keith_ritter

Dear Marriage Advisor by guest blogger, Bob Joy

Posted on October 5, 2011 - 5:00 am by keith_ritter

Dear Marriage Advisor: I have a “friend” who just confessed to his wife that he has been lusting in his heart for a new bike. She should have known it was coming. My friend had been talking about getting another bike ever since Harry showed up for our morning ride with a brand new cherry red Madone with all the fixin’s. Since then, my friend has been spending increasing amounts of time surfing Trek’s Project One site, marveling at the nearly limitless combinations of frames, paint schemes, and components. Whenever he had to go out of the room, my friend strategically left the computer on in full view of his wife. Still, my friend knew that it would be a hard sell. He already had three Trek bikes of different vintages, the most recent of which was just six years old and still looked brand new.

My friend confessed his desire to his wife as they were getting dressed for a party. Her immediate response was, “Why do you need another bike? You can only ride one at a time!” Now, mind you, she said this in all seriousness as she searched through her five-tiered jewelry chest for the perfect pair of earrings to match her outfit. My friend couldn’t help from pointing out that several of her options contained carbon in a different form, were nearly as expensive as a bike, and that she, too, could only wear one pair at a time. Wrong move.
Here’s where my friend could use your help. What should he say to convince his wife of 30 years (whom he loves very much if she is reading this) that he should get a new bike? Please choose from the options below, or respond with your own:

A) My friend should buy the Trek Madone and deal with the ramifications at a later date. (Not recommended)
B) My friend should buy his wife a new pair of earrings and try again. (A costly gambit)
C) My friend should offer to take his wife on Trek Travel’s California Wine Country trip or Vermont bike trip so she will get a chance to ride the latest Madone and understand. (Preferred option)

Other ideas will be gratefully accepted. My “friend” really needs your help!

Johan Bruyneel Sits Down With Trek Travel

Posted on August 27, 2011 - 7:00 am by keith_ritter

As Team RadioShack takes part in both the Vuelta a España and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado this week, we are lucky to have Team RadioShack Manager Johan Bruyneel answer some questions about cycling, racing, and how bikes can change the world.

Johan is currently lending a hand to World Bicycle Relief’s Grand Slam for Zambia. Their goal: 1,000 bikes. 1,000 lives changed. For every donation, you’ll help provide a bike for a child in Zambia. Children who receive a bike are able to get to school quicker and safer; a journey that often takes up to 4 hours by foot! In addition to helping Zambian children, you’ll also be entered to win all sorts of great prizes like a SRAM Red Gruppo, a Trek Madone, a Trek Travel Trip, and more!

And now some Q&A with Johan Bruyneel (JB):

What major race do you think is the most fun to watch from a fan perspective?
JB: I think every cycling fan dreams of going to the Tour de France. It’s the race that gets the most worldwide coverage and it’s the most prestigious race to win. A lot of people go to the Grand Depart or Paris, but to get the real experience, I also suggest taking in the climbs. If you go to Alpe d’Huez, fans arrive 2-3 days before the race actually passes and it becomes a massive outdoor party on a mountain. I’m not sure if there’s anything like that in all of sports.

The Giro d’Italia is another race that is great. Italy is a beautiful country and the route is often harder than the Tour which makes for some exciting racing. If you ride a bike, then it’s definitely a country to check out.

And then I may be biased since I’m Belgian, but the races in Belgium are great, especially Flanders. The Belgians are so passionate about cycling. It’s so chaotic with fans trying to see the riders at various points during the race. The cobbles, the climbs … It’s totally different than the Giro and Tour so it’s hard to compare, but it’s definitely something I would also suggest.

How often do you get out yourself to ride during the season?
JB: Unfortunately, not very often. For starters, I have a bad back so it’s hard for me to do a real training program. Then with managing a cycling team, traveling to races and trying to squeeze in as much time with my family, it’s not easy to find 2 or 3 hours in a day. I do like to go out for casual rides with Victoria and Eva. We’ll strap my son Christian to my bike and we’ll do a nice leisurely ride in Hyde Park. A nice family outing. But my racing days are over.

