Why Do A Cycling Tour?: A review of various tour companies and general tips
Feb 8th, 2014, 07:25 AM
#41
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How kind of you to comment, InSituTravel.
And I had no clue that Google was listing me. I went back to look at all that I said, worried that I had made some inflammatory remarks. Some of my comments were outdated, but I do think I can live with it.
And I had no clue that Google was listing me. I went back to look at all that I said, worried that I had made some inflammatory remarks. Some of my comments were outdated, but I do think I can live with it.
Mar 24th, 2014, 02:09 PM
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This is such a useful page, AlessandraZoe (and I found you on google too). I am considering a bike trip this year and would be traveling by myself. Do you happen to know which companies offer the best trips for solo travelers, and what the best locations are? I was thinking Puglia, but also am intrigued by going a whole different way and doing their Bryce/Zion/Grand Canyon camping trip.
Mar 25th, 2014, 07:50 AM
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sihoffman:
This is hard, and I fear I am of little use to you.
I can't really say that I could make any kind of judgment about best trips for soloists. I may bike solo (well, let's correct that to "I ALWAYS bike solo!") but I've always been at least one of a couple or one of a family for the trip itself.
Here is what I CAN tell you:
On "non-solo" trips, there usually is at least one solo anyway. On our New Zealand trip, there were four solos; on our Canary trip, there were two solos (plus three singles traveling together and one single traveling with a couple). On our Catalonia trip, there was a group of six singles and two singles traveling together--and they all made sure they did not stick together. They intermingled with couples.
We often "adopted" solos. Two solos from the New Zealand trip became near and dear to us.
I've also indicated above that while MOST couples cycle together, my husband and I never do. I feel very happy alone, and if you do, too, I see no problem.
Seating at breakfast is always flexible. Seating at dinner is always a mix-up. You should never feel constrained for that reason.
That said:
I suspect (although since I never traveled with them I cannot confirm this) Ciclismo Classico lends itself well to solos. The people I met on Backroads who do CC trips certainly feel free to sign on by themselves and intermix very well. What all of these persons seems to have in common is a) a desire to bike non-stop and b) a desire to drink non-stop. They are HAPPY people.
As to which trip?:
I don't know your priorities, and I might not share them. For example, I would not camp if you paid me (I have never recovered from forced-family-fun on a church camping trip).
As another example, my personal priorities are as follows:
--As far away from my normal life without creating transportation hurdles (ergo--see why I loved the Backroads Costa Brava trip)
--Two night stays for the most part on the trip. To me, a series of six one-night stays ends up as work, not a vacation.
So where does that leave you?
I suggest you list YOUR PRIORITIES. Then just call up Ciclismo Classico, Backroads, VBT and any other of the above and ask them a series of hard questions based on YOUR priorities.
Often, they can tell you the social make-up of whoever has already booked. They can discuss routing.
No matter what, I am excited that you are considering such a trip. We feel these specific trips can be life changing. We just had a wedding in the family this past weekend, and the mother of the groom asked, "Where did your kids learn so much about food, wine, language?"
On a bike.
This is hard, and I fear I am of little use to you.
I can't really say that I could make any kind of judgment about best trips for soloists. I may bike solo (well, let's correct that to "I ALWAYS bike solo!") but I've always been at least one of a couple or one of a family for the trip itself.
Here is what I CAN tell you:
On "non-solo" trips, there usually is at least one solo anyway. On our New Zealand trip, there were four solos; on our Canary trip, there were two solos (plus three singles traveling together and one single traveling with a couple). On our Catalonia trip, there was a group of six singles and two singles traveling together--and they all made sure they did not stick together. They intermingled with couples.
We often "adopted" solos. Two solos from the New Zealand trip became near and dear to us.
I've also indicated above that while MOST couples cycle together, my husband and I never do. I feel very happy alone, and if you do, too, I see no problem.
Seating at breakfast is always flexible. Seating at dinner is always a mix-up. You should never feel constrained for that reason.
That said:
I suspect (although since I never traveled with them I cannot confirm this) Ciclismo Classico lends itself well to solos. The people I met on Backroads who do CC trips certainly feel free to sign on by themselves and intermix very well. What all of these persons seems to have in common is a) a desire to bike non-stop and b) a desire to drink non-stop. They are HAPPY people.
As to which trip?:
I don't know your priorities, and I might not share them. For example, I would not camp if you paid me (I have never recovered from forced-family-fun on a church camping trip).
As another example, my personal priorities are as follows:
--As far away from my normal life without creating transportation hurdles (ergo--see why I loved the Backroads Costa Brava trip)
--Two night stays for the most part on the trip. To me, a series of six one-night stays ends up as work, not a vacation.
So where does that leave you?
I suggest you list YOUR PRIORITIES. Then just call up Ciclismo Classico, Backroads, VBT and any other of the above and ask them a series of hard questions based on YOUR priorities.
