If you have never taken a bicycle vacation before then you probably wonder what all the hype is about. There’s a reason that riders come back to join events year after year like the Bike Virginia Tour.
“We’ve been operating for 28 years. There is a huge following of riders that love coming back time and time again,” said Shane Cusick, Event Director at Bike Virginia. “They enjoy the format, and make friends who are coming back too. It’s a fun reunion in some ways, everyone is gathered around this love of the bike.”
Every person has their own reason for taking a bicycle vacation but these are 6 of the top reasons why someone like you should come along for the adventure.
1. Days of riding; a prescription for a new kind of relaxation. It takes a bit of time to kick off the stress of every day life. Days of riding is just what the Doctor ordered. When’s the last time you had nothing more important to do that cruise on a beautiful country road? And to do that for 3 days or even better 6 days is something magical. “The event falls into this really relaxed, happy rhythm on the 3rd day, said 8 time Bike Virginia participant, Sam. “Everybody is having fun. Not a care in the world. It’s really great.”
2. Meeting great people who love the sport. People that take a bike vacation like Bike Virginia’s Tour have a deep affinity for the bike. Don’t be mistaken though, they are every kind of rider you can imagine. From the weekend recreationalist to the commuter to the die-hard rider to the newly initiated. Families, teens, seniors, competitive athletes. They all come together over the fun of riding a bike. Events like this are a wonderful mix.
3. It’s all about your ride: slow and easy or hard and fast. Take your pick. There’s no race to it. No comparison. People come and go on the bike route as they please. On many multi-day bike rides you have pick of your route. At Bike Virginia there are routes from 20-108 miles. It’s a completely judgement free environment and sometimes that is hard to find in your every day group ride. “It always inspires me to be at the event. We every age rider but we have a dozen or so 70 and 80 year olds that come out to ride. They have the best time and really enjoy themselves as they explore the countryside. Some of them can barely walk, but when they get on the bike they come to life!” said Kim, Executive Director.
4. Immerse your self in some place new. There really is now better way to experience a new place than by bike. You go fast enough to keep things interesting, but you go slow enough to breathe it in. On a tour vacation you can stop and explore, take a detour, visit an interesting historical spot. The pace is set by you and you’ve got days to enjoy your new surroundings. During the 2015 Bike Virginia Tour the event is hosted by two communities. In 6 days riders can enjoy both of those regions and up to 400 miles of bike routes. The exploration doesn’t stop with riding, you can strike out for evening adventures and dining. Bike touring with an event is a great way to see the best of communities you might not otherwise find. There are a lot of little gems in Virginia waiting for you to discover them. On average, 80% of our riders say they’d like to go back to visit the areas they toured with us again.
5. Let Someone else worry about the details. Bike vacations with organized tours offer you a carefree time to ride your bike. Someome picks the routes. Someone makes meals easily accessible. Lodging is a snap. Supported routes mean that if you break down, there will be someone available to get you back to headquarters. You get to do what you like, ride your bike. Coordination is focused on the rider’s experience. It’s much easier than self planned and self supported riding. Events like Bike Virginia even offer entertainment and shuttles to interesting places so you get to mingle, relax, and soak in the surroundings. Vacations come in all sizes. Boutique events generally have 30 or fewer riders. Larger bike vacation events have up to 2,000 riders. Each has their own kind of amenities and services. Most organized bike vacation events cost $100-$200 per day of riding, an affordable price for a carefree time.
6. Break out of your routine; no better way to refresh yourself. Getting out of your day to day routine is a great way to reinvigorate your creativity and your relationships with the people you love. It is so easy to get caught in our routine and forget what it feels like to be relaxed and happy. Do something that makes you feel alive. Sleep under the stars at one of our headquarter camps, it’s a great way to reconnect with nature. Eat some new food. Push yourself to try a longer ride, we will be right there to support you. Turn your cell phone off. Listen to the sing of your tires on the pavement and the birds singing around you. You’ll be so happy you did.
Give It A Shot: You’ll Be Glad You Did
If you’ve never taken a bike vacation, 2015 is a great year to do it. Bike Virginia is visiting one of the state’s prettiest regions, the Southwest Virginia Highlands. There are miles and miles of beautiful rural roads. The communities are rich with history. The host towns are full of warm hospitality.
One of our favorite sayings at our bike event is “Pedal. Smile. Repeat.” That’s what bike vacations are all about.