We are locals, we were born in Crete and we live in Crete all year round. We want the best for our island and the people who live here. We grew up in small villages of Crete and these are the places we like to visit more when we ride our bikes.
Unfortunately, the last thirty years the population of Crete has been concentrated on the north coast of the island. The villages are being emptied, shrinking, abandoned. It is heartbreaking to visit villages and see only elderly people and empty or dilapidated houses. Young children are rare. Large villages that used to be full of life today have withered. Most schools are closed.
Cycling and alternative tourism is an excellent way to keep our villages alive and stimulate the countryside. The bike due to the nature of the sport can cover long distances but there is a need for continuous stops for water, food and rest. Cyclists do not set a specific destination as a goal, they enjoy the whole journey. Country roads with low car traffic, beautiful landscapes and picturesque villages are ideal. Frequent stops even in the smallest villages are easy to do and desirable. Famous and crowded tourist destinations do not attract so much interest. On the contrary, those who travel by car aim for a famous, tourist-oriented destination and stop almost nowhere else along the way. But we can enjoy all that Crete has to offer.
We believe that cycling and alternative tourism can keep our villages alive in a way that is friendly to our nature, culture and cociety.