Often, they can tell you the social make-up of whoever has already booked. They can discuss routing.
No matter what, I am excited that you are considering such a trip. We feel these specific trips can be life changing. We just had a wedding in the family this past weekend, and the mother of the groom asked, "Where did your kids learn so much about food, wine, language?"
On a bike.
Apr 20th, 2014, 07:10 PM
#47
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AlessandraZoe, thanks very much for all information on the different tour companies and all the tips! It was very helpful! I also found you through Google.
I'm thinking of doing Backroad's Pyrenees to Costa Brava trip in late September 2014, although will most likely be taking the casual option. It's nice to hear from someone who has biked in the area.
I'm thinking of doing Backroad's Pyrenees to Costa Brava trip in late September 2014, although will most likely be taking the casual option. It's nice to hear from someone who has biked in the area.
May 1st, 2014, 02:45 AM
#49
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Schnauzer and Kunsang: I'm so happy you are both considering these trips. As you know, I loved Catalonia. I also was dripping with envy watching the Duchess and Duke of Cambridge tour NZ--I want to go back there so badly.
As to our next family adventure, I'm still a bit on "injured reserved", but I think we're going to do Backroads Slovenia next this coming summer, even if my only athletic feat may just be getting in and out of the van. My other family members will just have to cycle for me
The country is gorgeous, and the wines are so unique (and dirt cheap).
As to our next family adventure, I'm still a bit on "injured reserved", but I think we're going to do Backroads Slovenia next this coming summer, even if my only athletic feat may just be getting in and out of the van. My other family members will just have to cycle for me
The country is gorgeous, and the wines are so unique (and dirt cheap).
May 11th, 2014, 07:42 PM
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AlessandraZoe, that would have to be the best series of travel descriptions I have ever seen. Thank you. A group of us are thinking of doing a tour of Tuscany with Discovery Bicycle Tours. So far we have been impressed with the person we are dealing with. He's been very informative and helpful. Have you done that tour? Are the bikes OK? Would you do road bike or hybrid in that area? Any tips?
May 12th, 2014, 02:38 AM
#52
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I thank you for the compliments,michaelryan_088. It's good to know this is helpful.
I am so sorry, but I have not been on that Tuscany tour.
When the company was "Vermont Bike Tours", though, I can tell you that I thought the company gave excellent value on its Ireland and Scotland trips. Our hotels were good and well located and our meals were wonderful. Their directions were the best we have ever had on a trip.
As to bike quality, at the time we went around ten years ago, they provided us with good hybrid Treks--and Trek frames just happen to suit us better than any other kind. All the companies consistently change their bikes over the years as technology advances, so I cannot speak as to what they are offering now. I just know that we had decent bikes that we certainly enjoyed.
As to hybrid vs road... Here's the deal. If you ask my husband, he will ALWAYS choose a road bike, even if he had to deal with gravel trails. If you ask me, I will ALWAYS choose a hybrid, even if I have pristine road surfaces, simply because I have been known (ahem) to do complete roll-overs on my bike (much to the entertainment of any youth on the trip).
So it's up to you.
Do enjoy!
AZ
I am so sorry, but I have not been on that Tuscany tour.
When the company was "Vermont Bike Tours", though, I can tell you that I thought the company gave excellent value on its Ireland and Scotland trips. Our hotels were good and well located and our meals were wonderful. Their directions were the best we have ever had on a trip.
As to bike quality, at the time we went around ten years ago, they provided us with good hybrid Treks--and Trek frames just happen to suit us better than any other kind. All the companies consistently change their bikes over the years as technology advances, so I cannot speak as to what they are offering now. I just know that we had decent bikes that we certainly enjoyed.
As to hybrid vs road... Here's the deal. If you ask my husband, he will ALWAYS choose a road bike, even if he had to deal with gravel trails. If you ask me, I will ALWAYS choose a hybrid, even if I have pristine road surfaces, simply because I have been known (ahem) to do complete roll-overs on my bike (much to the entertainment of any youth on the trip).
So it's up to you.
Do enjoy!
AZ
Jun 8th, 2014, 01:41 AM
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Hi AlessandraZoe,
Thank you for taking the time to do this helpful postwe are 2 couples who are traveling from Australia and are interested in doing a Barge and bike tour in France. I am wondering if you (or any other fodorites) have any knowledge of these sort of tours and which area & operator would give you more bang per buck! Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Carm
Thank you for taking the time to do this helpful post
we are 2 couples who are traveling from Australia and are interested in doing a Barge and bike tour in France. I am wondering if you (or any other fodorites) have any knowledge of these sort of tours and which area & operator would give you more bang per buck! Thanks in advance.Cheers
Carm
Jun 8th, 2014, 02:23 AM
#54
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Hi carmi_m: I know that VBT runs several in Holland and France, but I have not been on them. I'm wondering if you should start a new thread with your question on the Europe forum to draw in comments from someone who might have firsthand experience.
