How to Choose the Right Bicycle Tour

Bicycling is a great way to see an area and exercise at the same time. Tours vary greatly, from many uphill miles to a few flat ones, from high-end hotels to camping out, from guided to self-guided tours. The more you know before you decide, the more you’re likely to have a good experience.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Information on various available bike tours.

1. Bed and breakfast where bike tour stayed on Prince Edward Island Decide: where you want to go; how much time you have; how much money you want to spend. What kind of bicycling do you like to do? Intense mountain biking over rough terrain, or smoother paths but lots of miles? Maybe bicycling for you is a means of seeing the area. You’d like to stop at historic sites, at a local café for lunch, and end the riding part of the day early enough for some rest before dinner.
2. Bicycling group in Quebec Decide between tours: some are led by a guide and the group stays together. Other tour companies give a thorough explanation of what to expect each morning and hand out maps so people can go at their own pace. In this second case, there is usually a “sag wagon” seen from time-to-time along the route ready with water and snacks or to help with a flat tire or to give the tired bicyclist a ride.
3. Bicylists Prepare for Rain in Quebec Besides bicycling, you’ll be spending several days and nights hosted by the tour company. What kind of hotel accommodations do you like? The options vary from “a roof over your head” to 5-star venues. Usually, of course, the more you pay, the better the place.
4. Consider meals. If you are going to bicycle in France or Italy, the food and wine may be a good part of what draws you. If food is less important to you, you might prefer a tour that includes fewer or simpler meals. Notice how many meals are included in your package. Breakfasts are usually included, and most dinners. Lunch may or may not be included.
5. If you are going to Europe, should you choose an American or a European company? If you travel with an American company, you will probably be in the company of all Americans. (Somewhere around 15 bikers usually are in a group.) If you go with a European company, the group will probably be mostly Europeans.
6. When considering whether to take your own bike or not, the tour company is used to fixing their bikes. If you bring your own, they might try to help you, but might not have the parts or the knowledge to do so. Riders who use the company bikes often bring their own seats and pedals.

Tips & Warnings

• If airfare is included, find out from what city to what city the package pays for.
• If you are going to a foreign country, some of the services the guides provide will be helping with the language, steering you through the customs of a different country and providing you with some historical and cultural information.
• Be sure to notice how many nights are included in your package. If the advertisement says, “7 days,” that probably means 6 nights.