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.
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.
Trek Travel doesn’t mess around when it comes to weeding out less-than-ideal candidates. Here’s an inside look at the process.
This article was written by Jeff Haden and originally published on Inc.com
Ultimately the success of your company depends on the quality of your employees. That means how you hire makes all the difference.
Here’s another in my series where I pick a topic and connect with someone a lot smarter than me.
This time I talked to Tania Burke, President of Trek Travel, a full-service cycling vacation company that offers trips in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America, about hiring remote employees who can deliver outstanding customer service in complex and diverse environments.
You put prospective trip guides through one of the toughest hiring processes I’ve seen.
It has to be. Think of the skills a guide needs: They need to be bike mechanics, strong riders, speak foreign languages, have travel experience–and first and foremost have outstanding customer service skills. The combination is a pretty rare package.
Our guides are 24/7 during trips. Meeting requirements is fine, but the candidates who rise to the top are people who can take customer service to the next level, the people who find ways to wow customers.
Forty percent of our business is repeat customers and another 30 percent is referral based, and that’s a testament to customer service. Our guides are the face of our company.
Conventional wisdom says employers should make it really easy for people to apply in order not to lose some great candidates who bail because the process is too much work. You take the opposite approach.
A lot of people want to be trip guides simply because they want to spend time cycling in Europe. So we have the application tool on our website, but we create a lot of hoops for applicants to jump through in order to weed out the casual applicants. We make people work just to submit an application.
Then what happens?
Then we do two or three Skype video interviews with different people at our company. That lets us narrow the list to a certain number who come to our headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, for a full-day hiring event.
We’re looking for an all-around blend of skills, so that day each candidate takes part in language testing, role-playing exercises, public speaking, language testing, food preparation, bike mechanic testing. We have one staff member to every two applicants engaged in evaluating them.
Finally we have cocktails and dinner, which sometimes is the most telling part of the day. Seeing how candidates interact with small and larger groups is really important, especially since our guides spend a lot of time with customers off the bike.
And your candidates are still not done.
After the one-day event we select a few people to be guides. They then go through a 10-day training program. They’re still being evaluated, because they aren’t officially hired until they make it through that program.
For 10 days they drive a van and trailer, do more public speaking, conduct a mock trip, and manage that group. One thing you can’t see in the hiring process is how people will deal with an intense experience for a long period of time. So they’re up until 11.30 p.m. at night, back up at 6 a.m. to prep the bikes for that day… in the field some of our guides do that for three weeks in a row with no days off. We try to mimic that experience in our training, both to help guides develop skills and to ensure we’re making the right decision.
Some people make it through training successfully yet still decide not to take the job. There’s no way to know if you’ll love a job until you do that job for a while, so we try to give candidates that experience so they can also make the right decision.
You really have to want the job. Some people will go through the whole process and think, “Um, I’m not sure this is really what I want.” Some of them say it’s like being on “Survivor.”
I would think that would pay dividends in terms of retention. Sure, you’re spending more on the process up front but that pays off on the back end.
Our guides stay with us for a long time. Over a decade later, five of our original guides are still with us. Another crop is about to hit the 10-year mark. Our average guide has been with us more than five years; the industry average is probably around three years.
It’s a challenging lifestyle. You don’t travel home a lot, you could be gone for six months at a time or longer, because often guides will go someplace else in Europe between trips.
Aside from what they do during the trip, are there ways guides can extend the customer service ethos after the trip?
Because so much of our business is repeat, we can build comprehensive customer profiles. Guides send us information on each customer; maybe one thinks he’s a Level 3 but he’s actually a Level 4 and would really enjoy a fast, challenging trip. They also send back bike measurements so we can pre-set bikes next time.
The goal is to collect as much customer information, including preferences, interests, etc, so the process is as seamless as possible the next time.
You also put a lot of trust in your employees to develop new destinations, itineraries, etc.
We determine new destinations about two years out. Say we want to set up a trip in Andalucia in southeast Spain. We do some research, find out a little more about the region, talk to our guides to see if they’ve spent time there… just to start gathering input.
