Trek Travel is proud to introduce a new fleet of electric-assist bikes, including the Trek Domane+ LT and Verve+. These bikes flatten hills, improve endurance, and make every ride a little more fun. There’s no reason not to love an electric-assist bike. But we can find at least ten reasons why you will:
1. Fall in love with two wheels.
We believe that bikes show a different perspective, and provide a more magical way to experience the world. Sometimes, that magic is lost in the struggle up a mountain. With electric-assist, you can ride further and see more of the world from the seat of a bike.
2. If you’re reading this, they’re built for you.
Young, old, avid or amateur, you’ll definitely enjoy a spin on an electric-assist bike.
It’s more fun than you think, and just the ticket to a perfect day on the bike.
3. It’s a workout, with just a little less work.
It’s called “electric-assist” because that’s what it is; a boost when you need it, and a bike when you don’t.
This isn’t a moped, and there’s no reason to feel guilty. It’s just another way to ride on your terms.
4. They’ll take you to the very best and back.
No longer are the greatest views and most satisfying stops reserved for the hard-core riders.
With electric-assist, you’ll see more summits, skylines and horizons that make every destination magical. You might even get there first.
5. They’re where the latest meet the greatest.
Simply put, nobody makes electric-assist bikes better than Trek.
With a longer-lasting battery, lighter-weight frame, and extra-stylish design, we’ve got those other bikes beat.
6. Grins are guaranteed.
We know they’re fun. We’ve been riding them at the Trek Travel headquarters for months now.
Yes, our guests love them. Yes, our guides love them. No, you can’t stuff one into your luggage.
7. They’re also built for the buddy system.
We introduced electric-assist bikes so travel partners of two speeds can ride together.
Because the best memories are shared, no matter the level of riding experience.
8. They’ve already taken the world by storm.
Electric-assist bikes are standard equipment in Europe, where locals zoom from work, to home and anywhere in-between.
And now they’re making a big entry into the U.S. market. If you’re riding one, you’ll fit in just fine.
9. They slay the mightiest hills.
To some guests, hills are half the fun. To others, they’re roadblocks to get to the next activity.
Luckily, electric-assist bikes can turn any mountain into a molehill. You’ll be surprised at how fast you can defy gravity.
10. They’ve got all the speed you need.
Now you won’t need to worry about gaps from the group, changes in pace, or if you want to stop for a photo opportunity.
Electric-assist bikes make it easy to stay with the Trek Travel tour at any speed. Watch how.
Don’t miss out:
They’re first-come, first-served, so act now. It’s the easiest way to electrify your experience.
Your first time traveling by train can be nerve-wracking. The bustling stations, indiscernible platforms, convoluted schedule, and absent signage can be intimidating. Add to that a foreign language and you might as well write off any hope of getting to your final destination.
But rail travel is a big part of the European experience, and there’s a reason most people opt to take the train. Driving on narrow foreign roads can be daunting, and traveling by train allows your to sit back in a remarkably large, comfortable seat and let someone else do the driving. No turbulence. No claustrophobic middle seat. Just uninterrupted time for productivity, sight-seeing, or a much-need nap.
In order to ease any concerns, we’ve put together a few tips on how to book, what to expect, and how to travel safely:
Planning Your Trip
Unlike air travel, train schedules remain fairly consistent throughout the year. Although train schedules are not typically more than 30 days in advance, you can check tentative schedules at any time. Visit the Rail Europe website, plug in your cities, and choose a date on the same day of the week that you will be traveling. This will allow you to see sample itineraries, prices and train durations. These schedules may change slightly, but can be a valuable tool for those who like to plan their vacation well in advance.
Booking Trains
Some European trains on longer routes, or high speed trains such as the TGV in France, require advance reservations. These reservations can be made through Rail Europe up to 90 days before your departure date. Rail Europe is a U.S. company that charges a nominal fee in exchange for a user-friendly booking portal. Trust me when I say that it is much easier to navigate than individual national rail sites.
During peak travel times, trains can sell out. Reservations give you security and peace of mind by allowing you to select a specific train time and receive a seat assignment seat. It can also save you money on certain routes with special fares for advance purchase.
