lightspree

If you had this, and could go anywhere, where would you go, and what would you do there?

Yan 

China to Europe. I've already done across China so I have a head start.

Vexxer

I think I would just spend a year cycling around Europe. I have never been, and there is so many places I want to go and see, that I could easily take up a year just there.

boomhauer

I don't think you need a plan.
Just leave your front door.
You will figure it out on the way.
A year is a long time.

BlarneyHammer

Credit Card tour in Europe. I could spend a year on that continent without getting bored, but I sure as hell would run out of money. That's where your all-expense-paid comes in handy.

Second choice: Pan-American. In some areas, you'd need a tent no matter how much money you have. I've already done it, but I'd do it again, different route this time. It took me 7.5 months to make it end-to-end, so I suppose for the last 4.5 months I'd turn north again (since winter would be coming) and head to Brazil. I still want to see the Amazon Rainforest.

Intriguing choice: Seriously just go wherever the wind is blowing that morning. An entire year of tailwind!

I have little desire to see Asia. East and South Asia are too populated, Central Asia looks too boring, and the Middle East sounds like a bad idea.

rhm

All expenses paid, one year tour? The idea is so far fetched it can't be considered rationally. But I'd go for the maximum topographical diversity and the minimum armed conflict. I'd have to see the Northern Lights at some point. So... how about from the northern tip of Norway down to Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Sicily, Tunisia... I dunno, how do you get across the Sahara? anyway, down down down... South Africa, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, then island hopping north, ending up with Japan.... maybe fit India in there as well... then, if there's time, Alaska, Canada, and home. I'd want to do it all on the surface, so when I'm not riding, I'd be on a boat.

indyfabz

+1.

jefnvk

Are we restricted to bikes? I've always wanted to go completely around the world, but I'd probably need a motorcycle to do that in a year.

Bike specifically, I'll second (third?) Europe on CC tour. There are anywhere from 28 (EU only) to 51 (independent states occupying the Europe continent) countries to visit, and 52 weeks in a year. 1-2 weeks in each, depending on your final list and interest in a particular place. Winter months down by the Mediterranean, summer spent further north.

dougmon 

I started thinking about the possibilities and...there are just too many. If I could transport my bike via plane to change continents? Part of the year could be South America to Canada. Then a tour of Japan. Then just messing around in Europe. It would be great seeing all the different cultures.

kaos joe

Europe. End of discussion. (for me)

saddlesores

all expenses? including gear?

i want a pontoon attachment to bike across the waters,
and a helium zeppelin with pedal-ly rotor blades to
fly over the himalayas.

Happy Feet

Considering cashing in on the "all expenses paid" aspect I think I would require a folding bike, cruise ship and probably commercial aircraft to fly me to all the continents (including Antarctica). My decorative spoon collection would be amazing!

wished

Ride through all fifty states, maybe all provinces of Canada also. Have a local draft beer in each of those also. Pose for a selfie with a new friend in each one, maybe with that beer!

alan s 

Support vehicle with a mechanic, and pretty much all meals in restaurants and nights in 5 star hotels, where available. Small Gulfstream on call. Maybe a nice looking riding companion, as long as she doesn't complain too much.

fietsbob

My 50th year, I managed 9 months In Ireland and Scotland , on my own (Funded by, Direct deposit electronically , back Home)

Doug64

I'm not sure I'd change much in the way we presently tour; but we'd be able to be on the road longer.

Squeezebox

Cycling from the north pole to the south pole would be an amazing attempt. Of course the Artic and Antartic sections would require significant support, and a small team of riders.

indyfabz

Only one in each state?

BTW...I live in Philly. The annual craft beer convention has been in town this week.

wished

Let me reword that- At least one draft beer in each state, and wish I was in Philly this week

Cougrrcj

How about all the US National Parks in the Lower 48. All 47 of them (with 11 more in Alaska and Hawaii). From Acadia NP in Maine to Yosemite in CA, Glacier in Montana, to Everglades in Florida. 15,758 miles for this route (but may not be bike-friendly, so that is subject to change- most likely upwards!)

https://www.islebox.com/2015/national-parks-road-trip/

spinnaker

You could spend a life time in Europe and never see it all. Europe hands down for sure. Old world charm combined with modern conveniences that jsut can't be beat.

I could also spend a year in the Pacific Northwest. Just awesome beauty.

urbanescapee

Europe would be cool, but even with all expenses paid, one must also take into consideration that foreigners cannot spend more than 90 out of 180 days in the European Schengen zone. The Schengen area accounts for maybe 85% of what comes to mind when a person says "Europe". My wife and I ran across this problem backpacking around the globe (good problem to have, I suppose). What you could do is start with 90 days in mainland Europe, take the train to the UK (which is outside of Schengen), spend the allowed 90 days there, then go back and spend another 90 in Schengen. After that, there are several beautiful eastern European, non-schengen countries where you could roll out your remaining 90 days, thus totaling out the whole year. So, in answer to your question, Europe. Definitely Europe.

elcruxio

All expenses paid?

I'd go around the world and have a DHL chopper deliver me insulin and other medical supplies in any remote areas. Other than that I think I'd cheap it. Oh, and of course I'd upgrade my bike to rohloff and finally get one of those brake hood mounting mirrors.

Machka 

One year?

That's just 4 months longer than the 8-month trip we took a few years ago.

We'd probably follow a similar route, but hit a few different places.

Our route for that 8-month tour was:

Australia > Hong Kong > Taiwan > Japan > Scotland > various places in Europe > England > North America > Australia

I think I'd like to go to a few more places in Australia where we haven't gone yet ... and spend a little bit longer in Hong Kong, Taiwan & Japan + I'd add South Korea ... and definitely more in Scotland + Wales and maybe some parts of England we haven't been to yet ... and more in Europe - some places we've been and some places we haven't ... we might opt to take in some of South America ... and the Maritimes in Canada ... and the Yukon and Alaska ... and then on the way back to Australia, maybe do some island hopping ... Fiji, New Zealand ...


We might opt to make it a themed tour where we try to do a randonnee in each country or something like that.

veganbikes

All expenses paid you say? Well then I would go credit card tour Dubai and Monaco on a custom Demon Frameworks (or Waterford) built 953 lugged stainless steel bike with full Di2 (using DA and XTR bits so I can run a wide range) ; )

More seriously I would probably do a tour of Scotland and Ireland but take a nice long slow tour and hang out in certain places for a while. Would love to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo live and in person and stay on the royal mile during that. I would probably also take a little time to tour Japan (maybe 8 months in Scotland and Ireland and 4 months in Japan?) Once in Japan I would buy a couple Super Sugino 75 cranks, Super Zen Chainrings, Mighty Comp single cranks, MC130 chainrings and some more Gigas cogs, a couple sets of Alpina 2 triple cranks and Mighty tour cranks as well as a ton of Nitto bits and as much vintage NOS/lightly used SunTour and Shimano stuff as possible. Plus soak in some natural baths and watch some Keirin and pick up a few used frames.