Page 43 – Trek Travel

“These are the people’s parks, owned by young and old, by those in the cities and those on the farms. Most of them are ours today because there were Americans many years ago who exercised vision, patience, and unselfish devotion in the battle for conservation.”
– President Harry S. Truman

When you step into one of America’s 423 national parks, there are distinct characteristics that define the wilderness surrounding you. You can breathe deeply. You can see for miles. You can step off the grid. But there is also so much beneath the surface of America’s sacred nature reserves that cannot be described. There is a charm that must be experienced, a mystery that must be felt.

We can’t believe places like these exist, so in honor of National Parks Week, we want to share our top 10 national park facts and learn more about this incredible resource we are lucky enough to share. Every day people across America find their park, and it may be closer than you think. Read about our favorite features of America’s national parks, then get out and find yours.

Fun Facts About National Parks

1. Back In The Day: The U.S. National Park Service, the bureau responsible for protecting our parks, was founded in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act. However, the first national park was created many years earlier, when Congress passed an act establishing Yellowstone National Park in 1872.

2. Numbers Don’t Lie: Today there are 423 parks covering 84 million acres (roughly the size of Germany). These parks contain at least 247 species of threatened or endangered plants and animals, more than 75,000 archaeological sites and 18,000 miles of trails.

3. The Favorite Child: Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park, drawing more than 10 million recreational visits each year.

4. The Deep Blue Sea: Crater Lake National Park is home to America’s deepest lake. It’s 1,943 feet deep, enough to hide 1.5 Empire State Buildings, and holds 4.6 trillion gallons of water.

5. Liar, Liar: Crater Lake was not actually formed by a crater falling from the sky. On the contrary, it lies in a volcanic basin and was formed when Mount Mazama collapsed following a large eruption.

6. Things That Go Boom: North America’s largest supervolcano is located in Yellowstone National Park.

7. Brave the Caves: Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave system known to the world, with more than 400 mapped miles of caves.

8. Think Big: Located in Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest park in the country. At six times the size of Yellowstone, it is the meeting point of four major mountain ranges and contains three climate zones, everything from giant glaciers to wetlands and volcanoes.

9. The Low Point: The lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, is 282 feet below sea level.

10. End on a High Note: The highest point in North America is Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park, which stands at 20,320 feet tall.

Find Your Park

See the Parks

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10 Fun Facts About Our National Parks

Posted on August 19, 2015 - 8:51 pm by keith_ritter

Fun Facts About National Parks

3. The Favorite Child: Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park, drawing more than 10 million recreational visits each year.

4. The Deep Blue Sea: Crater Lake National Park is home to America’s deepest lake. It’s 1,943 feet deep, enough to hide 1.5 Empire State Buildings, and holds 4.6 trillion gallons of water.

7. Brave the Caves: Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest cave system known to the world, with more than 400 mapped miles of caves.

9. The Low Point: The lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, is 282 feet below sea level.

10. End on a High Note: The highest point in North America is Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park, which stands at 20,320 feet tall.

Find Your Park

See the Parks

Three Keys to World-Class Customer Service

Posted on August 18, 2015 - 7:57 pm by keith_ritter

Sure, as Trek Travel cycling guides we get paid to ride high-end road bikes in beautiful destinations around the world. But as the face of our company, we have a responsibility to provide world-class customer service. Trek Travel evaluates itself on the ability to wow our guests, so as guides we must be equipped to deliver uncompromising service.

Companies talk all the time about providing exceptional customer service. Executives far removed from the front lines make promises and commitments that may or may not be fulfilled. But from someone who works directly with customers from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep each day, what exactly does it take to create an outstanding experience?

Here are three simple keys to customer service that I’ve learned from being a tour guide:

1. Ask The Customer What They Want

It sounds simple, but you will never know what someone wants unless you ask. Don’t assume you know what each customer is looking for and know that there isn’t one catchall solution. We like to say, “It’s your day, you decide.” In order to create a perfect vacation, the details are important. It’s impossible for us to know how far you want to ride, the type of food you like to eat, or your favorite type of wine to share at dinner unless we ask. And those are exactly the type of details that create a world-class experience.

