Help X. pick a bike vacation!

[Blueberry]

these folks might be a good place to inquire: http://www.bicycleinn.com/

I can't recall where I heard about them (but it was in a favorable context), and I've not stayed there.

My experience with Asheville has been that if you're not interested in serious climbing, choose your routes very carefully and talk to someone who has ridden them. There are a couple of TE folks who live in the area, and have steered me to some lovely rides. The ones I've tried to do out of books have been way more climbing that I can actually *enjoy* doing.

The Boone area is nice too. It's about a 2 hour drive between the 2, so you could stay at one for half and the other for half.

Carrie Anne

[SouthernBelle]

I've just gotten a catalogue from these folks, and am considering one, if not for next year, then the year after:

http://womantours.com/

HTH,

PS: Has anybody else used them?

[CyclChyk]

I'm thinking Vegas... you can bike from one casino to the next and drink for free........ can you get a CWI (cycling while intoxicated)???

[Xrayted]

This is why I came here. All good comments, where to begin...

CrazyCanuck - Thanks for the invite and I will certainly be coming down at some point over the next few years. It's a must-do for me. But for the first biking one, I didn't want to bite off more than I can chew. Then there's the added hassle of passports, possible innoculations, customs, etc... I'll certainly be wanting to meet up with you when I finally do get there tho. You really are a crazy canuck! (BTW, I've got a nephew who was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. So, you and I are practically family. He's a crazy canuck too. Must be something in the water.)

Hammer - I've been to Asheville and you're right, it's gorgeous. I spent many evening hours sitting at Tressa's grooving to the jazz and blues. Cool atmosphere. I would love to go back again. I didn't even consider a training camp as part of my experience somewhere. I love to learn new things. Good suggestion.

Denise G - Above all, I value your comments most highly. (Sorry ladies, but this is the Denise G we're talking about here.) So to respond to your questions:
Yes, I prefer to have a base to come back to. No major touring like you do. (Yet.) More than just cycling but I want to spend most of my days on a bike seeing the sites. Long or short jaunts. I'm a stop and take in the view kinda rider so mileage is of no great consequence to me. I'm trying to stay off the touristy path, if you know what I mean. I like all kinds of terrain like mountains and beach. (ok, still hate riding hills tho ) I'll probably be renting bikes and so I can change up what types of places I can roam. As for an area, I just want to see some of this wonderful country I live in - but not through a window on an interstate. I've roamed a lot on the east coast and some in the mid west. So, I guess, for a truly different experience, the west coast would hold a strong pull for me. As for the weather, it's spring and it's gonna rain and do God-knows-what no matter where I am. I'm ok with that. I prefer to visit a place in it's natural state. Some of the best pics I've ever taken have been during/after total downpours. I actually like playing in the rain. (Hmmm... Mud wrestling on a bike... could be a new sport! Oh, wait, that's cyclocross, huh?)
As for Hawaii, when I go there it will be a combination biking, hiking, swimming, scuba, some other things I can't say on a family forum... type of vacation with an equally outgoing someone I can really enjoy it with. This is a solo trip (for now) so no Hawaii. But, yeah, someday soon I hope. I just gotta find the right person to share it with first. Easier said than done.

HikerChick - very good input. That gives extra possibilities in a wide area of exploration. Thanks!

CA - I plan on utilizing many routes and suggestions on specific rides from those who live in the area I visit so thanks for your comments. Hopefully, I can meet some of these wonderful TE ladies while I'm there. That would be the ultimate adventure.

Southern Belle - I believe Denise Goldberg has used them and can shed more light. She's my personal biker chick hero so whatever she tells ya, trust her.

Thanks ladies, I've been taking notes and look forward to more suggestions. I do accept choc chip cookies or promises of home cooked meals as a bribe, just for future reference.

