Ultimate Trip Runner-up: The Rhine

The ride

Setting off from the Swiss city of Basel, Jon and Jon straddled the Franco-German border for their first day with a 75km leg to their first stop near Freiburg im Breisgau. 

From there, they headed back across the border for a day on the western French side of the river and a night in Strasbourg. Hopping back over into Deutschland they continued past Heidelberg to Mannheim and then to the city of Mainz. 

Here they entered the most beautiful part of the ride - the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley. What was endless flat countryside on either side of the river becomes steeply terraced vineyards, stunning gorges and forty hilltop castles constructed over the course of the last 1000 years. How about that for a spot of culture? 

Emerging from the valley at Koblenz, the two Jons followed the meandering river northwards through Bonn, Cologne (where they stumbled upon a very jolly Pride celebration) and Düsseldorf. 

Carrying a tent with them, the pair mainly stayed in campsites next to the river but also ventured into the bigger town-centres where they spent the night in hotels. The route is well-worn by cyclists and there was great cycling camaraderie at the campsites. 

The one not-so-great day of the trip was spent stuck in the tent sheltering from heavy rain in the Dutch town of Arnhem. Even that was rescued by a delicious meal - the best of the trip - at the nearby Landgoed Hotel. 

Having crossed into the Netherlands, the two Jons had just a couple more days in the saddle as they made their way to the ferry port at the Hook of Holland to hop on a ferry back to Harwich in the UK. 

Their advice for anyone thinking of riding the Rhine? Go, go, go for it! But beware of German beers and pot-holes; they're not the best mix.