touring in Europe (tour operators)

Kent Wenger said:

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:

tinyurl.comadlsOpen ↗

Jobst Brandt [email hidden]

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.

In article said:

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.

cinghiale.comcinghiale.comOpen ↗

(Paul Southworth) said:

In article said:

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.

cinghiale.comcinghiale.comOpen ↗

There you have it. Thanks, Paul!

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"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]... 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

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 chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

"R. Kent Wenger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm planning a bike tour in Europe (most likely France or Italy) next

year,

Quoted message said:

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