For a group that set out to become the world’s most professional women’s amateur team in the peloton, signing a deal with Laura Massey was a no brainer. In doing so, not only did Drops Cycling Team add an accomplished cyclist–and current British Masters Champion–to their roster, but they also added an incredible leader to their team.
Briefly, tell us your story. How did your cycling career begin?
Well, my main sport used to be rowing. I rowed for my college and university (everyone in Cambridge rows!) and after several years of being relatively average, I decided it was time for a change of sport! I borrowed a road bike from a friend and did about 12 miles around the local lanes–I was knackered but I was addicted! I bought a basic aluminum road bike and started riding with the local Cambridge club. Looking back, I was a total liability–getting dropped on every slight lump and blowing up miles from home, having to be pushed back. But I loved it and kept persevering, doing the mid-week chain-gangs and time trials, and I finally developed some “cycling legs”. I began road racing in 2011/2012 and have been obsessed ever since.
What excites you most about the opportunity to race with Drops in 2016?
Being a UCI team means we have the opportunity to race on a world-stage in some pretty iconic races. This is a special opportunity. So special, in fact, that I decided to take a six month sabbatical from work (I am a management consultant in the pharmaceutical industry) to really allow myself to make the most of this opportunity. I am two months into the sabbatical and it is the best decision I ever made. I had to pinch myself on the start-line for the Tour of Flanders! I will be pinching myself again when we line up for the Tour of California next month. I am massively grateful to Bob Varney and everyone at Drops for giving me this opportunity.
Last year you won the British Masters Championship. What are your biggest goals for the upcoming season?
It sounds cheesy but my goal this year is just to enjoy my sabbatical and make the most of this amazing opportunity that I have been given by Drops. I want to get the most out of myself and see what I can achieve and how good a bike rider I can be without the stresses of work. Unlike the last few years (focused on UK racing), this year I don’t have a particular target race or result as this is a whole new level. I’m just going to give it my best shot each time I line up, suffer and see what happens. Last week this attitude got me a Top 20 at the Euskal Emakumeen Bira UCI 2.1 stage race in the Basque country so fingers crossed I can keep improving with more experience.
Who inspires you the most?
It has to be Lizzie Armitstead! Have you seen her legs?! It is inspiring to have a British World Champion who is currently so dominant.
Favorite place you’ve ever ridden and why?
For training, Denia in Spain (near Alicante) is my number one place–perfectly smooth rolling roads, nobody around, sunshine and a unique feel about it. The descent from the Montgo into Denia is magical. I also love the stretch of coastal road between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge in South Devon with its stunning sea/cliff views and aggressive ups and downs.
For racing, the Ardeche in Southern France was the most epic and beautiful race I have done.
There’s a whole unexpected side of Europe that’s more popular than ever, and Trek Travel takes you there. Destinations like the historic Dalmatian Coast of Croatia or the exotic charm of the Canary Islands will introduce you to a Europe that the news doesn’t cover. So what are you waiting for? Dig out that passport.
Hvar to Stari Grad Loop
Approximately 25 miles with 2,300 feet of climbing
This is a ride that you will remember forever! As you cycle along the limestone ridge of the island, a stunning vista unfurls with ancient white stone walls terracing green valleys, set against the blazing blue of the ever-present sea. Centuries ago, these walls were built by farmers clearing the land so that crops could be planted. Today, the stones remain and in between are gnarled vines, silver tipped olive trees and lush vegetables. You’ll then descend into the valley and pedal quiet roads bordered by vineyards and olive groves to the seaside port of Jelsa. As the road narrows, your ride will come to an end in Stari Grad, the original capital of Hvar until the Venetians declared the nearer Hvar Town more convenient.
Caragh Lake to Gap of Dunloe to Kenmare
Approximately 43 miles with 4,600 feet of climbing
Begin your day on the winding road beside Caragh Lake and eventually follow the shoreline of the Upper Caragh River. The stunning views of Glencar Valley will lead you to the Gap of Dunloe, the most famous and picturesque pass in the Ring of Kerry. Enjoy a stunning ride past all five lakes and over the ‘Wishing Bridge’, or perhaps choose to take a “jaunty car” powered by sure-footed horses. Either way, be sure to capture the panorama of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks before enjoying a well-earned descent into the Black Valley, the last place in Ireland to receive electricity. From there, master one final climb up Moll’s Gap before enjoying a long descent into Kenmare.
Český Krumlov to Weitra
Approximately 47 miles with 3,800 feet of climbing
This ride will take you south into the picturesque Waldviertel region of northern Austria, and the small 13th-century castle of Nové Hrady stands ahead as your guiding landmark. Before leaving, however, you’ll enjoy one last spin through the patchwork patterns and vivid colors of the southern Czech countryside. As you cross the border, you will notice a stark change in landscape and the nearby town of Weitra and its historic “Altstadt” (old town) are the perfect introduction to Austria. At one time this town had over 36 breweries, and it’s still a great place to enjoy a cold stein of Austrian beer.
Otranto to Santa Maria Di Leuca
Approximately 33 miles with 1,330 feet of climbing
This morning, the sea is never out of sight as you make your way along the some of the most breathtaking coastline in all of Italy. To your right, stone fences crafted centuries ago from local limestone adorn windswept fields, while the shimmering clear waters of the Ionian Sea beckon from your left. You‘ll ride all the way to Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet and a large Italian flag marks the southern-most tip of Italy. Afterwards, jump back on your bike and continue your seaside explorations.
