in use. Cycling at your own risk is allowed on the highway.

The use of mountain bikes permits avoiding main roads through shortcuts in the sugar fields and will render the experience more pleasant by allowing exploration of hidden places.

A negligible threat can be encountered in the form of packs of stray dogs. While being peaceful most of the time, some may start to chase the cyclist, pulling the entire pack with them. In this case, slow down, dismount, talk to them and walk until you exit their territory. Athletes may attempt to outrun them by sprinting, but a very good condition is required.

See also: Cycling in China

China still has a high proportion of cyclists, although traffic can be dangerous. Cities like Beijing, Shanghai or Suzhou continue to have very good cycle infrastructure, even if car traffic is much more dominant than it once was. There is a 70 km segregated cycle lane between Shanghai and Suzhou. Hong Kong has less cycling than the mainland, but is beginning to become more bike-friendly, with a network of dedicated cycle paths around the New Territories.

The Yunnan-Tibet Highway has become a particularly popular challenge for touring cyclists. The end part of route isn't easily navigable for foreigners, however, because of restrictions on entry to Tibet, but it still possible to cycle on that route if you make arrangements through a local travel agency in advance. See also Yunnan tourist trail and Overland to Tibet.

The Karakoram Highway leading south from western China to Pakistan is a popular, though very challenging, cycle route.

See also: Cycling in Japan

Japan can be a good place for cycling. Drivers are more polite than almost anywhere else and cycling is quite common in some cities, like Kyoto. There are many well-known, well-supported bike routes like the island-hopping Shimanami Kaido Bikeway that connects the main island of Honshu to Shikoku.

Nearly every large city and many small cities have bike rental options, usually for a single day at a time but longer rental options are sometimes available. In areas with well-known and popular cycling routes, there are certain to be places to rent bicycles, so it is not necessary to bring a bike to Japan unless you are planning more original routes or traveling across country.

Cycling in Taiwan is improving, with new cycle paths, but driving standards are quite poor. Kaohsiung has 150 km of cycle lanes and a city bike hire scheme.

The Samoeng Loop is a 100-km ride that departs Chiang Mai, heads into the mountains to the west, and loops back to the city. Popular with bicyclists and motorcycle aficionados alike.

One of only three countries in the world which mandates bicycle helmet wearing for all ages (the others being Australia and New Zealand) and, of course, it can be hellishly hot. Fuel and air conditioned vehicles are as cheap here as anywhere in the world and both recreational and commuter cycling is paltry.

Most people still use bicycles in Vietnam, so cycling there can be a good choice. However motorised traffic is rapidly coming to dominate Vietnam's roads, especially near Saigon, meaning it is no longer the cycling paradise it perhaps once was.

National Highway 1 is a well-known route for long cycle tours, being Vietnam's main north-south road. There are plans to upgrade it to a six lane highway however, so it may not be a great route for much longer. The southern 1,100 km tends to be more popular, as it is reputedly more scenic and include long stretches of beach.

A popular alternative is to choose parts of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which was the network of supply routes used by the Communist north to supply their troops in the south during the Vietnam War. This takes in the rural areas, crosses into Laos, and is much tougher cycling.

Cycling in Pakistan is very common. Cyclists often cycle the Karakoram Highway through the Hunza Valley in Pakistan to China. The Khunjerab Pass, at 4863 m, is the highest paved international border crossing in the world and the highest point on the Karakoram Highway. Organised tours and books about the journey are available.

Cycling in India is very common, and is becoming more popular as a leisure activity. There a number of informally known routes that are popular, but few that are officially designated. A few areas and routes worth mentioning would include:

• Manali to Leh — around 500 km through parts of the Himalayas
• Gujarat
• Sikkim
• Alibag coastal, flat, prone to wind
• Pune to Panshet Dam taking in Sinhagarh Fort
• Kerala
• Bangalore

See also: Cycling in New South Wales

Australia is making efforts to improve cycling, and cities like Brisbane have better routes and city hire schemes. Australia was the first country in the world to impose uniform national mandatory bicycle helmet legislation, beginning in 1990, and it is illegal to ride without a helmet (except that in the Northern Territory there is an exemption for adults cycling along footpaths or on cycle paths).

Former railway lines in all states of Australia have been developed into rail trails. There is rail trail information available for the following regions of Australia:

• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Victoria is a particularly good state to explore by bike, with a variety of scenery, many rail trails and a good public transport network.

Cycling is not a major commuter activity in New Zealand (except in Nelson), although it is increasingly popular as a sport and leisure activity and mountain biking is particularly well developed in Nelson.

Beware of buses and trucks on main roads as many drivers will not give you sufficient overtaking clearance; proportionately, five times as many cyclists are injured and killed on New Zealand roads as in the Netherlands or Singapore! You should also be prepared for the large distances between towns and cities and the generally windy weather. While there are some areas of New Zealand that are flat, most tourists cycling in New Zealand will find that they need to be able to cope with long hill climbs and variable weather conditions.

A network of cycleways is being built around New Zealand, with some safe and beautiful routes already constructed: NZ Cycleways. Helmets must be worn by law.

Beirut's downtown has a car-free Sunday.

Petra & Wadi Rum

Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal have good and developing systems of local bike routes. Edmonton in the Prairies and Victoria in the West are said to be among the most bike-friendly in the country.

Main article: Cycling in the United States

Although car culture is strong in the United States, cycling does exist in the country. Cycling is especially popular in Portland and Minneapolis, and other cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, and Fort Collins have decent cycling options. There are also several long bicycle trails in the United States which are all at least a thousand miles long.

• Ruta de los Conventos del Popocatépetl — A challenging week long bicycle tour visiting the earliest 16th-century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl. Along the way you‘ll cross two national parks, an active volcano, and more historical sites than any reasonable person would ever want to visit.

In Nicaragua cycling is a good way to get around medium sized towns like León and Granada, whereas Managua is anything but a bike-friendly destination. Traditionally locals prefer motorcycles if they can afford them, but poverty means that you will be seeing bikes and even horse-drawn carts and horses on city streets, flowing through normal traffic. Most cities and many hotels have bike rentals for around US$10/day or less and you can buy a cheap bike even in remote places like San Carlos, Rio San Juan starting around US$70–100. Traffic on most highways is not that high, but then again, neither is the quality of roads. Drivers are accustomed to sharing the road with horses and pedestrians so as long as you are visible enough they should be able to react accordingly. Keep in mind that city-drivers, and especially those driving a taxi, can be reckless next to the suicidal, this is – once again – especially true in the greater Managua area.

Brazil has some reasonable cycling in some cities. Rio de Janeiro has a few good cycle paths and cycle hire. São Paulo has dedicated cycle ways, and nearby Guarujá has extensive cycle paths. Curitiba has over 100 km of cycle ways, one of the largest in the country. Overall, cycling is common, but traffic conditions don't make cycling as easy as it could be.

Colombia is a particularly avid cycling nation, for the sport and the activity. Bogotá has an extensive cycle network. Medellin regularly blocks major roads on Sundays for motorized traffic so joggers and cyclists and use them safely, a few shops set up along these roads and rent bicycles for cheap.

Ecuador is an excellent cycling destination, specially for mountain biking. There are multiple competitions and events organized almost every weekend. Quito, the nation's capital has a weekly event called Ciclopaseo in which every Sunday major roads are closed for motorized traffic. Cyclists, joggers, inline skaters and other athletes use it safely, and can enjoy the city. Along the roads you can find multiple shops where you can rent bicycles for cheap.