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Why I Ride: Grant Curry

Most of us won’t remember what we did on May 21, 2016. But for Trek Travel guest Grant Curry, that spring Saturday will be forever remembered as the day he completed a 4 day, 400 mile ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains to celebrate 40 years of living with Diabetes. And as he pedaled alongside the Chattahoochee River into the small town of Helen, Georgia, not only had he successfully completed his Ride40, but he had also raised $40,000 for Diabetes Training Camp in the process.

Tell us a bit about your background. How long have you been riding bikes?
I’ve been riding bikes since I was quite young, and got on my first road bike around age 11. I was diagnosed with Diabetes at age 8, and as my love of road cycling grew, I found myself struggling more and more with Diabetes management. The tools available weren’t effective back then, particularly prior to 1983 when home blood testing was first being used. I was into many sports as a kid but my ambitions were thwarted by my Diabetes. I stopped cycling by high school, but returned to it about 11 years ago and haven’t stopped pedaling since. I’m far better able to manage my Diabetes and exercise these days, with the help of continuous glucose monitoring, rapid acting insulin and pump therapy. Those things, combined with an excellent knowledge base for Diabetes and exercise, have enabled me to find a very active and fulfilling life with my illness.

Trek Travel guest Grant Curry raises $40,000 for Diabetes Training Camp

What was your inspiration behind Ride40?
My inspiration for Ride40 started about two years ago when I began really looking at how much my life with Diabetes had changed over the last few years and I was coming up on a milestone of living with Diabetes for 40 years. I wanted to celebrate my life and all of the challenges I’ve had along the way. It became an opportunity for me to share the gifts that a life with Diabetes has brought me. It may be tremendously difficult to live with but it has also helped me become a better person, a better friend, and has brought me a community of amazing people to share my life with. Living with Diabetes has made me resilient. I wanted to spread the message that people with Diabetes CAN lead active and fulfilling lives and there’s a place to learn how called Diabetes Training Camp.

Why did you choose a bike ride as your fundraising method?
Because cycling is my favorite sport and riding a bike is the closest feeling I can get to being able to fly. I wanted to do a ride that was harder than any I’d done in the past. I trained hard for Ride40. I’m not a competitive cyclist but love to ride for the challenge of it. I’m not a gifted climber but have a passion for it nonetheless. I chose to raise scholarship funding for Diabetes Training Camp Foundation because I’ve seen so many adult lives changed through the DTC programs. This was an opportunity to give back to my Diabetes community, to turn obstacles into opportunities. Climbing mountains on a bike is certainly a metaphor for the ups and downs of life.

Why I Ride: Trek Travel guest Grant Curry

What was the most memorable moment of the ride?
The most memorable moment of the ride was heading toward the summit of Mt. Mitchell with my dear friend, Townsend Myers, with whom I’ve done a lot of cycling and have been through many life challenges with. He and I went to Utah with Trek Travel in 2012. My wife, Cynthia, was in the support van behind us with our friend, Carrie Cheadle, inspiring us with music as we clawed our way up in the cold, rain and heavy fog. It was such a difficult day for the team. After making the long descent back to our lodgings, I checked my messages to find out that we had reached our $40k fundraising goal. I’ve never been more proud. My wife, who’s lived with MS for the last 14 years, likes to say, “The more difficult the conditions, the more memorable the ride.” It’s certainly true. She and I rode Utah twice with Trek Travel. Our second trip was challenging with poor weather on three days. But we had one of our most memorable days ever, together on bikes, riding from Boulder, UT to the Powell Point overlook in torrential rain, cold and sleet. The landscape had such a beauty in those conditions. We loved every minute of it, even when we were suffering.

What is the most rewarding part about your volunteer work as an Assistant Cycling Coach at Diabetes Training Camp?
I was a camper for two sessions in 2008, and it changed my life in so many ways. Now, working at Diabetes Training Camp has given me the opportunity to help some of our beginner or novice cyclists develop their skills and find a deeper enjoyment of the sport. I like helping people become more confident on a bike and more confident in their ability to ride with Diabetes. It changes my life to see people come to camp thinking they’re not able to ride well and leave feeling like champions. I want my Diabetes to be something that brings me joy and empowers me to live better. Helping others find the same is what drives me each and every day.

Trek Travel guest Grant Curry Ride40

There’s Always the Van

When I got on the plane to Italy in October 2006 for our Trek Travel Tuscany trip, I knew nothing about the van. A week later, the van was to become one of my favorite things about a Trek Travel trip.

Words by Deb Dingwall, Trek Travel Guest

We landed in Florence and spent the next couple of days exploring the city before hopping on a bus and heading out to the Tuscan countryside with our fellow Trek Travel guests. What I remember most about that first day was standing astride my bike in the Val d’Orcia, gazing up at the lovely hilltop town of Pienza, and thinking, “How beautiful but what the hell have I gotten myself into?” You need to understand that I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska (Go Big Red!) and was very comfortable with a relatively flat landscape of the Midwest. And while I had spent plenty of time skiing in Colorado as I was growing up, that was downhill. Grudgingly, I clipped in and started to slowly ascend towards the town, my husband Adam alongside me.
 
