Have Bikes, Will Travel

Traveling to places you haven’t seen before can be exciting, fun, and exhilarating. But sometimes sightseeing from a car or bus just doesn’t seem to cut it. For women who like to take a more active role in their vacations, one company is taking the idea of a bike ride to whole new levels. WomanTours is the only all women bike tour company in America and they have mastered the art of mixing sport and travel.

Upcoming trips include new bike tours in Argentina, Alaska, and the Adirondacks, and Fall foliage tours in Cape Cod, North Carolina, and the Shenandoah Valley. Additionally, a new beginner tour on the bike paths of Washington and Idaho is also scheduled. During the tours, lodging and accommodations have been arranged by WomanTours, who seek out the most interesting lodgings in an area. They try to keep their tours affordable and at the same time offer clients a unique experience. In the National Parks, they stay in the park lodges and cabins. In other areas, they look for small, intimate inns and B&Bs or the best lodging available.

All lodging, most meals, van support, supportive leaders, maps, and gratuities for restaurants are included in the cost of a trip. Not included are alcoholic beverages, personal expenses, cost of van shuttles to and from trip starting points, and airline tickets.

Most of their participants partake in the trips by themselves. That is part of the reason for the existence of WomanTours – to provide women with riding partners as well as scenic vistas and interesting tours. Their tours are self-paced; each woman rides to her own rhythm and the support van or tour leader on the road will be available until the last person comes home.

After booking a trip, individuals receive a tour packet, which contains a 6-week training schedule to help each person strive for a top level of fitness before the tour. WomanTours feels that being in shape only adds to the enjoyment of the trip however, if someone doesn’t have the time to adequately train, the support van is always available to shorten the miles and pick riders up if they get tired. In general, the company believes that if someone can ride 5 miles on their bicycle today, they can train to ride 20 miles, and then will easily be able to do the tours.

As far as the key element to the trips goes, about half of the company’s guests bring their own bicycles and cross-country cyclists must ride their own bikes. Upon signing up for a tour, information is sent regarding packing, shipping, and flying with a bike.

Women as young as 18 and as old as 79 have taken part in the tours operated by WomanTours – a company that prides itself in giving women of all ages, abilities, and interests trips to the most beautiful places around the United States and abroad.

For more information and a list of upcoming tours visit http://www.womantours.com.