Most journeys are e-tickets, which gives you the option to print your ticket at home or pick up your ticket at the station. While I recommend printing your ticket at home, you may pick up your ticket at a self-service kiosk using an e-ticket code, or from a train attendant at a ticket window.
Some slower, regional trains do not require reservations in advance. These trains have open seating, meaning you can sit anywhere you’d like within your ticket’s class of service. For trains that do not offer online booking, please allow time at the station to purchase your ticket.
Please Note: most kiosks will only accept credit cards with chip technology, but tend to have much shorter lines than the ticket windows.
Classes of Service
Most trains offer a choice between 2nd class (Economy) or 1st class (Comfort or Premier). Economy offers the cheapest fares, but is generally more crowded and does not offer reclining seats. First class tends to be less crowded, and offers more amenities such as outlets, reclining seats and other small perks.
At the Station
Plan to arrive at the station 30-45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure. If you have a reserved seat on a specific train, check the boards for the train number. Some routes have multiple trains departing around the same time, and you’ll want to be sure you’re on the correct platform for your train number. Be ready to board your train 15 minutes prior to departure.
If you have purchased a regional ticket with no specific departure time or train number, your ticket is valid for any of the trains that day. Most of these tickets require validation, meaning you must stamp your ticket at boxes located by the platforms before boarding. Not always is your end destination the train’s end destination, so pay attention to all cities on the route instead of just the final destination.
If you have any questions, find a uniformed train attendant, as most can speak English and are happy to assist.
Keeping Safe
In the front or back of most trains there will be an area to store your larger luggage. Keep all valuable personal items, especially your passport, with you at your seat. There will be a train attendant who comes through the coaches to check tickets and passports, so keep them handy at all times. If you plan to take a nap on your journey, make sure your passport and personal items are secure. Money belts might not be fashionable, but they are a great way to safely hide money, credit cards and your passport while in transit.
You’ve seen the photos. Riders throwing their hands in the air as they cross the finish line. The dust covered peloton crushing the cobbles of Roubaix. But have you ever wondered who’s lucky enough to experience all the biggest moments from the best vantage point? Graham Watson has spent three decades documenting the sport and capturing races from the back of a motorbike. The pain, the glory, the determination and the heartbreak — nothing is safe from lens of cycling’s most famous photographer.
Tell us your story. What inspired you to pursue a career in photography? How did you get started in the cycling industry?
To be honest, I was so uninterested in studying at high school in London that by the time it came to leave at age 16, in 1972, most ‘normal’ careers were beyond my reach — and photography seemed like a nicer way to make a living anyway. I took a job in a ‘high-end’ portrait studio in central London, then bought a bicycle for the commute as I was only getting paid about $15 a week and couldn’t afford the train fare. I became a club racing-cyclist because of the daily mileage, then discovered the Tour de France on a visit to Paris in 1977. The rest is history. I sensed the adventures to be had by becoming a cycling photographer.
What is the most challenging aspect of photographing cycling?
I think it is the expense and logistics of travel. Cycling is most definitely a worldwide sport and you have to be in it 100-percent or you are wasting your time, hence a lot of traveling and little or no contact with family and friends for months on end. These days, you need a lot of clients to fund your travel, as few magazines or agencies have the cash to pay expenses. More clients means more income, and it can snowball even bigger too. But in turn there’s a long workflow each and every day. Such challenges, however, are more than compensated by achieving a lifestyle like no other.
What is your favorite race to photograph and why?
Paris-Roubaix is my favorite one-day race. It’s the maddest, fastest, most crazy day of the year. A race where good photography is guaranteed. I like a stage-race like the Tour de Romandie, or the Giro d’Italia – both are much quieter than the Tour de France and take place when there’s snow on the mountains, plenty of greenery in the valleys, and many fresh legs in the peloton too.
Tell us about your typical day at the Tour de France.
