UK
You get to appreciate Cornwall's coastline and mining heritage via an off-road bike ride along the Cornish mining trails between Portreath on the north coast and Devoran on the south. Along the way is the excellent Bike Chain cafe at Bissoe, which serves delicious food – including Cornish cream teas – in a bike-friendly atmosphere. Inside, there's lots of cycling memorabilia – signed jerseys by Tour de France riders and the British Olympic cycle team – and outside, there's a nice veranda to take in the sun.
Wendy Houvenaghel, former UCI world track champion in team pursuit and also a silver medallist at the Beijing Olympics
The Ormond at Tetbury in the Cotswolds is a great bike-friendly hotel. It's a former coaching inn, all designer interiors and boutique chic, but with a dedicated bike room and work stand, and packages that include overnight kit washing, pre-ride bike fettling and carefully planned ride guides around the glorious greenery of the Cotswolds.
Mike White, co-editor Boneshaker Magazine (boneshakermag.com)
The Blue Egg in Great Bardfield, Essex, is the long-standing destination for riders from around the county, as well as South Cambridgeshire and even parts of Hertfordshire. The coffee is good, the cakes are better, and the scones are enormous. It's surrounded by quiet roads, so wherever you're coming from there's a selection of routes to get you there. Even on a midweek morning, there are always bike riders in, often including stars Alex Dowsett or Mark Cavendish, who live locally. And if you want to fill you jersey pockets with bedding plants, there's even a nursery next door.
Michael Hutchinson, pro cyclist and author of Faster – the Obsession, Science and Luck Behind the World's Fastest Cyclists (Bloomsbury)
The Conwy Falls Cafeis right on the A5, just five minutes from beautiful Betws y Coed in Snowdonia and the world-class Penmachno trail – 30km of riding with spectacular views of the Snowdonia Ranges. It was built in the 1930s by Clough Williams-Ellis, who also designed nearby Portmeirion, the setting for The Prisoner. In winter, the log fire and full Welsh breakfast are perfect after a frosty morning's ride and in summer the mix of mountain-bikers and mountain lovers makes for some great stories over a cup of tea.Or try, Pete's Eats in Llanberis (petes-eats.co.uk), which is awesome! Everyone in the know stops here for breakfast lunch or tea, and you can even swap your own book for a different one that takes your fancy off their book shelf.
Rachel Atherton, pro mountain biker, reigning UCI world champion and Overall World Cup Winner 2013
The 27km Aire Valley towpath in West Yorkshire (sustrans.org.uk) provides a wonderful opportunity to explore part of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, the longest canal in Britain. It passes through urban areas and tranquil countryside, connecting central Leeds with nearby Bingley. Along the way you travel past such attractions as Kirkstall Abbey, Calverley Woods, Apperley Bridge, Hirst Wood, Dowley Gap and the Three and Five Rise Locks at Bingley. But Saltaire is my highlight of the route – a Unesco world heritage site with amazing architecture, galleries, boutiques and antique shops aplenty. It's also well worth stopping in at the Saltaire Brewery visitor centre, where a pint of Cascadian Black is recommended. Or two if it's a cold day.
Martyn Brunt, national cycle network development manager for Sustrans
In 2009, I rode 5,000 miles around the entire coast of Britain, and so witnessed a lot of the staggering beauty of this island from my saddle. In terms of my favourite stretch, the 40km track bed of the former Scarborough-to-Whitby railway line, axed in 1965 and now one of the jewels in the crown of the car-free Sustrans network, takes some beating. From Scarborough, there's a gorgeous gentle climb through a tunnel of hawthorn and silver birch, with the odd glimpse hundreds of feet down to the crashing waves. Ride to the summit at Ravenscar, with its fascinating "ghost" resort history, and then there's a drop around the 5km sweep of Robin Hood's Bay and finally lovely Whitby, reached by crossing an immense viaduct high over the Esk. And if that's not enough, for your post-ride refuelling, head to Quayside, recently named as 2014 British Fish and Chip Shop of the Year.
Mike Carter, author of One Man and his Bike (Ebury)
To get to the Picnic Delicatessen in Killyleagh (facebook.com/picnicdelicatessen) from Belfast, take the Comber Greenway – a tranquil green corridor 7km long through east Belfast. When you get to Comber, head south along the shoreline of Strangford Lough (Route 20) until you come to the village of Killyleagh. At the cafe, you can savour delights such as poached egg, black pudding and a halloumi stack served on potato bread as well as excellent coffee, while sitting in the gaze of Killyleagh Castle.
