Cycling is for just everyone—people of all shapes, sizes and ability levels. Opportunities abound for children, who can now ride behind mom and dad in a bike trailer, tag-along or tandem. For adults, there’s the choice of road bikes, mountain bikes, and the increasingly popular hybrid (sometimes called trekking) bikes. There are electric bikes for those of us who need a bit of a push, tandem bikes for lovers, and recumbent bikes for recliners.
Put simply, there is no better way to see a new country or place than by bicycle. It’s called slow travel, and it’s the
best possible way to experience a new culture, landscape and people. It’s the antidote to mind-numbing bus tours and mile-a-minute travel itineraries. It’s a chance to discover a new world by pedaling through it, rather than flying over it.It’s flexible. You can leave from your front door or fly across Europe. There are one-day rides and weeks-long routes.
Trips are organized for you down to the last detail and adventures, also you can plan along the way. You can choose routes that meander along a scenic route or roads that race you from town to town.
You can choose from tour programs that offer short distances or full-day rides, leisurely riding or hardcore cycling, and or terrain ranging from flat bike paths to steep mountain climbs. You can go to the abundant popular destinations in Europe.
It’s just plain fun. It’s not a means to train or get in shape (though you can certainly do both) but rather to create the
best kind of souvenir, a lasting sense of the road you traveled and the places you visited. A way to capture the spirit of
your destination rather than record a new race time.
So — do it! Go ride your bicycle. Go ride it where you like.
Guided tours: Guided tours are just that, you have a guide, a set plan and a structured daily schedule. These tours will have just about everything planned out for you. The guide will be there to show you the region and to help in case of breakdowns (mechanical or human).
Guided tours can be group tours from 8 to 20 people or Guided private tours, you travel only with your own private party—the tour is just for you.
On guided tours, riders tend to stick together as a group with the guide. Riders sometimes can go ahead to the next turn or next town, but the norm is sticking together.
Guided tours usually include lodging, breakfast, evening dinners, rental bikes, support van or bus with driver, ride-along guide, luggage transport, detailed route planning, and more.
Self-guided tours: Self-guided tours are becoming the most popular form of bicycle tourism. They cost less than guided tours but still maintain a level of support and convenience that allows you the flexibility to explore on your own, without sweating the logistics.
It doesn’t mean that you’re totally on your own. These tours have logistics covered for you: hotel reservations, comprehensive tour information with maps and route descriptions, and usually a hotline in case of emergencies or problems. You’ll have someone to call!
Self-guided tours typically include lodging, breakfast, luggage transport from hotel to hotel, tour descriptions, maps, detailed route planning, and an emergency hotline.
You do need some level of independence. It’s your responsibility to get to the next hotel every day, even if you head into bad weather or just don’t feel like riding anymore. While the operator usually gives you a list of bike shops along the route, you do need to know how to fix a flat tire.