Depending on how much wine one drank the evening before, and therefore how much caffeine is needed to recover over breakfast, I’ll try to be at the start about two hours early to settle down and discuss the coming stage with my moto-driver. I’ll study the ‘race manual’ to identify scenic locations, and to anticipate the racing to-come – both aspects influence how I’ll photograph the stage. I like to leave behind the peloton unless there’s a definite chance of an early scenery shot. Leaving in the wake of the peloton allows me to get some early action shots of cyclists fiddling with their bikes or their clothing, and to see the race unwind too. You can predict a lot about what might happen later because of the early action. And you get to see if any of the big names are still as strong, as each day goes by – or are they getting weaker? Anticipation is everything in a sport and environment that is so beyond one’s control – anything can happen and often does, and being behind the peloton is the best place to observe. Once the racing unfolds, and once an escape has gotten clear, I make a decision as to when we pass the peloton, when we get far ahead in the search of that perfect scenery shot, and also when I need to start shooting the escape or the front of the peloton. Because a client like Trek needs 6-8 action shots of its riders each day, I have to guess the best way of doing this – to stop on a corner or on a descent, or just try to do some passing shots when we are crossing the peloton. It is quite hard to pick out individual riders from a 200-man peloton, but by the time the Tour starts I will already have photographed the team for the past six months, so I can see them from a long way off. In the Tour, the racing really starts in the last 90-minutes, and by this point I have to give up scenery and individual action shots and just photograph the race. It is the quickest 90-minutes I’ll ever experience! Before one knows it, the stage is over, the podium has taken place, and photographers like me are buried in their post-stage workflow. Three hours work is a minimum period post-stage, and by then it’s off to the hotel and trying to beat the annoyingly French tradition of closing the restaurants at 9pm. Behind the glamour of working the Tour and the supposed flirtation with French gastronomy is a reality that sees most of us eating in a fast-food outlet at least twice a week.
Describe your favorite moment that you’ve captured on camera.
After a 35-year-career, I think it came in this year’s Giro d’Italia! Richie Porte suffered a flat tire on Stage 10 and a rival teammate stopped to give him his front wheel. Such assistance was unheard of, and certainly something I’d never seen, let alone photographed. My images showed a true act of sportsmanship, which moved me greatly. Yet Simon Clarke and Richie had unknowingly broken the rules, and my images went around the world on Twitter and helped get them both fined and penalized on-time. We all had a good laugh a few days later, but I’ll remember those images for a long time to come.
What tips would you give aspiring photographers?
It’s hard to give advice without knowing the photographer or knowing the extent of his or her equipment. So I always suggest to keep things simple at first, using one camera body with one lens until their experience grows. It’s important and advantageous to know as much about your sport as is possible – this gives you a huge advantage over other non-cycling specialists. Always see the sport as a bigger thing than just sport. Cycling is a beautiful vocation, so make sure you also show the beauty of the sport as well as capturing those crisp action shots. Finally, a major issue in this day and age, take care not to get in the way of the cyclists. Keep in to the curb as much as you can, because a Tour peloton uses every inch of the road and they don’t take prisoners.
You have traveled the globe for work. Do you have a favorite vacation destination? What excites you most about this part of the world?
Switzerland is a place I can go back to time and time again. Its lakes and mountains make it the most beautiful country in Europe I think. And it is also a fantastic adventure playground. For all the same reasons, I love New Zealand too – a version of Switzerland in the southern hemisphere. But to be honest, I love all the places my ‘business’ takes me to – from Flanders to the Dolomites to Paris to central Spain to the Netherlands to Tuscany to Provence – and I always want to go back when there’s no work to be done.
As the road biking season winds down for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere, hopefully you’ve put more than a few miles on your bike this year. Now is a great time to check the condition of your tires, before you start riding over slick leaves or frost-covered pavement. Don’t wait until the beginning of next season, when you’ll be eager to get out on the road as quickly as possible.
As a tire wears, a few things happen. The nice round profile of the tire starts to flatten out. This is normal, but you want to change out that tire before it gets too thin. The thickness of the rubber is one of the properties that will help protect against flat tires. If it’s too thin, very small pieces of glass will puncture the tire.
