The popularity of biking has grown over the past few years. There was a surge in ridership in the United States in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a 120% increase in sales when compared to the previous year.

Since then, the number of people riding bikes in America continues to go up. In 2022 alone, there were 55 million people hopping on a bike and cycling somewhere. Whether it’s for fun, sport, transportation, sightseeing or even food delivery, more and more of us are hitting the road by bike. This episode is all about Spokes & Spectacles: Epic Bike Journeys.

Roff Smith is an award-winning magazine writer and photographer, as well as a long-time contributor to National Geographic and many other high-profile outlets, like Time Magazine, Newsweek and Conde Nast Traveler, just to name a few.

Smith's latest work, NatGeo’s 100 Bike Rides of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Cycling Experiences takes readers to six continents with an amazing list of bike rides.

He provides first-hand accounts to some of the world's most exciting and memorable bike paths, including his favorite, The Danube Cycle Path, which he describes as, “A waltz along the banks of Europe’s grandest river from the medieval town of Passau to the imperial grandeur of Vienna on a delightful purpose-built cycle path."

He lightlights a "showstopping feat of engineering," known as New Zealand's Lake Dunstan Trail. It is fairly new and has locals and visitors "over the moon" while venturing out on a bicycle path running along the face of a cliff. Smith even recommends going down the gully to grab a coffee, scone or burger on a floating pontoon.

Many of the most popular rides encourage readers to explore landmark locations while participating in what Smith labels, "Cycling Through History." The pages of his latest work are filled with pathways to the past. For instance, there's a ride that traces the journeys taken by thousands of freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad Route from Mobile, Alabama all the way through Ontario, Canada. It's a lengthy ride that often takes one to two months and is best completed during the summer months.

The ride along the Great Allegheny Passage is also steeped in history. Riders get to cross a bridge which was used to transport as much as 15% of U.S. steel during World War II. It just so happens this bike path is what is referred to as a "rail to trail," which is created when an agreement is established between a railroad company and a trail agency to allow the use of out-of-service rail corridors as a trail for walkers, runners and bikers.

Another favorite invites readers and riders alike to visit The Punta Olimpica in the Peruvian Andes, which was named after the 1936 Peruvian soccer team that beat Austria. Although a controversial decision followed the team's victory, a protest led to this breathtaking highway that zigzags down the mountains.

Whether descending into the the orange-painted Utah valleyscapes of The TranAmerica Trail, to feeling the bite of the cold air while cycling Glacier National Park in Montana, or bending down on one knee in Tuscany along one of the most romantic rides on the planet, there is a bike ride for anyone's bucket list.

In today’s world, biking has become one of the best ways to get from point A to point B. Whether it is for fun, transportation, or sport, millions of people are hopping on bikes and embarking on two-wheeled escapades. It's time to pick your next destination, put on a helmet and peddle your way to pure happiness.