Trek (the bike manufacturer and one-time parent company, which spun off the business in 2007) also has resources we can tap.
Then we put someone on the ground and they do a week to 10 days worth of research. They check out hotels, do site visits, drive the routes, and most importantly evaluate safety. Safety trumps everything: We don’t want to put people on busy roads, so we work hard to find the absolute best and safest places to ride, and the best people to evaluate the quality and safety of a ride are experienced guides.
Then we go back again and put the fine details on the trip: Maybe we find a local farmer who will give us a cheese production tour. Maybe it’s a winery, maybe it’s a cool cooking school, maybe it’s an olive farm. Then we focus on the food experience: Where are the best restaurants?
Ratings don’t tell you anything. You have to go. You have to see and feel and taste–and you have to have experience leading awesome trips to put together an awesome trip.
When Mac Tichenor, a close friend of Trek Travel, wanted to celebrate his birthday in style, he put together the guest list and we took care of the rest. What followed was a floating party, an unforgettable bike-n-barge vacation from Paris to Champagne. Together, Mac and nine of his closest friends cruised the Marne River and set a new bar for the ultimate birthday celebration.
What inspired you to take a bike and barge vacation?
The inspiration came from the Trek Travel trip designers. I presented them with a nascent idea, and, very creatively, they came up with a spectacular trip. Even after the idea was hatched, we weren’t certain what we were getting into. But our previous experience on a Trek Travel trip made us confident that it would be well done and fun, and our expectations were far surpassed.
Tell us about your favorite day of the trip.
It is really hard to pick a favorite. Each day had its own flavor, with different intensities of riding, different types of scenery, and different kinds of off-the-bike activities, all of which made each day interesting and exciting. But the first full day was probably the most memorable. Our group of 10 was already wowed by the elegance of our accommodations on the barge, the conviviality of its crew, and how our guides were almost giddy about the plans for the week. The excitement of starting off that first morning still sticks with me.
How does a bike and barge trip compare to a classic cycling vacation?
1. A big benefit was that we did not have to pack up and move out of our rooms for the whole week. After we departed the barge each morning on our bikes, it would motor on to the next port of call, where we would meet it at the end of the day. We had the same room but a different view every day.
2. The barge had a great bar, wine cellar, and an extraordinary chef. It was particularly nice to stay aboard after a long day of riding and be treated to a Michelin-quality meal.
3. When someone in our group didn’t want to ride on a given day, they had the option of staying on the barge to read and relax on deck during a pleasant trip down the Marne River.
What made the bike and barge trip a unique travel experience?
I think the true uniqueness of this trip was the melding of two activities, either one of which makes a great trip in itself – a Trek Travel bicycling adventure and a river barge excursion. It led to a confluence of magic ingredients: good friends, engaging and helpful guides, gorgeous scenery, great bikes, the novelty and unexpected luxuriousness of the barge experience, and some of the best food and wine in the world. The excitement and camaraderie generated among our group, our guides, and the crew grew over the week and made it especially enjoyable.
“The barge experience was a perfect complement to biking. The barge crew was exceptionally fun and helpful. The food and wine were fabulous. Our Trek Travel guides were immediate friends, it couldn’t have been better!” – Mac Tichenor
Why did you choose to celebrate your birthday with Trek Travel?
My wife and I had recently been introduced to bike touring on a Trek Travel trip to Vermont, which we loved. Some friends on that trip had been on Trek Travel trips in Europe that they raved about, so we filed away that idea. Somehow the idea of adding in the barge element surfaced, and the Trek Travel trip designers took it and ran with it.
Do you have an especially memorable story from the trip?
On our first full day of riding, our guides told us we would stop at a French country inn for lunch. That sounded fine, but we didn’t really have any idea what we were in for. It turned out to be a charming spot in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by an apple orchard, with a great outdoor dining area. We were fêted with too many courses to count of delicious food (for which we had built up big appetites by riding all morning). The meal lasted almost two hours and, after a brief recovery period (i.e. naps on the grass), we set out to ride it off and be ready for dinner. That day brought us to realize what a highly civilized experience was in store for us.