Another thing to check out is the condition of the fabric. Yes, there is fabric in your tires. A lot of it, actually. Manufactures use different thickness cord for different quality tires. These cords can sometimes fail, resulting in a bulge or wobble in the tread. You will want to check the entire diameter of the tire for any wobbles and pull the tire from use if you find one.
Choosing a new tire can be a tedious process. If you want my recommendation, I love the Bontrager AW3 Hard Case 700X25c tire. It’s a fantastic tire with low rolling resistance and great puncture protection. It’s on all of our Trek Travel road bikes as well!
The flight from Paris had been cancelled because the winds were too strong to land in Florence. For any other group, this may have been a foreboding sign. But for the Trek employees who had traveled from Waterloo, Wisconsin, to experience first-hand the splendor and suffering of Strade Bianche, it was all part of the adventure.
To call Strade Bianche a road race is to misrepresent its true nature. The one-day modern classic traces a grueling route through the most beautiful and punishing gravel roads in Tuscany. From a distance, the gravel roads look white, lending the race its name, which translates in English to “white roads.”
Strade has a reputation of being hard and dangerous, with climbs that are so steep the pitches don’t translate on television and vicious winds that have sent racers barreling off the road. Climbing on gravel is a fundamentally different experience than climbing on pavement. It’s impossible to plant the rear wheel on the loose surface, so every climb becomes an exercise not just in fitness but also in agility. Even Trek Factory Racing’s top pros resolved that this race, though it has been run for only eight years and is not officially a staple on the Spring Classics calendar, is more difficult than the legendary Paris-Roubaix.
So, what were ten Trek employees from Wisconsin doing in Tuscany? Six years ago, Trek VP Joe Vadeboncoeur, who is affectionately known around the office as “Joe V” due to the bewildering number of vowels in his surname, began chaperoning trips to one-day classics. Joe, who has now ridden nearly all of the classic one-day races, designed the program to expose Trek employees to racing first-hand. “When you work in the industry,” he says, “you can’t really understand what you do and why you do it until you’ve seen the sport at the top level and actually experienced what the pros do every day. It’s a vital experience, because it alters your perspective in a way that informs everything you do from that point forward.”
Most one-day classics are accompanied by a Gran Fondo, often referred to as a “citizens’ race,” where non-professionals, recreationalists, and, yes, even a motley crew of jet-lagged cycling industry employees can ride the course a day before the pros. The ten Trek employees—creatives, engineers, product managers, and others—went to Italy not just to watch the pros, but also to test their mettle in the citizens’ race.
Joe V’s love affair with the Classics began decades ago. Each spring, as the weather was warming, he’d wait with anticipation for those second Sundays in March and April when the biggest one-day races were held. For Joe V, the charm of the Classics is unpredictability.
“We all love the Grand Tours,” he says, “but at the start, there are only a handful of real contenders. A week into a three-week race, usually only one of three riders can actually win it. Two weeks in, only one of two riders can win.”
In the one-day classics, on the other hand, there may be fifty or more riders who have a real chance to win. With 1K to go, there are often a dozen or more riders barreling toward the finish together, and this is where the beauty of the classics shines. One-day classics are usually won by the hard-men of the sport, those strong, calloused riders who win not just on fitness but also on strength of character.
And herein lies the lesson at the core of Joe V’s program. There is no better way to build strength of character that will improve work than to go wholeheartedly into an experience like this one.
After the cancelled flight, the Trek employees made it to Florence by bussing from Bologna to Sienna. They battled the headwinds and blinding dust, the loose gravel and brutal climbs, despite having trained outside only a handful of times, at most, through the bitterly cold Wisconsin winter. Every employee finished the Strade Bianche Gran Fondo. And, when they returned to Waterloo, their approach to the day-to-day work was informed by this accomplishment. Their vision was changed, their perspective altered. It’s exactly what Joe V likes to see.
From the greeting you receive when you walk through the door to the pillow you lay your head on at night, our team of expert trip designers take special pride in selecting the best hotels for your vacation. We’ve spent years researching the ins and outs of every place worth visiting, but once in a while even we are surprised by exceptional quality of accommodations found in far-flung corners of the Earth.
