....on Tailwind Tours

Who are our guests: generally speaking we have folks who love to ride their bikes; from 16 to 75 years old is my personal experience with age range. People who ride recreationally several times a week and have good aerobic fitness will be comfortable on my tours. So will racers however, we make it a point to allow our riders to go at their pace as much as possible, that’s why we use several guides on tours. If you are serious about your riding and combine that passion with pleasure in exploring other countries you’ll find yourself at home with Tailwind.

Size of the Groups: I don’t adhere to the school of thought that says quantity has a quality of its own. I prefer smaller groups and usually have between 9 and 20 guests on a given tour. With private tours that can be as few as two people. Smaller groups mean more contact and a more intimate experience. It’s also safer on the road.

Our locations: I started doing tours by showing people the areas I know best, for the most part I’ve continued doing this though I have branched out a bit. I choose the hotels based on the quality of the structure as well as the kitchen and the relationship with the owners. Choosing the hotels is critical, when you’ve found the right one, staying there for the entire week becomes a joy, by the time you leave you’ll feel part of the family.

What is a typical day like on tour: We always start with a hearty breakfast, a pre- ride talk about the day’s route and schedule before heading out. Most days we cover between 75 and 120 kilometers on the bike, all with a follow van and yours truly is always on his bike. The distance is determined by the terrain and at times, by the weather. Riders are encouraged to pedal at their own pace and we have several guides on bikes to insure that no one is left on their own for long. We always re-group at important intersections and stop on the mountain passes for a café or cappuccino and a snack. The follow van has food and your back pack with extra clothing in case the weather changes. Though I like to program activities like visits to wine cantinas and olive oil mills after the bike ride, sometimes we will stop en-route to see something really interesting. Dinner is always a group affair, as is lunch, whether it’s a picnic or in a restaurant.  My tours generally start with lunch on a Saturday and end after breakfast the following Saturday, giving us six good days on the bike.

Should I bring my own bike?  Having your own bike is always the best way to go, in a perfect world you would never be without your favorite ride. It used to be that you really had no choice when traveling overseas. Rental bikes used to be of lower quality and were only an after thought; guides always hated them as they were never tuned properly and caused headaches all week. All that has changed, especially in light of the evolving travel difficulties caused by bringing your own bike. I now have excellent sources for rental bikes of high quality, carbon, titanium and aluminum with Campagnolo and Shimano components with good wheels and tuned professionally. Ask me about them.

What about trip insurance? While I don’t offer it, it’s sure worth having a look at. Over the year’s I’ve seen several last minute cancellations because, as we know, stuff happens. I personally always refund all monies paid up until the final 60 days before the tour begins, after the final 30 days it’s hard cheese as they say in Brooklyn, you forfeit your hard earned money. Therefore it’s worth taking out trip insurance to cover your vacation investment. Please research the various trip insurance web sites for more information.

What do tours include for the price of admission? Unless otherwise stated, tours include hotel costs, airport pick up and drop off and everything related to the rides, guides, van etc. Also, guided tours of cities such as Siena and Bassano del Grappa are part of the package. Virtually all meals are included; a few lunches here and there will be on you. Tips for guides as well. Air fare is not part of the package nor is trip insurance.

Find out more about specific tours: Please email me with your questions and I’ll respond ASAP. I can only explain so much on a web page, there’s a lot more to know about individual tours.