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By Alix Farr, Editor
1. Yungas Road, Bolivia
by: AHLN flickr – Courtesy: Trip.com
Dubbed “the world’s most dangerous road” by the Inter-American Development Bank, the no-guardrail Yungas in Bolivia earns its “Death Road” moniker. Despite the perils, daredevils still come from around the world to brave the mountainous passage. You don’t need to be an expert rider, but you do need to follow the rules — drive on the left (yes, left!) and the downhill cars and bikes never get right-of-way.
2. Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
by: Andrew and Annemarie flickr – Courtesy: Trip.com
The Annapurna Circuit is one of the world’s best treks, but the good news for mountain biking aficionados is that you can now also take to the trail on two wheels. And it’s everything you’d hope that biking through the Himalayas would be: full of intense drop-offs, high speeds, snow, and spiritual experiences (and not just because you’re a few inches from plummeting to your death — it’s also on the route to an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus).
3. L’Alpe d’Huez, France
by: muneaki flickr – Courtesy: Trip.com
With 21 hairpin turns, those biking the Alpe d’Huez route have to keep sharp focus until they’ve completed the course (and, in the process, ascended a whopping 3,749 feet). The fastest ever time to get to the top was 37 minutes and 35 seconds, though it’s fair to say that you should feel accomplished if you finish at all.
4. Moab, Utah, USA
by: rtadlock flickr – Courtesy: Trip.com
Moab is not only one of the most beautiful spots in the U.S., it’s also a perfect destination for extreme biking. Two routes that attract the craziest — sorry, most diehard — cyclists are the Portal Trail and the Slickrock Trail, both dangerous in their own right, with steep cliffs and tricky, technical challenges.
5. Garbanzo Zone, Whistler, Canada
by: Sébastien Launay flickr – Courtesy: Trip.com
Within Whistler, one of the best mountain resort areas in the world, is a bike park. Within that bike park, is the Garbanzo Zone, home to some of the steepest, fastest, most rugged trails in the country. Among those trails are many that are recommended only for experts, and then there’s the D1: a Proline trail and the most difficult of all. For a real adrenaline trip, start at “The Top of the World” in the Peak Zone and then work your way down the mountain through Garbanzo (and the D1, if you dare) and Fitzsimmons, all the way down to Whistler Village for a well-deserved beer.
Source: gogobot.com