Who do you think is one of the most exciting up and coming professional racers and why?
JB: Tough to name just one. Peter Sagan from Liquigas is definitely one. He’s already won some races, but is still young and will get even better.

There’s a rider on our Trek U23 squad by the name of Lawson Craddock. He’s definitely someone to watch out for. Actually, there’s a lot of up and coming Americans who will be able to carry the torch –

Ben King, Matthew Busche, Brent Bookwalter, Teejay Van Garderen and Taylor Phinney to name just a few.

With cycling becoming more globalized, there’s more exposure in historically non-traditional cycling countries, which mainly means outside of Europe. Australia is a country that sticks out in my mind. There’s already a nice talent pool, but with Cadel winning the Tour and the start of GreenEdge, I think we’ll see that cycling will continue to grow in Australia.

I also have my eye on China. I was there for a few days in 2008 prior to the Olympics. Nike was hosting a Hall of Coaches event and I had the opportunity to share some of my philosophies and knowledge with Chinese cycling coaches. With a population over 1 billion, there are definitely people who are or can be talented cyclists. It’s just a matter of finding them and developing their skills and talents!

If you could go on any Trek Travel vacation which one would it be? You would have to relax though!
JB: Hmmm. I would pick any of the Tuscany Luxury trips. Nice riding routes, beautiful scenery, great food and of course the vino. Definitely the perfect combination of everything I like!

What’s the best or funniest question a Trek Travel guest has ever asked you?
JB: I remember a few years ago at the Tour, I was getting a bunch of questions from the Trek Travel guests about the race strategy, what it was like to have Lance and Alberto on the same team and so on. A guy raises his hand and asks: “How do you go to the bathroom?” Of course he was referring to during the race, but he didn’t say that ,nor was anyone, including myself, expecting that question. Everyone started laughing so I responded to his question “No differently than you, unless you know something I don’t.” I don’t think he lived that down for the rest of the trip!

How did you originally get involved with World Bicycle Relief and when?
JB: Well when I was with Astana, I signed SRAM for components. One of the founders of SRAM, FK Day, came to my house one day. He didn’t mention anything about professional racing. All he wanted to tell me was about World Bicycle Relief, why and how he founded it. He asked if I wanted to help him with the mission, which is to provide access to independence and livelihood through the power of bicycles. He showed me pictures and videos, and how a bicycle can change a life forever. Personally, I owe everything in my life to the bike so right then I knew I had to be part of this organization. I’m proud to serve on the Board and carry out the mission of WBR in any way possible.

Why do you think the bicycle has the power to change the world?
JB: I don’t think. I know. I went last year to Zambia and witnessed the power of bicycles. My job as Team Manager has me around the most expensive bikes in the world. But truthfully, the most valuable bikes are $134 WBR bikes. A Zambian child normally has to walk up to 4 hours to and from school on dangerous roads. Because of this, dropout rates are high. Now when you give a bike, that child can reach school quicker and safer. He or she graduates, gets a job and can support him or herself, as well as other family and community members. Because of the bicycle, that person becomes economically independent. We also see that with an education, the rate of contracting HIV/AIDS decreases and women have fewer children. So there are a lot of health and economic benefits that can be attained. WBR has the goal of distributing 50,000 bikes. The impact I’ve seen is amazing and I’m confident that when we reach this goal, you’ll see a different Zambia!

Colorado’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge, By Bob Joy

Posted on August 17, 2011 - 10:15 am by keith_ritter

I am suffering from a form of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Specifically, I have Post-Tour-de-France-Withdrawal-Syndrome (PTdFWS). Symptoms include staring at the blank television screen each evening and aimlessly wandering the house saying things like, “The elastic has snapped” and “He reached into his suitcase of pain and found that he forgot to pack.”

Fortunately, this year there is a cure. Colorado’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge will be held August 22-28 and will be broadcast on Versus and NBC. The Leopard Trek and Radio Shack teams will be there riding their state-of-the-art Madones. The HTC Highroad team will also participate in what we now know is their final season. Cadel Evans is expected to lead the BMC team and will be supported by former U.S. road racing champion, George Hincapie. It is likely to be a high-altitude rematch between the Schleck brothers and this year’s winner of the Tour de France. Let’s hope there are fewer crashes!

