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/2...groundRailroad