Our Hotel Of The Year award is designed to highlight those properties that set the bar a little higher. This year’s winners, La Plaça de Madremanya and h2 Hotel, redefine charm and exceed every expectation of hospitality. Savor the rich flavors, lavish in picturesque views, and cherish every minute of well-earned relaxation because it doesn’t get much better than this.
Situated halfway between the hinterland of Girona and the neighboring Empordà district is a small paradise of gentle hills, with the village of Madremanya at its heart. Positioned on a hilltop and crafted exclusively from honey-colored stone, the village has an Italian look to it. It is here, with meandering streets and Spanish sunshine, that time truly stands still.
The jewel at the heart of it all is the Hotel La Plaça de Madremanya. Somewhere off the grid of any map, between decadent meals and exemplary service, is a place that cannot be forgotten. Surrounded by a sweet-smelling garden and looking out over the green Gavarres Mountains, the setting is nothing if not extraordinary. So celebrate you must, among friends old and new, as the sun sets on another day in this sweet Spanish paradise.
From an undulating roof alive with succulents to ripples on the creek by its feet, h2hotel is rooted in nature and fluid by design. Its light-flooded space makes you want to stay. Espresso with your check in? Cocktail with your keys? Just step up to the multitasking Receptobar or join the crowd at Spoonbar for modern Mediterranean nibbles and an artisanal cocktail.
Striped bamboo floors, funky Peace Industry rugs and local art draw you in. Chef Louis Maldonado’s earthy favorites and unexpected flavors leave you wanting more. Mostly, though, it’s the vibrant energy of people enjoying what’s become the gathering hub for Healdsburg. It is a place where happiness comes easily and adventure is just waiting to be had.
The photograph is of a 25-inch rainbow trout lying exhausted in the shallow waters of the Harper River in New Zealand. Looking at this 10-year-old picture reignites all my senses—the cold water, the morning breeze, the warm sun, the smell of the mountains, and the tug of the trout. Taking this trip down memory lane reminds me why I travel and why I take photographs when I do.
Words and Photos by Chris Corbin An outdoor enthusiast whose quest for happiness has driven him to create digital brand experiences.
1. Shoot for Yourself
I enjoy the process of shooting a photograph. I take pictures to remember the journey, but mostly I shoot for myself. I’m the only person that sees 90 percent of the photos I take and it’s these images that bring me some of my greatest joys.
2. Keep Learning
I’ve never taken a single photography or videography class, but I’ve spent countless hours watching tutorials and studying styles that fascinate me. There are a wealth of resources online that can help you hone your skills. My favorite is lynda.com. They offer both free resources and subscription services.
3. It’s Not About the Gear
My most expensive camera costs $600 and it’s called an iPhone. I also have a point-and-shoot camera, but it only cost $500. For me, it’s about seeing the shot—not the lens attached to the camera.
4. Simplify
Limiting your camera options actually increases creativity. For example, I shot every frame of the video below using a GoPro Hero 3. Seven thousand photos later and I have an experience that will last a lifetime. I love to shoot photos and video when I travel but I don’t like to carry camera bags. When the gear impacts your shooting decisions, I think you’ve missed the most important piece.
5. Use Your Legs
Because of my commitment to keeping things simple, I end up using my legs to get the shot I want. This has led to some wild detours, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
As I flip to the next image, I’m quickly reminded of the fun I had. Photos allow me to cement these memories, and for that I’m thankful.
“I thought, ‘Well, I’ll give this a shot for a year or two, then I’ll get a real job.’ I’m coming into my 14th year, having guided in amazing places all over the world, and couldn’t be happier.”
Tell us your story. How did you end up at Trek Travel?
At a dinner party one night, a friend mentioned this new company—a new branch of Trek Bicycle that was taking people on super nice bikes to super nice places. I thought, “That’s way too good to be true.” As I was job hunting in the post 9/11 mayhem, I wasn’t having much luck. I had guided a few friends up Mount Rainier, and it felt life changing to show someone a new place, to see them achieve something they didn’t know they could: I was hooked. Somehow, Tania saw something in me through the reality-TV-style hiring process and gave me and 13 other lucky guides a job. I thought, “Well, I’ll give this a shot for a year or two, then I’ll get a real job.” I’m coming into my 14th year, having guided in amazing places all over the world, and I couldn’t be happier.