2. Give The Customer What They Want

Asking the customer what they’re looking for is inadequate unless we listen to the response. We’ve seen it all and we’re here to be fun and flexible. So when someone says they want to take a helicopter off the top of Alpe d’Huez or get married in the Tuscan countryside, we don’t stop until we’ve found a way to make it happen. Will it be the perfect solution every time? No. But there’s really no such thing as a crazy request.

3. Go Above and Beyond

Meeting needs isn’t enough. There are too many great companies that successfully fulfill customer requests and deliver on their promises. Unfortunately that’s where a lot of people stop. What makes good customer service great is the desire to go above and beyond in exceeding expectations. As cycling vacation guides, part of our responsibilities include waking up early to clean bikes, fill water bottles, oil chains, pump tires and set up snack tables. What takes the service to another level is doing all of this with a smile on our face no matter how little sleep we had the night before and placing a piece of chocolate on your seat just to ensure that your day starts in the best way possible. When it comes to customer service, little things go a long way.

“My lasting memory of my time with Trek Travel was for the kind ride staff and logistical support crew who left nothing to chance. In all my years of travelling with my bike I’ve rarely encountered such a completely professional service with seemingly effortless attention to the details, no matter how small.” – Guy Andrews, a cycling journalist, author, and founder of Rouleur Magazine

Industry Insider: Emily Maye

Posted on August 17, 2015 - 5:44 pm by keith_ritter

In the years since her first assignment at the 2011 Tour of California, Emily Maye has made a name for herself photographing the pain and glory of professional cycling. By capturing the drama of a race and the faces behind the scenes she brings the sport to life, telling a timeless story that cannot be seen on television.

Tell us your story. What inspired you to pursue a career in photography?

I have been interested in storytelling as long as I can remember. I grew up in my mother’s ballet school in Santa Barbara and spent my whole childhood involved in ballet. At around 13, I fell in love with cinema and ultimately I went to USC Film School & Colombia University to study film and screenwriting. Photography was something I gravitated towards to tell visual stories and in time that became my primary focus. I love every part of the process and I am really happy with where I ended up.

What is the most rewarding part about your job?

I love photographing people and I find that the most rewarding. It’s a real challenge to capture something authentic in people and bring that out in a photograph. I gravitate towards the quieter moments and it’s so satisfying when you can capture something that may not have been obvious at first glance. I also like that in my job photographing the Trek Factory Racing Team, I get to react to a lot of different environments and race situations.

What is the most challenging aspect of photographing world-class athletes?

It is wonderful to photograph people that are at the top of their field. They perform with intensity and have the proper form and movement that makes my job much easier. The travel has been the most challenging part for me personally. It’s a lot of days away from home and in hotels. Everyone on the Trek Factory Racing Team is very comfortable with my presence so they make my job easier in that way. It’s been three seasons now with this team and no one is surprised to find me in a corner somewhere taking photos of them.

Tell us about your most unexpectedly adventurous day of work.

I think Tim Vanderjeugd alluded to it in his interview, but we went to Colombia for 48 hours as part of the new Behind The Stripes series that we did this year. We didn’t find out we were going to get to go until right before and all of the sudden we were in Colombia (I had never been to South America) and starting a project that we weren’t even sure how we would shape at that time. Everything I saw there was an adventure. I wish I could have stayed much longer!

What tips can you give our readers who are interested in improving their travel photography?

Look for nice light! There is no better way to show your friends and family the beautiful places you have been than through nice light. I also suggest trying to find things that resonate with you in the way that they reveal the tone and culture of place beyond just the famous monuments. Try to convey the sounds and smells, not just the sight.

Do you have a personal favorite photograph that you can share with our readers?

There’s a photo of Fabian from last year on the bus with his headphones on and it was the morning he ended up winning Flanders. I really love that photo because it feels like a calm stolen moment. You don’t really imagine that I am there taking the photo in that picture and to me that is when I have done my job most successfully. But it’s really hard to pick just one. It’s been an amazing adventure to spend that much time inside of the team these past three years.

VIEW MORE EMIlY MAYE PHOTOGRAPHY»

Il Gallo Nero

Posted on August 14, 2015 - 3:39 pm by keith_ritter

The Black Rooster marks some of the greatest wines in the world.

It is easy to see why Tuscany remains one of our most popular trips. I moved to Italy some 12 years ago to immerse myself in this magic, and have determined that cycling through this region is the ideal way to learn about the place.