“Before Kent and I left on our Trek Travel Tour de France bike tour, I had coworkers ask me if I was traveling for fun or if I was riding my bike. For us, it is one and the same. Riding my bike on the same roads that the pros would be riding was to be the vacation of a lifetime.
Our trip was a total of six days, five of which were spent riding through the breathtaking (literally and figuratively) French Alps. During those five days, most of us would climb a total of 30,000 feet over 184 miles. It was fantastic to know what the racers were experiencing when I watched them climb the 22 km up the Col du Glandon! I knew firsthand the difficulty of the last 2.5 km, which averages around 11% grade, of the Col de la Morte. Trek Travel set up a viewing of Stage 19 with an open bar and buffet, and I watched as the peloton rolled down the Col de la Croix de Fer and knew, from my own ride down that same road, how spectacular the views were.
On day number five, our group rode up Alpe d’Huez two hours prior to the actual peloton. The 21 switchbacks were jam-packed with Tour lovers from all over the globe. Each switchback seemed to have been taken over by a different country, the biggest and craziest of them all being switchback #7 where we were greeted by a sea of orange as, I believe, all of Holland had camped out and were eagerly awaiting the riders. My favorite part of that ride to the top of Alpe d’Huez is when our guide Jonathan’s playlist turned to “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. It seemed to transcend language barriers, as everyone within earshot took up the chorus: “Ohh you’re halfway there. Ohhh living on a prayer!” Together, our group rolled across the actual finish line, and the people along the barriers cheered as if we were truly part of the Tour. I had a grin on my face that reached from ear to ear.
That night we got to meet one of the iconic figures of the cycling world. The man who coined the well-known (and while I was climbing, often repeated) phrase, “Shut up legs”: Jens Voigt. On TV he comes across as direct with a dry sense of humor, and that is exactly how he is in person. Jens spent an hour with the group, answering questions, taking pictures, and signing autographs. There were three teams staying at our hotel, and I had already snagged a picture with Andrew Talansky and Ryder Hesjedal and photo bombed Tony Gallopin. Some of the group had noticed André Greipel, aka The Gorilla, sitting in the bar. I convinced Jens to help me get a picture with him, seeing as how they are both German. Afterwards, Jens stayed behind to chat with Greipel and take selfies with him and his Lotto teammates while I immediately posted my prized picture to Facebook.
The sixth and last day of our adventure found us hustling off the mountain and on to Grenoble, where we boarded a train that would take us to Paris and to the final stage of the Tour de France. Trek had reserved the illustrious Automobile Club de France, which is located on the course about 500 meters from the finish. I felt a tad bit guilty as throngs of onlookers crowded behind barricades, while we sipped our drinks inches away from where the peloton was finishing the last stage. The most exciting moment came on the last lap as the sprinters flew past trying to get set up for that final push. After they passed where we were standing, we turned to where we could see the giant screen and got to watch as ‘The Gorilla’ won the most prestigious finale in cycling on the Champs-Élysées.
We finished the night and our Tour de France trip with a toast to our amazing guides and the experiences we would never have had without their help.”
This is the story of my journey from a non-rider to a cyclist extraordinaire.
Act One:
At age 44 I took my first bike trip in Europe. Actually, it was my first bike trip ever and first time on a bike in Europe. The Trek Travel trip was not in the Loire Valley in France or through the tulip fields of Holland (which are relatively flat), but in the hills of Italy! In Tuscany we were either riding up to a “hill town” or downhill, on our way to go up another hill, to another town. I did not even own a road bike at the time. I trained for the trip on a hybrid with flat pedals, and that is the bike I rode on the trip. I didn’t even own a pair of cycling shorts!
The first afternoon was designed to stretch our legs, and this found me riding alone as the last rider of the group. I was talking out loud at the imagined version of my husband, a long-time avid cyclist, in front of me. The one-sided conversation went something like this: “What am I doing here? These are mountains not hills! People are on this trip training for the Iron Man qualifying event in Madison! There are former amateur and pro riders on this trip! What were you thinking bringing me!”