Mogan to Valley of Tears Loop
Approximately 50 mile with 8,400 feet of climbing
You’ll be amazed at the teeth on this small gem of an island, easily ranked with some of the toughest climbs in Europe. Your ride starts out along the coast for a nice warm-up before you start pushing hard on the pedals. You’ll make your way through the town of Mogan before turning toward La Aldea, your last refuge before entering the long, isolated Valley of Tears. From this point, every kilometer takes you higher and higher, with grades reaching 25%. Just keep pedaling along until you reach the peak to refuel at the top before making your way back toward Mogan over the coils of Tauro Pass.
The season begins again when the days get longer in Spain, and heats up to full thrust when the sun warms the rest of Europe. Summer is finally on its way, there’s no excuse not to get outside and make this a season to remember. These are our favorite destinations for June:
It’s not every day you have the road to yourself as you traverse four mountain passes in the Alps: Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, the lofty Col du Galibier, and finally Alpe d’Huez. The French don’t go on holiday until later in the summer, so June is the opportune time to stay on the Alp you know, love and lust for.
In this hot-spot destination, every corner tells a story. Traveling in June will give you the opportunity to discover them all without fighting the crowds. Many active vacationers have never even considered a cycling tour of Croatia. Shame, really, since this region offers incredible beaches, glorious riding, and some of Europe’s most varied and elaborate historical sites.
While there’s always a chance you’ll find yourself throwing back a pint or two (or three) at any and every local pub to escape the rain, June in Ireland typically offers the best weather. So while the rest of those tour buses strain to get a view of the Ring of Kerry, you can discover the winding roads, weathered stone walls and dramatic coastlines from the seat of a bike.
Trek Travel’s specialty is introducing you to the nooks and crannies of our destinations that you may never discover alone, like an incredible array of restaurants across North America. You’ve probably never heard of these five eateries on our domestic trips. But after one sumptuous, decadent meal, you’ll definitely never forget them. Learn more about our five favorite North American meals here. Just don’t do it on an empty stomach.
Despite back-to-back nominations for the James Beard Foundation “Rising Star Chef” award, Jay Blackinton still considers himself a farmer first. He and the team at Hogstone’s Wood Oven have worked very hard to achieve authenticity, and you’ll feel it the first time you walk in the door. Set on a hill overlooking Eastsound, you’ll watch the sun set over town as you anxiously await samplings of the island’s most well-prepared treats! The restaurant’s Northwestern Agrarian Cuisine, comprised of ingredients sourced on the island, is only enhanced by the rawness and earthiness of the natural wood decor around you–you’ll feel completely at home, yet worlds away!
Winner of a 2014 James Beard Award for restaurant design, Shed is a market, café, and community gathering space in Healdsburg, California designed to bring us closer to the way we grow, prepare, and share our food. A family style meal prepared by Chef Perry Hoffman will treat you to simple delicacies like the Shed salad–so basic in its ingredients but complex in taste as if it were just plucked from the garden–or the Sunchoke Pizza with meyer lemon, rosemary, roasted shallots, and manchego cheese. With an ever changing menu showcasing only what is readily available, you’re sure to try something new as you begin to discover why Shed is labeled, “The Best Restaurant in Sonoma County.”
There’s no better place to spend a Saturday night than Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, a vibrant arts district and home to local surf shops, galleries and the popular Urban Wine Trail. Named one of the 100 Best Restaurants in America for 2016 by OpenTable and Santa Barbara’s hottest restaurant by Hemispheres Magazine, The Lark is consistently recognized as one of the most popular and unique spots in town, with a locally-sourced menu that’s meant to be enjoyed family-style. So sit back and take in the bustling scene while dish after inventive dish arrives to please your palate.
In the tiny, remote town of Boulder (population: 180), you may be surprised to find one of Utah’s most highly acclaimed restaurants. But Hell’s Backbone Grill is more than an excellent Zagat rating. This unique place is a testament to how two impassioned people can bring a beautiful vision of sustainability and community into reality. Blake and Jen, the chef-owners of Hell’s Backbone, have been welcoming guests of Trek Travel for over a decade with warm smiles, lively tales, and incredible food at the end of the long first day of the trip. We can taste the moqui mac just thinking about it!
Situated between the small towns of Stowe and Waterbury, Michael’s on the Hill is one of the most award-winning restaurants in Vermont. Swiss-born chef Michael Kloeti’s menu features a blend of European comfort food and Vermont’s bountiful local produce. The menu changes each season and features food that comes straight from local farms to your plate–you can taste the freshness in every morsel. As you enjoy delicious local fare and the sun sets over the valley below, you may find yourself wondering what stories the old farmhouse would tell if the walls could speak.
This summer, David Baldwin and Team Pursuit will embark on a 4,000 mile expedition across the United States to support The Center, a Houston-based not-for-profit agency that promotes the pursuit of choice, growth, and personal independence for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Trek Travel has partnered with Pursuit to offer four ride along opportunities where you can join the fun this summer!
How did you become involved in The Center?