 
Trek Travel Tuscany Bike Tour
 
 
Our Trek Travel guide, Dave Edwards, rode up next to us and noticed I was struggling. “Just put it in your easiest gear and pedal slowly” he said. I wasn’t about to break out my, “Don’t tell me what to do” attitude at this early in the game, so I did as Dave suggested and Adam and I made our way up to the town. From the walls of Pienza we gazed across the valley and a shot of reality hit me, each and every town seemed to be at the top of a hill. From our vantage point we could see enough hilltop towns to make my heart sink a bit, and I wondered how the rest of the trip was going to be. I was very convinced I would never let Adam talk me into another one of these vacations.

That night we enjoy an amazing Italian four-course feast with plenty of wine. Dave stopped by our table during dinner to ask how the first day went. Admittedly I was a bit down, and I told him the elevation for the rest of the week looked daunting as it wasn’t quite what I had expected. “Simple,” Dave said, “there’s always the van. You don’t want to ride up the hill, just let us know and we’ll boost you to the top in the van. It’s your vacation.”

“There’s always the van” became my new mantra, and one that I’ve shared in numerous conversations about Trek Travel. It is my vacation and if part of what I want on vacation is relief from some of the cycling challenges that are an awesome part of every Trek trip, I’m allowed to jump in the van. I’ve been known to do that for a boost up a steep hill, a rest after lunch for a bit, or at the beginning of the day if I’m not quite feeling up to the start.
 
 
Trek Travel Supported Bike Tours
 
 
I’ve boosted up climbs in Tuscany, France, Vermont, California, Oregon, and the San Juan Islands just to name a few. My reluctance about that first climb up to Pienza disappeared with the realization that the van was there to enhance my, and any Trek Travel guest’s, experience.

Adam did talk me into another trip, and another, and another. This July we will take our 11th trip with Trek Travel, this time to the California Wine Country. I’ve grown to enjoy the riding–and even the climbing–so much more than I did on that first trip. But ever since my childhood days skiing in Colorado, the downhills have always been, and always will be, a love of mine. And if you ever have the chance to descend into Bend off of Mount Bachelor, do it.

A Trek Travel vacation is so much more than cycling. It’s food and wine, conversation and amazing scenery. It’s the bike and the guides. And sometimes, it’s the van.
 
 
Trek Travel Oregon Crater Lake Bike Tour
 
 

Top 5 Reasons to Take a Multigenerational Trip

Tight-knit families aren’t born. They’re made with unforgettable experiences. And while it shouldn’t take a Christmas miracle to get people together, planning a multigenerational vacation is a daunting task with no shortage of opinions and a lack of consensus.

At Trek Travel, we believe that nothing should come between the ties that bind. Wide-ranging ages, activity levels and interests are no match for the creativity and flexibility of our guides. And whether you choose from our existing itineraries or make it private, our trip consultants will work with you to craft a personalized experience for your extended family. Below, John Burke, President of Trek Bikes, outlines his top five reasons to take a multigenerational family vacation:

1. The Family that Plays Together Stays Together
We started taking multigenerational family trips six years ago, and it is an event that everyone looks forward to. Similar to Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, the family trip has become a major event on our schedule.

Pro Tip: A family suggested this to us many years ago. Take a family vacation once a year and plan it for the same dates every year. Our family does the second week of June. This way everyone knows ahead of time that the family trip is always the second week of June and this puts an end to all of the drama surrounding dates.
 
 
John Burke Top 5 Reasons to Take a Multigenerational Family Trip
 
2. Great Family Time
On the typical family vacation, each morning starts with a negotiation. People sit around, spending time deciding what the group is going to do. They guys go golfing, the ladies go for a run, maybe meet for lunch, the negotiating goes back and forth. One of the things our family loves about Trek Travel trips is having an awesome pre-set schedule. The guides do a great job of leading the group and making adjustments as necessary. This really is a family vacation, not vacation that the family goes on and everyone does their own thing.

3. Amazing Memories
In the past five years, we have seen the National Parks, we have traveled the Freedom trail in Boston and ridden our bikes down the Charles River, we have done some amazing riding around the San Juan Islands, we had a behind the scenes Tour at the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, and we’ve eaten some of the best meals at farm-to-table restaurants. In fact, last year it was a small farm and we had an awesome time playing horseshoes, having cocktails, and enjoying the local fare. Every day Trek Travel goes above and beyond to create amazing memories. And as Carson from Downton Abbey says, “In the end, all you have are your memories.”
 
 
Multigenerational Trips with Trek Travel
 
4. Try New Things
Trek Travel does a great job of giving people amazing opportunities to explore new places in a variety of ways. We have hiked some awesome trails in America’s National Parks, we have kayaked, we have visited Presidential Libraries. Every day there is something new with Trek Travel.

5. It Makes Your Mother Happy
My mother loves to see her family together, spending quality time with one another. There is no greater gift that one can give their mother than spending time with the family.
 
 
Trek Travel Multigenerational Trips
 

Suggested Multigenerational Trips

Santa Barbara

With a home base in downtown Santa Barbara, this weekend bike tour offers four full days of cycling, sightseeing, dining, hiking, and relaxing along the Central Coast.

