Guided Bike Touring: Bicycle Adventures
Behind the Scenes at Bicycle Adventures
By Jennifer Donahue
For many of us, the romantic notion of vacationing by bicycle is quickly dashed when we start thinking about its logistics. Sure, the joy of riding through scenic countryside sounds like bliss, but the effort involved in finding lodging and figuring out routes and meals and bike storage can feel more like work than a vacation.
- Touring, Bicycle Adventures-style.
That’s where Bicycle Adventures comes in. With 26 years of experience leading multi-sport and bicycling vacations, the Issaquah, Washington-based company handles all the details, so you can focus on the fun.
Bicycle Adventures classifies its tours as Classic (25–50 miles per day), Classic Plus (50–60 miles per day), Epic (60+ miles per day), Casual (all of the support but simpler lodging and meals than the other tours offer), Family (kids welcome) and Pub and Pedal.
They truly offer something for everyone, with trips in the Pacific Northwest, California, Southwest U.S., Canada, Hawaii and New Zealand. Custom trips are possible as well, to suit your needs and preferences.
Get Ready
The beauty of a guided bicycle tour is that all the details fall on someone else’s shoulders. You can bring your own bike along, but if you prefer not to, the company takes your measurements and provides a bike that’s just right. They ask in advance about dietary restrictions, lodging preferences and cycling ability so that you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
“Preparation is key to a successful group trip,” says guide Jeff Barth, who is looking forward to his sixth season leading tours for Bicycle Adventures. “Typically, about a week before the tour begins we get a packet with a client information sheet. That helps us know what size bike they like, if they like Diet Coke or have any dietary needs.” The guides then call each client on the phone to confirm all the details.
Bicycle Adventures stocks more than 400 hybrid and road bikes, plus child-sized bicycles, trail-a-bikes and child trailers so chances are they have the right bike for every guest. Each bike is tuned prior to each trip and the entire fleet is overhauled annually. Bikes come equipped with a seat pack, a front handlebar pack with a map case, a frame-mounted pump, spare inner tubes, tire levers and two water bottles.
In addition, you’ll get a cyclometer, a lock, and written turn-by-turn route directions for each day’s ride. You can also request a rear rack with packs and rear-view mirrors. Most bikes are set up with a touring saddle, but if you prefer a racing saddle or want to bring your own from home, Bicycle Adventures is happy to accommodate you.
Get Set
Roughing it on the road: getting some grub.
The day before departure, the guides hit the grocery store to load up on supplies.
“The guides all shop for their own trips,” says Barth. “One thing that’s fun is that the guides get to make their own decisions about what they want to make for lunch each day,” he says.
Barth notes that over the past six years he’s seen an increase in dietary restrictions and has found that people are requesting healthy snack alternatives. “Being particularly attentive to what people want on the road in terms of food and drink helps make a successful trip. The guides also confirm all lodging and restaurant reservations before arriving.
Go!
While a small percentage of Bicycle Adventures trips are camping trips, most include first-class lodging at Bed and Breakfast inns and boutique hotels, with breakfasts and dinners pre-arranged at local restaurants. That leaves guests rested, fueled and ready for long days of cycling — though that doesn’t mean you have to be a weekend warrior to enjoy the trip.
“Cycling experience varies,” says Barth. “I’ve had people who haven’t ridden in years. We have people who hardly ever ride and people who bring their own carbon fiber bikes.”
Barth has found that people almost never ride alone; they naturally group together by ability over the duration of the trip. The extensive trip planning comes in handy here, too.
“We plan the routes so we can take unequal partners and get them to lunch at the same time,” says Barth.
Of course, full van support means that you never have to worry about fixing a flat on the side of a road or missing lunch. The van is always stocked with snacks and drinks to enjoy throughout the day.
Most tours have a maximum of 13 guests with two tour guides, ensuring plenty of personal attention. The guides have the flexibility to adjust routes according to group preferences, so if you’re looking for a little more challenge, all you have to do is ask.
Destinations
The beautiful destinations make all of the trips favorites in Barth’s book.
“For sheer beauty, the Glacier-Banff-Jasper trip is what I call that WOW trip,” Barth says. He’s a fan of the San Juan Islands, for their laid-back vibe and New Mexico, for the friendly people and polite drivers. Barth also gives high marks to the Canadian Gulf Islands. “They’re not very populated, the people are friendly and the lodgings are really nice. I have not had a bad trip yet!”
Up Next
Bicycle Adventures has added several new trips for the 2012 season. They’re introducing a Sun Valley tour and a Selkirk Loop tour in Idaho. In Colorado, they’ve added a Colorado Classic tour that runs along the ridgelines of the Rocky Mountains as well as an Epic tour that boasts routes of 60+ miles per day.
In Northern California, there will be a Pub and Pedal tour and a five-day ride from San Francisco to Santa Barbara; truly hard core cyclists can sign on for an Epic ride from San Jose to Las Vegas. In Washington, Bicycle Adventures plans to add a four-day Leavenworth weekend that will include mountain biking and river rafting.
Whether you’re looking for a local long weekend or a more extended experience, a guided bicycle tour can be a great way to take an outdoor vacation without spending all your time worrying about the details. Enjoy the ride!
For more information about specific tours, go to:
http://bicycleadventures.com
Jennifer Donahue of Kenmore is a long-time cyclist and regular contributor to NW Cyclist.
Jeff Barth’s Brown Rice Salad
A favorite among Bicycle Adventures clients, Jeff’s Brown Rice Salad is easy to make in advance and packs well for a picnic lunch.
4–6 cups cooked and cooled brown rice
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 small red onion, chopped
1 bag (6 oz.) baby spinach, chopped
1cup sliced kalamata olives
1 red bell pepper, chopped
Half cup olive oil
One-third cup balsamic vinegar
Salt & pepper to taste
Place chopped vegetables & rice in bowl. Mix. Add feta and pecans. Mix Dressing and Add.