My wife Maire and I have been married for 24 years and live in Houston, Texas. Shortly after getting married, we made the difficult decision not to have children. We both knew this would leave a void in our lives, so we went looking for an organization where we could volunteer, and hopefully be a part of a different type of family. We found The Center, and we have both volunteered there for over 20 years. Over the years we’ve done everything from painting classrooms, to planting gardens, to raising money through cookie sales, to hosting The Center’s Christmas Party for the past 15 years (that’s personal our favorite). And over the years, we’ve grown to consider The Center’s residents and clients to be our unique family. Instead of having 2.3 kids, we actually feel like our family is the 450 clients of The Center.
What was your inspiration to ride across the country?
As recently as the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s, no one expected individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (“IDD”) to live into their 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. But due to the success of programs like The Center, most people with IDD are now living full life expectancies. This has come as a surprise to almost everyone, including the families and friends of our clients as well as the government agencies that help support people with IDD. As life expectancies expanded rapidly, families hadn’t planned for this, and government support hasn’t kept pace either. Most of our clients don’t come from wealthy backgrounds, and aren’t able to earn sufficient wages to pay for their housing, food, medical and other costs of daily living, particularly as they enter their “retirement years”. The result is that many organizations across the country, like The Center, are facing a funding crisis and are at risk of going out of business.
I frequently say that The Center is the best thing that has ever happened to Maire and I. But like parenting, we worry a lot about how “our family” is going to make ends meet. One morning I was particularly worried about The Center’s financial challenges, and I couldn’t sleep. So I got out of bed early and got on my bike for a very early morning ride. As I rode, I could feel the stress and worries begin to dissipate and my normal optimistic outlook began to return. Towards the end of the ride, the idea of riding across the country to raise money for The Center and to raise awareness nationally of the pending financial crisis for people with disABILITIES became clearer. I quickly rode home and woke up my wife to share my inspiration and ask for her support. She was “all-in” and that’s how Pursuit was born.
Why did you choose a bike ride as your method of fundraising?
Maire and I started riding bikes casually for exercise and recreation several years ago. We love how friendly people are to bikers and it’s a great way to make new friends. I’ve never met someone on a bike who wasn’t having a good day! Also, over the past several years, I’ve wanted to take time off from my job to go visit the best organizations across the country that do what The Center does. So on that early morning ride to relieve my stress, it all came together. I could dedicate two months to riding across the country, visiting other organizations like The Center, meeting new friends and helping to raise money and awareness to support our neighbors with disABILITIES. As Maire and I started to share our dream/vision with others, our “peloton” started to grow. Today, there are more than 200 volunteers working to make Pursuit a huge success, and with Trek Travel’s help, we’ve created three opportunities for people who enjoy riding to participate in the Pursuit mission as well.
In regards to your ride across the U.S., what are you most excited about? What are you most nervous about?
When I was little, my parents used to pack me and my older brother, Bob, into our station wagon and go on “driving vacations”. We usually had our sleeping bags laid out in the back two rows and loved watching the countryside pass by as we made our way to our destination, which was usually a National Park, beautiful lake, or river. Now we fly everywhere we go, and I’ve missed the slower journeys at ground level across the country. Over the past couple of months, I’ve read several books and watched a handful of documentaries about biking across the U.S. They each have a few themes in common: First, the majesty, openness and beauty of the North and Western U.S., from Oregon through the Rockies and into the Midwest. I can’t wait to see and smell these open spaces, mountains, rivers, trees, wildlife, etc. from the seat of a bicycle. Once we get into Minnesota, the terrain changes and we get to experience the Midwestern charm and friendliness of all of the small towns in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Starting in Minneapolis – St. Paul, we get to ride into some of America’s great cities: Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and ultimately Washington, D.C. And I get to do it all on a bicycle with old and new friends riding along with me, both in person and with everyone following our journey online.
While the bike journey is clearly the trip of a lifetime, I’m most excited to visit the organizations and people across the country that spend their lives helping our neighbors with disABILITIES. In most of the major cities along our journey, we’ll be visiting some of the best and most unique communities that support people with IDD. I can’t wait to see how their families differ from ours.
This journey isn’t without anxiety though. Trying to raise $11 million in Houston when oil is $35 per barrel is one challenge. And I’ve only done a couple of long rides in my life. Someone recently told me that our Pursuit journey was equivalent to 25 back to back MS 150’s. I’ve done the MS 150 once and almost didn’t make it to work the following Monday! Due to a couple of recent injuries, I’ve not really been able to train as much as I would like. I guess I can “train” as I cross the country! Lastly, I’m scared about leaving my job at a very difficult time for our energy industry. But thank goodness for an incredible group of colleagues who have eagerly agreed to help cover for me while I’m “in Pursuit” of Maire’s and my life mission.
Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.
Shortly after conceiving the idea for Pursuit, I fell off my mountain bike and tore up my knee/leg pretty seriously. For the first couple of weeks following my surgery, I doubted whether I’d ever return to cycling. About three weeks after the surgery, I got on an exercise bike and I turned the crank the full 360 degrees. It was one of the best feelings of my life! As my recovery continued, I asked my doctor and rehab coach if they would allow me to try to ride in a bike ride from Telluride to Gateway, Colorado, a trip I had planned with 25 friends well before my accident. The ride was scheduled for four months following my surgery and seemed highly improbable, maybe even unwise. But I had a goal to train for and it made my recovery speed by. Last September, on a perfect early fall Saturday, I joined my 25 friends in forming an amazing paceline across beautiful Colorado through mountains, farmland, and into the Red Rock Canyons of Western Colorado. The glory of riding with 25 friends for a good cause, on a beautiful day, has me so excited about Pursuit!