Trek Travel Santa Barbara Bike Tour

San Juan Islands

With endless options for exploring the Pacific Northwest’s colorful villages, wooded lanes and blue waters, Trek Travel’s San Juan Islands trip has something for everyone.

Trek Travel San Juan Islands Vacation

Ireland

Settle into the warmth of our outstanding accommodations, share in jovial banter, and absorb the undying spirit of the enchanting Emerald Isle on your vacation of a lifetime.

Trek Travel Ireland Vacation

Prague to Vienna

Bring the extended family on a trip to discover the heart of Europe, the place where European history was crafted, at a pace catered specifically to you and your loved ones.

Trek Travel Prague to Vienna Vacation

Ready for the multigenerational vacation of a lifetime? Contact our trip consultants and start planning your dream vacation today»

Featured Travel Agent: Codie Richards

A travel enthusiast with a passion for the outdoors, Codie Richards has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Africa and the Caribbean. Determined to work in a field that would fuel her passion, Codie recently joined Elm Grove Travel in May 2014. This year she will be joining us in Zion as she continues exploring the world.

1.Tell us a bit about your background. What made you want to become a travel agent?
I have had a passion for traveling for as long as I can remember. To me, it is so important to learn about the various areas of the world as well as the different cultures within those areas. I was excited to find a job that allows me to encourage others to break out of their comfort zone and see what the world holds outside of their hometown.

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is when a client returns from a trip and tells me about their life changing travel experience. In that moment, I feel so grateful that I was able to assist in the planning of that experience.

Favorite place you’ve ever traveled and what excites you most about this part of the world?
The toughest question of all! I have so many favorite areas, but one of the best is Cape Town, South Africa. It is an area packed full of history and culture. It is such a diverse area with city, mountains and ocean. Really has something for everyone. I love going to areas where I can learn something new, and I left Cape Town knowing so much more than when I first arrived.
 
 
Featured Travel Agent Codie Richards in South Africa
 
 
What are the five must-do’s while traveling in Cape Town?
When you go to Cape Town, you must hike up Lion’s Head in the evening and watch the sunset from the top! You should also go to Robben Island, visit one of the many incredible wineries, go on a safari, and hike to the top of Table Mountain.

Tell us about your craziest travel adventure.
I took a travel course in Costa Rica, and we stayed in a biological station in the rain forest. We were in the company of howler monkeys, cock roaches, iguanas, fire ants, and many other exotic species! One day we did a long hike that involved crossing more than twenty rivers, encountering a Fer-De-Lance (poisonous snake), and scaling steep hills that required a rope. It was definitely an adventure and the trip of a lifetime.

Which Trek Travel trip is top on your bucket list and why?
I’m so excited to go on the Zion Long Weekend trip this year! After that, I would love to go to Spain. I have always wanted to go to there to teach English as a second language, and I think getting to know the area by bike first would be incredible!
 
 
05UT
 
 
How long have you been riding bikes?
I’ve been riding bikes since I was a little girl, but competitively since I was 15.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.
My mom and I love biking together, so the best days are always with her by my side. A few summers ago we both had the day off and took a long ride through Kettle Moraine State Forest. The views were gorgeous, and we stopped at a nearby lake for a picnic and swim. We didn’t have anywhere else to be that day, so we could truly enjoy the ride at whatever pace we wanted.

Do you have an especially memorable travel story you find yourself telling time and time again?
My family and I used to go to Canada every year and stay on an island to fish and enjoy the outdoors. Canada has the most beautiful scenery. One evening all five of us were out in the boat when it started to rain. Instead of going inside, we huddled under the umbrellas and kept fishing. When the clouds cleared, there was the most stunning double rainbow. It is a simple memory, but a special one.
 
 

Featured Travel Agent Codie Richards

 
 

Industry Insider: Chris Fortune

Twenty-seven years ago, on a mission to keep manufacturing in Wisconsin, Chris Fortune bought a 15-year-old rack company known as Graber Products. And although the name has changed (now Saris Cycling Group), the company’s well-respected Saris Racks are still made right here in bicycle-crazed Madison, Wisconsin and shipped worldwide. A home-grown success story, we caught up with Chris to learn more about his passion for manufacturing and bicycle advocacy.

Briefly, tell us your story. What inspired your passion for bikes and how did you get into the cycling industry?

I grew a deep respect for the bike through my first job as a paperboy. I made my deliveries by bike and started off with a love/hate relationship. Growing up in Chicago, the winters were snowy, icy and treacherous. I cursed my bike on the worst days! Nonetheless, it served as a great tool for me at a very young age.

As I thought about my future, I dreamed of owning my own manufacturing business and building product in the US. I moved forward on this life-long goal when my wife and I bought the business and moved to Madison in 1989. A few years later we reached a true milestone and a day I’ll never forget. We shipped our first container to Japan and I could not have been more proud. Today, 30% of our business is outside the US and we ship to over 60 countries.

My passion grew for cycling as I became more immersed in the industry and learned all the benefits the bike could provide. I found that cycling could not only serve as a tool to help people with health issues but that it slows down life to a pace where you can see everything going on around you.
 