On a bike, we leave other tourists behind and get to experience places as they have remained for thousands of years. The epicenter of Tuscany – flanked by Florence to the North and Siena to the South – for its wine, wild boar, small, winding roads and forested hilltops. In the center of Chianti is the ideal, 9th century one-strip hilltop wonder of cobblestones enotecas and cafés known as Radda in Chianti. Ride up to the entrance of Radda in the morning and you’ll find Fabrizio Ferrucci, owner of Bar Dante making panini for the hungry denizens who flock to his café for local treats. Fabrizio will assure you that while Radda is not perfect, it is pretty close.

Radda is so ideal, in fact, that the two warring city-countries of Florence and Siena have fought over it for centuries. Legend has it that late in the 12th century, these two archenemies finally decided to end their bloody land-feud peaceably. By parliamentary agreement, at the first crow of their respective roosters on the appointed day, one knight from Florence, and one knight from Siena would depart on horseback down the road the connects the two cities. At the precise point the two knights meet on their journey, the line would be drawn to divide the Province of Florence from the Province of Siena.

While Siena chose to fatten and spoil a fine, plump rooster, the Florentines were far more devious. They selected a lean, black rooster and locked it in a windowless dungeon without food or water. When the date arrived, the rooster’s hyper-sensitive retinas led him to crow his heart out, giving the Florentine knight a dramatic head start. He reached all the way to Fonterutoli, a territory of Castellina, before he met the Sienese knight. And so they established the border at Castellina, a mere 19 kilometers from Siena’s walled city.

To this day, the internationally recognized symbol of Chianti is a silhouette of Il Gallo Nero, The Black Rooster. It marks some of the greatest wines in the world, and cyclists wear the jersey with pride. Next time you find yourself in Radda, ask Fabrizio about his story. He just may fill you in on some more history of this remarkable area that we are fortunate to ride our bikes through. The rest of the learning comes from the air flowing in your face while you spin down the winding roads, the same roads the two knights thundered down all those years ago.

By Jacob Young, a guide for Trek Travel

Experience a Trip to Tuscany for yourself»

The Best of Alpe d’Huez

Posted on August 12, 2015 - 7:23 pm by keith_ritter

Fenway Park. Wimbledon. Augusta National. Churchill Downs. The time honored traditions held at these iconic venues are some of the most famous in sport. And not to be left off this list is cycling’s biggest stadium: Alpe d’Huez. It may not be the longest or the steepest climb to be featured in the Tour de France, but it demands a respect unlike any other.

For amateurs, the 21 switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez are a rite of passage. Times earned on the Alpe are cycling’s ultimate bragging right and merely cresting the summit is a badge of honor worn by few. For pros, the 13.8 kilometers hold more history, hype and hurt than any other stretch of pavement. Each hairpin bears the name of a former winner and every ascent brings the opportunity for a new champion to write his name in the history books.

Since its first appearance in the 1952 Tour de France, the winding road from Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez has earned a higher level of fame and notoriety than any other featured assent. Sure, it’s the challenge that etches this climb permanently into the minds of those who have slayed it. But what exactly distinguishes this widely acclaimed road and earns it a spot atop our list of the most famous stadiums in sport?

1. The History
In 1952 Fausto Coppi attacked 6 kilometers from the top, leaving behind his breakaway compatriots and taking the first ever stage win on Alpe d’Huez. A 1986 battle for the yellow jersey between teammates Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault was one for the ages. Le Tour’s 100th anniversary in 2013 was celebrated with a double ascent that tested the pain tolerance of even the strongest pros. And this year’s suspenseful showdown between Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome was the pinnacle of a fierce three-week rivalry. History has a way of repeating itself as year after year the 21 switchbacks of Alpe d’Huez host the most memorable breakaways, showdowns and attacks of our favorite Grand Tour.

2. The Dutch Corner
This sea of orange signifies the most boisterous party at le Tour. Be sure to grab a beer for the road as there are still seven switchbacks left to conquer.

3. The Views
Yes, the exposure of these 21 switchbacks means you may bake in the sun on a blue sky day. But the views will distract you from the pain.

4. The Road Paint
After enduring the relentless 8.1% average gradient turn after turn, this marker is a beckon of hope providing a light at the end of the sufferfest.