On the first birthday Joe Strommer didn’t have, his dad walked into the shop with one of the dogs and a dozen doughnuts. It had been four months since Joe’s suicide, and what had been a brutal winter was just beginning to thaw.
The dog, immediately familiar with the worn wood of the shop floor, curled up in the corner as Erv passed around our surprise breakfast and sat heavily on a stool. He wasn’t a big man, but he was an old man with a hunched back and poor vision, and a terrible driver; Joe used to joke with us about how his pops was going to kill him one of these days. We continued to work on morning repairs, steady but unhurried, while Erv began to talk.
Joe was a year-round regular at the shop, which is saying something in Minnesota. While he towered over most of us at well over six feet tall, more often than not he could materialize quietly in front of you, as if out of nowhere. He’d ride through each winter on a massive 29er and sail through the less bitter seasons on a singlespeed. Although he bought a Domane from us in 2011 or ’12, I don’t remember him ever joining us on a shop ride—he preferred instead to ride alone.
But his style of riding didn’t matter to us so much as his love of turning the pedals. His was the sort of company you appreciate in the long off-season and wish you could slow down enough to enjoy in the summer. On season and off, he’d often bring us doughnuts in the morning or beer in the afternoon, and in the latter case he’d wait until we closed for the day so we could all sit down and talk about nothing in particular. His smile was easy, if crooked, and we happily matched it.
While Joe could be quiet when he came to keep us company, his was the sort of silence you didn’t mind. And maybe it ran in the family; on those occasions his dad accompanied him to the shop, Erv was more often than not content to sit back for the duration of their visit, saying nothing, only bending over now and then to untangle dog leashes. But this April morning, Erv had something to say. It started with a single story, one yarn piling on top of the other, until it became a sort of eulogy meant just for us. It was what we had been waiting for while dealing with the shellshock that is the unreasonable loss of a close friend, and the overdue realization that a customer is more than just that. If only for a moment, Erv brought Joe back to us.
I never had the chance to ride with Joe Strommer, but I have no doubt what he looked like in the saddle. On the Easter Sunday before he died, we passed each other mid-ride, neither of us stopping long enough to trade pleasantries. We only saluted each other with a crooked grin and one hand reaching into the expanse of asphalt between us, open palms raised. It was one of the first calm days of spring, and we both knew without saying that there’s no good reason to stop when it’s warm enough to keep going. I’d never seen Joe look happier.
For awhile after his death, I regretted not stopping to talk to Joe that day. But when Erv stopped by that April morning to give us breakfast and leave us with a piece of Joe that we could hold onto, I remembered the importance of an early spring bike ride in Minnesota. I understood that Joe and I had passed each other knowing that, even more than the world, we ourselves are best seen from the seat of a bicycle. And I understood that that was enough.
Tight-knit families aren’t born. They’re made with unforgettable experiences. And while it shouldn’t take a Christmas miracle to get people together, planning a multigenerational vacation is a daunting task with no shortage of opinions and a lack of consensus.
At Trek Travel, we believe that nothing should come between the ties that bind. Wide-ranging ages, activity levels and interests are no match for the creativity and flexibility of our guides. And whether you choose from our existing itineraries or make it private, our trip consultants will work with you to craft a personalized experience for your extended family. Below, John Burke, President of Trek Bikes, outlines his top five reasons to take a multigenerational family vacation:
1. The Family that Plays Together Stays Together
We started taking multigenerational family trips six years ago, and it is an event that everyone looks forward to. Similar to Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, the family trip has become a major event on our schedule.
Pro Tip: A family suggested this to us many years ago. Take a family vacation once a year and plan it for the same dates every year. Our family does the second week of June. This way everyone knows ahead of time that the family trip is always the second week of June and this puts an end to all of the drama surrounding dates.
2. Great Family Time
On the typical family vacation, each morning starts with a negotiation. People sit around, spending time deciding what the group is going to do. They guys go golfing, the ladies go for a run, maybe meet for lunch, the negotiating goes back and forth. One of the things our family loves about Trek Travel trips is having an awesome pre-set schedule. The guides do a great job of leading the group and making adjustments as necessary. This really is a family vacation, not vacation that the family goes on and everyone does their own thing.
3. Amazing Memories
In the past five years, we have seen the National Parks, we have traveled the Freedom trail in Boston and ridden our bikes down the Charles River, we have done some amazing riding around the San Juan Islands, we had a behind the scenes Tour at the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, and we’ve eaten some of the best meals at farm-to-table restaurants. In fact, last year it was a small farm and we had an awesome time playing horseshoes, having cocktails, and enjoying the local fare. Every day Trek Travel goes above and beyond to create amazing memories. And as Carson from Downton Abbey says, “In the end, all you have are your memories.”
4. Try New Things
Trek Travel does a great job of giving people amazing opportunities to explore new places in a variety of ways. We have hiked some awesome trails in America’s National Parks, we have kayaked, we have visited Presidential Libraries. Every day there is something new with Trek Travel.