Mark Kane is a former Irish international cyclist who helps run Dave Kane Cycles in Belfast (davekanecycles.com)
Italy
The climb to the small town of San Baronto, Tuscany, is amazing – the surface is brand new and perfect for cycling. There's a bar there called Bar L'indicatore (Via Montalbano 71), and, every day at 1pm (apart from Monday when it's closed) the climb up to it is full of cyclists who arrive in time for lunch – it does good desserts. On a nice day, you can sit on the terrace with a great view towards Monte Serra and Montecatini. I would stay at Casa di Rodo in Quarrata or Sottotono in Carmignano (agriturismosottotono.it).
Steve Cummings, pro rider, BMC Racing (bmcracingteam.com)
The famous Colle Gallo in Bergamo is my favourite climb in the area where I grew up and learned to race. It's on the Gran Fondo Felice Gimondi route and the Giro d'Italia sometimes takes it in. At the summit is the Shrine of Our Lady of cyclists - and the Museo del Ciclismo, which was inaugurated during the 1998 Giro d'Italia and has been collecting bicycles, jerseys, and memorobilia. There's a nice little cafe inside the museum where you can rest your legs.
Matteo Carrara, former pro cyclist and coach at Cadence Performance (cadenceperformance.com)
For a long weekend bagging fabled cols in the Dolomites, stay at the Hotel Funivia in Bormio. The hotel offers a range of bike services including bike hire and guiding. Remember the Italian adage bella in sella (smart in the saddle) – and wear your smartest lycra.
Rob Penn, director of Bikecation (bikecation.co.uk)
Belgium
The Tour of Flanders race is so popular that in 2012 a museum (crvv.be/en/295-home) was created in the arrival city of Oudenaarde. This plunges you into the atmosphere and history of Belgium's most well-known bicycle race, and if you're lucky, you might be welcomed by former double world champion Freddy Maertens, who works there as a guide. Tour of Flanders cycling routes have been created for amateurs and, after a ride round some of the course, including the famous cobbled climb of the Koppenberg, you can enjoy a beer in the museum's Brasserie de Flandrien, which is decked out in vintage cycling jerseys, photographs, water bottles, and other memorabilia. De Flandrien is also the home of the fan club of Fabian Cancellara.
Dries Verclyte, Cycling in Flanders
The Netherlands
Pan-flat and full of cravenly subservient motorists, the Netherlands is no place for the cyclo-tourist who likes to suffer. For the right-minded rest of us, it's a nirvana completed by the Restinn network of luxury rural huts for cyclists around the country: plump beds, lavish en suites and a three-course dinner delivered to your doorstep by a cheery farmer's wife on a bike-drawn trolley.
Tim Moore, author of Gironimo!, a ride around the Giro d'Italia route on a 1914 bike (out on 1 May, Yellow Jersey, £19.99)
The Marianne Vos Route goes through the seven villages of Aalburg, where I grew up, and celebrates my World and Olympic titles with a number of benches along the route, where you can stop and rest your legs. You'll see the white windmill in Meeuwen and, in Babylonienbroek, a statue of the silver bike I rode to celebrate my Olympic track win. The best place to stop is Cafe 't zwaantje, still decorated as it was when it opened 70 years ago. It's a typical farmers' cafe but they are always very friendly to cyclists.
Marianne Vos, Olympic road race (2008) and points race winner (2012)
France
The Villa Rose hotel (villarose65.com) in Bagnères de Bigorre in the Hautes-Pyrénées is not really designed for cyclists. In fact, the decor is so breathtakingly perfect that your bike may look tawdry and out of place. But don't let that bother you. This tidy little town in the Pyrenean foothills has access to so many of the iconic climbs and boasts no hotel more welcoming. The rooms are almost too chintzy, but the chintz is all for real, as owner Marie-Christine also runs an antiques shop next door. Ride, have a bath in a splendid, deep cast-iron tub, then head out for dinner in town. Perfect.
Ned Boulting. His book, One Hundred and One Damnations, Notes from the 101st Tour de France, will be published in November by Yellow Jersey
Hotel Crillon-le-Brave has an excellent location on one side of Mont Ventoux in Provence, a pilgrimage climb for any serious cyclist. It's a lovely hotel with amazing views and the owner looks very favourably on cyclists, whether you take your own bike or hire one of theirs. This hotel holds a special meaning for the many who have stayed there and gone on to conquer the mountain.
Simon Mottram, founder, Rapha (rapha.cc)
There are well-marked cycle lanes that meander through the wine villages of Burgundy's Côte D'Or region. Stop for a tasting at Chateau Chassagne Montrachet before a well-earned lunch at Le Terroir in Santenay (restaurantleterroir.com).