5. The Finish Line
The Tour is won on the Alpe. Although you may not beat the fastest time set by Marco Pantani in 1997 (37 minutes and 35 seconds), the finish line on Alpe d’Huez provides a welcome relief and unrivaled sense of accomplishment. It’s a moment for pros and amateurs alike to zip up the jersey, raise their arms and win with style.

The Suite Life

Posted on August 11, 2015 - 1:31 pm by keith_ritter

Madison’s most celebrated boutique hotel, The Mansion Hill Inn is renowned for its signature blend of intuitive service and warmly sophisticated design. For 160 years, the Mansion Hill Inn has been host to travelers from around the world and is today a chance to experience a glimmering time past. Discover our favorite Midwestern retreat when you join us for your personalized Project One experience.

In 1857, Alexander A. McDonnell bought a small wood lot on one of the most prominent hills in Madison. The town was nearly twenty years old by that point, and the fledgling state of Wisconsin was experiencing such a boom that the old Capitol building had been outgrown. McDonnell was the contractor for a new Capitol building and the lot he selected on what was known as Big Bug Hill was a short walk from the construction site. McDonnell hired the architect August Kutzboch, a German émigré who was renowned as one of the premier architects in Madison along with his partner Samuel Donnell. Together the two men built what McDonnell termed “the best house money could buy.”

The German Romanesque Revival building, considered by some to be the finest of its type in the country, includes wrought iron from the balconies to buttresses and arched windows. Inside the 9,000 square foot Madison hotel is a four-story, oval-shaped mahogany spiral staircase leading to a belvedere. Light passes into the marble foyer through etched Venetian glass windows. Originally, there were oil-painted wall designs.

The hotel’s days as a single-family residence ended at the turn-of-the-century. It then became a fashionable boarding house run by Carrie Pierce, where some of Madison’s most notable citizens lived. In the 1930’s, well after boarding houses fell out of favor, the building was converted into apartments, a condition that persisted until 1983, when the Alexander Company purchased the Inn, transforming it into a boutique hotel.

For over twenty years, the Mansion Hill Inn lived up to the ideals set forth by all those whom invested so much time, effort, and money into this house. In March 2008, the Mansion Hill Inn was purchased by Trek Bicycle and Trek Hospitality. At that point, Trek embarked on an extensive renovation project that sought to update the hotel’s amenities and preserve the home’s history. Each of the ten charming rooms has been restored, highlighting the property’s historical charm. Trek sought to expand the amenities available by preserving the hotel’s classic parlor and creating a majestic bar for entertaining. The house has been furnished with elegant pieces and state of the art fixtures. Additionally, Trek restored the belvedere at the top of the stairs and some of the ornate wrought-iron on the balconies and front porch among other pieces.

From its origins as a small woodlot on Big Bug Hill to Madison’s finest hotel on Mansion Hill, the sandstone home at 424 North Pinckney Street has emerged as a landmark in both the hospitality industry and the history of the city of Madison. The elegance, beauty, and history of the home undoubtedly will continue to impress visitors for many years to come.

Experience the Mansion Hill Inn on your Trek Factory Experience»

This is Happy Hour

Posted on July 31, 2015 - 5:27 pm by keith_ritter

At any given time or place around the world, there is a group of travelers finishing their day’s ride. They have a euphoria, a sense of tired accomplishment.

The ride included exploring a cobbled-street village in Provence, or experiencing an authentic cappuccino in a Tuscan cafe, or tasting a wine high up over the Napa Valley. The elation carries into conversations with new-found friends, often around a Trek Travel trailer, about the day’s adventure.

This is happy hour.

It can linger for hours into the setting sun with guides, travelers, and cyclists enjoying the company of one another, reveling in the stories at hand.

Why I Ride: Jane Burns

Posted on July 25, 2015 - 6:44 pm by keith_ritter

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.

Watch our Guest Story video about Jane Burns»

Meet Cricket Hile, featured Travel Agent

Posted on July 24, 2015 - 2:27 pm by keith_ritter

There is no better way to do business in travel than to experience the destinations yourself. Cricket Hile, a travel agent and bicyclist who has pedaled her way across her home state of Pennsylvania, sends her clients on our cycling vacations with the miles and memories from going on our trips herself in her toolbox. As a business partner and our guest, we are happy to introduce you to Cricket. Read about her travel experience and favorite vacation spots.

