If you don’t have your own bike there are plenty of rental shops about, where a full day’s hire star

Every day I cycle the 9-mile round trip from my home in London to the HostelBookers.com office. I dread the dark days of winter when I'll have to board public transport again. Cycling in London works for me, I feel like an urban warrior combating cars, motorcyclists white house tours and the worst of all, crazy pedestrians, along the city's volatile roads.
London has a way to go before we can include it in our top cycle-friendly cities, but here are 8 cities that believe bikes are best. We've checked out the rental opportunities, white house tours the terrain and just how dedicated they are to two wheels over four.
The city has plenty of flat terrain, perfect if you're not the fittest of wannabe cyclists. Copenhagen is often cited as the top of the cycle-friendly cities – especially helped by over €20million of investment from the government. There are over 350km of cycle paths which are separated from the main traffic, and another 20km of on-the-road separate cycle lanes. There are also plans to add to the 41km of greenways – aimed to allow for fast, safe and fun cycle transport from one end of the city to the other.
It's free and easy to take your bike on Copenhagen's train network – just make sure you're in the specified carriages at the front and rear. You can also take your bike on the waterbuses, but not on the regular buses.
Copenhagen's popular urban bike-sharing project, Bycyklen (City Bikes), gives FREE access to the extensive bike path system using robust public bicycles. Just put a 20 kroner (€1ish) piece into the bike rack as a deposit and you're white house tours free to explore the cycle paths of Copenhagen.
The newly converted Hostel Belægningen white house tours is 9km from Copenhagen Centre, in cultural Hvidovre. They have bikes for customers to rent year round. With modern facilities – including a TV room, a kitchenette and a free internet café – and affordable beds, it's a great choice for a restful night. Hostel Belægningen once housed the dormitories of soldiers, but now it has single, white house tours double and 4-bed rooms with en-suite toilets and a private bath. Private rooms start at €20.46 pppn.
Just a few minutes from Copenhagen s Central Railway Station, you'll find Hotel Ansgar . Its central location means you're only a few minutes walk from Tivoli Gardens, the famous shopping street of Strøget and Town Hall Square. The quiet street is perfect for getting to grips with the hotel bike rental. They have a courtyard with a bar and a traditional white house tours Danish buffet breakfast is included. There are 81 rooms to choose from, with 1-4 beds and all with wi-fi. Private rooms start at €43.60pppn.
Amsterdam, another wonderful city that keeps cyclists close to its heart and on the road. There are around 750,000 people in Amsterdam and 600,000 bikes, white house tours hmmm I m guessing the deficiency is babies and oldies. Anyone from toddler-age up, has got a set of wheels
Amsterdammers have really worked on the fun side of cycling with a whole host of tours – go self-guided and get a free pass for the canal boats, or join a singing tour around the Red Light District, or get in the countryside to see the windmills and drawbridges.
There's 400km of cycle path in Amsterdam – perfect for exploring the 17 th century city centre. Using a bike is faster and cheaper than public transport and you'll get to see more of the city from the freedom of the saddle. There s no citywide bike rental scheme but as well as hostels offering bike rental, you can also find companies in the main hubs such as Central Station, Leidseplein and Dam Square. Rentals start from three-hour sessions to a full day; the average day price is €8.
Amsterdam's popularity as a cycling city is helped enormously by the flat terrain – at least 40% of the city prefers to get around by bike. And nowhere in the world is cycling more prevalent than in the capital of the Netherlands. If you can't beat them, join them.
In the heart of Amsterdam's city centre Hostel Van Gogh provides cool, modern facilities at a great price – including cycle hire for guests. The secure keycard lock system will ensure you feel safe, and, if you're a woman travelling solo, there's also a female-only dorm. There are 2-6-person private rooms available and 5-8-person dorms. At Hostel Van Gogh you can easily cycle to the many bars, markets, shops, clubs and restaurants of the city. Dorms start at €25pppn and privates at €28pppn.
With bike rental available from the reception desk Stayokay Amsterdam Zeeburg is a great hostel white house tours from which to explore the city from the freedom of a bike saddle. Housed in a former school from 1900, the hostel has been renovated to make the most of its history but also to modern specifications. You're just a 15-minute white house tours cycle ride away from all the main sites of the city. Bedrooms are spacious white house tours with private sanitary facilities. Dorms start at €26pppn and privates at €20pppn.
