Leisure Bicycle Tours Are The Way To Travel

Looking for an interesting vacation idea? How about going on a cycling tour!

Title: Leisure Bicycle Tours Are The Way To Travel

Author: Alastair Hamilton

Many companies offer leisure cycling tours to locations around the world. This article summarizes how you should prepare for your trip.

There are many ways to enjoy travel in a foreign country. Most
people think of renting cars, or taking buses or trains
everywhere. But because people are following a different routine
and are on vacation - they do tend to pack on the pounds. The
way to ensure that you will not need to go on a diet after you
return from your vacation is to go on a cycling tour. You'll be
able to sample the local cuisine all you like, because you'll
work off all those calories on your bike!

[tag-tec]Cycling tours[/tag-tec] are offered for every level of bicyclist - fromthe beginner who might need a "pick up ride" after a while, to the experienced cyclist who can zoom up the hills as if they were weren't there. Most European countries are extremely bike friendly. Bikes areexpected to be on the roads, drivers are familiar with them andgive them a wide berth. So it's very safe to bike in Europe. A lot of places in the United States seem to resent the very existence of bicycles, which is why it's always best to go on a [tag-ice]cycling tour[/tag-ice] with like-minded people. You'll be biking throughareas that are used to seeing cyclists.

Leisure cycling tours are designed for all different kinds ofterrain - from flat and peaceful rides through the beauties of nature to the fitness challenging of the steepest of mountains. If you'd like to go on a leisure cycling tour, the place to do your research is on the web.

When you're looking for a particular tour, you'll want to compare all the available amenities for each tour.

1) Accommodations. Will you be staying in hotels , or in campgrounds ?

2) Are meals included? If so, which ones?

3) Will there be free refreshment stops each day?

4) If the tour passes by anything of historical interest, are riders given an opportunity to go look at any sites of interest?

5) Baggage transport. Who handles the luggage ?

6) Is their a sag wagon? (This is a car or other vehicle which
will come and "rescue" a tired rider or one who has had an
accident of any kind.)

7) Do riders receive daily maps and cue sheets that are easy to
read and follow?

8 In the evenings, is there someone around to clean your bikes, or is it up to each cyclist? Depending on the state or country through which you're riding, most of these amenities are offered, unless you're on a budget tour. If you're going budget, it's best to be a very experienced cyclist and already know what you're doing.

Bicycling is a very popular way to see Europe. There are self-guided [tag-cat]bike tours[/tag-cat] as well as the tours offered by companies. It's important to check out what kind of bikes they offer to ride, however. You'll want the best quality available.
Types of Tours

WomanTours is a company that focuses solely on offering bike
tours for women. Most of the tours offered by this company take
place in the United States, but at least once a year they do
offer a tour overseas. You can go on an economy cycle tours of
Hawaii, cycle through the Outer Banks of North Carolina,
experience the majesty of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National
Parks, and much more. Their website even has a tour blog so you
can see the fun that past cyclists have had on their tours.

Some of the major bicycle manufactures have a travel and
adventure arm for their customers. For example, Trek Bikes has
"Trek Travel." They offer six trip types: classic, explorer,
family, family explorer, specialty and weekend tours, in
destinations such as Asia-Pacific, Central America, Europe, and
North America.

The "classic" tours are designed for riders of all abilities.
The "explorer" trips put less of an emphasis on luxury - you'll
be camping out in national parks, for example. Family trips are
designed to have activities available for people of all ages.
And Trek's specialty trips include being escorted by
professional cyclists - for example "Classic Climbs of France
with Kevin Livingston," or "Texas with Lance Armstrong."

If you're planning on taking a leisure-cycling tour, you must do
your research. Find out how long the tour company has been in
business, and try to contact some people who've been on those
tours so you can find out if anyone had any bad experiences.
It's always a good idea to contact the Better Business Bureau to
see if anyone has lodged any complaints against them

A leisure-cycling tour is one of the best ways to see a
particular region. The more you know and the more preparations
you make, the more fun you'll have on your trip.

About the author:
Alastair Hamilton is the editor of further articles and
newsletters about spain vacations and spain bicycle tours published at http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com

A cycling tour is a great way to see the region! Feel free to share your comments with us.