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“Cycling and Hiking ~ What to Expect” A bicycle that is properly conditioned is essential. Bring your own bicycle
or rent one of our Trek 21-speed touring or hybrid (upright handlebars) road
bikes, or off-road mountain bikes. All rental bicycles are equipped with touring
saddles, water bottles, toe clips, rear pannier rack and rack-top pack, and
handlebar bag at a cost of $100 per tour. Cycling Country If you're planning your first cycling adventure with us, we suspect that you may have questions concerning terrain and level of difficulty. Obviously the country is not flat. We have our share of hills and we promise that you'll have ample opportunity to do some climbing with us regardless of which tour you select. But, then why else would you even consider a Western cycle tour were it not for our irregular topography! When you cycle in the Rockies or Cascades in particular, you can expect to be involved in climbs that are longer than those that you may have experienced in other parts of the country. But most importantly, the grades that you will encounter in the mountain ranges of the West, though longer, are far more gradual than those of the hilly regions of New England and the Appalachian areas. A word about the altitude factor that is a common concern of those considering their first Western cycle tour. Acute Mountain Sickness, a significant reaction caused by rapid ascents and prolonged presence above 8,000 feet is not an issue. Many of our tours rarely exceed 5,000 feet in elevation and, even in Colorado where we'll climb to 10,000 feet and beyond, rapid descents soon return us to lower elevations. At worst, cyclists at the highest altitudes may find themselves huffing and puffing in a climb, more than they would ordinarily anticipate given that level of activity. The almost universal experience during the course of a tour will be a marked and noticeable decline in the effect of altitude upon respiration. In other words, much of the anxiety over altitude is unwarranted. Most importantly however, you are contemplating a tour, not a competitive endurance event. As you read our various tour descriptions, you'll note the absence of any labels indicating level of difficulty. Ratings are omitted by design because we believe that such labels are inherently subjective and misleading. Tour descriptions and total mileages for each tour provide helpful indicators as to that tour's level of challenge. But the best insight into a particular tour's content and its suitability for you or your group is best obtained by contacting us so that we can discuss your interests and experience personally and directly with you. Make no mistake, cycling with us is not an effortless activity. But if you are a reasonably active individual, it certainly is "doable," and by doable we mean enjoyable within the context of a leisurely vacation experience. In return for that effort, you will share in what well may be the most rewarding and memorable cycling experience that you ever will encounter.
“General Tour Information”
Simply stated, we believe our tour leaders are the heart and soul of these trips. These very special men and women are chosen, not only for their obvious love of cycling and hiking and the outdoors, but also because of their caring manner, competence and enthusiasm, and their desire to share some extraordinary experiences with a wide variety of people and personalities over the course of a season. Two leaders will be assigned to each group. In addition to extensive
cyclotouring and
hiking experience, each leader will have completed a leadership training course and will
have received certification in first aid and CPR. Our bicycle tour leaders are
competent bicycle mechanics and will be equipped to assist with repairs and maintenance.
All tour assembly locations are clearly indicated in each tour description and all are served by commercial airlines and other forms of public transportation. We will provide transfers to and from transportation facilities at all tour assembly locations during the day prior to, and immediately following the conclusion of each tour. Certain locations may not be as economically attractive as other nearby locations. For example, airfares to Denver, Calgary and Las Vegas are far more attractive without additional connections beyond those points to Aspen, Banff and St. George. In these instances, shuttle service will be available between those major terminals and tour assembly sites. Cost increments for this service are indicated in tour descriptions where applicable. All cycling tours will depart early-morning on the day of departure and return by late-afternoon of the tour's final day. Participants are urged to planter arrival at tour assembly locations for cycling tours not later than the day prior to tour departure. All tours will be preceded by an orientation dinner that evening. Although lodging that night is not included in the tour package cost, we can arrange accommodations upon request. We suggest contact with our office prior to finalizing travel plans, particularly if a
van shuttle will be needed between a transportation terminal and tour assembly location.