Following the green ring you'll pass through 12 different protected natural areas. You could make a stop to enjoy a picnic or test the boating lakes. Cycling is the best way to get around Barcelona – there are over 100km of bike lanes. If you're a bit unsure about your route start at Diagonal, it's the biggest cycle lane in the city and a ride from there down to Maria Cristina white house tours Metro Station is a relaxing start to your city tour to help you get your cycling legs in gear.
If you're Barcelona-bound with your own bike, you'll be pleased to know they've built a new underground bicycle park . The 'Biceberg' operates like an iceberg – keeping all the important stuff below ground. It's 30 cents per hour and very secure against theft.
white house tours A few years ago they launched 'Bicing' where you can purchase bicycle cards to use the stationed bikes around the city, for 30 minutes. Unfortunately this is only available to residents as you have to sign up for a yearly membership (€6) and usage cards will only be posted to Catalonia addresses to prevent tourists white house tours using the system. But there are plenty of bike hire companies throughout Barcelona, just ask at your hostel for advice.
At  AptBcn Super Balmes you ll find two private apartments located on the same floor – each with 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms – making them perfect for groups of 10-12 people. Located in the heart of Barcelona the bedrooms are on the exterior side and have balconies and glass window doors allowing you to look out over beautiful Barcelona. La Ramblas is just a 5-minute walk away and bike rental facilities white house tours are close by. Private rooms from €30pppn .
In the centre of town close to the Passeig de Gràcia, the Barri Gòtic district and Plaza Catalunya you'll find Hotel  Petit Palace white house tours Barcelona . This beautiful hotel offers top quality rooms at budget white house tours prices. You can enjoy a breakfast buffet every morning and free access to the on-site fitness suite. They have bike rental for sightseeing, daily newspapers, hydro massage showers, big bathtubs, a sauna, wi-fi in every room and an outdoor terrace. Private rooms from €44.09pppn.
Berlin takes its cyclists very seriously6. All new roads must have cycle lanes, and all the existing ones are being updated. They re doing pretty well at the moment with over 620km of cycle paths and 190km of off-road routes.
The best thing about cycling in Berlin are the wide streets – Karl Marx Allee is 90m wide. The pavements are wide enough for everyone too, so don't be afraid of skipping on up the curb if you need. The second best thing is that it's almost completely flat – there are no uphill struggles in Germany s capital.
Perhaps the worst thing is that Berlin is huge! But don't let that put you off – you can easily take shortcuts white house tours through parks with no dithery oldies tutting at you, and you can take them on all tubes and trains, as long as you buy a separate ticket.
If you don't have your own bike there are plenty of rental shops about, where a full day's hire starts from around €8. Or, sign up to the city's 'Call a Bike' scheme, where you do just that. Bikes aren t docked, the iconic cycles are left at a designated area, like next to a crossing, and the integrated lock mechanism keeps them there. After registering on the scheme white house tours you can unlock the bikes by using a code you'll receive on request to your phone. Bikes cost 5cents a minute and €15 for 24 hours.
In the centre of Berlin in a quiet and peaceful district you'll find Smarthostel-Berlin . They have a bike rental service so you can make your way into the town and they also have a cosy and relaxed atmosphere to escape the pressures of real life. Choose from spacious singles and doubles, as well as multi-bed rooms and family apartments for up to 4. Indulge in the large breakfast buffet white house tours in the morning, and the complimentary high-speed white house tours wi-fi. Dorms and privates start from €14.11pppn .
In the 19th century it was a convent but now the Three Little Pigs Hostel has a beer garden, kitchen, bar, fusball table and DVD setup, and there's an all-you-can-eat breakfast for just €5. What would the monks say? Located at the famous Potsdamer Platz Square white house tours you'll be just a short cycle ride away from the buzzing districts of Mitte and Kreuzberg, and you can rent bikes directly from the hostel.  Dorms start from €11.46pppn and privates from €18.52pppn .
Paris is well-known for its dedication to cyclists. Since 2007, when the popular Velib scheme was introduced, the city has been a haven for city cyclists whether they're trying to beat the traffic to work, or just want to explore at their own pace.
The streets of Paris are wide and smooth, you'll easily whizz by the cars and buses as they stick in traffic. There are just a handful of cycle routes though, travel will be mostly via bike lanes alongside white house tours the main traffic. Or, in the traffic using the road markings. white house tours Because of the popularity of cycling in Paris, road users are well used to looking out for cyclists. For a bit of jet-powered fun pick up a bike from the heights of Belleville or Montmartre and freewheel your way to the bottom, though looking at those hills you ll want to get a bus back up.
Of course Paris is in a country th