Tom Kevill Davies, owner of the Hungry Cyclist lodge, opening in summer 2014
Spain
Anillo Verde, which means the Green Ring, is a huge 65km bike lane surrounding the whole of Madrid. It's a good way to escape the messy city centre, has nice views and is a really peaceful ride as long as you don't go on a weekend.
Quique Arias, co-founder of La Bicicleta, Madrid's first cycle cafe (labicicletacafe.com)
There's one place I always love to be and one route I always do in Mallorca. I'd start with some rocket fuel in the bike shop-cum-cafe Cycling Planet (cyclingplanet.es) in Alaro, on the western side of the island. Once sufficiently caffeinated, I head out towards Bunyola via the Coll d'Orient. This route is only about 20km long but I just love it. It climbs for a good bit along small, usually quiet roads, and it's just an awesome place to cycle. From Bunyola, the choice is yours – go right towards Soller for more climbing or left towards Palma for a rest.
Martyn Irvine, pro cyclist with the UnitedHealthcare team and reigning UCI world champion in the Scratch discipline
Denmark
In a city where cycling is so mainstream, there are no "cycling cafes" or "hangouts" or other such nonsense. Every destination in Copenhagen is bicycle-friendly, as is every route to get there. I strongly recommend a cycling journey taking in breakfast at Bang & Jensen (bangogjensen.dk), lunch at Torvehallerne food halls , and dinner at Falernum.
Mikael Colville-Andersen, CEO of urban cycling design company Copenhagenize
US
If you need to rent a bike in Seattle, head for the Montlake Bicycle Shop , which has been around for over 30 years. From there, head to 12th Avenue and Stumptown, a Portland-based coffee company with excellent coffee and lovely pastries. Café Presseis next door and the perfect place for a French meal at lunchtime. They both have outdoor seating for nice weather and share a large bike rack.
Leslie De Lorenzom, Seattle Bike Polo board member and organiser
You might not think of the islands of Hawaii for cycling but it's stunning. Cycle round Kauai – there's exotic scenery, with spectacularly jagged high cliffs where ancient Hawaiians are buried in canoes, and you can spot Waimea where Captain Cook first hit land in 1778. If you're lucky you'll see whales too.
Josie Dew, cycle writer (josiedew.com)
This isn't strictly speaking a commercial cafe, but self-serve refreshments are available on the honour system at the West Point Inn, near the top of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California, which has picnic tables with million-dollar views. It can only be accessed by bike or hiking up the Old Railroad Grade but it's an easy ride from San Francisco, and it's quiet and cosy for one of the most spectacular places in the Bay Area. The Railroad Grade is the true birthplace of mountain biking – it's where mountain bikes were invented by Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze and Tom Ritchey. You can stay at the inn (adults $50 a night, children $25) but you will need to pack bedding and supplies, and there is no electricity; the light fixtures are still powered by gas.
Peter Johnson, former California 1,000m champion and frame builder
The two owners of the Bear Valley Inn, in Olema, in Marin County, California, are both involved in cycling and offer a discount for guests who show up on bikes. It's hard to find better riding than around this place – the inn is very near the town of Point Reyes Station, where anyone riding through stops for excellent baked stuff at either Toby's Feed Barn or the Bovine Bakery. Since it's a little far from civilisation, you can get spare parts and your bike fixed at Black Mountain Cycles.
Tom Hardy, former US team member and founding member of the Dino Ride (dinoride.org)
South Africa
The Woodstock Exchange in Cape Town was once a disused industrial centre but is now the most energetic place in town, with artisanal coffee roasters, art galleries, craft and fashion boutiques, and the Starling & Hero Bicycle Café – all any bicycle enthusiast could want under one roof!
Tom Perkins, cook and author of Spices & Spandex cookbook (thenomadickitchen.com)
Kenya
Ring Road Kileleshwa winds through the affluent residential areas of Nairobi on a path shared by pedestrians and cyclists but separate from traffic. The path, though not continuous, leads to the Westlands suburban hub and the Sarit Centre Mall, a "city within a city" hosting restaurants, shops and a cinema, as well as being the first establishment in the city to provide bicycle parking. Velma Kiome, cycle campaigner (shecyclesnairobi.wordpress.com)
Japan
Circles (circles-jp.com) in Nagoya is a very special space. Founded as a bike shop, it now has a cafe, paintshop and some stunning handmade bikes.
Max Lewis, Kinoko Cycles founder, (kinokocycles.com)
Australia
About 40km east of Melbourne is the 1 in 20 climb, a benchmark for aspirational cyclists wanting to test their best against the best. Once you've summited, you can get a great coffee at the Olinda Cafe or grab a cider at Olinda Cellars before descending The Wall and returning back via Belgrave.
Michelle Matthews, founder of Deck of Secrets city guides (deckofsecrets.com)
