Bike Tours for Beginners

**echomsky** · 03-17-2006, 06:24 AM

Hi - I am looking for suggestions on good bike tours for beginners. I enjoy my flat to rolling 12-13mph rides and would like to see the US. I can handle 40 miles per day... While I love the outdoors, I am not a camper and would need a good bed and shower (as in moderate to great accomodations - no need to lie). I would be going on my own but I'm not dead-set on an all woman tour. I've seen WomanTours and they look interesting. I looked at Backroads but had a hard time figuring out what levels the rides were. Since this would be my first tour, I wonder if I should do something shorter? 4-5 days? I'm open to suggestions...

Thanks!

**Jo-n-NY** · 03-17-2006, 07:49 AM

Hi there...My husband and I would like to tour the Napa Valley Wine Country. We are hoping to be able to do it next year, as I live on the east coase, so we will have to tack on plane fair.

Here is the link if you are interested. You didn't mention where you wanted to tour. If this one is as true as they say it looks like exactly the type of riding you are looking for. We are looking for pretty much the same type of riding. I want to enjoy my surroundings along with the cycling.

http://www.bicycleadventures.com/where/california.html

~ JoAnn

**maillotpois** · 03-17-2006, 08:01 AM

We did a Backroads "Epic" trip through the Alps a couple of years ago. This was not a beginner trip, nor did we want one, but it gave me a sense of what their beginner trips would be like and I think you would be fine! The guides are very supportive and always able to SAG you if needed. The support is really just great.

From what I heard from some folks who had been on easier Backroads trips, the intermediate and easy level trip sound pretty cushy. The rides are not too strenuous, and you generally have options of how far to ride each day.

Even on the epic trip we always had options of how far to ride.

I highly recommend them! We were planning on doing another epic trip to the Canadian Rockies last year but decided we just couldn't afford it. I am hoping to do another one soon!!

**bikerchick68** · 03-17-2006, 08:14 AM

I used Irondonkey tours to do a 6 day tour of Ireland. I did a self supported ride, which means they handed me a map and said see ya in 6 days! BUT, they have fully supported tours as well... the guy who runs it, Tony, was just awesome. This is very well set up and you stay in bed and breakfast the whole trip. Every AM you leave your luggage at the front door and when you show up at the next B&B it's there waiting for you!

The landscape is rolling with no true climbs. Rides were 35-50 miles per day. One of the best things to me was the fact that they have such loooooong daylight hours. So if you felt like sleeping in, or hanging out til noon, you could. Sunset was around 11pm! Also gave me plenty of time to stop and tour any neat sights, such as Kylemore Abbey and Ballynadich Castle. I used a rental bike, which was much heavier than my bike, but I was in no rush so it didn't matter!

And much easier than dragging my bike thru Europe the rest of the time...

you can look at their tours here:

http://irondonkey.com/

**doc** · 03-17-2006, 08:27 AM

look up vbt.com, summerfeet.net, bikevermont.com and also adventure cycling and bike america. Have fun. I'm jealous

**Crankin** · 03-17-2006, 09:51 AM

I have been on 2 Trek Travel Tours, both intermediate level. They do have beginner trips. The support and guides are awesome. You always have a choice of mileage and the historical/food/accomodations are outstanding. It's not cheap, but worth every penny if you ask me. Backroads is also a good group.

**Veronica** · 03-17-2006, 10:05 AM

I've down a mountain bike tour with Western Spirit and Escape Adventures - they also do road tours. Western Spirit has a great site to help you pick a good level for you.

We did a road tour with Easy Rider last year. Also a very good company to work with.

Veronica

**bcipam** · 03-17-2006, 10:27 AM

I've done a number of Backroads tours. There are many from very easy to Epic. They are very good about describing their trips and I've been on what I would call an epic trip and fairly newbie riders did those rides as well. They plan for "bailouts" by the newer riders and if there's a big hill coming, give the rider the option to sag. I think Backroads is a first class operation but there are not the cheapest, in fact they are probably one of the most expensive but well worth it . Vermont Touring is good and if you can do Vermont in September, it's great riding.

**Jo-n-NY** · 03-17-2006, 11:14 AM

Vermont Touring is good and if you can do Vermont in September, it's great riding.[/QUOTE]

Did the Vermont tour have major hills? This would be for a road biking tour.

Thanks
JoAnn

**Crankin** · 03-17-2006, 11:25 AM

The vermont weekend tour I did (Trek) had major hills. I did not do the biggest (Mt. Mansfield) climb because i crashed the day before and i was really sore. In fact, most of the people were beginning riders and were in the van! So, you have options, so matter what.

**echomsky** · 03-17-2006, 12:19 PM

Thanks, everyone. These are great suggestions. Since I am going to have to save $ for my little bike tour treat, I am probably looking at the September time frame. So, please keep the suggestions coming. And if you do a great ride in the Spring/Summer, please let me know! Anywhere in the US (minus Alaska/Hawaii) would be interesting.

**bcipam** · 03-17-2006, 01:32 PM

I live on the West Coast where our hills are the East Coast's mountains so it's all relative. I thought there was very little climbing, nothing significant. If I remember there are different routes offered so you can pick easy to moderate. Nothing was that hard; not like doing Colorado or Utah. Most of the Touring Companies website provide detailed descriptions of routes and terrain.

**Geonz** · 03-17-2006, 01:47 PM

GITAP (Grand Illinois Trails and Parks) is one of my favorites, though it goes a little longer than 40 miles sometimes. The average age of the hundred or so riders last year was 56 (and my plans of riding off with a "carbon fiber man" didn't pan out, but I did end up with a rocking blues rendition of "holding out for a carbon fiber frame") - the emphasis is on the touring, not hammering. ( http://www.bikelib.org/gitap/index.htm )

**Aint Doody** · 03-17-2006, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Jo-n-NY

Hi there...My husband and I would like to tour the Napa Valley Wine Country. We are hoping to be able to do it next year, as I live on the east coase, so we will have to tack on plane fair.

Here is the link if you are interested. You didn't mention where you wanted to tour. If this one is as true as they say it looks like exactly the type of riding you are looking for. We are looking for pretty much the same type of riding. I want to enjoy my surroundings along with the cycling.

http://www.bicycleadventures.com/where/california.html

~ JoAnn

I have taken 2 tours with Bicycle Adventures, and I cannot say enough good things about them. I did the Wine Country 4 day in 2004 and the 6-day San Juan Islands tour in 2005. They treat you so well, and all the places we stayed were super. And the food was terrific. You won't be disappointed if you go with them. It may seem expensive, but you get a great value. Unforturnately I'm not going on a tour with them in 2006, but I will in 2007.

The first tour I went all by myself and made some wonderful friends--including the guides, who are all so very personable.

**Jo-n-NY** · 03-17-2006, 05:12 PM

Thank you for beginning this thread. It was a help to me also.

Thank you for your input on both Backroads and BikeAdventures. They both sound good. I rather wait longer and pay more money to be happy with our riding vacation.

~JoAnn

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