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FAQs about biking
We've created a biking website with advice about everything from fixing a flat to stretching exercises. Please come visit gay-bike.com |
Cyclists move at their own pace. You can pull over whenever the mood hits you, whether for a 30-second photo stop or a leisurely hour at a cafe. Enjoy
the solitude of a quiet forest road; then regroup with other cyclists, and bike with new friends.
Alyson Adventures, specializing in adventure travel for gay men,
lesbians, and friends, offers memorable biking tours in selected locations around
the world:
- The Flavors of Tuscany. Italy: Bike from Florence, center of the Renaissance, into "Chianti Classico" wine country. A winding, panoramic route takes us to the fairy-tale village of San Gimignano, with its turreted, 12th-century skyline; and on to the crooked streets and palaces of Siena, frozen in the middle ages.
- Andalucian Sun. Spain: Bike along quiet rivers, ride past white-washed hillside villages of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and traverse off-road Via Verde rail trails through some of southern Spain’s most dramatic scenery. As olives ripen in the hills, we'll ride through the diverse history of this region from ancient cavedwellers to the Romans to the Moors. We'll visit Andalucia's three monumental cities: Sevilla, Córdoba and Granada. We'll tour the best known sites, sample wine and sherry, taste tapas and enjoy the golden sundrenched villages of this unforgettable land.
- Big Loire, Little Loir. France: Bike through two sides of France: The enchanting villages, fields, and forests of the region known as "La Douce France" (Gentle France), followed by two of the Loire Valley's most famous chateaux: Chambord and Blois.
- The Colors of Burgundy. France: Discover Burgundy: By day, bike from the turquoise waters of a secluded, serpentine lake, to the golden stone gates of medieval Flavigny. Then relax over some of the world's best cuisine and wine.
- The Mistral. France: An exhilarating route takes us first to the turreted medieval duchy of Uzes, through the cliffside tunnels of the Ardeche Gorges, up to the moonlit castle ruins of Vaison-la-Romaine, and to a wine-tasting in renowned Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
- The Provencal. France: Cycle back through the centuries at your own comfortable pace. Explore Arles, an old Roman capital with its giant amphitheater still in use. Next come the clifftop remains of Les Baux, then the magical forests and stone-walled villages of the Luberon.
- Truffles and Cave Bears. France: Bike along France's Dordogne River, through thousands of years of history. Prehistoric cave art depicts the rhinos and cave bears that once lived here, while magnificent chateaux attest to the years of struggle between England and France. And every evening, we enjoy the region's legendary cuisine, including truffles and foie gras.
- Valley of the Kings. France: For two centuries, French kings outdid one another as they built palaces amidst the meadows and forests of the Val de Loire. Our trip takes us along quiet riverside roads, connecting the grandest of these historic chateaux.
- Cycling Vietnam. Vietnam: Discover the hidden beauty of Vietnam on a strenuous ride through the northern countryside. From Hanoi, we make our way into the mist-covered mountains, through lovely green valleys, and past age-old pagodas and more modern war-torn sites. We’ll peek into the lives of native ethnic people, as we ride from village to village and experience rural life unknown to most travelers to Vietnam. Our tour starts and ends in Hanoi, the charming capital city and former home of Ho Chi Minh.
- Cycling Arizona's Mission Trail. United States: Ride south from Tucson under the warmth of the desert sun and explore the beauty of the Great Southwest. From historic Spanish Missions to charming art colonies, this cycling winds south to the border of Mexico. There will be plenty of variety as we ride through the bizarre landscape of the Sonoran Desert on lonely Mission Road, which is in vivid contrast to the lushness of green National Parks. One evening we’ll cross the border for dinner for a taste of Mexican Nogales and return to Tucson via an alternate route with a different landscape.
- Road to Rioja. Spain: Explore the beauty and charm of the Rioja region, as deep and rich as the wine for which the region is famous. Bike through peaceful villages and along winding country roads in the foothills of the Pyrenees. We gather in Pamplona, then surrounded by lovely untouched landscapes and undulating hills, we will ride mostly along country roads and rail trails, and follow a portion of the Camino de Santiago. We finish with a shuttle to Bilbao, home of the new Guggenheim Museum, for a one-night stay.
- Biking the Blue Coast. Portugal: Cycling along quiet back roads from Lisbon to the brilliant beaches of the Algarve, we'll experience a memorable montage of Portugal: magnificent coastal seascapes, pastoral farmlands, working windmills, tiny fishing villages and historical monuments perched on a wild headland over blue waters. The sunny Blue Coast of Portugal is a charming, less-traveled, but totally delightful destination for Alyson Adventures biking.
- Danube Dreams. Central Europe: Our bike tour links three of the most romantic capital cities in Central Europe, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, on an enchanting ride through the Danube River valley. Pedal on gently rolling terrain through fairytale forests and rural hamlets. From castles to cathedrals, we'll see a stunning array of architectural styles. We'll enjoy a variety of food, wine, beer and culture as we bike through three countries (and currencies). We'll make our way along the river that has inspired artists and musicians for centuries and create our own Danube Dreams. The trip starts in Vienna and ends in Budapest, two gay-friendly and increasingly popular hot spots in Central Europe.
- Wheels North: Montreal & Quebec. Canada: Combine the savoir faire of Montreal, the old world charm of rural Quebec and the natural beauty of Mont Tremblant; add cool, clear days and golden nights, and you have the perfect direction to point your wheels - North! Our newest bike tour is a bit urban and bit back country, a turn around the town and a spin around the mountain. Wheels North offers relaxed but spirited rides through some of the oldest and most beautiful scenery in North America. If you like great food, occasional forays into exciting gay nightlife and most important -exhilarating bike routes - this tour is for you!
- Atlantique. France: Our newest bike tour takes us from Nantes and through the picturesque woodlands to the coast of Brittany. Rivers, oceans and islands are the backdrop for our invigorating ride. We’ll explore the cities of Nantes and La Rochelle, along with quaint villages and seaside towns, as we ride our way through history. Along the way, we can stop to admire chateaux, monuments, cathedrals and stunning vistas.
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