The race will begin on Monday, August 22nd with a fast, five mile Prologue that will begin in the magnificent Garden of the Gods, descend through Old Town and finish in downtown Colorado Springs. Other than deciding who will wear the leader’s yellow jersey the next day, it will be too short to have much effect on the overall results.

But it won’t take long for the real fun to begin. The first stage will include a climb over Monarch Pass that tops out at over 11,000 feet in elevation. The finish will be on an uphill climb to Mt. Crested Butte. Sprinters need not apply.

Wednesday’s route from Gunnison to Aspen is being called the Queen Stage because it will feature two demanding climbs over 12,000 feet. The first will ascend a dirt road to Gunnison Pass and is sure to split the peloton. Watch for Boulder, Colorado resident and former mountain biker Tom Danielson to emerge from the pack on the climb and use his descending skills to gain time on his rivals. With his ninth-place finish in the Tour de France, the highest for any American, this is shaping up to be Tom’s breakout year. He’s been training in these mountains since his return and has to be among the favorites.

The next day’s time trial will be twice as long as the Prologue and will be uphill all the way. Riders will gain nearly 1,800 feet over the ten mile course that will start in Vail Village and end at the top of Vail pass. The route will favor all-around riders like Levi Leipheimer and Cadel Evans who can both time trial and climb.

Friday’s route will provide little respite for the riders. The route from Avon to Steamboat Springs is only 86 miles long but will climb 5,000 vertical feet. Saturday’s route will be like a rest day. It will start in Steamboat Springs and finish 105 miles later in downtown Breckenridge. This may be the only bunch sprint of the race but it won’t do much to sort out the overall leaders.

The race will end on Sunday with a 78-mile looping ride that will start in Golden, climb over Lookout Mountain, and conclude with six laps of a circuit course before finishing in front of the magnificent State Capitol Building in downtown Denver. It should be an exciting finish to a great inaugural race.
And the best part is that we will be another month closer to June 30th when the 2012 Tour de France starts!

For more information about the race and full television listings: http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com

Learn more about Trek Travel cycling vacations of a lifetime.

The Tour de France in July…the Rest of the Story!

Posted on June 30, 2011 - 9:00 am by keith_ritter

We have another great post by superstar guest Bob Joy. He has been on many Trek Travel bike trips and captured many great moments through his camera. Here he discusses the joys of July and the 3 weeks of the Tour de France.

If you are a cyclist, July is the best month of the year. Not just because the long days and warm weather are ideal for riding, but because for three magical weeks the Tour de France comes around. For the committed, the Tour eclipses March Madness, the Stanley Cup, and the World Series in importance. It’s like having a Super Bowl every day for 21 days, but with a caravan of vendors instead of the beer commercials. And the best part is that you get to stand right on the sidelines!

The Tour de France attracts the largest live audience of any sporting event in the world. This year, fans will stretch out over 3,430 kilometers of some of the most scenic roads in France. Seeing the Tour in person, especially with Trek Travel, is an amazing experience! No other travel company has the connections to get you inside the action.

The photo below was taken about one kilometer below the summit of the Col d’Aubisque on the final mountain stage during the 2007 tour. Our group had dined with the Discovery Channel team the night before and learned that they were planning to change out the rear wheels for three of the riders – Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer, and Yaroslav Popovych – after the first steep climb up the Port de Lareu. This would enable them to start the day with larger climbing cogs “as the road turned up in anger,” as Phil Liggett might say, and then switch to a tighter cluster for the rest of the stage. This novel strategy required split-second timing; the mechanics in the support vehicles had be in just the right positions to switch the wheels without causing the riders to lose precious seconds to the peloton. The gambit worked! Even the commentators were taken by surprise and exclaimed that Levi, “must have had a mechanical or a flat tire.”

