Europe by Bike: 18 Tours Geared for Discovery

I used an earlier edition of this book for a trip from Genoa to Barcelona in September 1989, and for a trip from Lisbon to Tangiers in May 1990. I was 23/24 at the time, and had never toured on my own prior to those trips. The book was perfect: good advice for purchasing/maintaining a tour bike, good description of routes and side trips, good advice on special little things to see and do along the way (I think I used it in conjunction with the relevant 'Lets Go' guides). I had two fantastic adventures. Somewhere along the way I lost my book so, nearly 20 years later, I am buying a new copy to share with my husband and daughter.

I used the 1991 book to plan my 2002 solo biking trip from Salzburg, Austria to Budapest, Hungary. 11 years later I found their directions were still quite accurate. That trip was an absolute delight. I am now planning another solo bike trip in September 2006 that will follow the Whitehill's route from Brussels Belgium to Versailles, France to Angers, France and back to Versailles.

I used their first edition for my first bike trip in 1991, and can't recommend it enough. I really didn't have any other bike book then, and this one got me across Italy, through part of France, and across Germany. I used the same edition a couple years later, and it was still helpful.The advice was all clear, particular the directions--what to look for, where to turn. Maps were good. I've had time over the years to compare it to a couple other bike touring books, and this was clearly the best. Roads change, of course, and I hope to see new editions.

I used this book for a 2 month sabbatical cycling 2,000 miles thru 12 countries in '96. I had never toured before and I give it credit for making the trip a hugh success.Now I am planning a second trip thru Scandinavia and I only wish it included more of Eastern Europe (I can't seem to find an alternate source).My guess is that the entire series is worthwhile.