 
Saris bike racks manufactured in the USA
 
 
Where did the name “Saris” originate and what does it mean to you?

Twenty-seven years ago my wife Sara and I bought the business, then Graber Products. After an exhaustive effort to come up with a new name to represent us, she remembered a product her dad’s business launched that was named after the owner’s initials. She began crafting name combinations but options like Chrisass weren’t a fit. The best blend of Sara + Chris = Saris.

Having your name tied to the business, there’s a sense of pride in ownership to keep up the reputation. We built the business on the foundation of “doing the right thing” for customers, employees and suppliers, and we stand firmly behind that.
 

What is your favorite Saris product and why?

Picking a favorite product is like picking a favorite child. Impossible. Saris Cycling Group has a collection of brands that includes CycleOps, PowerTap and Saris. Our hottest new product that we introduced to the market is the PowerTap Pedal. We spent 1,000s of hours engineering the P1 pedal to be the most simple, intelligent and best design out there. PowerTap is known for unparalleled accuracy and reliability making the P1 something cyclists were really hungry for.

What I’m most excited about with CycleOps is the PowerSync Trainer. This electronic trainer brings the outside ride indoors and integrates with our CycleOps Virtual Training (CVT) allowing you to virtually ride anywhere in the world! The technology behind smart trainers along with our CVT software is really amazing. I don’t think riding inside has ever been so fun.

Our most well-known, iconic rack, is the Saris Bones. Innovation has always been really important to me and to the business. That’s why we partnered with designer Fabio Pedrini, based in Bologna, Italy, just a few years after buying the business. Fabio came up with the arc shaped design for this rack over 20 years ago and it remains one of most popular bike racks out there. With over a million sold you’ve likely seen them on friends, family or neighbor’s trunks. We were recently awarded a configuration trademark for this distinctive design. Configuration trademarks are rare in the bicycle industry so it was really an honor to receive this. We’ve recently launched the SuperBones, taking this product to the next level. It’s the best product ever built in this category. This trunk rack allows you to adjust the straps and arms more easily than ever before so it’s simple to load and unload and you can spend more time out riding your bike.
 
 
Saris cycling group Saris Bones rack
 
 
Saris Bones vehcile bike rack
 
 
In your opinion, what makes the Midwest a great location for bike companies?

My favorite thing about having a company in the Midwest is the people. We have some of the most down to earth, hardworking, passionate and smart people around. On top of that, Wisconsin has become one of the best states for biking because of the excellent network of paved roads. Being a dairy state, we needed the rural roads in Wisconsin to be smooth and well connected so dairy farmers could transport milk to market without risk of curdling. Today, cyclists love riding these scenic, paved roads throughout the state.
 
 
Cycling in rural wisconsin
 
 
You have seen much of the world from the seat of a bicycle. What is your favorite travel destination and why?

In 2010 I helped lead a Bicycle Infrastructure Study where a group of us went over to Europe to learn more about what state of the art bicycling looked like in the Netherlands. Since then, People for Bikes, a national bicycle advocacy organization, has run this program, the Green Lane Project, through several European cities. I joined a Green Lanes trip to Copenhagen and couldn’t believe how well this city integrates cycling. Sara and I fell in love with the ease of bicycle use in Copenhagen and the way people live their life by bike. We’re celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary this June and are thrilled to bring our three daughters and their spouses to experience Copenhagen by bike and celebrate in this special city.
 
 
Green Lanes Project
 
 
You do a lot of advocacy work to improve the quality of bicycling in America. In your opinion, what are the three keys to getting more people on bikes?

Creating a safe environment for people to ride their bike from age 8 – 80 is key. We’ve worked to help support this on the local, state and national level. Twelve years ago we started the Saris Gala. It began as a small pizza party in the back of our plant to raise money for the Wisconsin Bike Fed. Now it’s grown to be the largest single night bicycle advocacy fundraiser in the country, having generated over 1 million dollars for the Bike Fed.

We’ve also sponsored the National 5th Grade Poster contest for the last five years to inspire and create the next generation of bicycle enthusiasts. The contest gives fifth graders across the country, many in areas that are not considered bike-friendly, the opportunity to learn about the numerous inherent benefits of the bicycle and encourage them to embrace and promote those benefits in their local communities.
 
 
National 5th Grade Poster Contest
 
 
National 5th Grade Poster Contest
 
 

10 Trip Club: Bob Joy

My wife and I are ten-year veterans of Trek Travel and have enjoyed many memorable wows. Here are three of my favorite moments:

Words and Photographs by Bob Joy, Trek Travel Guest
 
 
Climb Mt Ventoux on Trek Travel's Provence Cycling Vacation
 

Cycling up Mont Ventoux was on my “sprocket list” ever since I watched Chris Froome win a dramatic summit finish in the 2013 Tour de France. The opportunity to climb it convinced me to sign up for the Provence Luxury trip last June. To be truthful, the prospect of cycling through Medieval stone villages, sampling French wines, and taking a cooking lesson from a Michelin-starred chef also played into the decision.