How did you get into cycling?
Fifteen bucks at a yard sale in New Hampshire scored the 12-year-old version of me a grey Peugeot and my first taste of freedom. Granted, I was riding in cut off jean shorts at the time, and mountain biking quickly became my passion, but that was my humble beginning. I had never worn a chamois until two weeks before my interview with Trek Travel! Track & Field and Cross Country are the sports that put me through university, and it was there that a passion for endurance sports was born. Trek Travel was really the transition from running to cycling for me.
How has your guiding experience impacted your life?
Beyond meeting incredible people, and the travel, I’ve become really good at eating out. This skill only becomes apparent when I eat out with my non-guiding friends (and could be its own future blog post). Also, being able to read people is one of the finest skills a guide can hone, and I like to think that my temperature gauge of people is finely tuned.
How do you spend your off-season?
I am fortunate enough to wear a few different hats. I currently toggle between working as Transportation Director for some of the biggest bicycle races in North America, as well as helping lead yoga trips in sunny, tropical destinations. Through the years, I’ve bartended, worked retail, edited manuscripts, taught yoga, coached high school track, tutored English, lived in Italy, became a Carmichael Training Systems coach, landscaped, and briefly held the title of Global Logistics Manager for a hand-warmer company.
Do you have a favorite vacation spot?
My current favorite place to travel is the Veneto region of Italy, known as the foothills of the Dolomites. The food and wine are amazing, the terrain is varied, and the tourists are few.
Tell us about a highlight during your time guiding.
Some years back, I was guiding in New Zealand with my good friend Jon Vick (currently rocking as the Event Manager for Trek Bicycles). We had some guests who wanted to go skydiving. Near Lake Wanaka, I made a couple calls and learned that the local establishment would not only give us guides a commission if guests signed up to skydive, they would also comp our skydive. JV and I “jumped” at this opportunity, and the fist bump at 15,000 feet before the adrenaline rush confirmed that this would remain a highlight for the rest of my life.
What advice would your give our readers when planning a vacation?
Prepare to make new friends. Also, spend multiple days in a row on your saddle. (Speaking of saddles, they are very personal things, so I recommend you bring one that works for you.) Most importantly, come with an open mind. “Trip of a lifetime” is quite the moniker to live up to. I feel lucky when guests tell me we have exceeded their expectations, and can’t wait for the next time to do it again.
Summer has quickly turned to fall and the crisp air is here to stay. More than once we’ve caught ourselves day dreaming about foliage, apple orchards and pumpkin flavored treats as we are mesmerized by the falling leaves outside our window. But perhaps the thing we’re most eager to enjoy, the reason we anticipate the changing of the seasons, is hard cider.
The recent growth of cider is not a new sensation–prior to the days of prohibition, cider was America’s beverage of choice–but not many would have predicted the incredible growth hard cider has experienced in recent years. Quietly taking a backseat to the highly publicized craft beer and local food movements, American hard cider production tripled from 2011 to 2013, from 9.4 million gallons to 32 million gallons. According to TIME magazine, craft beer growth rose from 11.5 million barrels brewed to over 15 million barrels in that same time period, making hard cider the fastest-growing alcoholic beverage category in the U.S.
One of the reasons cider has taken off is due to the ease of production. The renaissance of cider in Europe came much earlier, so we turned to the experts at Stonewell Craft Cider in Ireland to tell us about the process from branch to bottle: 1. Washing and Sorting: When the apples arrive we wash and manually sort them, removing any which we consider over-ripe or damaged 2. Milling: Cider apples contain much less moisture than other apples so these apples are milled into much thicker chips. 3. Press and Fermenting: The milled apple is then moved to our press, from where the juice feeds straight into our fermentation tanks. Similarly to our milling process, each different apple variety is pressed and fermented separately. 4. Add the Yeast: We then add a naturally cultured champagne yeast which gives the cider such a distinguished “nose” and smoothness on the pallet. Depending on the temperature the juice will ferment in 4 to 8 weeks. 5. Taste Testing: Once the cider is fermented it is laid down to mature is flavor for a minimum of 3 months. 6. Add the Apple Juice: We take the ciders fermented from the different apple varieties and blend them together with fresh apple juice to replace the sugar, which has disappeared during fermentation, and restore the perfect level of sweetness in our finished product. 7. Filter, Pasteurize, Carbonate and Bottle: Our cider is now ready to be filtered, pasteurized, carbonated and bottled. 8. The Finished Product: It’s time to indulge!