Everyone on the trip was supportive and encouraging to those of us who were not experienced riders – specially the Trek Travel guides. The three female guides changed my life. These three wonderful ladies encouraged me to ride at my own pace, to challenge myself, and were always willing to ride with me no matter how slow. I listened to their parting words at the end of the trip: “ Don’t give up cycling.”
Act Two:
I took those words to heart. I am fortunate to have a husband who is patient and loves cycling more than any other activity. He helped me move forward in my equipment choices from hybrid, to a Women’s Specific Design road bike, and now to a Trek Madone (like going from a pony to a Thoroughbred Horse). I moved from regular pedals, to mountain bike pedals, and now to road bike clip-in pedals. I now own cycling shorts too!
Act Three:
At age 55, I now have five Trek Travel trips checked off my long wish list including Adelaide, Australia, Napa Valley, California, and Dordogne, France. By taking the guides’ words to heart, not only has my cycling improved, but so have so many parts of my life. I decided to start pilates three years ago to improve my cycling and this happened along with my overall strength, balance and flexibility. I have a confidence on the bike that has allowed me to ride in foreign countries, like Japan. My health has improved and my weight has dropped. I moved to downtown Madison, Wisconsin and use a bike as part of my daily transportation. I use my ability to ride longer distances to raise money for charity.
I don’t know what Act 4 has in store for me, but I will always have the Trek Travel guides’ words in my heart as I travel down the road on my bike.
Cradled in the heart of Kenmare Bay, between the famous Ring of Kerry and the unspoiled Ring of Beara, the picturesque town of Kenmare is steeped in legends and rich in archaeological history. Renowned for Kenmare lace, respected for gourmet food and revered for breathtaking scenery, it is no wonder Kenmare has become a popular tourist destination.
As all places in Ireland do, this heritage town has both an Irish and English name. Neidín, meaning “Little Nest”, is the Irish name of the town which nestles between the MacGillicuddy Reeks to the north, the Caha mountains to the south, the rivers Roughty and Sheen to the east, and the broad expanse of the Atlantic Ocean to the west. But in the late 18th century, after word quickly spread that this was a little town of thieves and liars, landlord William Petty Fitzmaurice chose to rename the precious land that was gifted to him by Oliver Cromwell for painstakingly completing the mapping of Ireland.
There are two sides to every story. In Ireland, however, a new rendition is told with every pint. While locals will tell you the name Kenmare was chosen in honor of Lord Kenmare of the Brown family from Killarney, historians in favor of etymology make a connection to Ceann Mara, which translates to “Head of the Sea” in English. While there’s no saying which interpretation is accurate, one thing is for certain–the tradition of Irish folklore is alive and well.
A seanchaí (pronounced “shan-a-key”) is a knowledgeable person, usually a man, who has the gift of entertaining his listeners by relating stories with a captivating tone of voice, the use of colorful language, and with a most interesting turn of phrase. The story content is of any topic whatsoever but most often has an element of fun.
Long before the advent of television and radio, it was common in rural Ireland to visit one’s neighbors for a chat when the day’s work was done. This tradition was called “ag scoraíocht”(skur-eekt). One house in particular always emerged as the most popular to visit, and it became known as the “rambling house”. Encouraged by the gathering, it was to the rambling house that the seanchaí invariably came to draw them into the wonder of his story.
Despite the onslaught of modern social media, the use of the spoken word has been and still is cherished by the Irish. According to Donal Sleator, a retired primary school teacher, principal, storyteller and Kenmare native, language must be appealing and entertaining in order for others to learn. “We feel compelled to share our stories because of the deep, rich heritage of which we are aware. Whereas in the past stories were communicated through the medium of the Irish language, we now share a common language (English) with most visitors to our shores. Our stories today perhaps have less emphasis on fairies, leprechauns and the little people. Through pride of place, they dwell more on our history and on who we are.”
