MAK

Hello,
Can anyone suggest a company/organization that does +/-week long rides. I've done BRAG four times, RAGBRAI twice and did the Erie Canal Tour last year. I was going to do the Hudson Valley Tour in 2015, but it's been cancelled until 2016. Might do the Erie Canal ride again but would prefer some variety. Looking for summer rides in the East or North East that I can drive to. I'm aware of Adventure Cycling and I'm looking for companies similar to what they offer. Would prefer inn to inn or will do supported camping. Any input would be appreciated.

spinnaker

Venture Outdoors is supposed to do a pretty nice job of a tour of the GAP and C&O. A bit expensive and frankly easy enough to do yourself. If you like the Erie Canal, you will LOVE the GAP and &O.


There is a recent thread on a tour company for Yellowstone. I might look into hat myself.

wheelinthai

Great Allegheny Passage & C & O Canal Tour Pittsburgh to Washington DC | Wilderness Voyageurs

ct-vt-trekker

Here's two I've done. Both are very well organized, you can camp or stay in B&Bs/Hotels too.

Fany The Great Big FANY Ride | Bicycle ride across New York | Niagara Falls to Saratoga by Bike
Bonton Roulet The Bon Ton Roulet

Lanovran

Trek Travel Luxury Cycling Vacations of a Lifetime <- They've got some really fantastic looking trips, all over the world.

MAK

Thank you to those who responded. While searching around, I came across both the Bon Ton Roulet and The Great Big FANY Rides and both look really interesting. ct-vt-trekker, I know upstate NY and the Finger Lakes region won't be flat, but how hilly are the two rides. I'll look forward to your response.

ct-vt-trekker

MAK- I remember that the Bonton Roulet route had more climbing but the route changes every year so that could also change.
One difference is the Fany does not have any days off while the Bonton Roulet has a layover day in the middle of the week. Also the Bonton route offers more options with shorter ride options offered most days. The Fany ride also has some days with 2 options but the mileages are higher overall. They also offer a "sore Fany" option where they sag you part of the distance if you don't want to ride the entire route , this option is limited and sells out quickly.
I liked both rides about equally but if you are concerned about the miles you might want to chose the Bonton ride.
I think the Fany averages 70 miles per day and the Bonton about the same, 65-75 miles for the long option and 45-50 for the short option.

I did both rides with a group of 6 friends, most preferred the Bonton ride as their favorite of the two. I would do both again. I wish there were more rides like this within driving distance of the Northeast

tarwheel 

Another recommendation a the GAP-C&O tour. You don't need to pay a tour company to do this trip. I rode the entire trail last summer with two friends. We stayed in hotels and B&Bs along the way and spent much less than a commercial tour would have cost. From Delaware, it would be a simple trip. We drove to Bethesda, MD, where we left our car with relatives. Rode our bikes to Union Station in DC, packed them in boxes supplied by Amtrak, and rode the train to Pittsburgh. Unpacked our bikes at the station, rode to our first hotel in Pittsburgh, and then headed back to DC the following day. Our trip took a week, averaging about 60 miles a day.

Riding the GAP-C&O is different than road touring. You don't have to worry about cars, traffic, red lights, etc. However, you do need a bike with tires capable of riding in gravel, dirt and mud on occasion. Here's a write-up on our trip from the Crazy Guy website.

crazyguyonabike.com: Bicycle Touring: GAP - C&O Canal Tour, by Tom Mather

Joe_T

Biking Bis has a bunch of bike rides. These are organized by states. Lots of rides here.
Joe

Across State Bicycle Tours » Biking Bis

indyfabz

I did Bon Ton this year for the second time. First time was in '06. First, I want to say the event has improved dramatically. I was hesitant to go back after my first experience but I took a chance and was pleased that I did. Much better support and food.

As noted, the route changes every year. With that said, due to customer demand, they have more and more been following a format where you don't move locations every day. This year, the days when we did not move we stayed at colleges, where dorm rooms could be rented for an additional fee. I believe next year's ride stays at those same colleges. This format allows you to take a days off if you need to. Also keep in mind that virtually every day there are two route options. One is designed to be shorter and have less climbing than the other. In general, the climbing is not the sort where you have multi-mile climbs with steep grades like you might find in the Adirondacks. I also believe the ride starts in Cortland next year like it did this year. That makes for a shorter drive if you are coming from the south.

