|
How do I register for a cycling tour?
Simply complete our online Registration Form and click ‘submit’. We’ll confirm your registration by email. One Registration Form may be used for up to four riders residing in the same household and using the same credit card/check for payment. If you prefer to complete the Registration Form ‘off-line,’ use our printer-friendly Registration Form and either fax your registration to: Ride Strong Bike Tours (760) 603-7611 or mail it to our office: Ride Strong Bike Tours, 5451 Avenida Encinas, Suite A Carlsbad, CA 92008. What level of cyclist should consider a tour?
These are not tours for boardwalk beach cruising cyclists. They are tours for fit cyclists and endorphin addicts with low gears and SLIGHT masochistic tendencies. It’s not a matter of ‘keeping up’ — we generally go very slow. It’s more a matter of ‘getting up’ the 8% grade stretching twelve kilometers. And, no, you don’t have to be some sort of racer, licensed cyclist or 25-year old type-A, just someone who likes a good challenge. The only warning for people who haven’t done this type of cycling before in a foreign country, it can be addicting! How hard are your cycling tours?
They’re not ‘leisure’ tours. Our cycling tours are designed for people who enjoy cycling, sweating and the challenge of some climbs. Any decently fit rider with low gears will be jazzed by our daily distances and pitch. If you are grossly unfit or have not been on a bike since grade school, you should probably stick to pedaling Provence. Our Lhasa to Kathmandu tour is the ultimate mountain bike tour for the seriously fit and adventurous fanatic. It will probably be one of the most challenging (and gratifying) rides you ever do. It is not highly technical, it’s just high! Some of our tours are easier than others. Email us if you are looking for a recommendation and, remember, we also arrange custom tours! Which tour is the best?
This is the toughest question for us to answer because our tours represent our favorite places in the world to ride. There are also individual preferences. We like exotic cultures and adventurous challenges so Tibet and Nepal are high on our list of favorites. Between the Pyrenees and the Alps, we like the quiet romantic roads of the Pyrenees and the Basque-Spanish influences. Italy is, well...Italy, a passionate-friendly culture and dramatic mountain scenery. The island of Corsica is an all-around favorite; the piercing blue Mediterranean Sea, great beaches, beautiful hikes and serious cycling make this trip hard to beat. If you still have trouble deciding, email us and let us know what type of trip you are interested in. Can I bring my own bike? Does Ride Strong Bike Tours rent bikes?
Not only can you bring your own bike but our riders WANT their own bikes. Have you ever spent even one day wearing someone else’s shoes? We’ll help you with packing your bike for travel and provide shuttle services to your hotel on the first day. For our Asian bike tours, high quality mountain bikes are available to rent through our in-country representative. But again, we prefer our own bikes. There is no additional charge for transporting a bike on most international flights. What gearing should I have?
That depends on your leg strength and how much you want to work. The hills in the Alps and Pyrenees are probably not like those you ride at home. Most of our rides involve sustained category climbing. If your primary purpose is pleasure and general comfort while climbing, you definitely want some low gears (27—29 minimum on the rear) and a triple crank. If you don’t have a good bike store to talk to, you can analyze your own needs using this comprehensive, albeit highly technical, guide for gearing. What do you recommend for packing my bike?
Traveling with a bike is much easier than you might think. We consistently use cardboard bike boxes that you can obtain free from any local bike shop. Alternatively, we recommend soft-sided bike bags because they’re sturdy, easier to carry (many have wheels and shoulder straps) and are permitted on TGV trains in France. There are several good makers of soft-sided bike bags that can be had for a decent price on eBay. Hard-sided boxes are great for protection, but bulky and awkward at the other end and we’re not able to pack them in our vans. Our Trip Planner will give you all the information you will need for packing and traveling with your bike. How much driving do we do?
As little as possible! We like to ride, not drive. We design our tours to minimize the amount of time sitting in a van or car ( no buses!). There may be an initial transfer to get us out of a major city and back to our departure city, otherwise our vans are used more for transferring luggage, not shuttling people. Of course you’re welcome to the ride in the van at any time. What are your accommodations like on your European cycling tours?
On our European cycling vacations we like to stay in boutique hotels, charming inns or family-run mountain lodges that blend and compliment the region we are visiting. We steer clear of chain hotels or generic facilities that eschew the local culture. Our tours usually include a mix of ‘city’ hotels and quiet rural getaways. In larger towns, we try to stay in the ‘old city’ where we can easily walk to restaurants, shops and cyber cafes. What is the accommodation like on your Asia mountain bike tours?
In Asia, we stay in clean and basic ‘tea house’ accommodation, much like a cottage. These offer basic facilities, many with hot water and showers, good but simple foods and a chance to experience local culture. In the cities, we like to stay in smaller deluxe hotels. What is the food like? Do you accommodate vegetarians or other special diets?
Food is good! Among other things, the French and Italians know how to wine and dine! We select our favorite local restaurants, bistros or cafes serving up the freshest regional cuisine and friendliest smiles. If you tell us ahead of time, we make every effort to accommodate vegetarians or other special dietary needs. In Nepal and Tibet, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is good and plentiful. Where a cook is accompanying our tour, we will provide anything from pizza to curry, scrambled eggs, pancakes to chocolate cake. In hotels you’ll have a full menu available to choose from. You will not go hungry and will not lose weight! Do I need insurance?
It is advisable to get travel insurance. Insurance coverage is not included in the tour cost. We will provide you with additional information about insurance upon receipt of your cycling tour registration and deposit. What will I need to carry on the ride?
Very little. The most you will need is water bottles, a rain jacket (or trash bag) and camera. Leave your cell phones at home. Can you send me a brochure in the mail?
No. We make every effort to keep prices down by keeping our overhead down while creating for you an experience of a lifetime. Who does a glossy thick catalog benefit when the costs are passed on to you? Everything you need to know can be printed from our website. If you need further information, shoot us an email and we will respond as soon as possible. What else do I need to know?
Once you’ve booked a bike tour, we’ll provide a comprehensive Welcome Kit that will fill in all the gaps. The Welcome Kit will also include a Rider Profile and Liability Release that you will need to complete and return to us before your final payment. Why choose us?
We’re DIFFERENT. A stronger bike tour begins with those that dare to take clients to the real places they want to go. We don’t pretend to offer the ‘one size fits all’ bike tour for all different level of cyclists. Our exclusive bike tour destinations are limited to places we consider to be a cycling wonderland for cyclists who enjoy the ultimate in mountain scenery, cycling, personal accomplishment, fresh cuisine and fun, all wrapped up in a reasonably priced adventure of a lifetime. Click here to see why our tours are stronger than the rest.
See you on the road!
"A man in a car sees more than he can take in whilst a man on a bike takes in more than he can see" Unknown
|