All cycle tours will be supported by a motor vehicle (sag wagon), specially equipped to carry as many as 16 bicycles, 15 passengers and a trailer for luggage. The vehicle will transport cyclists' luggage to each overnight destination and will accompany the group on the road each day to provide assistance and support, including a ride for any weary traveler. We encourage everyone to cycle at his or her own pace and we anticipate that our groups will spread out along the route during the course of the day. Each cyclist can rely upon contact by our van at approximate 1-1/2 hour intervals. Another leader is on the road near the rear of the group. Both road and van leaders are equipped with tools and first aid equipment to deal with most situations that potentially may arise in the course of a day's ride. The van, particularly, is equipped with a wide range of tools and spare parts, sufficient to ensure that most mechanical problems are nothing more than a minor annoyance and not a traumatic catastrophe. The van will be utilized for trail head shuttles and transport of luggage for hiking
programs, but obviously will not accompany the group on the trail during each day's hike.
Two leaders will hike with the group, not only to provide any assistance that
may be needed along the way, but also to offer interpretive substance that hopefully will
enhance each hiker's enjoyment and appreciation of the experience.
Tour groups will range in size between 8 and 20 participants, although Mountain Bikers and Hikes will be limited to a maximum of 12. Participants should be 15 years of age or older, unless traveling with a parent or other responsible adult. The majority of tour participants fall within the 25-55 age range, although we’ve had many both older and younger. Our groups generally are comprised of a reasonably even mix of singles and couples, males and females. Single rooms are
available at most locations. There is a $70 supplement charge per night.
Tour departure dates are as listed for each tour. The cycling experience,
however, actually begins the evening prior to departure with a pre-tour orientation
dinner. In addition to energizing you with ample calories for the trip ahead, we'll use
this time to check out equipment, fill you in on what's planned, answer any questions and
just have a good time. These orientation gatherings will precede all tours in the location
in which that tour assembles. Complete details will be included among the packet of
materials sent to participants following registration.
Our cycling and hiking days are exciting and exhilarating, but we believe that your evenings on tour will be equally memorable. We have arranged lodging along the way that will enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of the region through which we tour. We'll overnight in several of the historic inns that we encounter along our many routes and spend other evenings in the excellent accommodations offered by a variety of inns and mountain lodges that are marked by the characteristic warmth and hospitality of the West. Most of these lodges offer swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas and other amenities necessary to soothe any lingering memories of that day's mountain ascent. A special word is in order concerning the lodging that has come to characterize a tour through our national parks. We believe that an essential feature of a visit to a national park is the experience of spending overnights in the magnificent hotels and lodges that constitute an integral element in the lore and fascination of these regions. For example, in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, we'll overnight in the Old Faithful Inn, Mammoth Springs and Lake Yellowstone Hotels and the Jackson Lake Lodge. In Glacier, our overnights include the Lake McDonald and Glacier Park Lodges and Many Glacier and Prince of Wales Hotels. In Mesa Verde, it's the beautiful Far View Lodge and in Rainier, the Paradise Inn. Standard lodging accommodations are included in the cost of all tours for
every night on
tour. Not included in the cost of the tour package is lodging for the nights prior to, and
following the conclusion of the tour. We can arrange lodging for you for those evenings
upon request. Standard accommodations consist of two persons per room with your choice of
one double bed (generally queen or king-sized), or two single beds. For participants
traveling solo, we'll pair singles of the same sex as roommates. If we are unable to do so,
there is no single surcharge. Single occupany rooms, though, are
available at an
additional cost.
In our many years of cycling and hiking throughout the West, we've discovered the secret that motivates our guests to commit their vacations to the wonders of human-powered travel. Few pursuits in life offer the opportunity, and the need to consume enormous quantities of food with impunity as do cycling and hiking. We are not about to squander such a fantastic opportunity. We consider our meals on tour to be an integral and essential aspect of our overall touring experience. We may joke about quantity-we're often thankful for the next day's climb to burn away some of the previous evening's calories. But we never joke about quality and our meals will always rank highly among your fondest recollections of a tour with us. The tour package cost includes all breakfasts and dinners (all meals for Mountain Bikers and Hikes) while on tour. A varied menu is available at all meals to accommodate virtually every dietary preference and need. Although we provide lunches on Mountain Bikers and Hikes, (cafes and groceries are few and far between in the backcountry), we do not do so on road tours. Our touring philosophy encourages cyclists to ride at their own pace, without the need to be at a certain place at a certain time for lunch. Instead, at our morning meetings, we'll point out the various lunch alternatives, which may include restaurants, groceries and some thoughts on special sites for a secluded picnic along that particular day's route.
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