We also knew that Leipheimer was going to press race leader Michael Rasmussen on the final climb to the summit finish on the Col d’Aubisque in an effort to soften him up for Contador. Johan Bruyneel thought that Rasmussen was at his limit, but that was not the case. Just after they passed us, with Levi setting the pace as planned, Rasmussen accelerated to the finish and won handily. You may recall that he was then whisked away by his team management and forced to withdraw from the Tour, not for testing positive for any banned substance, but for lying about his whereabouts several months earlier.

Alberto Contador thus became the race leader overnight and started the next day in Le Maillot Jaune. He went on to win in Paris and we were able to join the celebration at the team bus. Few people in the crowd knew what had happened in the pivotal mountain stage that led to his victory. But as Paul Harvey used to say, now you know the rest of the story!

Renee Krysko asks, Is it all about the bike?

Posted on June 22, 2011 - 9:00 am by keith_ritter

In the past nine years we’ve advised thousands of guests and prospective guests about the finer points of selecting the right cycling trip AND the right bike tour company for them! Our main objective is to infect people with a passion for biking. So whether you ride with us, or another company we want you to have a fantastic ride. With this objective in mind, we are dedicating part of our blog, Out for a Spin, to educate you on the finer aspects of selecting the right experience and company for you! Watch for our first edition; Is it all about the bike?

Is it all about the bike?

No, it is not! But the wrong bike could ruin your vacation. When we ask our guests why they choose Trek Travel, the number one response is the bike! It doesn’t really matter which type of rider they are, avid or beginner, when they get on a bike that is lightweight, shifts well, fits them properly and has the ride they want, it just feels right; everything becomes effortless and the cycling vacation begins.

So how do you pick the right bike for your bike tour? The first tip is, decide what type of ride you want and make your selection from there. Are you looking for a comfortable commute or a more athletic ride? Here is the scoop on bikes for cycling holidays.

Generally bike tour companies offer one or two styles of bikes, either a hybrid or a road bike.

Trek Hybrid Bikes

A hybrid has an upright position and is great for people who are new to cycling or are interested in leisurely riding. It’s heavier than a road bike, but it has a lower gear ratio, meaning that it is easier to pedal up the hill (phew!). The thicker tires also give you a softer ride, so that even beginners feel confident. Trek Travel has a new fleet of hybrid bikes in North America, Trek’s 7.7 FX. It is one of the lightest hybrids on the market, but so comfortable it’s like riding a Cadillac.

A road bike is appropriate for people who have experience with cycling or mountain biking, or for those who lead an active lifestyle. The weight of a road bike is dependent upon the materials used to make it. Currently carbon fiber is the most lightweight yet durable material on the market and is the material of choice for most race bikes. The weight difference between a hybrid and a road bike is significant. The geometry of the frame maximizes the performance of the bike and the narrow tires decrease road resistance allowing you to roll faster with less energy output. In short, it’s fast! Our guests LOVE the new 5.2 Madone road bike. It’s super light, responsive and climbs like a mountain goat! I clocked myself going up Ventoux last year and improved my time by 4 minutes. Trust me, it was all due to the bike!

In our day of mass choices, the question is, do two bike styles fit all? Actually some companies believe ONE bike can fit all. Some will take the same bike frame and simply change out the handlebars between flat bars (similar to those on a hybrid) and road bars to accommodate the different styles of riding. While this option can work, the downside is that it does not give you the true fit, comfort or sense of security of a hybrid, nor does it give you the performance position of a race bike.

Here at Trek Travel, we find that 85% of our guests are happy with either a hybrid or road bike, however the 15% feel differently need something else. Some need a little extra boost to get up the mountains, others need a power surge to keep up with their more avid partner, and a few are recovering from an injury but still want to ride. These individuals are well suited to Trek’s Ride+ electric assist bike. You still get a workout but with a little help. For avid riders or those seeking to experience the frame used by the pros, they prefer a snappy ultra-lightweight race bike. Trek Travel offers the same bike used by Team Radio Shack and LEOPARD TREK—Trek’s 6.5 Carbon Fiber Madone. They can even trick out the bike with Bontrager’s XXX Carbon Clincher Wheel sets.