X.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise G Yes, I prefer to have a base to come back to. No major touring like you do. (Yet.) More than just cycling but I want to spend most of my days on a bike seeing the sites. Long or short jaunts. I'm a stop and take in the view kinda rider so mileage is of no great consequence to me. I'm trying to stay off the touristy path, if you know what I mean... I like all kinds of terrain like mountains and beach. (ok, still hate riding hills tho ) I'll probably be renting bikes and so I can change up what types of places I can roam. As for an area, I just want to see some of this wonderful country I live in - but not through a window on an interstate. I've roamed a lot on the east coast and some in the mid west. So, I guess, for a truly different experience, the west coast would hold a strong pull for me. As for the weather, it's spring and it's gonna rain and do God-knows-what no matter where I am. I'm ok with that. I prefer to visit a place in it's natural state. Some of the best pics I've ever taken have been during/after total downpours.

If you're planning on renting a bike, I suspect that you are limiting your destination somewhat. If you're traveling with a touring company, they usually provide decent quality bikes. But if you're going on your own you'll need to find a shop that rents bikes in the area you're visitng. Once you start to focus on a destination, I recommend calling bike shops in the area to see if they rent bikes - and if they do, find out what kind of bikes are available (as in mountain vs. road). For example, I mentioned Moab as a possible interesting destination. I know you can rent mountain bikes there, but I suspect that road bikes wouldn't be available.

If you don't like riding hills, you should definitely pick someplace that will allow you to mix hill riding and flat riding - as opposed to someplace that would see you rolling up and down hills all day every day.

On the rain front - I agree that you can get some beautiful pictures in the rain. And yes, it is possible to be happy riding in the rain. But if it was me, I'd try to pick a dry location as opposed to someplace that could be teeming with water (which was why I mentioned the southwest as a possbility). If you really don't mind cool and wet weather, then I'd add coastal Maine and potentially Nova Scotia into the mix of destinations. (Yes, I know that Nova Scotia is in Canada - but it's so close! And there are definitely areas in Nova Scotia where you could do a series of day rides. Unfortunately the ferry doesn't start running until the end of May, so it would be a longer drive or a flight.)

Southern Belle - I believe Denise Goldberg has used them and can shed more light. She's my personal biker chick hero so whatever she tells ya, trust her.

Nope, not me! But I believe that several of the women here have used them.

--- Denise

[Eden]

Not sure in PA where you are from, so you may already have had enough of it, but some of the most beautiful biking territory is in central PA around the State College area. It's Amish country with wide rolling valleys and many small, low traffic country roads. There's an old book called 25 bicycle tours in Eastern Pennsylvania, that has a lot of really nice 25 - 60 mile loops in it. It's out of print, but still available on Amazon. And even if you don't want to go on vacation in PA - even from the ends of the state this stuff is still accesible for weekends.

[Xrayted]

Not sure in PA where you are from, so you may already have had enough of it, but some of the most beautiful biking territory is in central PA around the State College area. It's Amish country with wide rolling valleys and many small, low traffic country roads. There's an old book called 25 bicycle tours in Eastern Pennsylvania, that has a lot of really nice 25 - 60 mile loops in it. It's out of print, but still available on Amazon. And even if you don't want to go on vacation in PA - even from the ends of the state this stuff is still accesible for weekends.

Yeah, I'm from Lancaster County and my goal is to get as far away from it as possible. (Not just geography wise.) It is a beautiful area to bike though and I've been enjoying as much of it as I can. State College area (GO Penn State!) is always teeming with cool activities but I haven't been up since I started riding in Sept b/c of football season. For me, it's a crazy nightmare up there that whole season. If you don't have game tix, ya stay away.

Edit: Found out last night that our beloved Joe Paterno got his leg broken on the side lines this w/e. Healing wishes going out to Jo Pa.

[roguedog]

California is nice usually that time of year thought this last year was wet for a long time.

I hear a lot of folks say do Napa and I enjoy wine but Napa is too touristy for me. Though if I'm going to do Napa Jan - mid May is a good time. Less tourists, the pourers are less crazed and actually have time to be civil to you. The mornings are often beautifully foggy, the leaves are yellow and it's quiet. Sun break thru usually in the afternoon.

There are several "off the beaten path" options if you want to mix wine country with your riding. I swear California is going to become one large vineyard!

There are great wineries and great winding trails along the Russian river. Great pinots out there and it's not so main stream. It's a beautful area and it's on the Sonoma side where it's more mellow and earthy. It's gorgeous with hills, woods, the river and riding towards the ocean. Lots of roads to get lost on as well.