5. It Makes Your Mother Happy
My mother loves to see her family together, spending quality time with one another. There is no greater gift that one can give their mother than spending time with the family.
With a home base in downtown Santa Barbara, this weekend bike tour offers four full days of cycling, sightseeing, dining, hiking, and relaxing along the Central Coast.
With endless options for exploring the Pacific Northwest’s colorful villages, wooded lanes and blue waters, Trek Travel’s San Juan Islands trip has something for everyone.
Settle into the warmth of our outstanding accommodations, share in jovial banter, and absorb the undying spirit of the enchanting Emerald Isle on your vacation of a lifetime.
Bring the extended family on a trip to discover the heart of Europe, the place where European history was crafted, at a pace catered specifically to you and your loved ones.
No matter how hard core of an adventurer you are, sometimes it’s nice to let someone else do the planning, the researching, the relationship-building, and lugging of all your stuff around so that you can go along for the ride without a worry weighing you down.
There are a number of reputable bike tour companies with year-round national and international bike adventures for all levels of ability that are sure to light your fire. For the sake of stoking your spring fever, we talked to Trek Travel’s Rebecca Falls (AKA “Bama”) to learn about the benefits of traveling with an experienced outfitter. As both a guide and a trip design coordinator, Rebecca gets the best of both worlds, a hand in planning the trip and the chance to be out there, pedaling with clients.
Founded on the philosophy that the world is best experienced from the seat of a bike, Trek Travel has been showing active travelers some of the world’s most interesting cultures and best rides since 2003. Led by world travelers, bike enthusiasts, and cultural adventurers, Trek Travel’s trips offer great spring getaways no matter where you want to go.
BIGLIFE: Nickname?
REBECCA FALLS: Bama. When I first came to work for Trek Travel there was no one else on staff from Alabama. I’m not sure who said it first but it definitely stuck! Some of my closest friends, whom I got to know as co-guides, haven’t called me by my real name in years!
BIGLIFE: What’s your Trek Travel origin story (AKA, how did you land a job with TT)?
RF: All through college at the University of Alabama, I worked at a bike shop—the sadly-no-longer-in-business venerable Cycle Path. When Trek Travel started running trips in 2003 I was finishing my senior year and our Trek rep told me about TT and suggested that I apply after I graduated. I did, never thinking I would actually get the job, but here I am. I worked as a seasonal guide for four years while also working part-time as an environmental consultant. After two years spent getting a masters degree from the University of Tennessee, I came back to Trek Travel as a project manager for charity rides and a trip design coordinator, and now I work in all three roles—trip designer, guide, and charity ride director for Bo Bikes Bama, a ride started by Bo Jackson for victims of the 2011 tornado that devastated Alabama.
BL: What’s your ride of choice, as in the bike that you ride?
RF: Ahh, now THAT is like trying to choose a favorite child! I live in Asheville, North Carolina, which has some of the best roads in the country for riding, both paved and gravel—so I spend a lot of time on my road and cyclocross bikes (Trek’s 7-Series Madone and Boone, respectively). We also have really fantastic mountain bike trails in western North Carolina, and I recently got a Fuel EX, which I am excited about riding more if the trails will ever dry out—it’s been a wet, cold winter.
BL: What’s your process in designing a trip? What kind of research do you do?
RF: We decide on new destinations as a team—the Trip Design Department and Sales Department, taking into consideration things like guest requests, guide ideas, travel trends, and whatever generally gets us excited. We want to plan trips that we would want to go on, after all.
Once we decide on a destination there is a process for putting a trip together, but there is also room for taking a creative approach. I like to start by gathering input from the most knowledgeable people I can find from the region—this is often someone who works for Trek Travel, as our guides live in pretty cool places. But it could also be staff from the local bike shop, former guests, or other contacts.
Once we have an idea of the signature rides and local activities we want to include, we look for the best hotels and restaurants in the area. Then we try to put it all together in a way that has a nice flow—our guests want to feel like they saw the region, but not be exhausted by too much moving around. We also try very hard to work with smaller, locally-owned businesses that we can forge and grow relationships with. A great example of this is Summit Lake Vineyards, a very small family-owned vineyard and winery in Napa Valley that we have worked with for over a decade. Our guides happened across this tiny operation when doing the initial trip research, met the family and decided it would be good to bring our guests to meet these amazing people and hear their story, while also tasting great wine, petting their goats, taking in their views—all mid-route on a great ride through the Pope Valley. In a perfect world, these are the types of places we want to take our guests—to have experiences they couldn’t have on their own, and to see a place through the eyes of the people who live there.
BL: Can you change your own flat? Tune your own bike? etc.
RF: Yes and yes—all of the guides have to pass a mechanic certification test so being able to do this stuff is required! I don’t always have the tools or the expertise for the more complex repairs—I won’t be rebuilding a shifter anytime soon—but I can do most things that are required for road and cross bike maintenance.
BL: Your favorite Trek Travel trip?
RF: The trip I usually recommend (to active cyclists) is our Bryce & Zion trip. It takes you to see some of the most extraordinary landscapes in the country—the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the beautiful remote desert around Boulder, Utah (the last place in the lower 48 to receive its mail by mule), the unique and impressive amphitheater of the Bryce Canyon hoodoos, and the stunning, sheer walls of Zion Canyon. It’s an amazing week in the red rock desert and an unforgettable week on a bike.
