The 2010 summer of sport continues this month with the 97th annual Tour de France. From 3 to 25 July, the world’s finest endurance athletes will chase a man dressed in yellow over a gruelling 3,600 kilometre course, ending in a Champagne-soaked lap of the Champs-Élysées. Will last year’s champion, Spaniard Alberto Contador, make it two-in-row? Can seven-time winner Lance Armstrong’s aging body perform one last miracle? The drama will unfold over 21 stages that include picturesque excursions through the lowlands of the Netherlands and Belgium, the heights of the Alps and Pyrenees and the eternally stunning French countryside.

Hopefully the feats of these incredible sportsmen will motivate you to explore the great outdoors from the saddle of a bicycle. While it may not be initially evident, there are in fact many biking options in China that don’t involve dodging traffic and pedestrians on the city’s clogged, narrow streets. Numerous tour groups and cycle clubs organise single and multi-day riding expeditions throughout Shanghai and China.

Before joining the peloton you’ll need to equip yourself for the journey with a bicycle, helmet and accessories. Taiwanese manufacturer Giant, the world’s largest bicycle company, is by far the most ubiquitous presence, with shops all over the city. Notably, their store on the corner of Jianguo Lu and Hengshan Lu has received rave reviews for their helpfulness.

Giant. 743 Jianguo Xi Lu. Tel: 6437 5041. Web: www.giant-bicycles.com

American brands Specialized and Trek have two outlets each with large selections of mountain and road bicycles for discerning customers. Both companies are very supportive of the development of bicycle culture in Shanghai and have free riders’ clubs that are an excellent introduction to China’s world of cycling. English-language bike-portal www.peoplesbike.com also features a helpful local shop guide for those with more specific needs.

Specialized. 221 Jianguo Xi Lu. Tel: 6431 9313. Web: www.s-riders.com

Trek. 1058 Fuxing Dong Lu. Tel: 6366 3137. Web: www.maxshracing.com