| Many companies offer leisure cycling tours to locations | | | | Depending on the state or country through which |
| around the world. This article summarizes how you | | | | you're riding, most of these amenities are offered, |
| should prepare for your trip. | | | | unless you're on a budget tour. If you're going budget, |
| There are many ways to enjoy travel in a foreign | | | | it's best to be a very experienced cyclist and already |
| country. Most people think of renting cars, or taking | | | | know what you're doing. |
| buses or trains everywhere. But because people are | | | | Bicycling is a very popular way to see Europe. There |
| following a different routine and are on vacation - they | | | | are self-guided bike tours as well as the tours offered |
| do tend to pack on the pounds. The way to ensure | | | | by companies. It's important to check out what kind of |
| that you will not need to go on a diet after you return | | | | bikes they offer to ride, however. You'll want the best |
| from your vacation is to go on a cycling tour. You'll be | | | | quality available. |
| able to sample the local cuisine all you like, because | | | | Types of Tours |
| you'll work off all those calories on your bike! | | | | WomanTours is a company that focuses solely on |
| Cycling tours are offered for every level of bicyclist - | | | | offering bike tours for women. Most of the tours |
| from the beginner who might need a "pick up ride" | | | | offered by this company take place in the United |
| after a while, to the experienced cyclist who can | | | | States, but at least once a year they do offer a tour |
| zoom up the hills as if they were weren't there. | | | | overseas. You can go on an economy cycle tours of |
| Most European countries are extremely bike friendly. | | | | Hawaii, cycle through the Outer Banks of North |
| Bikes are expected to be on the roads, drivers are | | | | Carolina, experience the majesty of Yellowstone and |
| familiar with them and give them a wide berth. So it's | | | | Grand Teton National Parks, and much more. Their |
| very safe to bike in Europe. A lot of places in the | | | | website even has a tour blog so you can see the fun |
| United States seem to resent the very existence of | | | | that past cyclists have had on their tours. |
| bicycles, which is why it's always best to go on a | | | | Some of the major bicycle manufactures have a |
| cycling tour with like-minded people. You'll be biking | | | | travel and adventure arm for their customers. For |
| through areas that are used to seeing cyclists. | | | | example, Trek Bikes has "Trek Travel." They offer six |
| Leisure cycling tours are designed for all different kinds | | | | trip types: classic, explorer, family, family explorer, |
| of terrain - from flat and peaceful rides through the | | | | specialty and weekend tours, in destinations such as |
| beauties of nature to the fitness challenging of the | | | | Asia-Pacific, Central America, Europe, and North |
| steepest of mountains. | | | | America. |
| If you'd like to go on a leisure cycling tour, the place to | | | | The "classic" tours are designed for riders of all abilities. |
| do your research is on the web. | | | | The "explorer" trips put less of an emphasis on luxury - |
| When you're looking for a particular tour, you'll want to | | | | you'll be camping out in national parks, for example. |
| compare all the available amenities for each tour. | | | | Family trips are designed to have activities available for |
| 1) Accommodations. Are you going to be staying in | | | | people of all ages. And Trek's specialty trips include |
| hotels, or in campgrounds? | | | | being escorted by professional cyclists - for example |
| 2) Are meals included? If so, which ones? | | | | "Classic Climbs of France with Kevin Livingston," or |
| 3) Will there be free refreshment stops each day? | | | | "Texas with Lance Armstrong." |
| 4) If the tour passes by anything of historical interest, | | | | If you're planning on taking a leisure-cycling tour, you |
| are riders given an opportunity to go look at any sites | | | | must do your research. Find out how long the tour |
| of interest? | | | | company has been in business, and try to contact |
| 5) Baggage transport. Who handles the luggage? | | | | some people who've been on those tours so you can |
| 6) Is their a sag wagon? (This is a car or other vehicle | | | | find out if anyone had any bad experiences. It's always |
| which will come and "rescue" a tired rider or one who | | | | a good idea to contact the Better Business Bureau to |
| has had an accident of any kind.) | | | | see if anyone has lodged any complaints against them |
| 7) Do riders receive daily maps and cue sheets that | | | | A leisure-cycling tour is one of the best ways to see a |
| are easy to read and follow? | | | | particular region. The more you know and the more |
| 8) In the evenings, is there someone around to clean | | | | preparations you make, the more fun you'll have on |
| your bikes, or is it up to each cyclist? | | | | your trip. |