The Giant of Provence looms 6,200 feet above the surrounding landscape. The most famous (and difficult) route to the summit is from the south and starts, conveniently enough, just outside the Trek dealership in Bedoin. The first six kilometers rise at a relatively tame 4%, but the final 16 kilometers have an average gradient of nearly 9%, with some sections of 11% or more. (For comparison, Alpe d’Huez is only about 14 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 8%.)

The limestone summit of Mont Ventoux is well above the tree line and the weather can be unforgiving. Even its name–Ventoux–means windy in French. Fortunately, the winds were light on the day of my climb. At age 65 I knew my ride would not be Strava-worthy, but I didn’t anticipate that it would become an unrelenting three-hour grind. Each time I contemplated giving up, my Trek Travel guide Tara Hetz was there with the van to refill my water bottle and cheer me on. Without her encouragement I doubt I would have made it. Now as I look back on it, I take pride in the fact that I accomplished something few cyclists in the world can claim. In a word, it was “epic.”
 
 
Trek Travel Guest Bob Joy on top of Mt Ventoux in Provence, France
 
 
At the other end of the comfort spectrum was the week we spent on the Barcelona Villa trip. My wife and I will never forget the “pinch me” feeling we had as we toured the historic stone villa that would be our home for the next week. Like other trips in the One Collection, we appreciated being able to unpack our suitcases for a week and feel like residents instead of tourists. Each day we cycled to a different destination for lunch. One day it was an elegant country restaurant. Another day we had a memorable tasting at an outstanding Spanish winery. And the final day we climbed up to a restaurant perched high above the Mediterranean Sea to dine on regional specialties on the outdoor terrace.
 
 
Trek Travel Barcelona Villa Bike Tour
 
 
However, it’s not necessary to venture to France or Spain for a memorable experience. The Bryce and Zion trip was a photographer’s delight from the very first day. After our bike fitting in the parking lot of the Boulder Mountain Lodge, we set out for an orientation ride along a lightly traveled road called the Burr Trail. At one point I caught up with another member of our group who was standing astride his bike. When I asked whether he needed assistance he said, “Just listen.” When I did, I realized he had discovered something rare: a place where there was no wind, no traffic, and no sound. We both silently stood there for a few minutes enjoying the nothingness.

Soon after resuming my ride I rounded a bend and was floored by the unexpected vista of red sandstone walls of Long Canyon. It was the first of many awe-inspiring moments we enjoyed that week.

But if I had to choose just one favorite trip, it will always be the next one!
 
 
Trek Travel Bryce and Zion Bike Tour
 
 

Why I Ride: Michele Joslyn

My earliest memory of riding a bike was pedaling my younger brother around on the back of my trike somewhere around the age of 3. I look back at pictures of us and smile. We were having fun. Although I’m older now, 51 to be exact, having fun with the people I love is still the best thing about biking.

Words by Michele Joslyn, Trek Travel Guest
 
 
Trek Travel Guest Michele in Puglia, Italy
 

I am married to an avid cyclist. He will bike anywhere, anytime, any season, rain or shine. It’s his passion. I am not that kind of cyclist. I am a recreational rider who prefers mild, sunny days to cold, wet ones. Long, winding trails beat busy roads any day. I ride my Trek Hybrid FX, which I’ve owned for the past 10 years. It has served me well although I am contemplating upgrading to a road bike in the future. I’ve lived in Madison, Wisconsin for the past 18 years. The bike trails are endless and riding can be a leisurely outing or a more challenging adventure, depending on my mood. The best rides always include family, friends, great conversation, and time for stops along the way.

A four day Vermont bike trip back in 1992 was my first official cycling vacation. The brochures promised dairy farms, green pastures, and rolling hills, with a stop at Ben and Jerry’s. I grew up in Louisiana and moved to Chicago after college–both very flat. Vermont has hills. Big hills. Let me say that I truly enjoy hiking. I love a good climb in my boots, my feet firmly on the ground. I’ve hiked mountains out east, out west, and even in Patagonia. However, Vermont taught me that hiking uphill and riding uphill are two very different activities. I didn’t like climbing on a bike. It was hard. Coasting down was a different story, my reward after reaching the top. Biking and hiking have one thing in common though–you are right there in the middle of your surroundings with nothing blocking your view. I loved riding past cows, old barns, farms and green pastures, and the ice cream wasn’t bad either. That was the beginning.

I’ve enjoyed several Trek Travel trips over the years that have motivated me to live a healthier lifestyle and become a stronger rider. The San Juan Islands was the first adventure (kids and grandparents included). I’ve also been to Southern France and Puglia, Italy. All three destinations allowed me to explore beautiful parts of the world, meet amazing new friends, and learn more about myself with each journey.
 
 
Trek Travel Guest Michele on our San Juan Islands Family Vacation
 
 
My San Juan experience taught me that I love active family vacations, particularly ones that I don’t have to organize. Just show up with all family members accounted for and the rest is taken care of. The guides are awesome–patient, encouraging, supportive, fun, and they plan every detail! France helped me realize I didn’t have to be a cycling enthusiast to wear the gear. Those padded shorts actually make riding more comfortable. Somewhere on that trip I heard that clip-in pedals help with hills. That was something for me to consider. Upon returning home I decided I was ready for official bike shorts and clip-in shoes. The first time out I fell and broke my arm, but I didn’t give up. I biked home with my broken arm, one handed as the sun was setting, confirming I’m resilient. And I haven’t broken anything since.
 