Stonewell Medium Dry:Ireland
Our favorite cider is undoubtedly a bottle of Stonewell Medium Dry. The first cider on their production line, the Medium Dry blend consists of three ciders drawn from different apple varietals. The high content of eating apples provides the strong golden color, while the cider apples are higher in natural sugars and increase the alcohol content. The strong apple aroma, initial burst of flavor and smooth finish make this Stonewell’s most popular cider.
Woodchuck Amber:Vermont
The result of an experiment in a two-car garage back in 1991, Woodchuck Amber lead the way for all other U.S. ciders on the market. While other cideries experiment with ingredients to create one-of-a-kind flavors, the Woodchuck Amber recipe hasn’t changed in nearly 25 years. It’s traditional. It’s clean. And it boasts and big red apple flavor. For those of you looking to wow family and friends this Thanksgiving, give the turkey a sweet cider flavor with this Woodchuck Amber Can Turkey recipe!
Reverend Nat’s Revival:Oregon
In true Portland fashion, Rev. Nat West was a die-hard craft beer revolutionary. But the taste of his first homemade cider–the sweet, rich, tart, and nutty flavors–spurred his passion to search for superior ingredients and create ciders that no one else offers. His newest release, Revival, is a blend of Washington-grown apples and piloncillo (dark brown evaporated cane juice). Add in the complexity of two exotic yeast strains and the result is a distinct, yet subtly familiar cider with just the right amount of sweetness.
At Trek Travel, we promise to deliver the experience of a lifetime for our guests. We promise to surprise, wow and exceed expectations. But we never know how you truly enjoyed your vacation until you tell us. And we won’t know how to make it better without your opinion. Below is a note from Aisling, a recent guest on our Costa Brava vacation, that reminded us just how impactful your feedback can be.
Dear Ambre, Eric and the rest of the Guest Services Team:
I wanted to write and thank you for organizing the Costa Brava trip I recently participated in. I also wanted to let you know how exceptionally wonderful our two guides Gabe and Matt were.
I honestly booked this trip with zero expectations, mostly because it fit in between dates when I was seeing a friend in Barcelona and attending a wedding in the UK and I wanted to do something outdoors. I bike around NYC a few miles here or there to commute, but very rarely go more than 5 or 10 miles in a day. In fact, before I left for the trip the extent of my preparation was biking out to the beach and back in my bathing suit and flip flops (roughly 20 miles) just to see if I could theoretically bike the distance required on the trip. I had no real idea about bike fit, technique, or equipment. Nor was I sure how committed I would actually be with friends a short train ride away in Barcelona who texted me every day to see if I had had enough and was coming back to hang out with them.
Much to my surprise, despite the fact that I was woefully out of shape, completely ignorant of preventive care, ailed with chronic injuries and partied much too hard in the previous week, I was totally hooked from Day 1 and I have to credit Matt and Gabe for that. I am sure you frequently hear praise about the guides in terms of their organization and magical ability to have everything you could possibly need or want. That is certainly true. However, some of their other attributes impressed me even more.