As you can see by my posts, I think VBT offers good value and consistent quality on their regular tours but I'm leery of vouching anything further about their barge-and-bike without actual firsthand knowledge.
One good thing is that VBT's website offers a page of customer reviews. So for example, for their Heart of France Bike & Barge: Montargis - Paris, the review page is http://www.vbt.com/Tours/France-Bike...-Paris/Reviews.
If you have been scouting the internet, there are many companies that really specialize in the bike-and-barge concept. For example, Cycletours offers an amazing array of options, and I was able to find one TripAdvisor review of a couple's experience:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._Province.html
I noticed in reading that review that the writer implied there was ONE guide though.
Again, do post your question on the Europe forum and I bet someone will know SOMETHING there.
Good luck
AZ
As you can see by my posts, I think VBT offers good value and consistent quality on their regular tours but I'm leery of vouching anything further about their barge-and-bike without actual firsthand knowledge.
One good thing is that VBT's website offers a page of customer reviews. So for example, for their Heart of France Bike & Barge: Montargis - Paris, the review page is http://www.vbt.com/Tours/France-Bike...-Paris/Reviews.
If you have been scouting the internet, there are many companies that really specialize in the bike-and-barge concept. For example, Cycletours offers an amazing array of options, and I was able to find one TripAdvisor review of a couple's experience:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._Province.html
I noticed in reading that review that the writer implied there was ONE guide though.
Again, do post your question on the Europe forum and I bet someone will know SOMETHING there.
Good luck
AZ
Jun 9th, 2014, 03:50 PM
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hi AlessandraZoe - I echo what many people said here, excellent write up as to what the advantages of traveling by bike are in discovering a new destination. I think you also hit spot on the key factors people should consider when looking at a bike touring company (dates, destinations, type of travel - including guides, safety and navigation). Full disclosure, I'm part of the second generation owner of ExperiencePlus and we also offer cycling trips in Europe (we're part Italian/American) and have been since 1972. Would love to understand more about your thoughts on tours that are point to point - i.e. travel every night, vs trips that are loop rides. Also, we are considering starting a new line of "intro" tours that are more on bike paths etc as we find first time travelers are more hesitant with riding on roads, but more comfortable on paths (while experienced cyclists would not like to be on paths as most of our trips are). Any thoughts on that? Thanks!
Jun 10th, 2014, 02:09 AM
#56
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Mariaelena_Price--Thanks for the compliment!
I think I may be the worst person to ask about both bike paths and point-to-point, though. I am so set in my preferences now.
--Point-to-point: I HATE unpacking and repacking, even though I have a very organized suitcase and travel light. So you might be able to grab others who would have otherwise done the point-to-point on their own, but such a trip would never attract me
--Bike path trips: I like bike paths as a break from roads,and I enjoy checking out all the flora and fauna when I'm on them. BUT since my husband and I mostly enjoy finding off-beat coffee shops and bars on our rides so we can check out the locals, bike paths 24/7 defeat the purpose for us.
And I've often found that sharing busy bike paths with others can be more dangerous than sharing State Highway 6 in New Zealand with speeding milk trucks.
However, you are RIGHT--I know so many people who say, "How can you cycle on those roads?" So there probably is an untapped audience there.
I think I may be the worst person to ask about both bike paths and point-to-point, though. I am so set in my preferences now.
--Point-to-point: I HATE unpacking and repacking, even though I have a very organized suitcase and travel light. So you might be able to grab others who would have otherwise done the point-to-point on their own, but such a trip would never attract me
--Bike path trips: I like bike paths as a break from roads,and I enjoy checking out all the flora and fauna when I'm on them. BUT since my husband and I mostly enjoy finding off-beat coffee shops and bars on our rides so we can check out the locals, bike paths 24/7 defeat the purpose for us.
And I've often found that sharing busy bike paths with others can be more dangerous than sharing State Highway 6 in New Zealand with speeding milk trucks.
However, you are RIGHT--I know so many people who say, "How can you cycle on those roads?" So there probably is an untapped audience there.
Jul 21st, 2014, 11:22 PM
#58
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You are welcome Bokhara2. Thank you for the compliment.
Updates:
I just got back from another Backroads Premiere bike trip in Slovenia. Their routing, meeting at the Udine train station and ending via shuttle both to Ljubljana and Trieste made it easy to begin the trip in Venice and end it in Trieste, so we did indeed do that. I will post a link to my trip report of Venice/Trieste after I finish that.