As one Irish actor told me in a Dublin pub…”I like the English. In fact my wife is English. That being said, I don’t care much for the British.” That barb was followed by a knowing Irish wink and another sip of beer.
Like Americans, the Irish also speak English. But it is a far different version of our flat twang, and it takes a while for Americans to develop an ear for the colorful lilt of the Irish tongue, especially in the beautiful green countryside, where the rural folks speak in a heavier local version of the language.
The fondest memory I have of Ireland occurred in the small town of Oranmore outside of Galway. It was when our large clan went to a nice, polite brunch of Irish salmon. Upon exiting the restaurant my father spied a thatched roof pub across the lane named McDonough’s. With a touch of the dramatic Dad said, “Follow me. I’ve been wanting to do this my entire life.” He proceeded to lead his wife and six adult children into the bar and announced with a broad smile, “We’re the Roaches of America and we’d like to buy the pub a round!”
There were some twenty folks in the bar, and we were witness to one of the great Irish rituals…the pouring of the Guinness. Twenty large pints were lined along the bar and then with ceremony rivaling a papal coronation, the bartender minded each glass so that the rich head of the brew would be allowed to rise and breathe for the perfect amount of time before being served.
Trek Travel sat down with Bill Ruddick, executive director of Gran Fondo NJ, to learn more about the inspiration for this incredible event. From riding across Canada to a fat bike ride across a frozen lake at the end of February, the Gran Fondo is crafted from once-in-a-lifetime cycling experiences. Bill knows first hand how tough a ride can be, but more importantly, how to make it fun.
For those who are unaware, what is a Gran Fondo?
A Gran Fondo is a mass-participation endurance cycling event, with a timing component, and a festival at the end. Gran Fondo routes are typically very challenging (lots of climbing). Some Gran Fondos time start-to-finish, others time only the toughest hill climbs. At Gran Fondo NJ we offer timing only on the toughest climbs of the routes – this allows our riders to enjoy the scenery of the routes and the amazing offerings at our rest stops without feeling they are being penalized.
What is the history behind Gran Fondo NJ?
Gran Fondo NJ is the brainchild of Marty Epstein, its founder and the owner of Marty’s Reliable Cycle. We started the event in 2011 with an initial focus of showcasing the amazing cycling in northern New Jersey, providing our riders with the best one-day experience they will have on a bike, and putting on a sustainably responsible event. The event is also used by some of our riders, as well as our five beneficiaries, as a charity ride to raise funds for their favorite causes. The event has raised over $600,000 for charities since its inception and last year it was the first cycling event in the world to earn a Gold Level of accreditation from the Council for Responsible Sport.
What makes this event particularly unique?
We think Gran Fondo NJ offers a unique blend of a challenging bike ride, a personal competition with our timed hill climbs and fun. You know this is different from any other cycling experience when you pull in to the first rest stop and are greeted by Cheerleaders, Seeing Eye puppies and cannolis. To the surprise of many, we have amazingly beautiful cycling routes just 40 miles from NYC.
Tell us your story. How long have you been riding bikes?
I have been riding bikes since I was a kid delivering the morning newspaper in Montreal. I rode my bike to school and college, and have built up a number of bikes from scrap parts. Once my kids got older, I started riding and raising money in charity events. My first week-long event was a ride across Alaska in August of 2000 (yes we had two days of snow), and it just took off from there.
What was your inspiration to ride across Canada in 2010?
I was inspired to ride across Canada to re-live a family road trip in the summer of 1966 – my mum and dad packed up 4 kids and camping gear in a station wagon and drove from Montreal to Vancouver and back. It also met my criteria for adventure – “If you are going to do something, it might as well be memorable!”
Tell us about your most adventurous day on a bike.