BL: Your elevator pitch about Trek Travel trips?
RF: A lot goes into planning and executing a Trek Travel trip: 1) Finding the best rides, the best places to stay, and the off-the-beaten path things that make travel worthwhile. 2) Having a great bike to ride and a van to pick you up when you want a break. 3) Hiring a guide to show you where to go and tell you about their experiences in the region. Unless you happen to have a great friend with lots of time, a guest house, a fleet of spare bikes, and a support vehicle, you probably will spend a lot of time and effort to go on a great, stress-free cycling trip to a specific area. As an alternative, you can go on one of our trips and have everything set up for you—just book your plane ticket and pack your bag—and we do the rest. You’ll never have to find out what a pain it is to fit your bike in one of those cases.
BL: Biggest “Oh-No Moment” on a Trek Travel trip you’ve been on or involved with?
RF: There was that time when we thought a lightning storm was going to prevent us from descending off L’Alpe d’Huez after the stage finish in 2014 (the storm miraculously parted and went around the mountain)… Or that fun moment when the turbo went out on the TT van (after just having the van fully serviced) on Day 1 of a sold-out trip at the start of a four-hour drive (hello, emergency box truck rental). If you do this long enough, you will have plenty of these. The trick, the hope, the goal anyway, is to always make sure the show goes on.
BL: One of the reasons Trek Travel exists is because you believe the world is best seen from the seat of a bike. Give us your best “view from a bike seat” moment or memory.
RF: It has to be climbing any of the classic mountain roads during the Tour de France, right before a stage. The sides of the roads are crammed with crazy cycling fans and roads themselves are packed with people of all sorts on every kind of bike—everyone is there to see their heroes and watch history unfold. You can watch the race coverage on TV but nothing does justice to the energy in the air before the racers come through.
BL: For a supported bike trip first-timer what trip do you recommend? For a seasoned bike traveler, what do you suggest?
RF: For the first-timer, I would suggest our California Wine Country Long Weekend trip. Travel to and from the region is pretty straightforward, and the time and financial commitment is less than the week-long trips. The wine country is a great place to be guided around too—there are a lot of hidden spots that may be your favorite memory from the trip that you would ride right past on your own. It’s a great way to find out if a group trip suits your traveling style without biting off a whole week.
For the seasoned bike traveler, I recommend the Asheville to Highlands. This region is more off the beaten path of guided bike travel (only a handful of operators have trips to the area currently), but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the greatest place to ride that you may never have thought about. It’s a bike-, creative food-, and beer-lover’s paradise that’s perfect for the seasoned bike traveler who’s been on several trips already and is looking for a fresh, different type of destination.
BL: You must be a pro packer for trips like this. What packing tips can you give a would-be Trek traveler?
RF: Friends, bring your saddle. If you have one you like to ride, that is the saddle you should bring on your trip. Even the greatest saddle in the world, well-suited for your anatomy, will probably have a little break-in time on your sitbones, and that’s not something you want to work through on your vacation.
Introducing our Featured Guide Collection. Your chance to join some of your favorite veteran guides on the trips they know best.
If you’ve traveled with us before, you know that Trek Travel guides are the best in the business. They’re a little more committed, a lot more energetic, and way more fun. They also bend over backwards to make your trip perfect. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll finish the trip as friends. And since a great guide leads to a great trip, we thought: why not be able to follow your favorite guides wherever they go?
“I’ve been a full time guide with Trek Travel since 2003, and I’ve been fortunate to work all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America. Highlights from life on the road include race trips such as the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta d’Espana. In addition, I’ve guided the cross country trip seven times. In recent years, however, I’ve traded my roller bag, hotel rooms, and air miles for a more permanent address in Greenville, SC with my wife and two dogs. Together, we created the Greenville Ride Camp. This allows me to keep doing what I love, while going home at night sleeping in my own bed. It’s truly the best of both worlds, and I can’t wait to show you the beautiful country roads and lively city that I call home.”
“My name is Jonathan, but my friends call me Hershy. I have been with Trek Travel for 12 years, and in the industry for more than 17! This year marks my 5th season in Croatia. Croatia is a country that I absolutely love. The cities are amazing, the Islands are gorgeous, the food and riding superb, and the hotels are some of the best on any Trek Travel Trip. Yes, Croatia is a country that has stolen my heart. What I love most about our Croatia trip is that it provides a complete representation of the area. Our guests get a real taste of the country, the cities (Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar and Split), and the people. Everyone who visits this remarkable country walks away forever changed by the way Croatia touches your spirit. It is no wonder that the great Roman Emperor Diocletian decided to build his palace and retire here. I have a feeling you will want to do the same.”
“Every year as the snow begins to melt in Colorado, my thoughts turn to the rows and rows of dormant grape vines that will soon be coming to life out in the California Wine County. For the past 11 years, the greening rebirth of one of nature’s most magical plants–the grape–has meant that the cycling season is once again rolling into high gear. The legs that felt so strong in September and the posterior that had become hardened to even the bumpiest of roads are back at square one. Fortunately my wine tasting skills never seem to lag behind. Not only is the California Wine Country equal in beauty and quality of cycling to anywhere in the world, for me it is a trip back to my family’s roots. Some of our rides pass the dirt track where ancestors homesteaded, the driveway of my grandparent’s home and orchard, the riverside dance hall where my parents met in the 1930s. The chance to share both the past and the freewheeling present of fine food, world class wines and unbelievably scenic cycling is truly a pleasure. Hope to see you pedaling soon!”
