touring in Europe (tour operators)

[R. Kent Wenger]

I'm planning a bike tour in Europe (most likely France or Italy) next year,
and I wanted to get some feedback on various tour companies. I'm looking
for a tour with a group of fairly serious riders, with some challenging
terrain (Alps, Dolomites, etc.). Tying in with a big race like the Giro
or Tour is an option for me, but not strictly necessary. Luxurious
accommodations (e.g., four-star hotels) aren't a priority -- I'd
rather save some money by going with something a little less fancy, if
that's an option.

Anyhow, I've done a bunch of investigating on the web, and the following
companies seem the most likely from what I've seen:
- Erickson Cycle Tours
- La Corsa Tours
- La Cima Tours
- The Bicycle Outfitter

If anyone has any experience with these companies, I'd be very glad to
hear about it.

Also, if there are some companies not on the list that people have had
good experiences with, I'm open to suggestions!

Kent Wenger

[[email protected]]

Kent Wenger writes:

> I'm planning a bike tour in Europe (most likely France or Italy)
> next year, and I wanted to get some feedback on various tour
> companies. I'm looking for a tour with a group of fairly serious
> riders, with some challenging terrain (Alps, Dolomites, etc.).
> Tying in with a big race like the Giro or Tour is an option for me,
> but not strictly necessary. Luxurious accommodations (e.g.,
> four-star hotels) aren't a priority -- I'd rather save some money by
> going with something a little less fancy, if that's an option.

I'm not sure what you mean by "a group of fairly serious riders" but
you probably know some riders who meet that definition. Different
people have different ideas on what they mean by touring but I am
fairly sure that under that title a twosome or at most a foursome is
the best company for an enjoyable ride. Three on a ride doesn't work
as well because only two can ride together in most instances, so one
rider gets left out, being either slower or faster than the others.

Solo rides are also great, because there is no one with whom to match
pace, only the road, the scenery and yourself. I have done that often
and recommend it. Details are available at:

http://tinyurl.com/adls

Jobst Brandt

[Tim McNamara]

If Andy Hampsten's touring company is still in business, they had a
good reputation from everything I read. He was based in Italy, in
Tuscany IIRC.

Self-planned tours are pretty easy in Europe, though. The towns are
close together and accomodations are typically less expensive than in
the US. Bed and breakfast type establishments are often wonderful and
can put you in better touch with the area and its people, and are
usually quite reasonably priced.

Check out the Trento Bike Pages for inspirational stories about
touring in Europe, if you haven't seen them already.

[Paul Southworth]

In article >,
Tim McNamara > wrote:
>If Andy Hampsten's touring company is still in business, they had a
>good reputation from everything I read. He was based in Italy, in
>Tuscany IIRC.

http://www.cinghiale.com/

[Tim McNamara]

(Paul Southworth) writes:

> In article >,
> Tim McNamara > wrote:
> >If Andy Hampsten's touring company is still in business, they had a
> >good reputation from everything I read. He was based in Italy, in
> >Tuscany IIRC.
>
> http://www.cinghiale.com/

There you have it. Thanks, Paul!

[Steve Juniper]

I took a 2-week tour with WideOpenRoad last year through the Pyrenees from
the Atlantic to the Meditteranean. You might consider this one or one of
their others. Before that I took their tour from Bordeaux to Alpe d'Huez and
a friend took their Geneva-Verona trip this year. Nice group, inexpensive
(mostly campgrounds enroute), small groups of riders varying widely in
level. Very sociable. New two-person organization (Andy & Suzie) started by
British/Aussie couple who like bike touring.

Email me directly if you have questions (I have no interest other than
having taken their tours by chance). For prices and latest trip info, check
their web site: www.wideopenroad.co.uk.
--
Steve Juniper
"September 11th was a faith-based initiative."
-- Wendy Kaminer --
"R. Kent Wenger" > wrote in message
...
I'm planning a bike tour in Europe (most likely France or Italy) next year,
and I wanted to get some feedback on various tour companies. I'm looking
for a tour with a group of fairly serious riders, with some challenging
terrain (Alps, Dolomites, etc.). Tying in with a big race like the Giro
or Tour is an option for me, but not strictly necessary. Luxurious
accommodations (e.g., four-star hotels) aren't a priority -- I'd
rather save some money by going with something a little less fancy, if
that's an option.

Anyhow, I've done a bunch of investigating on the web, and the following
companies seem the most likely from what I've seen:
- Erickson Cycle Tours
- La Corsa Tours
- La Cima Tours
- The Bicycle Outfitter

If anyone has any experience with these companies, I'd be very glad to
hear about it.

Also, if there are some companies not on the list that people have had
good experiences with, I'm open to suggestions!

Kent Wenger

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

Kent: Tours that follow the major races tend to be a bit harried, as it's
difficult to make the required connections (due to clogged roads) so you
spend quite a bit of time traveling in vans & busses. But if you want to
get an idea what goes on surrounding the TDF, you might check out the info
we have on our website at this page-

www.ChainReaction.com/france.htm

Our site includes a list of 28 companies doing TDF tours, so you can get an
idea of the various offerings. I'll be heading back again this year with
Graham Baxter (www.Sportingtours.co.uk), which has an amazing variety of TDF
options, as well as all manner of non-race-related tours throughout Europe.

Of the four companies you mentioned, Erickson Cycle Tours and Bicycle
Outfitter each get high marks from our customers, and tend towards the more
deluxe side of things. I've been to France enough (and previously
experienced the high-end) that I don't really need anything that deluxe... I
actually enjoy winging it a bit. On the other hand, the non-air-conditioned
room in Toulouse, on a night where it never got cooler than maybe 80
degrees, and the window opened up onto a street that saw action 24 hours a
day... *that* night I could do without! But it was just the one night out
of an otherwise excellent trip Graham Baxter trip.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"R. Kent Wenger" > wrote in message
...
> I'm planning a bike tour in Europe (most likely France or Italy) next
year,
> and I wanted to get some feedback on various tour companies. I'm looking
> for a tour with a group of fairly serious riders, with some challenging
> terrain (Alps, Dolomites, etc.). Tying in with a big race like the Giro
> or Tour is an option for me, but not strictly necessary. Luxurious
> accommodations (e.g., four-star hotels) aren't a priority -- I'd
> rather save some money by going with something a little less fancy, if
> that's an option.
>
> Anyhow, I've done a bunch of investigating on the web, and the following
> companies seem the most likely from what I've seen:
> - Erickson Cycle Tours
> - La Corsa Tours
> - La Cima Tours
> - The Bicycle Outfitter
>
> If anyone has any experience with these companies, I'd be very glad to
> hear about it.
>
> Also, if there are some companies not on the list that people have had
> good experiences with, I'm open to suggestions!
>
> Kent Wenger