Even though both my husband and I love Slovenia, having gone there before, I don't know if I would rank this cycling trip as one of our top faves. I'm still on injured reserved, so my cycling "filter" is unreliable right now. But I did hear a few guests say that the last few days of the trip were more "climbs for climbs sake." No matter what, I think the trip is worth it to see a beautiful area of Slovenia (Soca River valley and Lake Bled).
What I did want to update is that one of the guests used their new ebike (extra $300)--and she loved it! She reported that it doesn't provide any push on the flat but on hills it kicks in really well.
In other news, Backroads is also providing even other types of bikes now rather than their Titanium standard uprights and dropdowns:
http://www.backroads.com/why/great_gear/. I don't like dropdowns, but quite frankly, I'd love to try out the Specialized S-Works Ruby (extra $400).
Of course, now I have to decide where we want to go next
Updates:
I just got back from another Backroads Premiere bike trip in Slovenia. Their routing, meeting at the Udine train station and ending via shuttle both to Ljubljana and Trieste made it easy to begin the trip in Venice and end it in Trieste, so we did indeed do that. I will post a link to my trip report of Venice/Trieste after I finish that.
Even though both my husband and I love Slovenia, having gone there before, I don't know if I would rank this cycling trip as one of our top faves. I'm still on injured reserved, so my cycling "filter" is unreliable right now. But I did hear a few guests say that the last few days of the trip were more "climbs for climbs sake." No matter what, I think the trip is worth it to see a beautiful area of Slovenia (Soca River valley and Lake Bled).
What I did want to update is that one of the guests used their new ebike (extra $300)--and she loved it! She reported that it doesn't provide any push on the flat but on hills it kicks in really well.
In other news, Backroads is also providing even other types of bikes now rather than their Titanium standard uprights and dropdowns:
http://www.backroads.com/why/great_gear/. I don't like dropdowns, but quite frankly, I'd love to try out the Specialized S-Works Ruby (extra $400).
Of course, now I have to decide where we want to go next
Jul 22nd, 2014, 05:31 AM
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Here is the link to my trip report about the Italy/Slovenia trip: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-between.cfm
Aug 15th, 2014, 10:22 AM
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AlessandraZoe,
Like others, I'd like to say thank you so much for your very useful info and postings.
My husband & I want to do a Loire Valley bike tour late Aug next year. We picked that area & time b/c we will be meeting friends in Piedmont afterwards and we won't be in great cycling shape, having just retired 8 weeks before and have never been to that part of France. We are experienced cyclist for many years (just not a lot recently d/t work and family obligations). In our younger years we did US west coast bike touring that I would do all the planning for and about 17 yrs ago we did a VBT in Vermont in the fall which we totally enjoyed.
Can you see where this is going? We now have less time for planning since we are still working, more money than in our younger years, our lodging/food/wine tastes have greatly expanded. I say expanded b/c we really like very good accommodations/food/wine, but we also appreciate value. Pay less get less, pay more get more. I really like everything I've read about Backroads online and from you. Sounds like they can be depended on to deliver. It sounds like you have done a number of the Backroad Premiere tours, so I'm assuming that you think the extra cost is worth it. We are in a bit of sticker shock at tour prices, so I have a couple questions in trying to determine whether to go on the Casual or Premiere. Have you ever done a tour in the Loire? If so, w/ who and what did you think about? Have you ever been disappoint about the Casual level lodgings/food on Backroads tour? I'm also little worried if we went for the Premiere level tour it would have more of the whiner-types (people who think the world should accommodate to them at every moment and like to complain about it). Thanks so much.
Like others, I'd like to say thank you so much for your very useful info and postings.
My husband & I want to do a Loire Valley bike tour late Aug next year. We picked that area & time b/c we will be meeting friends in Piedmont afterwards and we won't be in great cycling shape, having just retired 8 weeks before and have never been to that part of France. We are experienced cyclist for many years (just not a lot recently d/t work and family obligations). In our younger years we did US west coast bike touring that I would do all the planning for and about 17 yrs ago we did a VBT in Vermont in the fall which we totally enjoyed.
Can you see where this is going? We now have less time for planning since we are still working, more money than in our younger years, our lodging/food/wine tastes have greatly expanded. I say expanded b/c we really like very good accommodations/food/wine, but we also appreciate value. Pay less get less, pay more get more. I really like everything I've read about Backroads online and from you. Sounds like they can be depended on to deliver. It sounds like you have done a number of the Backroad Premiere tours, so I'm assuming that you think the extra cost is worth it. We are in a bit of sticker shock at tour prices, so I have a couple questions in trying to determine whether to go on the Casual or Premiere. Have you ever done a tour in the Loire? If so, w/ who and what did you think about? Have you ever been disappoint about the Casual level lodgings/food on Backroads tour? I'm also little worried if we went for the Premiere level tour it would have more of the whiner-types (people who think the world should accommodate to them at every moment and like to complain about it). Thanks so much.
