Proof (if any were needed) that it's cyclists versus the world

What did the old British Rail think of bikes?

One sunny day in 1978, BR took a giant leap for cycle kind. At a stroke, all restrictions and charges for cyclists were lifted. This was sustainable transport ahead of its time: people could pedal short distances, and let the train take the strain for longer hauls. But the idea proved too popular. Instead of adding capacity, BR imposed a whole raft of restrictions, including a ban on bikes at rush hours, and a £3 charge for Inter-City trains. Many of these rules have survived the transition from public ownership to the private sector.

Has privatisation made the cyclist's life better or worse?

Certainly it's become much more confusing. Each of the two dozen train operating companies has its own rules, and even a single company's policy can vary from one route to another: on some West Anglia Great Northern trains you can take a bike any time you like, on others they're banned completely. You need to spend a week reading all the small print to grasp the details. The companies say it's because all the trains are different shapes and sizes, but some companies are more cycle-friendly than others.

Who are the goodies?

Anglia Railways is definitely the most creative. It charges £1 return (on local services) and £3 single (on the main line between London and Norwich), but offers a unique Cycle Rescue Scheme ­ if you suffer a mechanical breakdown, illness or theft, the company will organise transport to your nearest station.

Merseyrail, Gatwick Express and Strathclyde Transport allow bikes free at all times ­ as does the Island Line, which will save you eight miles of pedalling between Shanklin and Ryde Pier Head.

The big long-distance companies ­ Virgin Trains, GNER, First Great Western ­ generally charge £3, sometimes with a discount for advance reservations. Central Trains insists on reservations for long-distance services, but charges only a token £1 for up to two bikes. ScotRail, First North Western and Northern Spirit allow bikes on most services for free, but ask that you book in advance.

And the baddies?

Trickiest rules of all are on Midland Mainline between London and Sheffield. You have to pay £3 per trip, but that's the easy part. There are two types of trains on this route. On 125s, you have to book in advance; on Turbostars, you can't reserve ahead and just have to hope there's room. Unfortunately, the national rail timetable doesn't tell you which kind of train will be providing which service.

For maximum flexibility on Britain's railways, opt for a folding bike such as the excellent Brompton (contact 020-8232 8484, www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk for stockists).

How easy is it to take a bike abroad?

Most airlines are bike-friendly and will often let you take a cycle free in addition to your luggage allowance, though they usually insist it is boxed. No-frills airlines may make a charge. Ferries are usually very accommodating, normally making no charge. Eurostar is much trickier: cyclists are referred to a separate company, Esprit (08705 850 850), which is Eurostar's parcels offshoot. In return for a £20 fee, this company merely guarantees to have the bike ready for collection at your destination within 24 hours.

Are european railways much better than ours?

Perhaps surprisingly, given the much higher profile of cycling in France, Holland and Germany, it's often tougher to take your bike than it is here. On French TGVs, you have to collapse it down to implausible dimensions, while rules in Germany are designed to make sure that cyclists are excluded from high-speed trains.

In Holland, bikes are barred from a lot of trains, but there are rental facilities at almost every town of any size.

And the rest of the world?

In many parts of the world, cycling for fun would be considered distinctly odd; using a bike as a recreational device is an alien concept in many countries. Japan is way ahead of the rest: on the main island, Honshu, you pick up a bike at a station for a nominal rental fee, ride it through the countryside and drop it off at any other station, allowing maximum freedom and minimal hassle - the cyclist's dream.

Re-invent the weel

Cycling is now big business, and Lonely Planet has just launched a series of cycling guides. But the beauty of biking is that you don't need a book to tell you how to do it. Here are some summer options for cyclists, confirmed or occasional.

Narrow paths to Broadstairs

Last Sunday, the Viking Coastal Trail opened on the Isle of Thanet. The new route takes in Dreamland at Margate, Dickens's Bleak House in Broadstairs, Minster Abbey and the Monkton Nature Reserve.

Bordeaux to Barcelona

For a gentler approach to the Pyrenees than that taken by the Tour de France, Bike Tours (01225 310859, www.biketours.co.uk) is organising a trip from the Gironde to the Mediterranean from 1 to 16 September. Accommodation is in tents, except at either end where hotels are used. The tour price is £685, plus the cost of transport to Bordeaux and from Barcelona. Most participants bring their own bikes, but they can also be hired.

Flat out

With the Belgian bike/rail package Train + Vélo, you can rent a bike at Bruges, Ostend or one of 30 other stations for around £7 per day, with a small charge if you don't have a rail ticket. You can leave the bike at any other station.

Cycling for toughies

Red Spokes Adventures (020-7502 7252) are definitely not for softies. This company specialises in Peru and Pakistan. The 15-day "Unseen Peru", which takes in the Central Highlands as well as the Inca Trail (on foot, not on bikes) costs £795 ­ though a six-day extension, involving a descent of 4,500m in a single day, adds £300. Flights from the UK are extra. The Karakoram Highway trip goes along the "Big China/Pakistan Friendship Road" from Gilgit in Pakistan, as far as the Chinese border. It covers 580km, and costs £749 plus flights.

The Festival of Cycling begins today and continues until 24 June; visit www.cyclingfestival.org.uk