I want to compliment them both for being extremely solicitous without being intrusive or overbearing. Want a van day? No problem, bike goes in the van. Need to be dropped off at a store? No problem, no questions asked. It’s rare to actually be treated with consideration without being infantalized, especially for a woman traveling alone and completely new to a sport. I always felt like I was treated with honesty and never pandered to, which massively increased my ease with the idea of group travel and having a guide. I was also pleasantly surprised at their versatility in conversation. I think I expected that as we were on a trip for enthusiasts, all conversation would be regarding cycling. While they were certainly able to have those technical conversations with other guests, I did not feel excluded for being less knowledgeable. I did not even have to use the ace up my sleeve–my experience with the Tour of Britain, which I encountered the week before while trapped in a London taxi for 2 and half hours behind the Team Sky bus with a massive hangover and a screaming baby. It’s a credit to Matt and Gabe that afterwards, I reflected back on the experience with much more curiosity and wished I had been more knowledgeable of the cycling world at the time.
I wrote in my evaluation that this was a life-changing experience, which seems like hyperbole, but in fact is not. I had a bad accident in Spain six years ago that has left me with limited flexion in my left ankle and compensating injuries in my right knee. I actually have pain whenever I walk, and in the past three years I have not been able to find an activity that I can do without pain–including swimming and cycling. This was part of the reason I had no real expectation of being able to complete the week, as every time I try and do something active (no matter how low impact), I end up off my feet with an ice pack and Ibuprofen. I was shocked that three days into the trip the pain in my knee was gone and it was beginning to feel stronger. Normally I cannot step out of a car unassisted, or walk up and down stairs easily. By the end of the trip I was hopping in and out of the van on my own with only the slightest hesitation. And never during cycling, or in the evenings after, did I feel knee pain. This was unheard of for me.
I entirely credit this alleviation of pain to the time Gabe and Matt put in to making sure that the fit of the bike was correct and discussing with me the importance of correct fit. At home, I just use whatever bikes have come into my life through various people. Now that I know what a well-fitting bike can do, there’s no going back. My ignorance of bike fit was such that they could have easily been less precise with the fit and I would have not known the difference. I really owe them a debt of gratitude for being so professional and raising the bar to a level which I would not have known to ask for myself.
And finally, I did not mention to either Matt or Gabe during the trip, but I am actually terrified of falling ever since I had my accident. This basically manifests itself by excessive breaking on my part and talking myself out of my fear during steeper descents. As someone who never had fear before and is aware of this as a behavior change since my accident, I find it really frustrating and limiting. Not to say caution should not be valued, but I can tell I am slowing myself in excess of the necessary level of control when rounding curves. Without alerting them to my fear, I actually had casual discussions with each Matt and Gabe separately to discuss technique when going round curves on the descent and was reassured when I got consistent advice from them independently. I found that although I am familiar with staying off the front break and slowing before entering the curve, I really had not been stabilizing myself with my outer leg.
The road was quite winding on the second-to-last day and uncomfortably reminiscent of the coastline where I had my accident. The way I felt while cycling on this road in the morning, before asking advice, and in the afternoon, after receiving instruction, were completely different experiences. On the the ride back, I let the group go ahead and went at a slower pace, partly so I could practice and develop more confidence and partly because the recognition that I was doing this without holding my breath in fear was a very personal and emotional experience that I preferred to have privately (just me and Taylor Swift). I really appreciated that I was given space and not pressured into going the speed of the group. Again, I should have thanked Matt and Gabe at the time, but the day was already pretty perfect and I had plenty of other shared experiences to discuss and be grateful for.
So thank you, Matt and Gabe. I know this was pretty verbose, but I have spent a lot of time the past week thinking about why this trip had a much greater-than-expected impact on me. It was not just the sunshine and perfect sleep that comes with physical activity. You both contributed greatly to it. I have never been interested in group travel or following anyone else’s lead, but you turned it into something I enjoy. The past few years I have been living my life frustrated by the limitations of my body. Thank you for giving me back the feeling of free and easy.
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What is the Difference?
Ultimate Luxury:
Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.
Luxury:
Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.
Explorer:
These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.
Combined:
On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of Explorer and Luxury hotels. Rest assured, no matter which hotel level you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.
Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Level 2:
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Level 3:
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Level 4:
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
What are your trip styles?
Classic - Reserve:
Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.
Classic - Signature:
Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.
Classic - Discover:
Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.
Ride Camp:
Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.
Pro Race:
See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.
Cross Country:
Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.
Self-Guided
Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.
Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself
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