Is exotica your thing? Do you think that cycling in Europe is too tame? Do you want something more exotic than even Russia’s taiga? Would India fit the bill? Or maybe Mongolia?

India is a huge place; and I don’t know what part I’d want to focus on. Maybe not Calcutta. It sounds like the city is not very cyclist-friendly.

New Delhi? The Agra Tour?  Something more rural? And when to go? The dry season? Here are some pros and cons of doing the opposite, and visiting during the monsoon season.

Let’s take a look at Mongolia. It’s a big place, too. How long does it take to ride all the way across? I’ve seen pics of the night sky in Mongolia, blazing with stars. How I would love to see that!

“Exotic” locations, to me, conjure up images off-the-beaten-track places; and of bumpy, potholed dirt roads — surfaces that probably aren’t well-suited to road bike tires.

Maybe a tour designed especially for a mountain bike? And Skedaddle offers tours for both roadies and MTB riders.

Such a tour might be best done on a bicycle that will allow for a rack and panniers. Don’t forget the Camel-Bak! And who knows? Maybe you’ll even get to ride on a camel’s back! How’s that for exotica?