Bike Virginia is another option, but that can be very hilly depending on the route. Also, it can be horribly hot and humid. Some people I met on Bon Ton love this:

The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure

And on Bon Ton I have seen jerseys from these rides:

Touring Ride in Rural Indiana® Bicycle Events

If you don't mind the drive, check back here for 2015's route:

The Grand Tour Desjardins - Vélo Québec Voyages

I did it in 2008. The food was terrific and was handed out by French Canadian school girls saying "Bon appetit!" We even had duck one night.

bhchdh 

Bike Virginia: Bike Virginia Tour - Bike Virginia Tour June 2015

MAK

I was just reviewing the thread and realized I didn't fully reply to you. This past summer I did the Erie Canal Bike Tour run by New York Parks and Trails. I really enjoyed it. It appears that the BonTon and Erie Canal are run the same way. Camping, breakfast and dinner, etc... Great support. The Erie Canal ride runs mostly along the canal tow path and is mostly flat. It's 75% hard gravel. There is one long, steep, killer climb in one of the towns and a few shorter ones but certainly not like the BonTon. Food was good, cue sheets good and I enjoyed the morning historical talks during breakfast. I may do it again in 2015 but I'll probably wait until 2016. I just want to do something different in 2015.

indyfabz

New for 2015:

Cycle Adirondacks NY ? Week-Long Bicycle Tour

MAK

Thank you indyfabz. Ride looks great and I'm bookmarking it for the future. Dates for 2015 just don't work for me this year.

NVanHiker

I'm a solo tourer and make up my own tours with a combination of Rand McNally and Google Street View, after choosing an area of the country I'd like to see. You might find this a welcome change from 'organized' rides.

spinnaker

I simply don't understand the appeal of the Erie Canal Trail. I did the section from Buffalo to Rochester. Other then the quaint little towns here and there, I found it boring. Don't know if things get any better beyond Rochester.

Or perhaps going with a group would make it more fun.


The GAP and C&O are way better IMHO.

MAK

To each his/her own.

I enjoyed the comradere of the group in camp and during meals. I also enjoyed the "historical" lectures each morning. During the ride I rode a canal boat through a lock and took one or two boat rides with Canal history lectures. Many towns had little museums and each featured something different. Many towns had their own rest stops and meeting the locals was a plus. Talking with people along the ride and generally meeting new people was also very enjoyable.

I'd probably be bored riding solo and having no structure. Other people (you?) prefer it. As I said, to each his/her own.

Tourist in MSN

If I speak the local language and do not anticipate having any difficulty finding open campgrounds that are not full, I do the trip on my own. It is even better when there is a guidebook available, (Katy Trail, Pacific Coast, etc.) to help planning.

But I have used REI for some fully supported tours in Europe and I used Adventure Cycling for a self supported tour group when I rode the Glacier Waterton loop.

capejohn

Rails to Trails dot org does an annual tour. They do a really good job of planning and support. Last summer was the GAP, Montour and Panhandle trails. The trails were decent. The GAP is one of those rides we all kind of pine for if your in the Northeast. I'm happy I did it but it's not on my list of rides I would do again. This summer my son and I have our annual tour narrowed down to the Erie Canal (or third time self supported), or we may do a 6 day tour of Cape Cod and the islands. VBT does a Cape and Island tour if your looking for a supported ride

spinnaker

I think lectures along the way would make the ride really interesting. Either that or add more time and spend some time puttering around all of those little towns.

axolotl

I clicked on the link out of curiosity. The trip sounds nice, but I was shocked at the price, $1,495 for an organized camping trip that's 6 nights long! It makes the credit card tour a friend and I did this year in France (at an unfavorable exchange rate) sound cheap, and we stayed in hotels every night (except 2 warmshowers hosts), and ate dinner in restaurants every night (except for the 2 warmshowers homes).

indyfabz

Wow! I didn't look at the price. That is steep. More expensive than an ACA fully supported trip. I did the Bon Ton in the Finger Lakes this year. Same deal but about half the price.

JerrySTL

Katy Trail. Here's one that I recommend if you don't mind driving out to mid-America. On of the best organized rides that I've ever been on.

2014 Katy Trail Ride | Missouri State Parks

In 2014 it starts in Clinton Missouri and finishes in St. Charles which isn't too far from St. Louis. You can take a bus to Clinton so that your car will be there at the finish.

Here's the web site for 2015. This ride often sells out in a couple of days so you want to sign up on March 1st.
2015 Katy Trail Ride | Missouri State Parks

bent4me

+1 for GOBA, inexpensive, well organized and this year flat. Bon-Ton Roulet has good reviews and is reasonable. Bike Va has become too expensive. Last March I did my own 14 day self-contained tour in Florida using ACA maps. Great experience and fun.

fietsbob

I liked Touring in Other Countries... British Isles, Europe . now I live on the Popular Pacific Coast route, and at the Louis and Clark tour, their turnaround.