At the end of the day, you want to pick the bike that will allow you to see the world in the style that is right for you. A bike tour is not all about the bike, but given that it is a cycling vacation, you are better off enjoying the smoothest ride possible. In an upcoming blog, “The Proper Fit” we’ll review the importance of a proper bike fit. Good luck picking your bike and see you out on the road.

Bob Joy’s 2011 Guide Commencement Speech

Posted on June 13, 2011 - 9:32 am by keith_ritter

I was just looking at the photo album of the new guides that Trek Travel posted a few weeks ago. I would have loved to deliver the inspirational commencement address at their graduation ceremony. If I had, here’s what I would have said:

Congratulations to the Trek Travel guide class of 2011! You have distinguished yourselves among your peers by gaining admission to a training program that is more selective than many Ivy League colleges. During your course of study you learned how to refill water bottles and tune bikes while your guests make leisurely laps through the breakfast buffet. You learned how to fit a premium carbon bike to the precise measurements and personal preferences of each guest. You learned how to fix a flat on the road using nothing more than a cheap plastic comb and a folded dollar bill. And you learned the art of laying out a classic Trek Travel Picnic that captures the romance of a small village in the French Pyrenees, the majesty of a Redwood forest, or the abundant sunshine of a winery in Mallorca, each time introducing your guests to local produce, specialty foods, and delicious wines.

For all you have accomplished, you know that you have much more to learn. So, for your first few trips you will be paired with a veteran guide. Jacob Young will share his famous recipe for guacamole so you can welcome your guests back from a long day of cycling with chips, salsa, and cold beer. Stephanie Stewart Chapman will tell you she is an “enabler” because she enables her clients to strive for and achieve more than they ever thought they could. Greg Lyeki will show you the art of happily riding along with the slowest cyclists in your group to be sure they find their way. And Cendrine DeVis will show you how to hide champagne in your knapsack so you can toast your guests in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower after they have completed laps on the Champs-Eleysee.

You will also hear stories about some of the legendary feats of your Trek Travel colleagues. You will learn how Dan Frideger persuaded a local boulangerie in central France to open early so that his guests would be greeted by warm pastries as they boarded the 6:30 AM train to Paris for the finale of the Tour de France. You will learn how Diane Suozzo and Doug Kirkby responded when the Italian authorities abruptly closed of the following day’s route at the Giro d’Italia by devising a fantastic climb into the marble quarries above Carrera that include five “gallerias,” or tunnels. And you will learn how one of the guides spent the night sleeping in a van on the Col d’Aubisque in the Pyrenees so she could make it to Trek Travel’s exclusive viewing perch in time to personally congratulate every guest who scaled that legendary climb the next day. Her name? Tania Worgull, Trek Travel’s president!

The Trek Madone…

Posted on June 3, 2011 - 8:17 am by keith_ritter

This is a great video showcasing how a Trek Madone 6 series is built in Waterloo, WI. This is the same bike that we are able to supply on our trips as an upgrade option. If someone wants to ride a bike that has seen the likes of Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Chris Horner, the Schlecks, and Fabian Cancellara ridden to countless victories, they can do so on a Trek Travel bike trip.

I’ve ridden this bike up and down numerous mountain passes in places like the French Alps and Solvang, CA. I’m always happy that I don’t have to worry about the bike weighing me down, just my own lack of fitness;) Plus anytime some of us guides head out for a little cycling banter, it’s always nice to have the stiffness to stay on guys wheels like Matty, Lyeki, or Big Wave. (Ok, maybe not Big Waves!)

Stephanies Favorite, Dom Vincent from the Beaune region of France

Posted on May 27, 2011 - 7:00 am by keith_ritter

On our Burgundy bike trip, we visit Pierre and Nicole’s cellar, L’Ange Gardien, in the heart of the charming town of Beaune. Their vines are mainly planted on the ‘Côte de Beaune’ and spread over the following areas: Auxey-Duresses, Beaune, Chorey-les-Beaune, Ladoix-Serrigny, Meursault, Pommard, Savigny-les Beaune.