Name: Cricket Hile
Travel Agency: Travel Time Travel
Specialty European Travel
Years in the Business: 32

Tell us a bit about your background. What inspired you to pursue a career as a travel agent?

I started my career as a French teacher which led me to taking students to Europe. Eventually I decided I liked the travel part of it more than the teaching part!

Do you have an especially memorable client or story?

Several years ago four clients asked if they could go with me the next time we went to Paris; and of course, I said yes. We went to Paris as agent and clients. We returned as friends and have taken several trips together since then.

What is your favorite travel destination and what makes it unique?

Paris, France is my favorite destination. Between speaking French and going to Paris frequently I feel very comfortable there. However, I must say I love Italy, too, and I don’t speak Italian.

Based on your agency bookings, what are the three most popular destinations for 2015 and what is the must-do activity you recommend in each location?

Agency top three are …
1. Caribbean – Go snorkeling
2. Cancun – See the ruins
3. Disney World – Act like a child

My top three destinations and must-do activities are…

1. Paris – Have a picnic on the grounds of Versailles
2. Provence – Don’t miss the hill towns. It was Trek that really introduced them to me on the Mt. Ventoux trip. Best way to see them is on a bicycle!
3. Capri – Enjoy a Limoncello on the terrace of the Hotel Quisisana

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?

That is difficult to answer because I have already done Provence (Mt. Ventoux) and the Classic Climbs of the Alps. However, at this point in my life, Croatia is at the top of my bucket list and I will do that in September. Several years ago my husband and I took a cruise that stopped in Korcula, Croatia. At that point, I said I needed to go back. Later when I saw that Trek offered a trip to Croatia, I decided it was definitely at the top of my list.

What is the most important piece of advice you give travelers before their trip?

I always tell clients to be open to change and expect that something is not going to be exactly as they had planned. The second thing I tell them is to not expect everything to be like it is at home. The third thing, and really the most important, is to smile when they are totally overwhelmed and confused. It will be okay.

How To Adjust Bike Shifting

Posted on July 21, 2015 - 9:53 am by keith_ritter

If you’ve been on the bike a lot since your spring tune-up, it’s probably time to readjust your shifting. For go-getters who want to tackle this project themselves, here are a few pointers:

For every click of your rear derailleur shifter, the derailleur should move the chain one complete gear change. Start with the chain in the smallest cog. If you click your shifter to move the chain up to the next largest cog on the rear and it does not go up or hesitates before moving, you need to tighten your cable tension. You can do this with the barrel adjuster that is built into either your shifter or derailleur. As you turn the barrel adjuster counter-clockwise, it screws the adjuster out taking up slack in the cable tension. This results in moving the derailleur a little further.

Pro Tip: A little bit can go a long way! Start with ¼ turns only and try the shifting again. Keep trying ¼ turns until you have it just right.

There are a few screws on the derailleur that will be tempting to adjust. Don’t! These are already adjusted to their positions to stop the derailleur from shifting the chain into the spokes and into the frame on the two most extreme gears. They only provide stopping points for the derailleur, they do not adjust the derailleur.

One thing to note. If you just can’t seem to get the shifting right, there is the possibility that the part of the frame that the rear derailleur is mounted to could be bent. This is called the derailleur hanger. Telltale signs are scrapes on your derailleur or if your bike tipped over onto its drive train side. Some are replaceable and some are not. If this is bent, there is nothing you can do to the cable tension that will help your adjustment. Go to your local bike store to get a professional opinion on your options. If you do have a replaceable hanger, it is good to get a couple as spares. Keep one in your seat bag just in case you need to do an on-the-road repair.

Older posts

Newer posts

Fun Facts About National Parks

10 Fun Facts About Our National Parks

Fun Facts About National Parks

Three Keys to World-Class Customer Service

Industry Insider: Emily Maye

Il Gallo Nero

The Best of Alpe d’Huez

The Suite Life

This is Happy Hour

Why I Ride: Jane Burns

Watch our Guest Story video about Jane Burns»

Meet Cricket Hile, featured Travel Agent

How To Adjust Bike Shifting

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