The beauty of biking during your travels is that you can get a real feel for the region’s landscape, people and sights—you can stray further off the beaten path than on a tour bus, and cover far more distance than a walking tour.
Whether you’re spending a half day cycling the trails of your local park or vineyard-hopping along the Italian countryside, a bicycle adventure can not only be a healthy alternative to the traditional methods of travel, it is more often than not more culturally rewarding.
If you’re planning to take a bicycle tour of an unfamiliar region, an organized trip can be one of the best ways to take advantage of all the sights and activities.
For one thing, you don’t have to schlep your own baggage—it’s transferred from point to point. You can cycle alongside other travelers whose pace matches yours, your nightly accommodations and meals are already arranged, a tour leader can lead you to the area sights and activities.
Self-guided tours are also another option: they tend to be less expensive and allow you the flexibility to go at your own pace and choose where you want to go within a route. The company will outfit you with all the maps and routes, sightseeing recommendations, and information on your lodging and meals, as well as emergency services.
Most tour companies will inform you in advance of how strenuous the terrain is (rugged and uphill, or paved and flat) and how many miles you’re expected to cycle a day. As always, make sure to inform the company of any special needs you may have, and it’s imperative that you check with your physician before embarking on any physically active tour.
Backroads
Backroads arranges biking and walking tours in more than 90 destinations in 37 countries worldwide. You can choose from lightweight titanium bikes to rugged mountain bikes, as well innovative two-seater/two-pedal bikes for adults and children to ride in tandem.
A nine-day bike tour of Bryce, Zion and the Grand Canyon National Parks takes you from the red rock country of Utah to the deserts of Arizona, stopping at mountain lodges and park inns each night.
If you’d rather stray a little further from home, an inn-to-inn bike tour along New Zealand’s South Island takes you along the west coast, through the Franz Joseph Glacier, along Lake Wanaka and into the adventure capital of Queenstown. Rates in the U.S. begin at $2,000, and international tours are about $5,000 per person. 800-462-2848, www.backroads.com
Butterfield & Robinson
For active travel with a luxurious spin, Butterfield & Robinson arranges bike tours throughout the world with high-end accommodations and gourmet meals, plus several options for family-friendly travel.
A brand-new addition for 2008 is a bike tour of Thailand and Laos kicking off in Bangkok, flying to Chiang Ria, biking through the back country to Chiang Mai, and then traversing the stunning back country of Luang Prabang. You also get to take advantage of first-class experiences like riding elephants and taking a cooking class at the esteemed Four Seasons in Chiang Mai. Rates start at $9,895 per person (we said it was luxurious!) 866-551-9090, www.butterfield.com
BikeToursDirect
This leading bicycle tour company offers several options throughout Europe, both guided and self guided. One of the more unique tours combines bicycling and boating—a seven-night, easy route from Amsterdam to Brussels involves sailing from one town to another, where you can explore the countryside by bicycle for up to 30 miles a day.
A wine and wellness bike tour takes you through Austria, where you can bicycle up to 35 miles a day from one vineyard to the next, through thermal spa towns and into farm where you can sample home-cooked meals. Rates start at $800 for a week. 877-462-2423, www.biketours.com
Adventure Travel Group
Leading fully-guided tours through Canada, Europe and South America, this company has the unusual benefit that it also caters to non-cyclists—most tours include two-to-three nights stay in one location, and non-cyclist companions have the option of traveling in the support van (bikers who need a break can also catch a ride in the van).
A six-day bike tour of Piedmont in Italy includes lots of wine tasting and stops among the lakeside villages of the region. A bike tour of Chile and Argentina’s lake district will take you through the volcanic terrain, into the Southern Andes, and includes a half-day of whitewater rafting. Trip rates start at about $2,595. 858-232-0362, www.adventuretravelgroup.com
Bike Riders
Want to capture the local flavor? Check out Bike Riders’ cycling trips in New England, Canada and Europe which follows lesser-trafficked routes.
Both guided and self-guided tours are offered, including a six-day biking and hiking tour of Umbria, Italy, biking and whale watching on the north coast of Canada’s Cape Breton Island, and a family “island hopping” tour of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Overnight accommodations tend to be historic inns and higher-end hotels. Prices run from about $2,300 to $3,080. 800-473-7040, www.bikeriderstours.com
DIY Bike Tours
If you’re planning a do-it-yourself bicycle tour through America’s trails, there are plenty of issues to keep in mind. It’s important to do some heavy research beforehand so that you don’t find yourself stuck out in the rain or thwarted by unmanageable terrain.
Your first stop should be the Adventure Cycling Association’s Web site, which is a solid resource for bicyclists of all experience levels. Here you can find guided bike tours, a “companions wanted” section and social gatherings. You can also find cycling maps that show details like the locations of campgrounds, hostels, motels, gas stations, groceries, restaurants, post offices and bike shops, turn-by-turn instructions, contour lines to illustrate elevation profiles, a weather chart and summaries of riding conditions providing info on road surfaces, traffic volumes, and areas of caution. 800-55-2453, www.adventurecycling.org
On the Web site www.pedaling.com, you can define the parameters of your ride: what state, how much incline, what kind of environment (desert, woods, seashore) and how long, to come up with a route that works for you. For example, in Michigan, a five-20 mile lake ride comes up with five options, with details on the terrain, local bike shops, and light commentary on the views.
If you’re not planning on camping out, visit Bed, Breakfast and Biking at www.bbbiking.com. This is a hugely comprehensive resource of bike-friendly B&Bs and inns along or near the bike trails and byways throughout all 50 states. Major bike trails and lesser known ones are covered here. The innkeepers tend to be knowledgeable about the area, so you may be able to get some insider knowledge of local trails, back routes and must-see scenery.
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