“This is my 5th year as a Trek Travel guide and my 4th season guiding in Mallorca, Spain. I still call Durango, Colorado home, but I spend most of the year guiding in Mallorca. I love this island and I love riding bikes here. Although I am a mountain biker at heart, it did not take long after riding the roads of Mallorca for me fall in love with road biking. The roads here are stimulating, exciting and challenging. Every moment of a ride is beautiful–the terraced mountainsides of olive and almond groves, the dramatic coast line along the northern side of the island, the stone architecture of the villages, and the turquoise blue of the mediterranean sea. And don’t even get me started on all the animals. There are donkeys, goats, sheep and mini ponies everywhere! I could go on and on about this island–its food, wine, people, cortados y tarta de almendra–but I would rather you join me for a ride here and we can experience it all together.”
“I name Ioanna, but I also go by Io, Anna, the little one, kikiriki, or whatever else my co-guides might call me. I grew up in Cyprus, and I love my job more than anything because it fills my days with happiness. I also love sunny mornings, bikes, un caffe macchiato (or two), spotlessly clean bicycle cassettes, brunello di montalcino, Italians, history, chess, all my shoes, traveling, happy people, good energy and big smiles! This spring I will be guiding in bella Toscana. I can’t wait to share the life and culture of Tuscany with all my guests. Once you arrive here, the clock stops ticking and time is measured by the number of coffees you’ve had. I could go on and on about Tuscany, its vineyards, sunsets, architecture and stories. But best of all is the people. Tuscany would not be the same without Zimmi, who makes the best pizza in his century-old wood burning oven. Nor without senior Alexandro, who lets me taste all the gelato I could eat for free. Or Ilaria, with her charming accent who knows wine better than anyone in the village. It is because of these people that Tuscany holds such a special place in my heart! For these reasons, I am excited to share this place with my guests and invite them to experience Tuscany like I get to year after year.”
“I started with Trek Travel as a guide in 2004, right after graduating from the University of Alabama. Over the past 12 years, this job has taken me to some amazing places and introduced me to some incredible people, many of whom I count among my closest friends. Almost five years ago I moved to Asheville, North Carolina. This is a place I have wanted to live since the first time I came to visit, as a college sophomore, working a summer job as a raft guide on a nearby river. I love the roads, trails and the vibe of this great little city so much, so it was a special honor to get to design our new Asheville-based trip and to have the opportunity to show my adopted hometown to Trek Travel guests. Do you like to ride bikes to beautiful places? Drink beer? Kick back and watch a very interesting world go by? You’ll love Asheville. I’m excited to be here guiding this season and hope to see some familiar faces on the trips!”
“You know it’s summer in Ireland when the rain gets warmer.”
– Hal Roach
We all know the feeling: putting on your kit with a wary eye on dark, distant clouds. But it’s my only day to ride this weekend. You take the gamble, gear up, feel like a champ as you roll down the block, and by the time you hit the stop sign? Fat, cold drops pelting your face and blurring your glasses. You pull on the rain jacket–because you made it this far–and suffer through your Sunday loop as mother nature gradually soaks your shoes, freezes your fingertips, sends trickles down your scalp and, my personal favorite, slaps a thick streak of road grime straight up your spine.
Or maybe instead you make a second cup of coffee and hit the garage to detail your drivetrain. Preparation for the next sunny day.
I’ve travelled with many tough, hard-working friends, guests, and even fellow guides who often seem to maintain the belief that rain and riding are highly incompatible. In a community of cyclists, where persevering through a good struggle is in our blood, I’m not sure how or why this rain aversion is quite so prevalent. We’ll ride up mountains, into fierce headwinds and through suffocating heat. And yet in my experience, rain seems to have a particular power to fizzle our spirits and drain our motivation to get in the saddle.
Of course, this isn’t to suggest an absence of legitimate safety considerations around wet-weather riding, and I’ll touch on those later on. I would also never claim that everyone is rain-phobic, as I’ve been pulled and inspired through many a soggy ride by the warmth and grit of my companions. Finally, I must state with greatest sincerity, we at Trek Travel embrace and celebrate all types of relationships with cycling. I can’t speak for your buddies back home, but I can assure you that your guides will never hassle over the decision to call it a shuttle and a hot cup of tea. When it comes to relaxing, we consider ourselves hard-earned professionals.
But when it comes to getting out in the elements, do we ever sell ourselves short? Are we sometimes missing out? As we enter the early, rainy spring cycling season I’m here to argue that sometimes we do, and so maybe, sometimes, we are.
It may be unsurprising to hear that I’ve spent the previous two summer seasons guiding our Ireland Explorer trip. This wasn’t because I love the rain (I actually grew up in the notoriously sunny Bend, Oregon). Rather, the experience and effects of this rainy exposure surprised me. Far from leaving me with post-torrential-downpour stress disorder, I believe that being forced to ride in rainy conditions for months at a time actually fostered a depth of connection, fondness of memory, and warmth of respect for the Irish landscape that is unparalleled among my cycling and travel experiences. That, and a passionate disregard for weather forecasts. And while perhaps not everyone would share my unique response to this particular rainy experience, I do believe there are some far-reaching and fairly universal truths to be had when it comes to the pleasures and rewards of overcoming a little natural challenge.