My most adventurous day on a bike was on the ride across Canada – it was a supported ride, but basically a daily game of “Survivor” played out over 10 weeks. Each day we had to ride to the next campsite where the truck with all our gear was waiting. On one day, a 100-mile ride between Ottawa and Montreal, I broke a rear drive-side spoke 20 miles in to the ride. Luckily I found a bike shop back in Ottawa that had the spoke I needed, but to get it fixed I had to abandon the group I was with, take a taxi back to the shop, get the wheel fixed and start off all over again alone. I ended up re-starting the ride at around noon, and rode the 100 miles as an individual time trial. I managed to complete it in just over 6 hours (including two ferry rides and sight seeing) and to the surprise of the other riders on the tour made it into camp just before dinner.
What is your favorite travel destination and why?
There is something very captivating about Paris in the summertime – from the amazing sights, the wine and food, to the light at the end of a summer day. Also fun to plan it to coincide with the final day of the Tour de France when the city is taken over by the excitement of the peloton racing up and down the Champs Elysees.
Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?
That’s an easy one – it would have to be the Provence luxury vacation. I would like to test my mettle once again on Mont Ventoux, and ride through les Gorges de la Nesque – I had the opportunity to drive through les Gorges in 2004 and ever since then felt it would be an amazing cycling experience.
I have been riding a bike as long as I can remember.
Usually it was a hand-me-down from my older sister, but the time came for a “decent” bike when I started participating in the sprint triathlon circuit. So of course I chose it based on the color–hot orange. I was a mediocre swimmer and an average runner, but I made up all my time on the bicycle. I moved on from the triathlons soon after I won my first and only trophy–Best in Age Group–but I kept biking.
One of the first dates I had with my husband, Scott, was mountain biking. It was mostly hills, and some were pretty steep! I quickly realized that the hot orange number was out of date and I needed a new ride. I bought a Gary Fisher. Twenty four years later we still have that bike, although it has received a few upgrades. Scott rides it with knobby tires while I ride my Trek 7700 Hybrid (which was my upgrade around 2004).
I am not a serious biker by any stretch of the imagination. Living in Madison, Wisconsin I have several friends who work in the bike industry and we heard about a Trek Travel trip to the California Wine Country. It may have even been one of Trek Travel’s first years in business. It sounded good to me and a group of us signed up.
I had no Idea this trip would be so life changing. My trip preparation included working with Carmichael Training Systems. There was all kinds of technical advice to take advantage of, which was too much work for me. But I gleaned one suggestion that that has stayed with me. “Ride at least 100 miles per week and you will be ready.” No problem. I can do that.
On our first trip, we were lucky to ride with Frankie Andreu, who is a nine time Tour de France finisher. I learned from one of the best. I can still hear him say, “Get on my wheel!” So I did. (Did I mention he was really cute, too?) I completed every climb on every ride, although there may have been a few choice words along the way. “One Hundred mile per week and you will be ready.”
It became my mantra. “One Hundred miles per week and you will be ready.” Every day I can, I jump on my bike and ride. When asked what I am training for I reply, “I am training for life.” One hundred miles per week provides a goal to work toward, a sense of accomplishment, and a strong and healthy body. Did I mention all the calories burned? Sometimes I ride alone, sometimes with friends, other times I meet people on the trail and ride with strangers for a while. Camaraderie comes easily.
One wedding anniversary I received a square box…surely a beautiful watch or bracelet. As I opened the box my husband said, “You might not like this at first, but you will come to love it.” It was a Garmin 305. He was right. I love this piece of equipment. Time, distance, average speed, calories burned, routes ridden. I keep track of everything!
Last summer the beloved 7700 was not rolling along as she once did. Because I had a flat, I stopped into a bike shop. While I was there I asked for an opinion on the overall condition of my bike. The guys kind of laughed. You need a new chain, new cassette, brakes, brake cables, tires and a few spokes. Is it worth it I asked? They said, “Are you kidding? This is a great bike!” This one is made in the USA and definitely worth updating. I am now ready to roll into my next decade with this bike.
Over the years with Trek Travel I have climbed Mt. Ventoux in Provence; I achieved a speed of 47 mph on a descent in Utah riding from Bryce Canyon to Zion; we rode the 78 mile “High Road” from Santa Fe to Taos. We have ridden through Chianti tasting wine, eating delicious food and enjoying the beauty of ancient Italy.
If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.
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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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