Woman Tours

[SALLIE]

Hi! I am new t the forum and am very happy to have found you all. Does anyone know about an organization called woman tours? I am considering going on a trip with them and am just looking for any info on theri knowledge or experiance with this group

[kjay]

Hi, Sallie,

I've gone on two tours with them. My first was cycling around the Big Island of Hawaii, and last year I rode Death Valley with them in February. I'd join them again in a heartbeat. They pick out great places to stay and to eat, and their guides know their business and are always very helpful.

[fidlfreek]

Have you gone alone? I was also considering going w/ this company but would be doing it alone...

[kjay]

Yes, I always go alone, and it works out just fine. I actually prefer biking by myself, but I like a supported ride, so a tour works out really well.

[Zen]

Here's an excellent report of KathiCville's experience with WomenTours-
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=23297

[fidlfreek]

Thanks Zen. Great description and to me it seems like the PERFECT vacation. No men to worry about! Woohoo!

It seems like her tour was mostly more mature women. Anybody else been on one? Would I feel out of place as a sub-30 woman? Don't get me wrong I regularly ride w/ 40+ women who kick my a**.... Is the 40+ a normal age range for their tours?

[tulip]

Thanks Zen. Great description and to me it seems like the PERFECT vacation. No men to worry about! Woohoo!

It seems like her tour was mostly more mature women. Anybody else been on one? Would I feel out of place as a sub-30 woman? Don't get me wrong I regularly ride w/ 40+ women who kick my a**.... Is the 40+ a normal age range for their tours?

I have not been on a WomanTour tour, but I have done tours with other companies. I'm just 41, and there have been some folks younger, but most are my age and older. One contributing factor is the cost. In my case, I could not have afforded to go on these supported tours in my 20s, no way! I think that's the case for alot of people in their 20s, and once you get to your 30s, many people have kids to deal with and can't easily go on a non-kid vacation.

I went to Central America a few years ago when I was 39 (not on a bike tour) with a group of 50- and 60-somethings and had a blast! It was seriously one of the best vacations I have ever taken. I was the only one under 50, and most were in their 60s.

I have no problem with riding and socializing with people in their 50s, 60s, 70s...I actually prefer them to people my age and younger. More interesting and assured.

[katluvr]

A biking tour was what got me started and my first one was Woman Tours--the Outer Banks (flat and easy for a firsttimer). I am still freinds (visit and ride with) a couple of gals from the first one. Also did Hawaii the big island (tough one! darn volcanos). This year (Oct.) will attempt Moab. (I am a flat lander). But I do love the tours. Great folks, good good, inns, lots of fun!

[Grits]

You will love a Woman Tours trip. I have done two: the Outer Banks of NC and the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. I would love to do another one. Maybe the next big birthday!

On my first trip, there was a wide range of ages with some younger women in their early thirties. On my second trip, I was probably the youngest -in my early 40's. It doesn't matter. You will have a great time regardless of the ages. Women who bike have something in common, and women who will go on a biking tour usually are interesting personalities! There have been single women travelers on both trips. Their literature says that the majority of their riders come alone.

I can't recommend it highly enough. The food is wonderful (don't count on losiing any weight), and they stay in really nice places.

[jackiemarchand]

I just wanted to thank you all for your wonderful comments about my company WomanTours. I'm so glad that there are so many women out there happy with our tours, as we're trying hard to make each one better than the last.

There were some questions about ages, so I wanted to let you know that the average age of the women on our tours is 54. Most women are between 30-69 years old. Sometimes we'll get women in their 20s, but more frequently, we'll have women in their 70s and we've even had a few in their 80s. Talk about inspiring!

[AnnieBikes]

Having just completed my second long bicycle trip, (cross country and "up country" from Alabama to Canada) I can definitely speak about WomanTours! I learned about them while on my 30th anniversary cycling trip from another woman on that trip. She told me about riding across the country on a supported trip. I could not WAIT to read about it when I got home. After working up the nerve to tell my husband what I planned to do, I put down the deposit and starting counting the days. With only a few months to get ready (and with winter ahead) I started spinning. I rode outside when possible. I had only been riding a road bike for a few years and here I was going cross country!

The trip was fantastic. The two guides were experienced, knowledgeable, and supportive. The women, average age 59 on this trip, but with women as young as 52 and as old as 70, were a very diverse and friendly group. No one who does not have the desire to make the trip would think about signing up! I think a mother-daughter team did it a few years ago so any age is fine and the support and comaraderie of the group was non-stop. I did not know a single person on the trip but that changed about 5 minutes after I arrived in San Diego at the start of the ride. The group began an email exchange as soon as we signed up. Lots of questions were answered, we were given past riders' emails if we had questions, and we received a monthly "newsletter" which addressed many things from bicycle fitting, physical preparation, what to pack, hotels, meals, and just about anything else you can imagine.

You will not be sorry when you go on one of these trips. Pick your trip for beginner or more experienced cyclists. They have many one week trips and two long trips each year. Many of these are filled within a short time after the trips are announced and some of the week long trips run twice due to demand. The food is fantastic and you will NOT lose much weight! WomanTours cooks are knowledgeable, cook vegetarian if necessary, and know that after a day of cycling, you are HUNGRY!!

Try a week long trip. You will definitely not be sorry and there are trips all over the country in some gorgeous locations. Next thing you know, you will be wanting to try the Southern Tier!! Long distance cycling is absolutely addictive.

Save your money. It is not cheap, which is why so many "mature" woman(50's and 60's)(well, not all of us acted mature!!!) are on the trip...near or after retirement, children have flown the nest, and more free time. It is worth every penny, I think. You will make lifelong friends. You don't ride together for 58 days and not make some close friends! I recently returned from Colorado from a reunion of some of the riders from my year's Southern Tier trip.

Check out my journals from these two trips at:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/annesoutherntier2007
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/2008UndergroundRailroad