Farther norther in Mendocino, the wine region up there is growing. Navarro Vineyards has an awesome late harvest riesling, there great champagne jsut a mile or so down the rode @ Roederer (who's own by the same people who do Kristal). There's also great beer and Mendocino is just gorgeous. Depending on how much you want to break the bank.. I can recommend a few nice places )

To the south, I also love the Santa Barbera area and the Paso Robles area for great wines. Santa Barbera has some some wonderful Rhone varietals.. and contrary to Sideways, I'm not a big lover of their Pinots. Stay in quaint little Los Osos and you can ride into Solvang or into Santa Barbera. Or if your more sophisitcated, stay in Santa Barbera cuz there's lots of wonderful food to entice your wallet and palate!

Another great area is Monterey wine area. I'd stay in quaint little Carmel Valley. From there you can launch to some great wineries: Bernardus, Galiente, Talbot and others. YOu can stay @ Bernardus which is also a spa and the restaurant is pretty good as well

And then.. for the really little know regions.. there's Amador County or Plymouth, Ca where they are making some really interesting wines. They seem to be growing Italian varietals up there in the foothills. There's a wonderful winery called Renwood who makes great zinfandels. And the wineries keep growing up there.

Lastly, there's also wineries in Silicon Valley. The appellation is called the Santa Cruz Mtns. Lots of little mom & pops out here and.. some not so little, like Ridge, Mt Eden, Thomas Fogarty, and David Bruce. All of which are um.. nice hills for you to cut some teeth on!

Obviously, those places that are closer to larger metro areas will probably have some shops(s) that will rent road bikes. For the smaller places.. hmmm maybe when you rent a car, you'd better rent a bike before you head off into the boonies

Um.. ya.. sorry for the long post. Did I say I liked wine.. and drink a little of it?

[SouthernBelle]

You might also look at riding the Natchez Trace. Womantours has one for that but it only covers the bottom part. The Trace is one of those standard rides.

[bcipam]

Well I second everyone's suggestions - all good.

Another one to consider - The Skinny Tire Festival in Moab Utah. 4 days of the most glorious riding. Great people to meet. It's for a good cause (LAF) and doesn't cost much (OK when there I realize you have to fly and travel in).

For info go to skinnytirefestival.com. The dates are alittle earlier than you want (March 2 - 5, 2007) but it's worth the travel.

[IFjane]

X,

I second the nomination for rides in VA! I live in Madison County (at the bottom of the mountain below Big Meadows & the Skyline Drive). This county alone has hundreds of paved roads that are excellent for cycling. Add to it the counties of Culpeper, Rappahannock & Greene and you have more cycling than you can do in a couple weeks. There are many cyclists here so the traffic is generally very friendly. For other diversions, hike from Big Meadows down to Hoover's Camp. It's an easy hike and you can see the cabins President Hoover used as his "Camp David"-type retreat. Other good hikes are Old Rag (great rock scrambling) & White Oak Canyon for the falls. If staying on the Skyline Drive is too remote for you, the nearby towns of Culpeper or Orange both have places to stay.

As for the Blue Ridge Parkway, I have taken my bike down to Peaks of Otter, stayed there & used it as a base for cycling. Great trip & fun time, but the weather can be iffy in spring.

Is there any way you can take your own bike instead of renting? My bike is such a part of "me" that I don't think I would enjoy a trip as much on another! If you decide to head in this direction (quick trip over to Rt. 15 at Gettysburg, then head south ) let me know and I'll map some rides for you!

[Xrayted]

IfJane - Yeah, I think I'll be packing my own bike for this trip after having talked to Denise Goldberg. It's jsut so much better and for the amount of riding I'm hoping to do, I'd feel like I was cheating or something.

thanks for the feedback. I'll check it out online later today!

X.

[Bikingmomof3]

You where not plannning to come visit me? I admit the state is not that exciting, but I am here.

[Xrayted]

You where not plannning to come visit me? I admit the state is not that exciting, but I am here.

I'm absolutely coming to visit you! We have a "date" remember? Just "tri-ing" wait for you to give me the word...
(I think they'll figure that one out, not very cryptic, huh?)

[Bikingmomof3]

Whew, I was getting worried. As soon as I can bike and you can run, we are set.