 
Trek Travel Guest Michele in Puglia, Italy
 
 
I was excited about Puglia. I had never been to Italy and I did my research. I knew there would be hills but also olive groves, ancient stone walls along quiet country roads, and a coastline like no other. I trained with my clip-ins. Italy would be my first bike trip riding with them. The trip was in April which meant preparing during a Wisconsin winter. I rode outside on my own several times a week. The cold weather combined with disc issues in my lower back made biking uncomfortable. I needed to find a solution because Puglia and the beautiful Adriatic coast were calling. I had a professional bike fitting at Trek (which I highly recommend) and wore appropriate winter gear. Riding became more enjoyable so I trained more. I made it up those hills in Puglia. Not first or second, but at my own pace, and I loved every spectacular sight along the way.

I came home from Italy more excited about being on two wheels than ever before. I now ride regularly with a group of friends in Madison. We explore different trails and quiet roads while solving the world’s problems, encouraging each other, and laughing a lot along the way. For me cycling isn’t about being first to the finish or pushing myself to achieve some extreme goal. It’s about pedaling through life with the people I love, riding fast enough not to tip over, and slow enough to enjoy the journey. It works for me.
 
 
Trek Travel Puglia, Italy Cycling Vacation
 
 

From 0 to 100

My name is Sharon Roper from Taylorsville, Utah. Trek Travel asked me if I would be willing to write a blog about my experience leading up to and including the California Wine Country Long Weekend trip. While I wondered why anyone would be interested in a 62 year old woman’s bicycling experience, after talking with them I realized the interesting part was not just the trip itself, but how I got there.

Words by Sharon Roper, Trek Travel Guest
 
 
Trek Travel California Wine Country BIke Tour
 

It all started with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mike and Mary Pat McCurdie. They are serious bicycle enthusiasts. They have been on many Trek Travel trips and always spoke highly of their experiences. They invited me, my husband Bill (Mary Pat’s brother), and other friends and relatives to go on the California Wine Country trip. I hadn’t been on a bike for 15 years, but I knew my husband well enough to know that he would be reluctant to go on the trip, and spend the money, unless I wanted to go too. So I told my husband the trip sounded great. After all, there would be great friends, good food, wine tasting, beautiful scenery and luxury hotels. To me, the bike riding was just a side activity to be enjoyed by others. I figured I could ride in the van and entertain myself with a good book. Bill, on the other hand, rides quite a bit, so the bike riding really appealed to him. We decided we would love to go, and told them to sign me up as a non-rider.

While looking at the Trek Travel website, I realized that non-riders paid the same as riders. I also saw that they offered electric-assist bikes. What did I have to lose? I called and changed my reservation to an electric-assist bike. After all, the van would still be there when I got tired. So out to the garage I went, to dust off my ancient 40 pound, 5-speed auto-shift bike and take it to the bike shop. After the service man stopped laughing at my bike, he took it to the back for a tune up.

My training began in April. I started training with the simple goal of not embarrassing myself. It was relaxing to ride around the neighborhood, and Bill would take me on bike trails on the weekends. He encouraged me. I knew I slowed him down a lot, but he continued to ride with me. I slowly worked up to seven miles. Ultimately, Bill convinced me that my antiquated bike was slowing me down. I think he just wanted to occasionally feel the wind in his face, so I upgraded to a 21-speed hybrid bike with an expensive, comfortable seat. Learning to shift was the first hurdle, but it only took a couple of rides to feel confident.
 
 
Trek Travel California Wine Country Cycling Vacation
 
 
By now it was July, and I was slowly but surely starting to ride further. Bill had to switch from his slower mountain bike to his road bike as I got better and faster. One day we made it 30 miles. If you had told me back in April that I would be able to ride 30 miles in one day, I wouldn’t have believed you. But my confidence grew. I decided I wanted to make it 100 miles on our Trek Travel trip in September, and started to wonder if the electric-assist bike was the best choice for me. I called Trek Travel and switched to a hybrid bike. During the conversation they asked, “Weren’t you originally a non-rider?” Yep, that was me.

It’s now August. I know I have to be able to ride 30 miles per day for three days, and I would leave the final 10 miles for the last day. Bill and I started going out three days in a row. The first time we tried this we went 30, 20 and 30 miles. My butt started to hurt and for the first time I complained to Bill. He employed the obvious solution and bought me two biking outfits with padded shorts which stopped most of the butt ache. We did this three day ritual quite a few more times, and I now had a concrete plan to reach 100 miles.

We met up with the other riders at Point Reyes, California for the start of our Trek Travel trip. The guides, Devin and Justin, were extremely friendly and helped take care of everything so all we had to do was ride. There were 20 of us on the trip–all of them younger than me–but surely I can keep up with someone.

