Bike Tours for Beginners

[echomsky]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Crankin]

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.

[Aint Doody]

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]

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

[withm]

check out Vermont Bike Tours. They are located in Vermont but run tours all over the world. I am going to Belgium & Holland with them in the fall. I have several friends that say their trips are fantastic. If you send for the catalog and DVD you will be may be hooked as quickly as I was.

http://www.vbt.com/

No affiliation, and can't wait for my trip to start.

Martha