In fact, I think nature is a good place to start, with a quote from Victorian naturalist, artist and philanthropist John Ruskin: “Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”
Living modern, often urban and highly specialized lives, it’s easy to overlook the beauty in something so essential and life-giving as rain. Without an immediate, personal connection to its importance for the landscape, we relegate it to an inconvenience on our commute, something to be stared at through windows, and the spoiler of afternoon rides. But isn’t one of the great joys of cycling the opportunity to experience a landscape at a slower and more intimate pace? Certainly a huge reason to cycle new destinations is to explore and become acquainted with a new landscape.
To make an analogy, getting to know a place can be a lot like getting to know a person. Just as love and friendship grow deeper with time and experiences, riding in diverse weather acquaints us with the multi-faceted personality of a place. A rainy day brings out different colors in the sky, and not just different shades of gray, but purples and blues and pinks, or, in the case of Ireland, the green reflection of fields below. Filtered through a kaleidoscope of clouds, the light transforms even a familiar landscape into something completely fresh for discovery. Different colors, different moods, and my personal favorite, so many different smells! Always that sweet, familiar one, and then the tangle of unique, subtle contributions from the local flora and fauna.
But what about those days when the sky really actually is just gray? Or maybe it’s just that your feet are soaked, you’re riding into a headwind, and you couldn’t possibly care less about the yin and yang of Mother Nature? One word: rockstar.
We need the rain to provide a tough environment in which to feel totally and completely hardcore. It always feel good to get out on the bike–bluebird days included–but there’s something unique and necessary about a rainstorm to make you feel like the ninja you are. That extra something earning you respect from the locals.
In fact, perhaps the power of contrast forms half the picture here, for consider now the ride in which the sky was actually gray, your feet were actually wet, and you felt slow, pathetic, and the opposite of ninja the entire time. In that case, how great does it feel to get home?! How much more delicious is your lunch? How much tastier is a beer at the end of the day, knowing you earned it? How much better is your entire day in general? It’s a level above. It’s not even a fair comparison. Perhaps my great love for Ireland actually has less to do with the rides themselves, and has mostly to do with the incredible joy and comfort to be found in returning from the elements for a scone and a cuppa. There are joys born of contrast that simply can’t be achieved in any other way. So capitalize on your mind’s incredible ability to quickly exclude discomfort from memory and reap the benefits of even a short excursion.
Easier said than done, right? So here are a few motivational ideas that might get you out the door. Whenever I feel my motivation starting down a slippery slope, the words of my great cycling mentor often spin through my mind: “There’s no such thing as bad weather! Just improper dress!” After all, you can float through space or the depths of the ocean if you’re in the right clothes. We have Gore-tex, Hipora, Hy-vent, E-vent, EtaProof, Nikwax’s fur-Analogy, MemBrain, Polartec, PreCip, and, you guessed it, H2No.
If high-performance fabric isn’t enough to stir your desire to ride, another motivational tactic proved itself many times in Ireland.
Step One: Put on your riding clothes. If necessary, remind yourself that you’re not actually planning to ride.
Step Two: Throw back a shot of the roughest Irish whiskey you can find.
Step Three: Fake it till you make it.
Step Four: You’re probably already on your bike.
On that note, this is probably a good moment to quickly touch on safety practices. A lot has been written about wet-weather cycling, so instead of doubling the length of this article, I recommend a quick Google search. The top ten hits will cover just about every tip you need, including those about dressing for success in variable conditions. Remember that staying warm and comfortable can be as important for your safety as it is for your enjoyment of the ride!
I mentioned I dislike weather forecasts. This isn’t because I think they’re always wrong, as often they’re painfully accurate. The issue is how our lives are increasingly saturated by an overwhelming amount of information. Weather forecasts, of course, and also news reports, Facebook messages, calendar reminders, new downloads, blog posts, event invites, app updates, music releases, advertisements, and millions of other digital rabbit holes all happily guzzling our precious time and attention. It’s a tricky line to walk, that between the real benefits of the information age on one hand, and the potentially paralyzing mental inundation it creates on the other. Sometimes the little rectangle in my pocket feels like a ten-ton ball-and-chain.
If nothing else, to set out into the rain is an act of reclamation. It’s an invitation for something unknown and unpredictable. Something that isn’t governed by an algorithm. It’s a celebration of our own spontaneity, in the face of minute-by-minute radar predictions available at our fingertips. It’s an acknowledgement that our physical experiences still really matter. In the rainy air, we can see the cloud of our own laugh, feel the water drip off our faces, and notice the enormous amount of heat our bodies generate against the cool, damp air. And above all, it’s an act of trusting ourselves. Trusting our ability to dress and plan and prepare. Trusting our own positive spirit. Trusting that we’ll figure things out if we run into a problem. Trusting that we know how to go out and be in the world and its many conditions, instead of hiding in our homes.
If it looks like the apocalypse has come, please do check for flash-flood warnings. But don’t obsess over that 30% chance of showers. Don’t scrutinize the radar images. Pull on your booties and high-vis slicker, put your cell phone in a baggy, give yourself a pep talk, and go do yourself a huge favor.
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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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