The first day’s ride took us from Point Reyes National Seashore to Bodega Bay. The short trip is 19.6 miles and the long option was 33.5 miles. This ride was hard! There were a lot more hills than I was used to. I saw much younger riders on electric-assist bikes and I started to question my decision. I could only make it 19.6 miles on that first ride, and I was discouraged. I talked with the guides and told them of my foolish goal to accomplish 100 miles. They were very encouraging and explained that today was the toughest day. Tomorrow would be much flatter and I could make up at least part of the 10 miles I was behind.
 
 
Trek Travel Rest Stops
 
 
The second day’s ride went from Bodega Bay to Hotel Healdsburg. That would get me 45.1 miles if I made all the way. I thought, “The short trip is 25.5 miles, so I can always go back to my original goal of not embarrassing myself and bail out at Armstrong Woods.”

Again, the guides were great, always keeping my water bottle full and providing encouragement. They were probably hoping they wouldn’t have to perform CPR. Before the first snack stop I was the last rider, as was my usual position. One of guides came back and rode with me, and I asked him if I was last. He told me no, “I am behind you, and therefore I am last.” We stopped for lunch in the beautiful redwood forest at Armstrong Woods Park, which left me refreshed and ready to ride. Several times that day I had to walk my bike up a hill, but I was making the rules and walking definitely counted.

One time the van drove by as I was walking. They pulled over to check on me, and at that point determination roared inside me. I waved them on. My hundred mile goal was now back in play! I not only completed the 45.1 miles, but an accidental turnaround gave me extra distance. I rode 47.5 miles on Day 2. Game on!

The third day’s plan was to ride 29.6 miles, with many fun stops at vineyards along the route. The day went great and I made it all the way. That night I was talking with one of the other guests and I told her of my goal. She told to me, “I want to be you at 62.” Wow, did that make me feel good. If you are counting, I was now at 96.6 miles.

The last day I told my brother-in-law, Mike, that I only had to ride three miles to reach my goal. Once again I assumed my normal position of last in the line of riders. Riding along I saw Bill on the side of the road. He told me I made it to 100 miles, and he took my picture. I had done it! I kept riding and told the “don’t embarrass myself” voice to shut up. As soon as I rounded the next bend I saw all of the other riders standing on the side of the road cheering for me. So what did I do? I pumped my fist and yelled, “See ya!” That picture made it onto the WOW moments page on Trek Travel’s website. I continued on and finished the trip with a total of 107 miles.

So I didn’t embarrass myself after all. In fact, I made myself proud.
 
 
Trek Travel California Wine Country Long Weekend Cycling Vacation
 
 
Trek Travel California Wine Country Cycling Vacation
 
 
Trek Travel California Wine Country Long Weekend Bike Tour
 
 

Why I Ride: Susie King

I remember when my son Zeb was interviewing for Trek Travel one year ago. He had just graduated from Appalachian State with a degree in Public Health Education. He had completed his student teaching at a county high school and I wondered if he would go in to Education (and follow in my footsteps).

Words by Susie King, Mom of Trek Travel guide Zeb King

 
Susie King, mom of Trek Travel guide Zeb King, on why she rides.
 
 
I knew he had a passion for cycling as he had raced at the collegiate and professional levels, and my husband and I spent many weekends watching him race. We traveled throughout North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina, and I spent summer vacation going to Wisconsin for the Tour of America’s Dairyland. Zeb’s excitement about cycling was contagious to say the least!

In the back of my mind, I kept thinking about how much I loved cycling when I was in college. I didn’t race or compete in any way, but almost every day for a couple of years, I jumped on my Carolina Blue Huffy 10 speed and rode. I was in Greensboro, N.C. and the city was full of bike paths that went all around town and out to the Battleground. I loved riding alone and pushing myself to maximum effort.

It wasn’t until Zeb got his job with Trek Travel that I thought about riding again myself. At 54, I knew I needed to get in shape. Sure, I walk on a fairly regular basis and do yoga once a week, but I needed something else. Zeb’s first trip that he guided was in Utah through Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. I visited him during June and he got me back on a bike. I loved it! Compared to that Huffy 10 speed, the Trek bike he let me ride felt like a Mercedes!

After that, I decided I had to get me a new bike. With Zeb’s help, I bought an awesome Trek FX 7.5 WSD and a full Bontrager kit and helmet. I am really loving getting back in to riding. Although there is not a great place for me to ride out my back door, I can easily take off a wheel, throw the bike in the car, and hit the trails close by. I hope to continue this new love, which I know will help me physically and mentally in the years to come. Thanks Trek for my new lease on life! And for Zeb’s awesome job as a Trek Travel Guide!
 
 
Susie King, mom of Trek Travel guide Zeb King, on why she rides.
 
 

10 Best Restaurant Meals Of 2015

I write on culinary topics for many publications, and as the door closes on 2015, it is time for annual reflection on my standout restaurant meals from the past 12 months. This is a tradition I started with my “10 Most Memorable Restaurant Meals of 2011,” and continued in 2012, in 2013 and 2014. Those years are still worth checking out, as most, if not all, of the eateries are still very relevant to travelers. As part of this year end recap series I also wrote yesterday about the 10 Best Hotels of 2015.

