Help X. pick a bike vacation!

[Xrayted]

Well, it's time for me to pick vacation time at work for next year. My first one will be in the spring (probably Apr or May) and I need your help. So here's my idea...
Since I'm such a biking newbie, I'm just not sure where to even start when it comes to going on a (mostly) biking vacation. I need ideas from y'all as to where you would go. I'm leaning towards a single destination/general area that offers multiple opportunities for varied rides and unusual experiences. I'm open to all suggestions within the following guidelines. >>>

the details:

1. You provide the suggestions and reasons
2. I'll have final decision on where to go, this isn't a public vote type of thing. (unless you're willing to pay the bill)
3. You can nominate more than one idea
4. You can "second" someone else's destination (these will get extra consideration.)
5. Must be w/in the lower 48. (sorry CWR)
6. It can be where you live or a trip you've done and loved (or heard about)
7. I'm a roadie so keep that in mind.
8. Not really into the guided tour thing, prefer independent type stuff
9. I'll most likely be going solo, *tips hat to Denise G* so keep that in mind too.
10. No camping trips, don't like roughing it much. Will be returning back to "hotel/base" every night.


I'm gonna make the cutoff for this Dec. 1, 2006 so I have time to plan out and book it all. (well, and pay for it )

Thanks ladies for any and all ideas! It's in your hands now.

X.

p.s. If I need to clarify anything further, please speak up or PM me.

[crazycanuck]

Dearest X,

I realize you're thinking of a trip specifically in the Northern Hemisphere however as a thought, you're more than welcome to come down our way & am more than happy to have you has a guest.

The reason I am suggesting coming down this way? Umm because it's a completely different continent, country and just a nice place to bike.

Even if you don't want to come down to Western Australia there are many other cool places to bike in Aust & NZ.

I will throw out more idears later.
c

[Grog]

Virginia. Lots of spring training camps there....

[Hammer02]

Asheville NC.

It's beautiful...and you could go to a Carmichael camp....who for those who might not know...is Lance Armstrongs coach.

http://www.trainright.com/info.asp?a...splay&uid=3370

[DeniseGoldberg]

First, some questions:

1. Do you prefer a series of day trips from a base, or will you be touring (that is, carrying your gear, and moving from place to place every day?
2. Is your only activity going to be cycling, or do you want to do some hiking or other activity too?
3. Is there an area of the country that really feeds your imagination?

Of course there aren't any right or wrong answers here, hopefully just a way to focus your dreams.

With a target date of April / May, you will need to consider the usual spring weather patterns. If you're looking for dry and relatively warm riding, I think that you'll need to rule out much of the northern part of the country. May can be a wonderful time to ride in places like Maine, but it can also be very wet and somewhat cold. One of my favorite places to visit to ride is Glacier National Park in Montana - but that's too early in the year to go there since Going to the Sun Highway isn't usually open by then. Another favorite for me is the Big Island of Hawaii (to help you dream, here's a link to my journal: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Denise2003Hawaii. My trip was a tour, but you could easily pick a place to stay and ride from there.). Is there a reason why you've left Hawaii out of your possible destinations?

Let's see, if I were dreaming of a trip in the lower 48 in the April / May timeframe, where would I go? The states that immediately jump out at me are Arizona, New Mexico, and maybe California. Another option that might be interesting is Moab. Yes, you're right, that's a mountain bikers mecca - but I've done two trips there with a road bike, staying in Moab and doing day rides in the area. My journal for those trips is at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/denise2001moab.

What I think it most important is that you pick a location that jumps out and says to you "come visit and play". I'll be very interested in hearing your decision - but for now, happy dreaming!

--- Denise

[hiker chick]

Will second Grog and Hammer on VA or NC. Specifically, Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway.

Bikes are common on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. You could stay at Big Meadows Lodge or in one of the Big Meadows cabins. Or further up the road is "Skyland" lodge and cabins. Big Meadows has more ambience and is my preference.

Swing by DC on your way home -- bike along the Mall, the Potomac and on the C&O Canal. All memorable.

Am less familiar with accomodations around the NC portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The BRP drive is fantastic. Asheville might be a good base for exploring the area.

www.snowbirdmountainlodge.com -- a fantastic place to stay! It's near Robbinsville, NC, in the Smokies. Southwest corner of the state. The best meals (included in the room price) I've ever tasted. The Cherohala Skyway might be a good ride (would certainly be challenging). I've only driven it.

I'm biased toward the east coast's "mountains."

Good luck.

[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?

[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.

[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)???

[mudmucker]

I always used to center my vacations around the bike or xc ski. These past vacations however, were only in the northeast area where I could throw the bike on the car and go. Now I live in an area where I don't have to do that - the opportunities are all around me for both without ever having to get in the car. Rural woods and fields, and many hills.

These are suggestions - I haven't done these but I have been thinking of doing them in the next couple of years. My approach would be to stay at a "base", then make day trips. Possibly move the base depending on how much time I have. I would like to do a bike trip in Napa Valley. I have never flown and packed the bike anywhere (noticed you lived in PA). I loved going to the wineries there where I visited a couple of years ago. Make some day trips and do the wineries - plan it so you're not mixing biking and drinking but maybe pick one winery destination at the end of the day near the end of your loop, hang there, eat. Some have good food. If the ride doesn't require too much recovery, then taste some wine. (Obviously you're going to want to devote a day or so doing the winery circuit by car for the "Napa experience" and in order to get several tastings in).

I also want to do a bed and breakfast circuit somewhere with the bike. You might not have to loop back to your place of stay during the day - some of them might transport your luggage to your next destination. Keep the the car in the original b&b and just book your last night at your original place to get back to the car. This way, you're transporting yourself to each destination with your bike. Obviously you'd have to plan b&b distances with what you're capable of riding in a day. Not only that, the b&b's I've chosen in the past have over the top fabulous breakfasts. By April, we're all craving really warm in the NE. I birded in Arizona during April (perfect time to do this). I've wanted to bike Arizona in April or so, so I could bird and bike at the same time. All my vacation planning is just a little research on the internet. You can see pictures of the b&bs.

[mudmucker]

I like the Chris Carmichael idea too. That's something I've wanted to do.
I also noticed you might be travelling alone. Most of the major trips I've taken in the last 10 years have been alone. In fact, most times I've never really been alone. You meet people along the way - they are all in vacation mode too - hook up with them for a couple of hours or a day. Part with them later. Especially at the b&b's. Everyone there usually shares where they've been, what they'll be doing at the breakfasts. It can be very social.

[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.