Our wine tasting there is one of the most fun and laughter-filled I’ve ever enjoyed and includes many spectacular wines. Their best, however, in my opinion, is the Dom Vincent. Yes, it’s a play on Dom Perignon! Dom Vincent is a crémant, another term for sparkling wine, and a regional specialty. At L’Ange Gardien, they have both a white and rosé variety, both of which are amazing. The white features very delicate bubbles, light citrus aromas, and a pale yellow color. The rosé’s color is just beautiful, deep and dark pink, and also features the light and delicate bubbles.

Either can be paired with their most delicious Créme de Cassis (black current liquor) to make a ‘Kir‘ (the traditional Burgundian cocktail). The shining deep red color and fruity smell explode into a velvety smoothness on your palate. And yes, it can very much be enjoyed on its own too.

A Moment in Italy, by Bob Joy

Posted on May 19, 2011 - 9:56 am by keith_ritter

Trek Travel president Tania Burke recently explained why she thinks Tuscany is the best place to take an Italy bike tour. I couldn’t agree more. Tuscany combines amazing scenery, outstanding food and wine, and some of the world’s friendliest people. One can tour Tuscany by bus, or see it in a car, but the only way to really experience it is on a bike.

Let’s start with scenery. On a bike, you don’t just view the landscape, you feel it. In your calves and thighs, of course, but you also become aware of the breezes, can savor the aromas of flowers in bloom or bread just coming out of the oven in the village paneterria, and can hear the laughter of children kicking a soccer ball or the peal of a church bell in the distance. You aren’t just an observer of the landscape, you are connected to it in a way that the typical tourist never is.

Maybe it’s the effort that cycling takes that makes the food and wine taste so much better. Or maybe it’s the guilt-free knowledge that you are burning off the calories just as fast as you are taking them on. How wonderful it is to indulge in pasta and wine for a week and not put on any weight!

Traveling by bike is a great way to connect with people, too. On a 2009 trip with Trek Travel our group started the day at Lido di Camaiore on the coast just north of Pisa. We climbed up a series of hills as we headed east and were rewarded by ever more dramatic views of the Ligurian Sea. We stopped in a little village at the crest of a ridge to check our maps and regroup. I noticed that the older gentleman sitting on a stone bench seemed to be eyeing us curiously. He motioned for me to join him, but as I did he saw the sweat pouring off my body and made a big deal about shifting to the far end of the bench, clearly conveying the notion that I was untouchable. On impulse, I slid right next to him. His reaction was captured in this photo. Despite the differences in culture, age, and language, we made a human connection that afternoon. It was just another Trek Travel moment, but the memory will last a lifetime.

Jetsetter Passport chats with guide Jonathan Hershberger about California Wine Country

Posted on May 15, 2011 - 10:11 pm by keith_ritter

This week we launched a sale featuring Trek Travel’s California Wine Country tour, a five-night cycling itinerary that stops at some of Napa and Sonoma’s best wineries. We spoke with Jonathan Hershberger, a guide for Trek Travel, and asked all the important questions: How much can you really drink while biking? Do people ever fall down? And do you feel silly at a wine tasting in bike shorts? We also covered some less important ground, like the biggest challenges on the trip, the coolest stop and why their bikes have been in the Tour de France.

Older posts

Newer posts

Author Archives: keith_ritter

Dear Marriage Advisor by guest blogger, Bob Joy

Johan Bruyneel Sits Down With Trek Travel

Colorado’s USA Pro Cycling Challenge, By Bob Joy

The Tour de France in July…the Rest of the Story!

Renee Krysko asks, Is it all about the bike?

Bob Joy’s 2011 Guide Commencement Speech

The Trek Madone…

Stephanies Favorite, Dom Vincent from the Beaune region of France

A Moment in Italy, by Bob Joy

Jetsetter Passport chats with guide Jonathan Hershberger about California Wine Country

Private

What is the Difference?

Ultimate Luxury:

Luxury:

Explorer:

Combined:

Activity Level

Level 1:

Level 2:

Level 3:

Level 4:

What are your trip styles?

Classic - Reserve:

Classic - Signature:

Classic - Discover:

Ride Camp:

Pro Race:

Cross Country:

Self-Guided

Single Occupancy