Words by Larry Olmsted | December 31, 2015

 
From Forbes, Larry Olmsted's 10 Best Meals of 2015
 
 
One reason my lists are especially useful for travelers is because, unlike most publications, I don’t confuse “new” with good. If I ate someplace this year for the fifth time, that’s because the place is great (like St. Elmo in Indianapolis). If it has been open for a hundred years but I just ate there for the first time and loved it, you will find it here (Denver’s Buckhorn Exchange). Also, my picks tend to be in actual travel destinations some of you will be visiting for business or vacation anyway, so unlike most food magazines, my choices are not all in Brooklyn or the Hudson Valley. Hype or trendiness doesn’t make a restaurant better or worse – what matters to me is the food.

As the Great American Bites restaurant columnist for USAToday, the nation’s largest newspaper, I scour the country looking for the best regional and standout foods in every corner of the U.S. My other food media outlets take me all over the world, and as a result I spend a lot of time in restaurants. A rough calculus would suggest I eat out at least 250 times a year. Unfortunately, many of these meals are forgettable, or merely “fine.” The following are the coveted exceptions, my ten very best taste memories of 2015.
 

Larry Olmsted's 10 Best Restaurant Meals of 2015

 
Meal of the Year – Assirto, Moneglia, Italy: This one is a bit of an exception to my rule above, because it is off the beaten path and in a seaside town very few American tourists are likely to find themselves. But I included it here because it was simply the most unbelievable, fantastic and memorable meal of my entire year, with one of the best dishes I have ever tasted, and well worth a several hour long trip from almost anywhere in the region, which basically means Rome, Florence, Milan, Genoa, Bologna, Turin or even over the border in Nice. Moneglia is a small beach town on the Ligurian Coast just north of the much more visited Cinque Terre, for which it serves as a lower cost bedroom community, a short train ride away. I have found that the best restaurants are run by passionate visionaries, and Luca, the omnipresent proprietor, fits the bill. He has caused a bit of local controversy, though no international publication I have seen has ever taken note of the place, through his researched focus on historical Mediterranean cuisine. For this he goes way back to the region’s roots, and thus puts a big emphasis on things like salt cod that was received in trade with Portugal and Scandinavia, as well as the famous anchovies swimming just outside his door, a geographically protected IGP product.

But perhaps his boldest move is his insistence that the famed cured hams of Spain, jamon serrano, pata negra and jamon Iberico de bellota, are more authentically Mediterranean than the locally beloved Italian hams, prosciutto di Parma or di San Danielle, which he calls “mountain hams.” His belief that Spain’s rival hams and pigs are tied more to the local geography and coastal climate than Italy’s is akin to being an outspoken Dallas Cowboys fan in Green Bay. But the result of all this is his signature dish, a sort of braised/grilled combo of the secreto cut of the finest acorn fed Spanish pigs. Secreto, as you might guess, means secret, and refers to a “butcher’s cut” in Spain, meaning cuts customers don’t know about that butchers love and keep to themselves, like hanger or flat iron steaks. Steven Raichlen is the world’s leading authority on cooked meat, and his BarbecueBible.com site calls secreto the “Best Kept Secret in Barbecue.” On a full grown pig it amounts to just a one and a quarter pound strip adjacent to the belly, where bacon comes from. Pork belly has become a very trendy dish because of its delicious fattiness, but imagine if you could turn the flavor and succulence of pork belly into a meatier steak, then source it from the finest pigs in the world, then cook it perfectly using a time consuming combination of styles that include a professional steam oven. The result would be what they serve at Assirto, which might be the best meat dish I have ever tasted.

I don’t usually put a lot of stock in sites like TripAdvisor, but since there is so little on this hole in the wall restaurant, that is where it has been covered the most, and a quick glance shows that it is numero uno in town, with near uniform 5-star ratings, and lots of them. Almost all fawning reviews detail the unexpected food that is hyper local and very different from preconceived notions of “Italian,” the friendly staff, the hands-on owner helping to choose dishes, the value, and Luca’s intimate knowledge of obscure Ligurian wines. All in all, this causal enoteca set in a historic building in a small alley is a winner on every front, but it is the pork the rocked my world, simply the best “other white meat” I have ever tasted, and as a barbecue nut, I have tasted a lot. As a visitor from Sweden wrote, “the grilled iberico, forever in our minds as the best meat we ever ate. Today in cold Sweden I still dream of this culinary experience and think that another visit to Liguria would be worth it just if we could come back to this jewel.” Amen. Assirto reminds me a lot of my visit to Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Modena before Bottura became as much of a household foodie name as the top chef in Italy. Admittedly his restaurant was already acclaimed, but Assirto shares that same sense of discovering something really special and different, a more passionate, more historically informed take on Italian culinary tradition. Unforgettable.

Read More of Larry’s Top 10 Meals of 2015»

Experience Assirto on Trek Travel’s Cinque Terre Bike Tour»

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Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.

Luxury:

Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.

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These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.

Combined

On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of hotel levels, from Explorer to Luxury to Ultimate Luxury. Rest assured, no matter which level of hotel you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.

Activity Level

Level 1:

Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Level 2:

Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).

Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).

Level 3:

Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).

Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).

Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).

Level 4:

Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).

Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

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Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.

Classic - Signature:

Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.

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Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.

Ride Camp:

Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.

Pro Race:

See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.

Cross Country:

Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.

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