Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
...I've seen a couple of posts from you regarding your experiences with Backroads and Bicycle Adventures. What, in particular, didn't you like about BA? What, in particular, did you like about Backroads? I'm thinking of taking BA's trips (in particular, Crater Lake), but am also considering Backgrounds' Bryce/Zion/GC tour.
Kate -
First, you should know that my experience with both companies is pretty dated. My last trip with Backroads was probably 6 years ago, and Bicycle Adventures was earlier than that.

I found Backroads to run very good trips, and I was happy with both their leaders and their bikes. I did both camping and inn trips with them, although my experience pre-dates their adding the less expensive inn trips (which I believe I probably would have preferred). I did the Bryce/Zion/Grand Canyon camping trip with them, and I'd say that was one of my favorite Backroads trips.

I only did one Bicycle Adventures trip; it was the first year they went to Crater Lake, and that was the trip that I did. On the positive side, there were forest fires in the area, and they did a very good job of re-routing us.

On the bad side - we stayed in some condos for 2 nights where bicycles were not allowed on the roads in the complex but were instead directed to multi-use paths. I do not ride on bike paths unless they are in areas where they get very little use; I feel that because of overuse they are less safe to ride on than the road. I suppose I shouldn't blame the tour operator for that, but I maintain that we should not have stayed someplace that didn't allow cycling on the roads. Beyond that, the level of service wasn't what I expected. For example, on Backroads inn trips, your luggage is delivered to the room. On the Bicycle Adventures tour that I did they just dumped everything next to the van - except for the gear of one woman, and hers was taken to her room. Again, I only did one tour with them, and while I enjoyed the riding, I was unhappy enough with the tour operator to not try another one.

Of course, there are probably other people who don't like Backroads and do like Bicycle Adventures - so that's probably not much help.

I agree that the singles supplements are pretty outrageous. I opted for a roommate, which is pretty much a crap-shoot when you're traveling alone. Of all the trips that I did (and there was probably a 9 to 10-year period when I was going on supported tours), I think I only had one roommate who was a problem. That said, if I do a supported tour again I will likely opt for a single.

I had a lot of the same wishes that you did - especially in terms of mileage. That, plus wanting to go places that the touring companies didn't go (or didn't go for enough time) was what started me on the road to solo self-supported touring. I would highly recommend that you ask whatever company you are considering for references, preferably of people who have done the trip you are considering in the not too distant past. I'm sure they will only give you people who they believe will give you a good reference, but I think it's still valuable to talk to someone who has experienced that company's tours.

Hope that helps; ask more questions if it doesn't!

--- Denise